Method for video/audio recording using unrestricted pre-event/post-event buffering with multiple bit and frame rates buffer files

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention include method and apparatuses that may be utilized to more efficiently use available storage space for a digital video recording system in a law enforcement vehicle and final “backend storage systems.” In one embodiment of the present invention, video and audio data is recorded in one or more buffers when a triggering event is activated, while a digital video recording device accounts for specified pre-event time, a time period before a first triggering event has been activated, and a post-event time, a time period after a second triggering event has been activated. The system will tag the actual start and stop points of events in one or more buffers based on a first and a second triggering event and will then include the pre-event and post-event data along with specified data. The system will then extract the event from one or more buffer files and write the event into final video files to be stored in a hard disk drive. By recording the pre-event and post-event data in multiple buffer files and extracting the final result from selected buffer files based on the nature of the event type, the system ensures that storage device is effectively used and, in this way, useful information is recorded.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates generally to digital video recording devices, and more particularly, to methods and apparatuses for digital video recording using pre-event / post-event buffering. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Digital technology has allowed law enforcement agencies around the world to make audio and video recording an essential tool for protection against false and malicious claims, for prosecuting defendants, and for training. Digital video recording provides obvious benefits over analog (VCR tape-based) video recording systems in quality, storage and a variety of options, such as the ability to search and locate a particular scene within a recording segment. [0005] As shown in FIG. 1, generally, a digital video recording device 106, in a law enforcement vehicle 110, is in communication with a video camera 120, a general purpose computer 107, which may be separate as shown or integrate...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

A common problem with such systems is balancing the availability of a finite amount of physical space for storage of captured video and audio in a hard disk drive of a moving vehicle with potentially large amounts of information which may need to be recorded over long periods of time.

However, such techniques are cumbersome and costly in many ways.

Unfortunately, this subsequent period of time is often found to be of great interest when later analyzing the recorded information.

Further, this method does not give a law enforcement officer an ability to choose and record only pertinent data needed to be saved to a hard disk drive after the triggering event is activated and disregard data that is found to be of no value.

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