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`PCT/US97/17886
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`generated by said video cameras and selected for storage.
`
`372. Video data storage apparatus according to claim
`
`370, wherein said third printed circuit board has mounted
`
`thereon an integrated circuit processing device for
`
`5 applying a moving image content analysis algorithm to said
`
`digitized fields of video information.
`
`373. Video data storage apparatus according to claim
`
`370, further comprising archive means, operatively
`
`connected to said microprocessor, for recording on a
`
`10 removable recording medium video data copied from said
`
`hard disk.
`
`374. Video data storage apparatus, comprising:
`
`a video information source for outputting at
`
`least one stream of video data fields;
`
`15
`
`storage means for storing said video data fields
`
`in the form of compressed video data;
`
`a housing;
`
`a motherboard mounted in said housing, said
`
`motherboard having mounted thereon a microprocessor for
`
`20 controlling storage of said compressed video data by said
`
`storage means;
`
`a second printed circuit board mounted in said
`
`housing and connected to said motherboard;
`
`a first digital signal processing integrated
`
`25 circuit (DSP-IC), mounted on said second printed circuit
`
`board, for exchanging data with said microprocessor and
`
`for applying a data compression algorithm to said at least
`
`one stream of video data fields; and
`
`30 printed circuit board, for processing said at least one
`
`at least one other DSP-IC mounted on said second
`
`stream of video data fields;
`
`said first DSP-IC transmitting command messages
`
`to, and receiving status messages from, said at least one
`
`other DSP-IC.
`
`35
`
`375. Video data storage apparatus according to claim
`
`374, wherein:
`
`said second printed circuit board has mounted
`
`thereon display processing circuitry for applying scaling
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`NETFLIX, INC
`Exhibit 1002
`IPR2018-01630
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`
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`WO 98/19450
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`PCT/US97/17886
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`processing and overlay mixing to said at least one stream
`
`of video data fields; and
`
`said at least one other DSP-IC mounted on said
`
`second printed circuit board includes:
`
`5
`
`a second DSP-IC for controlling said
`
`display processing circuitry, and
`
`content analysis algorithm to said at least one stream of
`
`a third DSP-IC for applying a moving image
`
`video data fields.
`
`10
`
`376. Video data storage apparatus according to claim
`
`375, wherein said data exchanged between said
`
`microprocessor and said first DSP-IC includes parameter
`
`data transmitted from said microprocessor to said first
`
`DSP-IC, said parameter data for constraining execution by
`
`15 said third DSP-IC of said moving image content analysis
`
`algorithm, said first DSP-IC transmitting said parameter
`
`data to said third DSP-IC.
`
`377. Video data storage apparatus according to claim
`
`374, said first DSP-IC comparing predetermined portions of
`
`20 said video data fields with corresponding portions of a
`
`reference video data field to determine whether said
`
`predetermined portions are to be stored by said storage
`
`means.
`
`378. Video data storage apparatus according to claim
`
`25 377, further including a JPEG integrated circuit, mounted
`
`on said second printed circuit board, for applying video
`
`data compression processing, in accordance with the JPEG
`
`compression standard to said reference video data field
`
`and to said predetermined portions of video data fields
`
`30 which said first DSP-IC determines are to be stored by
`
`said storage means.
`
`379. Video data storage apparatus according to claim
`
`374, wherein said storage means includes a hard disk
`
`within said housing.
`
`35
`
`380. A printed circuit board for a video data storage
`
`apparatus, the printed circuit board having means for
`
`receiving at least one stream of video data fields and
`
`having mounted thereon:
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`a first digital signal processing integrated
`circuit (DSP-IC) for applying a data compression algorithm
`to said at least one stream of video data fields;
`a second DSP-IC for controlling scaling and
`5 overlay mixing processes applied to said at least one
`stream of video data fields; and
`a third DSP-IC for applying a moving image
`content analysis algorithm to said at least one stream of
`
`10
`
`video data fields.
`381. A printed circuit board according to claim 380,
`wherein said first DSP-IC transmits command messages to,
`and receives status messages from, each of said second and
`
`third DSP-IC's.
