5219 results about "Video recording" patented technology

Secure, verifiable, computer-enabled, LAN / WAN / Wireless networked, facility emergency notification, rapid alert management, and occupant alarm systems for public, private, and government buildings, and outdoor areas for which there is a need for rapid alerts to occupants or attendees of the occurrence of impending or in-progress dangerous or threatening events. The inventive system is a highly flexible rapid alert initiation, management and archival system comprising computer-enabled and network-linked apparatus, software, and methods enabling rapid dissemination from a central station or decentralized location of alerts of the occurrence of threatening or dangerous events in a series of hierarchical, increasing levels of directed action to be taken by the occupants, and permits monitoring and controlling activity of occupants during the event, archiving event data, including audio or / and video recordings until the situation returns to normal and an all clear signal is given. Databases provide site plans to assist in the response planning and execution.

A weld recording system mounted in or on a welding helmet is provided. The weld recording system includes a camera assembly unit, a power supply unit, a processor, and removable memory. The weld recording system interfaces with lens control circuitry, an optical sensor, a welding power supply, and a helmet position sensor. Logic is provided for the triggering and recording of video and audio signals, which are eventually stored in a file for future reference. Transmission of signals from one or more welders to a monitoring station for eventual display is presented. An image processing algorithm is provided to combine multiple images with varied exposure times into a visual image of the weld and its surroundings.

The system described in this invention can be used for monitoring and analyzing real time visual and non-visual information pertaining to the occupant, vehicle, and surroundings prior to, during and post eccentric operating conditions for a given period of time. The system stores vehicle and occupant data from sensors throughout the vehicle and also makes use of existing vehicle sensors that may already be present in the vehicle. The invention also includes a video recording module that makes use of a fish-eye camera to capture video from the inside and the outside of the vehicle. Real-time data analysis is performed to detect and to recognize vehicle occupants, and recognize impending eccentric events. Vehicle, occupant, and video data are stored in circular buffers. When an eccentric event, a collision for example, has been detected, the device continues to record data and video for a fixed period of time. Once this time has elapsed, the data is transferred from volatile to non-volatile memory for later retrieval. A computer may be used to retrieve and display the vehicle and occupant data in a synchronization with the video data for the purposes of accident recreation, driver or vehicle monitoring.

The invention discloses methods and apparatus based on tabular concepts which greatly simplify the configuration, maintenance and run-time operations of a broad range of electronic equipment control systems, including, but not limited to: (a) industrial controls, (b) supervisory control and data acquisition, such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and (c) home automation, including systems or stand-alone equipment, such as video recording devices. The tabular concepts of the invention are applied in three primary stages, namely (i) data input or configuration, including automated data population, (ii) generic operating rule application to tables of rules data variables, and (iii) English (or other) language translations of the current rule sets, for ease of verification. By each of these methods alone and through combination of all of these methods, the current invention makes the configuration and operation of automated equipment easily accessible to persons who do not have technical skills in either process control, automation, or software programming. Development of software for automatic control of equipment is also greatly simplified by these inventions.

Methods and systems that provide enhanced personal video recorder (“PVR”) and interactive television program guide (“IPG”) functionality are provided. An interactive television application (“application”) may be implemented to provide such functionality. The application may be used to display a list of PVR recordings, to schedule recordings to a PVR, to configure recordings, to view a list of scheduled recordings, to configure recording settings, or to select delete priority settings for recordings. The application may integrate pay-per-view and PVR functionality. The application may send user notifications for changes that are to be made to the recording content of a PVR. Live programming may be buffered by the application using a straight buffers that are created for each new program. Parallel buffers for concurrent programs may be implemented using multiple tuners. Straight buffers may be used in managing or controlling the flow of programming. Television content may be automatically paused when a user is engaged in using the application. Multiple IPGs for different users of a PVR may be implemented. Other PVR related features are also provided.

An emergency notifying apparatus of a moving object, having: image pick-up devices for picking up a part of the moving object and surroundings thereof, a video recording apparatus for recording signals related to the images taken by the image pick-up devices according to an output from at least one of shock sensors for detecting a shock applied to the moving object, a thermal sensor for detecting a heat or a temperature in a given portion of the moving object, and a manual switch, and a control unit for generating a signal for transmitting the image signals recorded in the recording apparatus to a given station via a radio communication device.

