US5625410A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Video monitoring and conferencing system
Assignee: HAWK TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS LLC
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Filing: 1995-04-07
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Granted: 1997-04-29
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Expires: 2015-04-07
Abstract
Abstract A PC-based system for monitoring and storing representative images from video cameras may be utilized for security or other monitoring applications. Camera inputs from digital or analog sources are individually and independently digitized and displayed at a first set of image sizes, sampling rates, and frame rates, and may be stored in digital form on various recording media at a second set of image sizes, sampling rates, and frame rates, and these two sets of sizes and rates may or may not be identical. Provisions are included for adding detection or alarm systems which will automatically alter image size, sampling rate and/or frame rate of an individual input source, or activate other physical responses. In addition to security system monitoring, further applications of the invention are disclosed for process monitoring in manufacturing environments and also for applications in videoconferencing.
Inventors
- 👤 Kinya Washino
- 👤 Barry H. Schwab
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:34
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/14; G06F3/147; G06T; G06T9/00; G06T9/007; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/18; G08B13/189; G08B13/194; G08B13/196; G08B13/19639; G08B13/19645; G08B13/19665; G08B13/19667; G08B13/19671; G08B13/19673; G08B13/19678; G08B13/19691; G08B13/19693; G11; G11B; G11B27/00; G11B27/02; G11B27/031; G11B27/10; G11B27/34; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00127; H04N1/00281; H04N1/00283; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/66; H04N5/00; H04N5/222; H04N5/76; H04N5/765; H04N7/00; H04N7/01; H04N7/0125; H04N7/10; H04N7/14; H04N7/141; H04N7/142; H04N7/147; H04N7/15; H04N7/18; H04N7/181; H04N9/00; H04N9/79; H04N9/80; H04N9/804; H04N9/8042; G06F3/1454; G09; G09G; G09G2340/00; G09G2340/02; G09G2340/04; G09G2340/0407; G09G2340/0442; G11B2220/00; G11B2220/20; G11B2220/25; G11B2220/2508; G11B2220/2516; G11B2220/2525; G11B2220/40; G11B2220/41; G11B2220/45; G11B2220/455; G11B2220/60; G11B2220/61; G11B2220/90; G11B2220/91; G11B2220/913; G11B27/002; G11B27/022; G11B27/024; G11B27/032; G11B27/034; H04N21/00; H04N21/40; H04N21/41; H04N21/426; H04N5/77; H04N5/772; H04N5/78; H04N5/781; H04N5/782; H04N5/84; H04N5/85; H04N5/91; H04N5/915; H04N5/92; H04N5/926; H04N5/9261; H04N7/0117; H04N7/0122; H04N9/64; H04N9/641; H04N9/642
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A video storage and display system, comprising: a plurality of video cameras, each outputting a signal representative of a video image; means to receive the signals from each camera and digitally compress the images; two forms of high-capacity storage media, one being randomly searchable while the other continues to store the digitally compressed image; and a computer configured to receive the digitally compressed images, the computer being interfaced to the following devices: a display screen, means to receive externally derived operator commands, and the high-capacity storage media, and wherein the computer is programmed to perform the following functions: display the digitally compressed images from the cameras in different windows on the display screen, each window being associated with an update rate and dimensions in pixels, vary the dimensions and the rate at which a particular image is updated in its window in accordance with one of the externally derived commands, store the digitally compressed images in the high-capacity storage medium, and vary the dimensions and the rate at which a particular image is stored in accordance with one of the externally derived commands.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
A video storage and display system, comprising: a plurality of video cameras, each outputting a signal representative of a video image; means to receive the signals from each camera and digitally compress the images; two forms of high-capacity storage media, one being randomly searchable while the other continues to store the digitally compressed image; and a computer configured to receive the digitally compressed images, the computer being interfaced to the following devices: a display screen, means to receive externally derived operator commands, and the high-capacity storage media, and wherein the computer is programmed to perform the following functions: display the digitally compressed images from the cameras in different windows on the display screen, each window being associated with an update rate and dimensions in pixels, vary the dimensions and the rate at which a particular image is updated in its window in accordance with one of the externally derived commands, store the digitally compressed images in the high-capacity storage medium, and vary the dimensions and the rate at which a particular image is stored in accordance with one of the externally derived commands.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The video storage and display system of claim 1, further including means associated with the computer for controlling the operation of one or more of the video cameras.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The video storage and display system of claim 1, wherein the means to digitally compress the image from a particular camera is disposed at the location of the camera.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The video storage and display system of claim 1, wherein the means to digitally compress the image from a particular camera is disposed at the location of the computer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The video storage and display system of claim 1, further including a separate computer associated with each camera, the computers being networked together over a common communication bus, enabling an operator situated at a particular computer to display the images gathered by other cameras in separate windows on that operator's display screen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The video storage and display system of claim 1, wherein the high-capacity storage medium comprises a magnetic tape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The video storage and display system of claim 1, wherein the high-capacity storage medium comprises a magnetic disk.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