`382. A printed circuit board according to claim 381,
`15 wherein said first DSP-IC exchanges data with a
`microprocessor not located on said printed circuit board.
`383. A structure for supporting a plurality of
`recording medium drive units in a video data storage
`
`apparatus, the structure comprising:
`a base member for supporting at least one of
`
`20
`
`said drive units;
`a second member, supported on said base member,
`for supporting at least a second one of said drive units;
`
`and
`
`25
`
`a third member, supported on said second member,
`for securing said at least second one of said drive units
`
`on said second member.
`384. A structure according to claim 383, wherein said
`third member is shaped and sized to support at least a
`
`30 third one of said plurality of drive units.
`385. A structure according to claim 384, wherein each
`of said base member, said second member and said third
`member is shaped and sized to support at least two of said
`
`35
`
`drive units.
`386. A structure according to claim 385, wherein each
`of said second member and said third member is shaped and
`sized to support two standard hard disk drive units.
`387. A structure according to claim 383, wherein said
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`base member includes a substantially planar and horizontal
`bottom plate and two vertical end walls emerging upwardly
`and integrally from respective opposite side edges of said
`
`bottom plate.
`
`5
`
`388. A structure according to claim 387, wherein said
`
`second member is substantially planar.
`
`389. A structure according to claim 388, wherein one
`
`of said vertical end walls of said base member has a pair
`
`of slots formed therein, and said second member has a pair
`
`10 of hinge-tabs formed thereon at respective positions that
`
`correspond to respective positions of said slots on said
`
`base member, each of said hinge-tabs for pivotally
`
`engaging a respective one of said slots.
`
`390. A structure according to claim 389, wherein each
`
`15 of said base member, said second member and said third
`
`member has a respective attachment tab formed thereon,
`
`each of the attachment tabs having a hole formed therein
`
`for accommodating a fastener, said base member, said
`
`second member and said third member being positioned with
`
`20 respect to each other so that the three holes in the
`
`attachment tabs are aligned to permit simultaneous
`
`insertion of the fastener through all three holes.
`
`391. A structure according to claim 388, wherein said
`
`second member has a pad mounted on a lower surface of said
`
`25 second member, said pad for pressing against a drive unit
`
`supported on said base member.
`
`392. A structure according to claim 391, wherein said
`
`third member includes a substantially planar and
`
`horizontal top plate and two vertical end walls emerging
`
`30 downwardly and integrally from respective opposite side
`
`edges of said top plate.
`
`393. A structure according to claim 392, wherein said
`
`top plate of said third member has a pad mounted on a
`
`lower surface of said top plate, said pad on said top
`
`35 plate for pressing against a drive unit supported on said
`
`second member.
`
`394. A multiple record medium drive unit assembly for
`
`use in a video data storage apparatus, the assembly
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`comprising:
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`PCT/US97/17886
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`a base member;
`
`a pair of record medium drive units mounted on
`
`said base member;
`
`5
`
`a second support member positioned above said
`
`drive units and supported on said base member;
`
`a third record medium drive unit mounted on said
`
`second support member;
`
`a third support member supported on said second
`
`10 support member; and
`
`means for securing said base member, said second
`
`support member and said third support member to each
`
`other.
`
`395. An assembly according to claim 394, further
`
`15 comprising a fourth record medium drive unit supported on
`
`said second support member.
`
`396. An assembly according to claim 395, further
`
`comprising a fifth record medium drive unit supported on
`
`said third support member.
`
`20
`
`397. An assembly according to claim 396, further
`
`comprising a sixth recording medium drive unit supported
`
`on said third support member.
`
`398. An assembly according to claim 394, further
`
`comprising a fourth record medium drive unit supported on
`
`25 said third support member.
`
`399. An assembly according to claim 394, wherein one
`
`of said pair of drive units mounted on said base member is
`
`for driving a removable recording medium.
`
`400. An assembly according to claim 399, wherein said
`
`30 other one of said pair of drive units is a floppy disk
`
`drive and the third drive unit is a hard disk drive.
`
`401. An assembly according to claim 400, wherein said
`
`removable recording medium is a digital audio tape.