A video on request (“VOR”) system is disclosed. The VOR system includes a producer having a location device for providing location data and a video recording device. The VOR system also includes an information exchange having a producer database configured to store a producer profile having current location and status of the producer. The current location and status are continually updated based on the location data. The VOR system also includes a viewer having access to the information exchange to search the producer database for available producers within a predetermined range of a desired location. Upon finding the available producer at the desired location, the viewer requests an information segment to be produced by the producer from the desired location. The producer thereafter records the information segment and transmits the information segment to the viewer.

Provided are systems and techniques for monitoring events on a transportation vehicle, in which camera means provides in real time a video signal that corresponds to an observed live-motion scene, is mounted in a vehicle at a first location and is oriented so as to detect scenes within the vehicle. Trigger means, positioned at a second location in the vehicle, provides a trigger signal to begin recording of the video signal. Video recording means mounted at a third location on the vehicle receives the video signal and records the video signal in response to the trigger signal. Buffer means receives and stores the video signal so as to preserve the video signal during a sliding time interval. The first location, second location and third location are all different, and in response to provision of the trigger signal at least a portion of the video signal stored in the buffer means is preserved for recording by the video recording means.

A video on request (“VOR”) system is disclosed. The VOR system includes a producer having a location device for providing location data and a video recording device. The VOR system also includes an information exchange having a producer database configured to store a producer profile having current location and status of the producer. The current location and status are continually updated based on the location data. The VOR system also includes a viewer having access to the information exchange to search the producer database for available producers within a predetermined range of a desired location. Upon finding the available producer at the desired location, the viewer requests an information segment to be produced by the producer from the desired location. The producer thereafter records the information segment and transmits the information segment to the viewer.

Provided are systems and techniques for recording video in a mobile environment, in which camera means mounted at a first location in a vehicle generates a video signal based upon an observed scene. Video recording means mounted at a second location in the vehicle inputs and records the video signal on a tangible medium. General-purpose computing means, mounted at a third location in the vehicle and running a general operating system and user-installed application programs, communicates with the video recording means, is loaded with software to provide a user interface to control recording and playback by the video recording means, and includes means for wireless communication with a central base station.

A “Video Browser” provides an intuitive user interface for indexing, and interactive visual browsing, of particular elements within a video recording. In general, the Video Browser operates by first generating a set of one or more mosaic images from the video recording. In one embodiment, these mosaics are further clustered using an adjustable similarity threshold. User selection of a particular video mosaic then initiates a playback of corresponding video frames. However, in contrast to conventional mosaicing schemes which simply play back the set of frames used to construct the mosaic, the Video Browser provides a playback of only those individual frames within which a particular point selected within the image mosaic was observed. Consequently, user selection of a point in one of the image mosaics serves to provide a targeted playback of only those frames of interest, rather than playing back the entire image sequence used to generate the mosaic.

Multiple visual perspectives in video of private and public activities including those in public areas such as entertainment venues captured by cameras located near the activities can be transmitted over data networks to a server where video-related data is processed and recorded for selective display by authorized, remote video display devices (e.g., HDTV, set-top boxes, computers, handheld devices) in wired / wireless communication with the server. Users can be registered and authorized to access the server to provide / access video captured by cameras at activities. Wireless handheld devices can selectively retrieve video-related data captured at activities for server storage and subsequent display by video display devices. Captured video / pictures can be organized in a server based on at least one of: activity title, activity time, activity date, activity place, wireless handheld device location at time of video recording, distance from location of interest. Simultaneous display of multiple videos on a display can be synchronized.

A method and system that implement a process for managing video information on a video recording device. The management process involves receiving a video input signal including a video stream, obtaining content information corresponding to the video stream, associating the content information with the video stream, and storing the video stream and associated content information in a database as a searchable index for the video stream. The searchable index includes location of the stored video stream and identifies the associated content information. Then, content information from an input signal corresponding to a video stream is captured for analysis and searching the index to identify stored video streams related to the video program for suggestion to the user.

Spatio-temporal light field cameras that can be used to capture the light field within its spatio temporally extended angular extent. Such cameras can be used to record 3D images, 2D images that can be computationally focused, or wide angle panoramic 2D images with relatively high spatial and directional resolutions. The light field cameras can be also be used as 2D / 3D switchable cameras with extended angular extent. The spatio-temporal aspects of the novel light field cameras allow them to capture and digitally record the intensity and color from multiple directional views within a wide angle. The inherent volumetric compactness of the light field cameras make it possible to embed in small mobile devices to capture either 3D images or computationally focusable 2D images. The inherent versatility of these light field cameras makes them suitable for multiple perspective light field capture for 3D movies and video recording applications.

