Abstract: A method and system are provided for configuring or provisioning a digital video surveillance system (DVSS) element, such as a digital video recorder (DVR). Implementations described herein use a scannable device identifier, such as a bar code or a quick response (QR) code, to uniquely identify a DVSS element. Rather than relying on a technician connecting a laptop to the DVSS element using a direct wired connection, or on the availability of network connectivity, the bar code of the DVSS element is scanned, optionally a network name is assigned and a network password is calculated based on the scannable device identifier. A direct wireless connection is established between a mobile communications device and a wireless transceiver at the DVR. An authentication screen is displayed to enable the configuration connection and provide access to configuration functions for configuring or provisioning the DVSS element.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for discriminating areas of content from areas of noise in difference images of a digital video sequence. This allows the fewest bits possible to be used to encode areas of noise according to a video compression algorithm. The method comprises computing a difference frame from current image data and a reference frame; comparing at least one component of a candidate block within the difference frame to a threshold value to discriminate between content and noise; and encoding the candidate block if content is detected.

Abstract: A mobile event data recorder is described providing a contained environmental control system for a hard drive module for use in, or with, a vehicle. A hard drive housing with multiple hard drives and a vibration isolation system are provided within a hard drive module chassis. The vibration isolation system simultaneously provides triaxial isolation in each of two different orientations of the hard drive module. First and second vibration isolators connect the hard drive housing with adjoining walls of the chassis, the first and second vibration isolators positioned to achieve a natural resonant frequency suitable to isolate frequencies in the hard drive operating range, taking into account the forces that will be applied to the vehicle. The natural resonant frequency can be about 10 Hz or less, in order to isolate the hard drives from frequencies of greater than about 10 Hz.

Abstract: A method and system for encoding and recording data in a multi-stream format when the data is initially captured. The multiple streams of data can be combined to provide a high quality, or high resolution, representation, while a reduced subset of the streams can provide a lower quality, or lower resolution, representation. Data storage requirements can be reduced, by deleting one or more of the streams, when there is no longer a need for retention of the data at the higher quality.

Abstract: An environmental control system, or data pack, is provided in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The system allows for audio and video recording on hard drive media in situations where temperature, vibration and humidity would otherwise have prevented the use of such technology. The system can be used in conjunction with an event recorder for use in motor vehicles, trains and the like. The environmental control system includes a thermoelectric module connected to the hard drive and to a housing. The thermoelectric module is for transferring heat between the hard drive and the housing in response to an applied voltage in order to maintain a hard drive temperature within a hard drive operable temperature range. The vehicle operating temperature range includes temperatures outside the hard drive operable temperature range.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for automatic camera health monitoring, such as for a camera in a video surveillance system. The system preferably provides substantially continuous monitoring and detection of camera malfunction, due to either external or internal conditions. Camera malfunction is detected when a computed camera health measurement exceeds a malfunction threshold. The camera health measurement is computed based on a comparison of a current camera health record to a plurality of stored camera health records obtained in a learning mode, which characterize known states of normal camera operation. Aside from monitoring camera health, methods of the present invention can also be used to detect an object being added to or removed from a scene, or to detect a change in lighting in a scene, possibly caused by a defective light fixture.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for counting moving objects in a digital video stream. In contrast to known computationally-expensive methods, areas of motion are determined by threshold subtracting a current video frame from a short term average video scene. An object box surrounding an object is determined by threshold subtracting the current video frame from a long term average video scene. Coordinates of the moving object are identified by associating the area of motion with the object box, if it overlaps the area of motion, to define a moving object box. An event counter can be incremented when the moving object box is in a buffer zone in the current frame, and was in a detection zone in an earlier frame, and was initially detected in a buffer zone on the opposite side of the detection zone.

Abstract: A system for monitoring broadcast channels, includes a device for receiving a plurality of broadcast channels, a central search engine operable to search the received channels for a match with a pre-stored profile, a central memory connected to the search engine for storing the profile, and a plurality of user terminals connected to the search engine over a network. The search engine is responsive to commands from the user terminals to store the profiles to be searched in the memory in association with the identity of the user terminal from which the command was received. A device sends an alert signal over the network when a match is found with a pre-stored profile to the user terminal associated with the pre-stored profile. The alert signal identifies the broadcast channel matching the pre-stored profile.

Abstract: A method of detecting video sequences involves creating on-the-fly candidate digital signatures uniquely characteristic of successive groups of frames in accordance with a predetermined algorithm. The candidate digital signatures are compared with at least one signature of a stored sequence created in accordance with the predetermined algorithm. A candidate is identified as corresponding to the stored sequence in the event of a positive match.

Abstract: A method of processing a video stream, involves contemporaneously selecting first and second pairs of frames in the video stream with a predetermined period. The second pairs of frames have a longer period than the first pair. For each of the first and second pairs of frames, there is determined a difference value representing the number of pixels whose value has changed between the first and second frames of the pair. A particular logic level is generated depending on whether this difference value exceeds a predetermined threshold.