Abstract: A panoramic video camera includes a lens having a horizontal FOV portion of 360° about an optical axis. The panoramic video camera includes an image sensor, a processor, and a storage medium. The processor executes programmatic instructions to analyze digital image files to locate an object and positions thereof to produce object position data. Executed programmatic instructions also generate a plurality of zoom levels for the respective digital image files based on the object position data. The zoom levels enable a playback device to visually show the object at varying magnifications during playback of a video segment derived from the digital image files. Zoom levels may alter image capture settings of the panoramic video camera, may alter playback device playback settings, or both.

Abstract: A panoramic video camera includes a lens, an image sensor, a processor, and a storage medium. The lens has a field of view that includes horizontal and vertical portions, with the horizontal portion being 360° about the lens' optical axis. The image sensor converts light passing through the lens into electronic signals and the storage medium stores digital image files constructed from the electronic signals. The processor is operable to: analyze the set of digital image files to locate an object within one or more panoramic images of the set of digital image files; process the set of digital image files such that portions of panoramic images including images of the object have higher resolutions than other portions of the panoramic images to produce processed digital image files; and control the transmitter to transmit the processed digital image files to the network.

Abstract: A first panoramic video camera of the multi-camera imaging system captures images to produce captured panoramic images. At least some panoramic images include images of an object being tracked by the multi-camera imaging system. The first panoramic video camera generates a set of digital image files based on the captured panoramic images. Each digital image file of the set of digital image files is time sequenced to reflect a time at which a panoramic image was captured. The first panoramic video camera receives over a, first wireless communication network, a control message relating to tracking the object. Responsive to the control message, the first panoramic video camera transmits at least a portion of the set of digital image files over a second wireless communication network, which supports higher data rate transmission than does the first wireless communication network.