Methods and systems for generating a highlight video of a critical gaming moment from a source computer game running on a game server are disclosed. The method, when executed by a processor accessible by a processing server, comprises receiving video recordings recorded using at least two game virtual cameras positioned at predetermined locations during a source game play, wherein at least one of the game virtual cameras was inserted into the source computer game using a SDK or a game connector module. Next, analyzing the received recordings to extract visual, audio, and / or metadata cues; generating highlight metadata; and detecting the critical gaming moment based on the highlight metadata. Finally, generating a highlight video of the critical gaming moment from the received video recordings based on the highlight metadata. In some embodiments, the highlight videos can be used to drive additional traffic to the game tournament and / or streaming platform operator.

A combined alarm and surveillance system integrates an existing alarm system (12) with an existing surveillance system (14) such that functions unique to each system are combined in a complementary manner. The existing alarm and surveillance systems are combined via an interface (16) comprising an array of electric relays (52,54,56,58,60,62). Each relay receives a signal from either the alarm system or the surveillance system and retransmits the signal to the other system in a form that is compatible with the receiving system. The alarm system is configured to communicate alarm status information to the surveillance system, and the surveillance system is configured to communicate control signals to the alarm system, such as an alarm system reset signal.

An in-car video system and method is provided where a wireless microphone is configured with bi-directional communications capability. In response to a received RF activation signal, the wireless microphone is automatically switched on to capture (and transmit back to the in-car video system) an audio soundtrack that accompanies the images captured by the car-mounted video camera. A wireless microphone controller mounted in the car transmits the RF activation signal to the wireless microphone. The wireless microphone controller is arranged to transmit the RF activation signal when the video recording device starts recording. In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the wireless microphone receives information, including a confirmation that the video recording device is recording, from an RF information signal received from the wireless microphone controller mounted in the car. The wireless microphone displays the information to the officer on a display screen. The wireless microphone sounds an audible alert when it receives the RF activation or information signals.

A compact video image recording device for recording video images before and after a triggering event and which utilizes no moving parts is disclosed. The recording device includes at least one camera wherein each camera comprises a lens and a video image sensor. Each video image sensor generates an electronic signal representative of a video image impinging the respective sensor. The output of each image sensor is processed, compressed and generally employed to produce frame data which are successively stored in a successive frame locations of a semiconductor memory organized as a circular buffer memory. Upon the occurrence of a triggering event, a additional frames are stored in the buffer memory and further storage of frames then terminates. A video record is thus created of video images received both before and after the triggering event via a device which contains no moving parts and which can withstand substantial shock and vibration.

A meeting facilitation tool may perform and / or facilitate the planning, scheduling, holding, and / or following up of meeting related activities. A meeting facilitation tool may schedule a meeting time by interacting with meeting participants to determine a time range during which all the participants are available. Additionally, a meeting facilitation tool may programmatically interact with calendar data to schedule the meeting with each participant. A meeting facilitation tool may also allow reviewing of information for previous meetings. Additionally, a meeting facilitation tool may configure and / or initiate teleconferencing or video conferencing as well as the audio and / or video recording of the meeting. A meeting facilitation tool may also track and completion of action items assigned during a meeting.

A method and system for continually storing and cataloguing streams of broadcast content, allowing real-time searching and real-time results display of all catalogued video. A bank of video recording devices store and index all video content on any number of broadcast sources. This video is stored along with the associated program information such as program name, description, airdate and channel. A parallel process obtains the text of the program, either from the closed captioning data stream, or by using a speech-to-text system. Once the text is decoded, stored, and indexed, users can then perform searches against the text, and view matching video immediately along with its associated text and broadcast information. Users can retrieve program information by other methods, such as by airdate, originating station, program name and program description. An alerting mechanism scans all content in real-time and can be configured to notify users by various means upon the occurrence of a specified search criteria in the video stream. The system is preferably designed to be used on publicly available broadcast video content, but can also be used to catalog private video, such as conference speeches or audio-only content such as radio broadcasts.

An improved system and method for advertising to video program viewers that sends a signal from a signal provider that contains a video program file, a video advertisement file, a video program data file, and a video advertisement data file to a viewer's addressable video recording device (DVR). When the signal is received by the DVR, the video and program and data files are separated and stored locally in separate databases. The video program file may be delivered directly to the viewer' television or monitor for immediate viewing. The video program data information file contains the target demographic profile information and the commercial break information for the video program. The video advertisement file and the video advertisement data file are stored in a video advertisement library database and video advertisement information, database, respectively. Loaded into the memory of the DVR is an advertisement play list generator software program that generates a list of advertisements stored on the DVR recorder to be played back during the video program.

