Remote network video content recorder system

Abstract

A concept and method for the remote management of and recording of digital video content from a remote IP video camera to an application server via the internet. The recorder system comprises a user device capable of running a user interface, a server running a communications interface, a recorder module, and a digital recording device, and at least one remote IP camera. Upon system initialization, a recorder object and an associated unique ID for the recorder instance are transmitted with the user interface to the user device. A remote user of the device may request a video image from an associated remote camera to be sent to the server where it is recorded on the recording device. The image does not transmit to the user device, minimizing bandwidth requirements on the control side. The server provides a safe, secure and network-optimized environment for capturing the recording.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 60 / 673,280 filed on Apr. 20, 2005.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to the field of remote video camera operations. More specifically, the present invention is a concept and method for the management and recording of digital video content from a remote IP video camera to an application server via the internet. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Remote controlled video capture devices comprising analog cameras linked by a dedicated network to camera control devices, monitors and recorders located in a control center are well known as a method of providing surveillance for security of buildings and other facilities. As shown in FIG. 1A, a typical dedicated system comprises a user device 101 running a client application functioning as a user agent 102 which controls an analog camera 103 via a communications interface 104 running on a server 105. Communica...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] The inventive concept permits a client application, functioning as a user agent on a web-enabled user device, to request a recording of live digital video content taken from an internet-linked IP video camera, and to have that recording made on a digital recording system located on a remote web application server. The recorder system does not require the client application (i.e., the user device) to receive or view the video content, but simply permits the user device to request and control the recording of the video content, transmitted via the internet, to a remote, reliable and secure location.

[0013] Also, because the client does not have to view or record the video content it is directing the recording of, the inventive concept minimizes bandwidth requirements associated with the remote control of the system. It thus permits the use of thin clients as user agents for exercising that control in applications such as surveillance systems. Options for receiving or viewing of the video content by the user device, if desired, may be exercised by known viewers (e.g., “Quicktime”) which may be associated with the camera and the user device as independent plug-ins.

Problems solved by technology

Communications channels between these dedicated devices typically comprise closed-network ethernet connections, limiting the scaling of the system to only those devices so provisioned.

These are not truly “web” cameras, in as much as they are not truly accessible directly through internet connections.

That is they cannot be controlled by a remote accessing party without the intervention of the dedicated computer.

This system, while providing a user with the ability to connect to a remote device via the internet, does not tend to provide “operation critical” deployments needed for surveillance operations.

This is because user-device-based camera access and recording embodiments are inherently less stable and reliable than the dedicated systems shown in FIG. 1, in which system optimization and resource management is handled by a dedicated system server 105.

In addition, none of the above systems is extendible to environments wherein a thin client might be employed to remotely manage and even monitor surveillance operations of a group of remote, network-ready IP video cameras, located in diverse geographical locations, and still maintain the capability to record video content from those operations.

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