| Method for video/audio recording using unrestricted pre-event/post-event buffering with multiple bit and frame rates buffer files -> Monitor Keywords |
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Method for video/audio recording using unrestricted pre-event/post-event buffering with multiple bit and frame rates buffer filesRelated Patent Categories: Television Signal Processing For Dynamic Recording Or Reproducing, Processing Of Television Signal For Dynamic Recording Or Reproducing, Time (e.g., Phase Or Frequency) Correction, Of Relative Transducer/record Medium SpeedMethod for video/audio recording using unrestricted pre-event/post-event buffering with multiple bit and frame rates buffer files description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070217761, Method for video/audio recording using unrestricted pre-event/post-event buffering with multiple bit and frame rates buffer files. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
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 1 10, is in communication with a video camera 120, a general purpose computer 107, which may be separate as shown or integrated with the digital video recording device 106 as one unit, an audio input device (not shown), and a storage medium, for example, a hard disk drive 105. Digital video recording device 106 may interface with triggering devices (e.g., siren, light bar, air bag, vibration sensor) and/or switches for triggering permanent recording of the video and audio data to the hard disk drive 105. The video camera 120 is generally mounted to capture video data out the front window of the vehicle 110. An audio input device (not shown) may, in any combination, be mounted in the vehicle 110, worn by an officer, and/or provided as an output of the vehicle's two-way radio. [0006] Generally, audio and video data is transferred to a storage medium, such as hard disk drive 105. In operation, a trigger event activates the digital video recording device 106 and in this way, the video and audio data is captured and then written to a memory device, such as hard disk drive 105. The recorded video data may then be archived, for example, by transferring (uploading) the data to a network for archiving or removing the hard disk drive to which it is recorded. 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. [0007] One known approach for addressing this problem involves only activating the digital video recorder in response to specific triggering events, such as an opening of a door, turning on a siren and/or lights, or removing a gun from a rack. By only recording when particular events occur, such arrangements can reduce the amount of video information to be recorded. [0008] However, such techniques are cumbersome and costly in many ways. Often, when an event has been recorded, it is found to be of no use to the enforcement agency after it has been stored in the physical space of a law enforcement vehicle. In addition, these required triggering events tend to ensure that the period of time after the ending of the event will not be recorded. 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. [0009] Therefore, a need exists for an improved method and an apparatus for digital video recording. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] One embodiment provides a vehicle-mounted digital video recording device for capturing video data during an event comprising a storage medium, a buffer, and a processing device configured to record video data for a first pre-determined amount of time into the buffer prior to receiving a signal indicating a start of the event, continue to record video data of the event into the buffer after receiving the signal indicating the start of the event, continue to record video data for a second pre-determined amount of time after receiving a signal indicating an end of the event, and extract the video data from the buffer and store it in a storage medium. [0011] Another embodiment provides a method for recording video data with a vehicle-mounted digital video capturing device corresponding to an event comprising recording pre-event video data into a buffer prior to receiving a signal indicating a start of the event, recording event video data into the buffer after receiving a signal indicating the start of the event, recording post-event data into the buffer after receiving a signal indicating an end of the event, extracting the pre-event video data, the event video data and the post-event video data from the buffer after recording a pre-determined amount video data of the post-event video data into the buffer, and storing the pre-event video data, the event video data and the post-event video data in a storage medium. [0012] Another embodiment provides a method for recording video data corresponding to an event, comprising monitoring for a signal indicating a start of an event, recording video data of the event after detecting the signal indicating a start of the event, wherein the video data of the event is stored at different resolutions in at least two separate buffers, selecting the video data stored in one of the buffers after detecting a signal indicating an end of the event, and storing the selected video data in a storage medium. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. [0014] FIGS. 1 illustrates an exemplary layout of a law enforcement vehicle, using a digital video recording device; [0015] FIG. 2 illustrates how a buffer file may be used, according to an embodiment of the present invention; [0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of a processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention; [0017] FIG. 4 illustrates how multiple buffer files may be used, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and [0018] FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of a processing method according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0019] Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatuses that may be utilized to more efficiently use available storage space for a digital video recording system in a law enforcement vehicle. For example, 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 buffer files, the system ensures that storage device is effectively used and, in this way, useful information is recorded. [0020] While the following description of the system is described with reference to a law enforcement vehicle, the same techniques may be applied to other applications where surveillance and video data monitoring may be useful, such as military and security systems. Continue reading about Method for video/audio recording using unrestricted pre-event/post-event buffering with multiple bit and frame rates buffer files... 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