Abstract: A surveillance camera system having a specialized camera assembly with a fixed-angle lens is provided in a housing designed to reduce the size and weight of the camera assembly and reduce the identifiability of the system as a surveillance camera. The camera assembly can include an integrated ball joint assembly to support the camera assembly at arbitrary angles. The ball joint can further provide a standard threaded mating component to secure the camera assembly. The surveillance camera system can employ a recessed housing partially shrouding the camera assembly in a ceiling installation and further reducing the observability of the camera assembly without obstructing the camera lens. Installed in the recessed housing with an integrated ball joint, the camera assembly retains pan and tilt adjustments common to current recessed dome surveillance cameras. The camera assembly supports attachment of a customizable front cover further obscuring the camera assembly.

Abstract: A surveillance camera system having a specialized camera assembly with a fixed-angle lens is provided in a housing designed to reduce the size and weight of the camera assembly and reduce the identifiability of the system as a surveillance camera. The camera assembly can include an integrated ball joint assembly to support the camera assembly at arbitrary angles. The ball joint can further provide a standard threaded mating component to secure the camera assembly. The surveillance camera system can employ a recessed housing partially shrouding the camera assembly in a ceiling installation and further reducing the observability of the camera assembly without obstructing the camera lens. Installed in the recessed housing with an integrated ball joint, the camera assembly retains pan and tilt adjustments common to current recessed dome surveillance cameras. The camera assembly supports attachment of a customizable front cover further obscuring the camera assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a video surveillance display comprising receiving an MPEG video stream comprising video data in I-frames and P-frames, storing the MPEG video stream in an input buffer, displaying the stored MPEG video stream in full-motion video, monitoring the amount of video data stored in the input buffer; and displaying only the I-frames of the stored MPEG video stream when the amount of video data stored in the input buffer is greater than a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A method of controlling a video source in a video surveillance system having a video source connected by a network to a workstation having a graphical user interface for enabling a user to control the video source comprising the steps of providing a video analysis program for analyzing the video images generated by the video source before the video images are transmitted over the network, providing a file containing the user interface controls for the graphical user interface and the parameters for configuring the video analysis program; storing the file in memory, downloading the file to the workstation at run time and enabling a user to configure the video analysis program by interacting with the graphical user interface.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for allowing a user to access an electronic device by entering a password from a first device having alphabetic letter keys and numerical digit keys and a second device having primarily numerical digit keys comprising creating an alphabetic letter conversion relationship between the alphabetic letter keys of the first device with the numerical digit keys of the second device, creating a numerical digit conversion relationship between the numerical digit keys of the first device with the numerical digit keys of the second device, receiving a first password entered from the first device having alphabetic letter keys and numerical digit keys, converting the first password to a second password that can be entered from the second device having primarily numerical digit keys by using the alphabetic letter conversion relationship and the numerical digit conversion relationship, and allowing a user to access the electronic device if the user enters the first password or the second password.

Abstract: A method and system of controlling a video surveillance system comprising providing a distributed video surveillance system having a plurality of devices, building a script having a parameter that is filled in when an event occurs, storing the script, detecting the occurrence of an event, loading data related to a first device from the plurality of devices in a first parameter to generate a first script, the first device being associated with the detection of the occurrence of an event, and executing the first script.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for superimposing a character on video for display on a video screen comprising providing a system capable of displaying a plurality of RGB pixel values on a video screen, designating a portion of the plurality of RGB pixel values to have special values, receiving video data having a first plurality of RGB pixel values for display on a video screen, superimposing a character on the video data to create a composite video having a second plurality of RGB pixel values for display on a video screen, determining if a first RGB pixel value from the second plurality of RGB pixel values is in the designated portion of the plurality of RGB pixel values, displaying the first RGB pixel value if the first RGB pixel value is not in the designated portion of the plurality of RGB pixel values, determining the special value for the first RGB pixel value if first the RGB pixel value is in the designated portion of the plurality of RGB pixel values, and displaying the determined special value for the fir

Abstract: A method of controlling a video source in a video surveillance system having a video source connected by a network to a workstation having a graphical user interface for enabling a user to control the video source comprising the steps of providing a video analysis program for analyzing the video images generated by the video source before the video images are transmitted over the network, providing a file containing the user interface controls for the graphical user interface and the parameters for configuring the video analysis program; storing the file in memory, downloading the file to the workstation at run time and enabling a user to configure the video analysis program by interacting with the graphical user interface.

Abstract: A workstation for a surveillance system comprising a display, a user input device and a control unit in communication with the display and the user input device. The user input device has a plurality of keys and a light source to light the keys with a plurality of different colors. The control unit generates an image on the display that has a plurality of differently colored icons with each of the icons symbolizing a function to be performed by the control unit. The control unit generates a control signal to the user input device causing the light source to light the plurality of keys in the user input device in colors to correspond to the colors of the icons in the image on the display. The control unit performs the control function corresponding to a particular icon from the plurality of differently colored icons when a user activates a key from the plurality keys having the color that corresponds to the color of the particular icon.

Abstract: A surveillance system controller comprising a housing, a first control module and a second control module. The first control module is located in a first location in the housing, and it is rotatable around a first axis so that the first control module can be rotated to a first angular position. The second control module is located in a second location in the housing, and it is rotatable around a second axis so that the second control module can be rotated to a second angular position independent of the first angular position.