`
`402. An assembly according to claim 400, wherein said
`
`35 removable recording medium is a DVD.
`
`403. An assembly according to claim 400, wherein said
`
`removable recording medium is a writable optical disk.
`
`404. An assembly according to claim 400, wherein said
`
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`removable recording medium is a magneto-optical disk.
`405. A video data storage apparatus, comprising:
`source means for providing video data;
`
`5 storage medium for storing said video data provided by
`
`first storage means including a first
`
`said source means;
`
`storage medium on which video data provided by said source
`
`second storage means including a second
`
`means has been recorded;
`
`10
`
`third storage means including a third
`
`storage medium for storing video data to be archived; and
`
`control means for controlling said first
`
`storage means to store said video data provided by said
`
`source means, while controlling said second and third
`
`15 storage means to transfer said video data recorded on said
`
`second storage medium from said second storage medium to
`
`said third storage medium.
`
`406. Apparatus according to claim 405, wherein said
`
`first storage medium is a first hard disk, said second
`
`20 storage medium is
`
`a second hard disk, and said third
`
`storage medium is a
`
`magnetic tape.
`
`according to claim 406, wherein said
`407. Apparatus
`
`is a helical-scan tape recorder.
`third storage means
`
`according to claim 407, wherein said
`408. Apparatus
`
`records said. video data to be archived
`25 third storage means
`
`on said third storage medium in accordance with a standard
`
`format for digital audio tape recording.
`
`409. Apparatus according to claim 405, wherein said
`
`source means includes a plurality of video cameras, each
`
`30 generating a respective sequence of frames of video
`
`signals, and conversion means for converting the
`
`respective sequences of frames of video signals into
`
`respective sequences of frames of digital video data.
`
`410. Apparatus according to claim 409, further
`
`35 comprising index generating means for generating, with
`
`respect to the frames of digital video data, index data
`
`indicative of respective times at which the frames of
`
`digital video data were generated, the ones of the
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`plurality of cameras which generated the frames of digital
`
`video data, and locations on said first storage medium at
`
`which said frames of digital video data are recorded.
`
`411. Apparatus according to claim 410, wherein said
`
`5 index data generated by said index data generating means
`
`further includes data indicative of events represented by
`
`the sequences of frames of digital video data.
`
`412. Apparatus according to claim 410, further
`
`comprising means for receiving signals indicative of alarm
`
`10 conditions, and wherein said index data generated by said
`
`index data generating means further includes data
`
`indicative of said alarm conditions.
`
`413. Apparatus according to claim 410, further
`
`comprising fourth storage means including a fourth storage
`
`15 medium for storing said index data generated by said index
`
`data generating means.
`
`414. Apparatus according to claim 413, wherein said
`
`fourth storage medium is a hard disk.
`
`415. Apparatus according to claim 413, wherein said
`
`20 control means controls said fourth storage means to read
`
`out said index data from said fourth storage medium
`
`416. Apparatus according to claim 415, wherein said
`
`control means controls said third storage means to record
`
`on said third storage medium the index data read out from
`
`25 said fourth storage medium.
`
`417. Apparatus according to claim 413, wherein said
`
`control means controls said first storage means to record
`
`on said first storage medium the index data generated by
`
`said index data generating means.
`
`30
`
`418. Apparatus according to claim 405, wherein said
`
`control means determines what portion of said first
`
`storage medium remains available for storing said video
`
`data provided by said source means and determines what
`
`quantity of the video data recorded on said second storage
`
`35 medium remains to be transferred to said third storage
`
`medium, said control means comparing said available
`
`proportion of said first storage medium and said quantity
`
`of video data remaining to be transferred from said second
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`storage medium, and said control means selecting, on the
`basis of a result of said comparison, a storage rate at
`which said first storage means stores on said first
`storage medium said video data provided by said source
`
`5 means.
`419. Apparatus according to claim 418, wherein said
`storage rate selected by said control means is a frame
`rate at which said first storage means stores on said
`first storage medium frames of said video data provided by
`
`10 said source means.
