Video surveillance sharing system and method

• US 8,842,179 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Smartvue Corp. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Renkis, Martin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anyikire, Chikaodili E
• Application Number:
  US13/250,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20120105632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19621 Portable camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19663 Surveillance related processing done local to the camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19673 Addition of time stamp, i.e. time metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1968 Interfaces for setting up or customising the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19682 Graphic User Interface [GUI] presenting system data to the user, e.g. information on a screen helping a user interacting with an alarm system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A surveillance system and method with at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) and a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) and/or another ICD, including the steps of providing base system; at least one user accessing the DIR via user interface either directly or remotely; the DIR and/or ICD searching for signal from the ICD(s) and establishing communication with them; providing DIR interface and setup options, for providing a secure surveillance system having wireless communication for monitoring a target environment.

Claims

1. A method for sharing video surveillance data, the method steps comprising:

a) providing a system for video surveillance, the system including at least one input capture device (ICDs), at least one network video recorder, a central cloud server, at least one sharing user device, at least one receiving user device;

b) recording and archiving videos from ICDs onto the network video recorder;

c) the system providing access for at least one sharing user logging into network video recorders and selecting at least one video clip or portion of a video clip to be shared;

d) the system providing an interactive user interface for allowing the sharing user to select the SHARE button;

e) the system prompting the sharing user to select at least one other user they want to share the clip with;

f) the system providing the interactive interface for allowing the at least one sharing user to select the SHARE NOW to have the at least one video clip uploaded to the central cloud server;

g) the central cloud server validating that the at least one video clip was completely uploaded without error and the file is not corrupt and it is ready to play;

h) the central cloud server validating that the video clip is authentic from the server it came from;

i) the central cloud server preparing the video clip for sharing by automatically making multiple copies in different formats for playback;

j) the central cloud server notifying the designated receiving users or groups of users that they have shared video from the sharing user and providing a link to the video for viewing the video clip;

k) the receiving user clicking on the link and be taken to a page on the central cloud server that prompts them for a username;

l) providing the receiving user an area for commenting on the video clip;

m) the central cloud server saving the comments;

n) thereby providing a secure method for sharing video clips.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the step of the system automatically uploading and sharing video clips based on automated computer analysis of the captured video.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the analysis is based on criteria that are selected from the group consisting of number of people, direction of people, object left behind, specified license plate numbers, colors, behaviors, sex, age, sounds, race, alarms and combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the network video recorder is at a location selected from the group consisting of a local network location, a central network location and combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the system provides for the at least one user to enter a password to limit access to view the at least one video clip.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the systems provides for the at least one user to enter an option to enable or disable the audio portion of the at least one video clip.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the system provides for the at least one user to select a part of the at least one video clip they want to share.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the system provides for the at least one user to select the option to lock viewing from MAC Address to only let viewing from a specific computer or device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the system provides for the at least one user to set when the viewing expires.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the system provides for the at least one user to set the option to allow users to make comments on the at least one video clip.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the system provides for the at least one user to set the option to have comments emailed to them once they are made.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the system provides for the at least one user to enter their own comments on the at least one video clip.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the different formats for playback are selected from the group consisting of High Resolution, Medium Resolution, Low Resolution, iPhone, iPad, Xoom, Playbook, Tablet, Cell Phone, High Bandwidth, Low Bandwidth and combinations thereof.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the system provides for the users to comment on the video itself at certain points in the video with text, arrows, circles, and squares.

15. The method of claim 1, further permitting the resharing of all or part of the at least one video clip by the receiving users.

16. A surveillance system for sharing video surveillance data, the system including:

at least one input capture device (ICDs), at least one network video recorder, a central cloud server, at least one sharing user device, and at least one receiving user device;

all constructed and configured in electronic connection through a network;

wherein the ICDs are operable for capturing video and for wireless communication with the network;

the network video recorder is operable for recording videos captured by the ICDs;

the at least one sharing user device is operable for instructing the network video recorder to upload a video clip from the recorded videos to the central cloud server for sharing; and

the central cloud server is operable for sharing the uploaded video clip with a receiving user device.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the system is operable for automatically uploading and sharing video clips based on automated computer analysis of the captured video.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the analysis is based on criteria that are selected from the group consisting of number of people, direction of people, object left behind, specified license plate numbers, colors, behaviors, sex, age, sounds, race, alarms and combinations thereof.

19. The system of claim 18, where the receiving user device is operable for resharing the shared video clip.