The present invention may be regarded as a video recording system and method of enabling the recording of an external video data stream for a video program segment selected using an electronic program guide. The video recording system comprises a user interface that receives user input, a video input interface that receives the external video data stream for the selected video program segment, an isochronous interface connectable to an external rotating storage drive, and a video data management system. The video data management system uses the electronic program guide to select the video program segment in response to the user input. The video data management system recognizes connection of the external rotating storage drive to the video recording system and subsequently identifies the external rotating storage drive as available for video data storage. The video data management system uses the external video data stream for the video program segment to provide streaming video data, and routes at least a portion of the streaming video data to the external rotating storage drive via the isochronous interface in order to record the external video data stream for the video program segment.

A method, program and apparatus for criminal suspect identification are provided. Monitoring and video recording are used to collect information at a given location. In response to specific events, such as a criminal act, the system uses real time analysis of the video to identify physical characteristics of any persons shown. The system compiles an identification profile for each person, including distinguishing physical characteristics extracted from the video information, and then transmits the profiles to law enforcement authorities. The suspect-identification system also scans previously stored video information of the location, comparing profiles from the crime scene with images in the stored video. If any matches are found, the system updates the identification profiles with additional information from matched images and transmits the updated identification profile to the authorities.

The present invention may be regarded as a video recording system and method of transferring a non-time-critical, error-intolerant data segment stored on a disk drive, which is responsive to a set of data transfer commands generated by a host processor and which is operating in a mode optimized for transferring time-critical, error-tolerant streaming data segments stored or to be stored on the disk drive. The method includes sending a sequence of data transfer commands generated by the host processor to the disk drive to transfer a respective sequence of time-critical, error-tolerant streaming data segments at a required data transfer rate. The method further includes selectively interposing a first data transfer command into the sequence of data transfer commands, the first data transfer command initiating a first transfer of the non-time-critical, error-intolerant data segment from a first storage location. The method further includes transmitting a data transfer error signal generated by the disk drive to the host processor, the data transfer error signal having a state that indicates whether any data transfer errors have occurred with respect to the first transfer of the non-time-critical, error-intolerant data segment. The method further includes selectively interposing a second data transfer command into the sequence of data transfer commands, the second data transfer command initiating a second transfer of the non-time-critical, error-intolerant data segment from a second storage location, thereby utilizing storage redundancy to achieve an accuracy required for the non-time-critical, error-intolerant data segment while maintaining the required data transfer rate of the sequence of time-critical, error-tolerant data segments.

A method and system for producing and working with transcripts according to the invention eliminates the foregoing time inefficiencies. By dispersing a source recording to a transcription team in small segments, so that team members transcribe segments in parallel, a rapid transcription process delivers a fully edited transcript within minutes. Clients can view accurate, grammatically correct, proofread and fact-checked documents that shadow live proceedings by mere minutes. The rapid transcript includes time coding, speaker identification and summary. A viewer application allows a client to view a video recording side-by-side with a transcript. Clicking on a word in the transcript locates the corresponding recorded content; advancing a recording to a particular point locates and displays the corresponding spot in the transcript. The recording is viewed using common video features, and may be downloaded. The client can edit the transcript and insert comments. Any number of colleagues can view and edit simultaneously.

Methods for audio input at video recording comprising capturing a video sequence by a first apparatus; receiving by the first apparatus a audio sequence from a second apparatus captured simultaneously by the second apparatus; and compiling the video sequence and the received audio sequence, and comprising capturing an audio sequence by a second apparatus; transmitting the audio sequence from the second apparatus to a first apparatus having simultaneously captured a video sequence such that the video sequence and the audio sequence are compilable in the first apparatus, respectively, are disclosed. Apparatuses, system and computer programs for performing the methods are also disclosed.

A “Video Browser” provides interactive browsing of unique events occurring within an overall video recording. In particular, the Video Browser processes the video to generate a set of video sprites representing unique events occurring within the overall period of the video. These unique events include, for example, motion events, security events, or other predefined event types, occurring within all or part of the total period covered by the video. Once the video has been processed to identify the sprites, the sprites are then arranged over a background image extracted from the video to create an interactive static video montage. The interactive video montage illustrates all events occurring within the video in a single static frame. User selection of sprites within the montage causes either playback of a portion of the video in which the selected sprites were identified, or concurrent playback of the selected sprites within a dynamic video montage.