`420. A method of archiving video data stored in a
`video data storage apparatus, the apparatus including a
`plurality of video cameras, first and second video data
`storage hard disks, an index data storage hard disk, an
`15 archive recording medium and a drive unit for the archive
`recording medium, the method comprising the steps of:
`(a) storing on said first video data
`storage hard disk video data representative of dynamic
`video signal streams generated by said video cameras,
`20 while storing on said index data storage hard disk index
`data indicative of times of recording and sources of the
`video data being stored on said first video data storage
`
`hard disk;
`
`(b) concurrently with step (a), recording
`25 on said archive recording medium all video data stored on
`said second video data storage hard disk and index data
`stored on said index data storage hard disk and indicative
`of times of recording and sources of the video data stored
`on said second video data storage hard disk; and
`(c) after completion of step (b),
`(i) storing on said second video
`data storage hard disk video
`
`30
`
`35
`
`data representative of dynamic
`
`video signal streams generated
`
`by said video cameras; and
`
`(ii) concurrently with step (c)(i),
`
`recording on said archive
`
`recording medium index data
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`5
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`10
`
`stored on said index data
`storage hard disk and indicative
`
`of times of recording and
`
`sources of the video data stored
`
`on said first video data storage
`
`hard disk during step (a) and
`
`also storing on said archive
`
`recording medium said video data
`
`stored on said first video data
`
`storage hard disk during step
`
`(a).
`
`421. A method according to claim 420, wherein step
`
`(c) is performed immediately upon completion of step (b).
`
`422. A method according to claim 420, wherein step
`
`15 (c) is deferred after completion of step (b), until a
`
`predetermined quantity of video data has been stored on
`
`said first video data storage hard disk.
`
`423. An apparatus for storing and retrieving video
`
`data, comprising:
`
`20
`
`a plurality of video cameras generating
`
`respective sequences of video signals;
`
`a first hard disk for selectively storing
`
`video data corresponding to the video signals generated by
`
`said video cameras, and for selectively outputting the
`
`25 video data stored on said first hard disk;
`
`a second hard disk for selectively storing
`
`video data corresponding to the video signals generated by
`
`said video cameras, and for selectively outputting the
`
`video data stored on said second hard disk;
`
`30
`
`an archive medium drive unit for
`
`selectively recording on an archive recording medium video
`data stored on and outputted from said first and second
`
`hard disks;
`
`display means for selectively displaying an
`
`35 image corresponding to video data stored on and outputted
`
`from said first and second hard disks; and
`
`and second hard disks, said archive medium drive unit and
`
`control means for controlling said first
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`said display means, said control means selectively
`performing recording operations in which video data
`corresponding to the video signals generated by said video
`cameras is recorded on a selected one of said hard disks,
`5 playback operations in which said display means displays
`
`an image corresponding to video data read from a selected
`one of said hard disks, and archiving operations in which
`video data outputted from a selected one of said hard
`disks is recorded on said archive recording medium, at
`
`10 least some of said recording, playback and archiving
`
`operations exhibiting dynamic variations in a quantity of
`
`video data involved in said operations, said control means
`
`having a finite processing capacity and allocating its
`
`said processing capacity so as to give priority to said
`
`15 recording operations relative to said playback operations
`
`and so as to give priority to said playback operations
`
`relative to said archiving operations.
`
`424. Apparatus according to claim 423, wherein said
`
`archive medium drive unit operates in accordance with a
`
`20 standard digital audio tape (DAT) format.
`
`425. Apparatus according to claim 423, wherein said
`
`archive medium drive unit is selected from a group
`
`consisting of a writable optical disk drive, a DVD drive,
`
`a magneto-optical disk drive, and a removable hard disk
`
`25 drive.