80 words
The method of simultaneously displaying and storing multiple video images, comprising the steps of: receiving video images from a plurality of sources; digitizing one or more of the images if not already in digital form; displaying at least certain of the digitized images in separate windows on a display device, using a first, predetermined frame rate and resolution associated with each window; and simultaneously storing the displayed images using a second, predetermined frame rate and resolution associated with each image.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
80 words
The method of simultaneously displaying and storing multiple video images, comprising the steps of: receiving video images from a plurality of sources; digitizing one or more of the images if not already in digital form; displaying at least certain of the digitized images in separate windows on a display device, using a first, predetermined frame rate and resolution associated with each window; and simultaneously storing the displayed images using a second, predetermined frame rate and resolution associated with each image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 8, further including the step of receiving a command to set the frame rate and resolution associated with the display and storage of a particular image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the command is based upon an operator input.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the command is based upon an external stimulus.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
84 words
The method of simultaneously displaying and storing multiple video images, comprising the steps of: receiving video images from a plurality of sources; digitizing one or more of the images if not already in digital form; displaying at least certain of the digitized images in separate windows on a display device, using a first set of temporal and spatial parameters associated with each image in each window; simultaneously storing the displayed images using a second set of temporal and spatial parameters associated with each image.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
84 words
The method of simultaneously displaying and storing multiple video images, comprising the steps of: receiving video images from a plurality of sources; digitizing one or more of the images if not already in digital form; displaying at least certain of the digitized images in separate windows on a display device, using a first set of temporal and spatial parameters associated with each image in each window; simultaneously storing the displayed images using a second set of temporal and spatial parameters associated with each image.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 12, the temporal parameters including frame rate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 12, the spatial parameters including image dimension in pixels.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
195 words
A video storage and display system, comprising: a plurality of video cameras, each outputting a signal representative of a video image; means to receive the signals from each camera and digitally compress the images; and a computer configured to receive the digitally compressed images, the computer being interfaced to the following devices: a display screen, means to receive externally derived operator commands including means for sensing a deviation from the normal-state image scene associated with at least one of the video cameras, the existence of the deviation being used as the basis for generating an externally derived command, and a high-capacity storage medium, and programmed to perform the following functions: display the digitally compressed images from the cameras in different windows on the display screen, each window being associated with an update rate and dimensions in pixels, vary the dimensions and the rate at which a particular image is updated in its window in accordance with one of the externally derived commands, store the digitally compressed images in the high-capacity storage medium, and vary the dimensions and the rate at which a particular image is stored in accordance with one of the externally derived commands.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
195 words
A video storage and display system, comprising: a plurality of video cameras, each outputting a signal representative of a video image; means to receive the signals from each camera and digitally compress the images; and a computer configured to receive the digitally compressed images, the computer being interfaced to the following devices: a display screen, means to receive externally derived operator commands including means for sensing a deviation from the normal-state image scene associated with at least one of the video cameras, the existence of the deviation being used as the basis for generating an externally derived command, and a high-capacity storage medium, and programmed to perform the following functions: display the digitally compressed images from the cameras in different windows on the display screen, each window being associated with an update rate and dimensions in pixels, vary the dimensions and the rate at which a particular image is updated in its window in accordance with one of the externally derived commands, store the digitally compressed images in the high-capacity storage medium, and vary the dimensions and the rate at which a particular image is stored in accordance with one of the externally derived commands.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-04-28 | 2000-10-28 | 2001-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-04-28 | 2004-10-28 | 2005-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-04-28 | 2008-10-28 | 2009-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |