Video information management system which provides intelligent responses to video data content features

Claim 1

Apparatus for analyzing and storing video data, comprising: means for generating said video data; analysis means for analyzing the video data generated by said means for generating to detect a predetermined characteristic of said video data; and storage means for storing the analyzed video data, said storage means including a first data storage device and a second data storage device, said storage means routing said analyzed video data to a selected one of said first and second data storage devices in response to detection by said analysis means of said predetermined characteristic of said video data; wherein said second data storage device is selectively connectable to said means for generating said video data, and said storage means establishes a data communication path connection between said means for generating and said second data storage device in response to detection by said analysis means of said characteristic of said video data.

Claim 35

An apparatus for analyzing and storing video data, comprising: a first video camera for generating first video data; a second video camera for generating second video data; storage means for storing the second video data generated by said second video camera; and means for analyzing said first video data generated by said first video camera to detect a predetermined characteristic of said first video data; wherein said storage means stores a first predetermined number of fields of said second video data per unit time during periods in which said means for analyzing does not detect said predetermined characteristic of said first video data, and said storage means stores a second predetermined number of fields, larger than said first predetermined number of fields, of said second video data per unit time during periods in which said means for analyzing detects said predetermined characteristic of said first video data.

Claim 36

An apparatus for analyzing and storing video data, comprising: a first video camera for generating first video data; a second video camera for generating second video data; storage means for storing the second video data generated by said second video camera; and means for analyzing said first video data generated by said first video camera to detect a predetermined characteristic of said first video data; wherein said storage means stores a first predetermined number of fields of said second video data per unit time during periods in which said means for analyzing does not detect said predetermined characteristic of said first video data, and said storage means stores a second predetermined number of fields, larger than said first predetermined number of fields, of said second video data per unit time during periods in which said means for analyzing detects said predetermined characteristic of said first video data.

Claim 37

An apparatus for analyzing, storing and displaying video information, comprising: first camera means for generating a first stream of video data; second camera means for generating a second stream of video data; first storage means for selectively storing at least one of said first and second streams of video data; second storage means for selectively storing at least one of said first and second streams of video data; transmission means for selecting one of said first and second storage means to receive said first stream of video data; display means for selectively displaying at least one of said first and second streams of video data; analysis means for analyzing said first stream of video data to detect a predetermined characteristic of said first stream of video data; and action means, responsive to said analysis means, for performing at least one of the following actions in dependence upon whether said analysis means detects said predetermined characteristic of said first stream of video data: changing a characteristic of an image displayed on said display means, at least part of said image representing said first stream of video data; controlling said transmission means to change over between said first and second storage means; changing a field of view of at least one of said first camera means and said second camera means; causing said analysis means to carry out a video data analysis algorithm with respect to said second stream of video data; selecting said second stream of video data for storage in at least one of said first and second storage means; causing said display means to display an image at least part of which is representative of said second stream of video data; and causing said analysis means to carry out a video data analysis algorithm with respect to video data stored in and read out from one of said first and second storage means; wherein said predetermined characteristic of said first stream of video data detected by said analysis means is selected from the group consisting of: acceleration of an object represented by said first stream of video data; change in acceleration of an object represented by said first stream of video data; shape of an object represented by said first stream of video data; change of shape of an object represented by said first stream of video data; and texture of an object represented by said first stream of video data.

Claim 38

An apparatus for analyzing, storing and displaying video information, comprising: first camera means for generating a first stream of video data; second camera means for generating a second stream of video data; first storage means for selectively storing at least one of said first and second streams of video data; second storage means for selectively storing at least one of said first and second streams of video data; transmission means for selecting one of said first and second storage means to receive said first stream of video data; display means for selectively displaying at least one of said first and second streams of video data; analysis means for analyzing said first stream of video data to detect a predetermined characteristic of said first stream of video data; and action means, responsive to said analysis means, for performing at least one of the following actions in dependence upon whether said analysis means detects said predetermined characteristic of said first stream of video data: changing a characteristic of an image displayed on said display means, at least part of said image representing said first stream of video data; controlling said transmission means to change over between said first and second storage means; changing a field of view of at least one of said first camera means and said second camera means; causing said analysis means to carry out a video data analysis algorithm with respect to said second stream of video data; selecting said second stream of video data for storage in at least one of said first and second storage means; causing said display means to display an image at least part of which is representative of said second stream of video data; and causing said analysis means to carry out a video data analysis algorithm with respect to video data stored in and read out from one of said first and second storage means; wherein said predetermined characteristic of said first stream of video data detected by said analysis means is selected from the group consisting of: acceleration of an object represented by said first stream of video data; change in acceleration of an object represented by said first stream of video data; shape of an object represented by said first stream of video data; change of shape of an object represented by said first stream of video data; and texture of an object represented by said first stream of video data.

Claim 39

An apparatus for analyzing, storing and displaying video information, comprising: first camera means for generating a first stream of video data; second camera means for generating a second stream of video data; first storage means for selectively storing at least one of said first and second streams of video data; second storage means for selectively storing at least one of said first and second streams of video data; transmission means for selecting one of said first and second storage means to receive said first stream of video data; display means for selectively displaying at least one of said first and second streams of video data; analysis means for analyzing said first stream of video data to detect a plurality of predetermined characteristics of said first stream of video data; and action means, responsive to said analysis means, for performing at least one of the following actions in dependence upon whether said analysis means detects said plurality of predetermined characteristics of said first stream of video data: changing a characteristic of an image displayed on said display means, at least part of said image representing said first stream of video data; controlling said transmission means to change over between said first and second storage means; changing a field of view of at least one of said first camera means and said second camera means; causing said analysis means to carry out a video data analysis algorithm with respect to said second stream of video data; selecting said second stream of video data for storage in at least one of said first and second storage means; causing said display means to display an image at least part of which is representative of said second stream of video data; and causing said analysis means to carry out a video data analysis algorithm with respect to video data stored in and read out from one of said first and second storage means; wherein said plurality of predetermined characteristics of said first stream of video data detected by said analysis means are selected from the group consisting of: motion of an object represented by said first stream of video data; acceleration of an object represented by said first stream of video data; change in acceleration of an object represented by said first stream of video data; shape of an object represented by said first stream of video data; change of shape of an object represented by said first stream of video data; and texture of an object represented by said first stream of video data.

Claim 40

An apparatus for analyzing, storing and displaying video information, comprising: first camera means for generating a first stream of video data; second camera means for generating a second stream of video data; first storage means for selectively storing at least one of said first and second streams of video data; second storage means for selectively storing at least one of said first and second streams of video data; transmission means for selecting one of said first and second storage means to receive said first stream of video data; display means for selectively displaying at least one of said first and second streams of video data; analysis means for analyzing said first stream of video data to detect a plurality of predetermined characteristics of said first stream of video data; and action means, responsive to said analysis means, for performing at least one of the following actions in dependence upon whether said analysis means detects said plurality of predetermined characteristics of said first stream of video data: changing a characteristic of an image displayed on said display means, at least part of said image representing said first stream of video data; controlling said transmission means to change over between said first and second storage means; changing a field of view of at least one of said first camera means and said second camera means; causing said analysis means to carry out a video data analysis algorithm with respect to said second stream of video data; selecting said second stream of video data for storage in at least one of said first and second storage means; causing said display means to display an image at least part of which is representative of said second stream of video data; and causing said analysis means to carry out a video data analysis algorithm with respect to video data stored in and read out from one of said first and second storage means; wherein said plurality of predetermined characteristics of said first stream of video data detected by said analysis means are selected from the group consisting of: motion of an object represented by said first stream of video data; acceleration of an object represented by said first stream of video data; change in acceleration of an object represented by said first stream of video data; shape of an object represented by said first stream of video data; change of shape of an object represented by said first stream of video data; and texture of an object represented by said first stream of video data.

Claim 41

An apparatus for storing, analyzing and displaying video information, comprising: storage means for storing a stream of video data, said stream of video data representing a dynamic video image; detecting means for detecting a predetermined characteristic of said stream of video data stored in said storage means; display means for displaying images corresponding to said stream of video data stored in said storage means; a display buffer for storing image data transferred from said storage means and for reading out image data stored in said display buffer, said image data read out from said display buffer being supplied to said display means to cause the display means to display an image corresponding to said supplied image data; and action means, responsive to said detecting means, for performing at least one of the following actions in dependence upon whether said detecting means detects said predetermined characteristic of said stream of video data stored in said storage means: selecting between a first display buffer update mode in which the data stored in said display buffer is updated according to a progressive image scan and a second display buffer update mode in which the data stored in said display buffer is updated according to an interlaced image scan; selecting a rate at which the data stored in said display buffer is updated; selecting a spatial resolution with which said display means displays said images corresponding to said stream of video data stored in said storage means; and selecting for updating a portion of an image plane corresponding to the image plane displayed on said display means; wherein said predetermined characteristic of said stream of video data stored in said storage means is selected from the group consisting of: motion of an object represented by said stream of video data stored in said storage means; texture of an object represented by said stream of video data stored in said storage means; amplitude of a high frequency component of said stream of video data stored in said storage means; a degree to which said stream of video data stored in said storage means has been compressed; a degree to which said stream of video data stored in said storage means exhibits spatial correlation; and a degree to which said stream of video data stored in said storage means exhibits temporal correlation.

Claim 42

An apparatus for storing, analyzing and displaying video information, comprising: storage means for storing a stream of video data, said stream of video data representing a dynamic video image; detecting means for detecting a predetermined characteristic of said stream of video data stored in said storage means; display means for displaying images corresponding to said stream of video data stored in said storage means; a display buffer for storing image data transferred from said storage means and for reading out image data stored in said display buffer, said image data read out from said display buffer being supplied to said display means to cause the display means to display an image corresponding to said supplied image data; and action means, responsive to said detecting means, for performing at least one of the following actions in dependence upon whether said detecting means detects said predetermined characteristic of said stream of video data stored in said storage means: selecting between a first display buffer update mode in which the data stored in said display buffer is updated according to a progressive image scan and a second display buffer update mode in which the data stored in said display buffer is updated according to an interlaced image scan; selecting a rate at which the data stored in said display buffer is updated; selecting a spatial resolution with which said display means displays said images corresponding to said stream of video data stored in said storage means; and selecting for updating a portion of an image plane corresponding to the image plane displayed on said display means; wherein said predetermined characteristic of said stream of video data stored in said storage means is selected from the group consisting of: motion of an object represented by said stream of video data stored in said storage means; texture of an object represented by said stream of video data stored in said storage means; amplitude of a high frequency component of said stream of video data stored in said storage means; a degree to which said stream of video data stored in said storage means has been compressed; a degree to which said stream of video data stored in said storage means exhibits spatial correlation; and a degree to which said stream of video data stored in said storage means exhibits temporal correlation.

Claim 44

A method of analyzing video data, comprising the steps of: generating a stream of dynamic images; applying a moving image content analysis algorithm to said stream of dynamic images; and inhibiting application of said analysis algorithm to said stream of dynamic images, in response to detection of an alarm condition.

Claim 45

A method of analyzing video data, comprising the steps of: generating a stream of dynamic images; applying a moving image content analysis algorithm to said stream of dynamic images; and inhibiting application of said analysis algorithm to said stream of dynamic images, in response to detection of an alarm condition.

Claim 52

A method of simultaneously recording on a recording medium a plurality of streams of video information each generated by a respective video camera, comprising the steps of: determining whether an alarm condition is present; if no alarm condition is present, recording images generated by said video cameras on said recording medium at a first aggregate image rate, said aggregate image rate defining a total number of images currently being recorded on said recording medium per unit time; and if an alarm condition is determined to be present, recording images generated by said video cameras on said recording medium at a second aggregate image rate that is higher than said first aggregate image rate.

Claim 53

A method of simultaneously recording on a recording medium a plurality of streams of video information each generated by a respective video camera, comprising the steps of: determining whether an alarm condition is present; if no alarm condition is present, recording images generated by said video cameras on said recording medium at a first aggregate image rate, said aggregate image rate defining a total number of images currently being recorded on said recording medium per unit time; and if an alarm condition is determined to be present, recording images generated by said video cameras on said recording medium at a second aggregate image rate that is higher than said first aggregate image rate.