Abstract: A digital video system comprises a plurality of recorders and a client device. The recorders store digital video from a common source. The client device comprises a screen, an input device, and a processor configured to run a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI comprises a timeline, a selection indicator, availability indicators, and event tags. The timeline is adjustable by user input. The selection indicator is movable on the timeline by user input, and designates a time of interest. The availability indicators indicate aggregate availability statuses of video at each time on the timeline, from the plurality of recorders. The event tags indicate types and times or time ranges of events on the timeline. The client device is configured to receive video availability information from the plurality of recorders, and the processor is configured to update the GUI as the aggregate availability status of video changes.

Abstract: A digital video system comprises a plurality of recorders and a client device. The recorders store digital video from a common source. The client device comprises a screen, an input device, and a processor configured to run a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI comprises a timeline, a selection indicator, availability indicators, and event tags. The timeline is adjustable by user input. The selection indicator is movable on the timeline by user input, and designates a time of interest. The availability indicators indicate aggregate availability statuses of video at each time on the timeline, from the plurality of recorders. The event tags indicate types and times or time ranges of events on the timeline. The client device is configured to receive video availability information from the plurality of recorders, and the processor is configured to update the GUI as the aggregate availability status of video changes.

Abstract: An interface for searching and playing recorded video comprises a filmstrip snapshot sequence, a selection window, a first input device, a second input device, and a third input device. The filmstrip snapshot sequence comprises chronologically ordered snapshots associated with video segments of the recorded video. The snapshots are taken at regular intervals that may be equal to the length of the video segments. The selection window highlights consecutive snapshots from the filmstrip snapshot sequence. The first input device advances the filmstrip snapshot sequence, causing the selection window to highlight a chronologically later set of snapshots. The second input device zooms in on the filmstrip snapshot sequence as a function of time, causing a new set of snapshots to be retrieved at a smaller regular interval. The third input device causes the video segments associated with the highlighted snapshots to be played.