`
`426. A video data storage apparatus, comprising:
`
`video information source means for
`
`sequence of frames of video data;
`providing a
`
`30 medium for
`
`storing video data provided by said video
`
`primary storage means including a storage
`
`information source means;
`
`archive storage means for storing video
`
`data to be archived; and
`
`control means for controlling said primary
`
`35 storage means to store said video data provided by said
`video information source means at a storage rate selected
`
`by said control means, said control means also controlling
`said primary storage means and said archive storage means
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`to transfer to said archive storage means video data
`
`stored by said primary storage means, said control means
`
`calculating a first time for completion of transferring of
`
`a predetermined quantity of stored video data from said
`
`5 primary storage means to said archive storage means, and
`
`calculating a second time for completion of storing on
`
`said primary storage means of a predetermined number of
`
`fields of video data to be provided by said video
`
`information source means, said control means comparing
`
`10 said calculated first and second times and, on the basis
`
`of a result of said comparison, selecting said storage
`
`rate at which said primary storage means stores said video
`
`data provided by said video information source means.
`
`427. Apparatus according to claim 426, wherein, if
`
`15 said first time is earlier than said second time, said
`
`control means selects a first field rate at which said
`
`primary storage means stores said video data provided by
`
`said video information source means, and if said second
`
`time is earlier than said first time, said control means
`
`20 selects a second field rate at which said primary storage
`
`means stores said video data provided by said video
`
`information source means, said second field rate being
`
`slower than said first field rate.
`
`428. Apparatus according to claim 426, wherein said
`
`25 primary storage means includes a first storage medium on
`
`which video data currently provided by said video
`
`information source means is being stored and a second
`
`storage medium from which previously stored video data is
`
`currently being transferred to said archive storage means.
`
`30
`
`429. Apparatus according to claim 428, wherein said
`
`first storage medium is a first hard disk, said second
`
`storage medium is a second hard disk, and said archive
`
`storage means includes a magnetic recording tape on which
`
`is recorded the video data transferred from said second
`
`35 hard disk.
`
`430. Video information storage apparatus, comprising:
`
`a plurality of video cameras each for generating
`
`a respective stream of video information;
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`a housing;
`storage means fixedly mounted in said housing
`for storing the streams of video information;
`archive means for driving a recording medium
`5 that is removable from said housing, said archive means
`being operated to copy onto a sequence of removable
`recording media video information sequentially stored on
`said storage means; and
`means for generating removable media data and
`10 for recording said removable media data on said storage
`means, said removable media data including data
`corresponding to each of a plurality of said removable
`recording media upon which said video information was
`copied, said data corresponding to each removable
`15 recording medium including data indicative of the video
`cameras by which and the times at which the video
`information copied on the recording medium was generated.
`431. Video information storage apparatus according to
`claim 430, wherein said storage means includes a first
`20 hard disk and a second hard disk, said video information
`being stored on, and copied onto said removable media
`from, said first hard disk, and said removable media data
`being recorded on said second hard disk.
`432. Video information storage apparatus according to
`25 claim 430, wherein said storage means includes a hard disk
`on which said removable media data is recorded and from
`which said video information is copied onto said removable
`
`media.
`433. Video information storage apparatus according to
`30 claim 430, wherein said archive means includes a digital
`audio tape deck.
`434. A closed-circuit video surveillance system,
`comprising:
`a plurality of video cameras;
`selection means for selecting one or more of
`
`35
`
`said video cameras;
`display means for displaying video images
`generated by ones of said video cameras selected by said
`
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`selection means; and
`control means for controlling said display
`means, said control means causing said display means to
`display a plurality of symbols each representative of a
`5 respective one of said video cameras, said control means
`also causing said display means to display an indication
`
`in association with at least one of said symbols to
`
`indicate that the camera or cameras corresponding to said
`
`at least one of said symbols have been selected by said
`
`10 selection means.
`
`435. A closed-circuit video surveillance system
`
`according to claim 434, wherein said control means causes
`
`said display means to display the video images generated
`
`by the selected video camera or cameras in a first portion
`
`15 of a display screen and to display said symbols
`
`representative of said plurality of video cameras in a
`
`second portion of said display screen.
`
`436. A closed-circuit video surveillance system
`
`to claim 435, wherein
`according
`20 representative of said plurality of video cameras are
`
`symbols
`
`said
`
`buttons on which a cursor is selectively positioned to
`
`select corresponding ones of said video cameras.
`
`437. A closed-circuit video surveillance system
`
`according to claim 436, wherein said second portion of
`25 said display screen is displaced downwardly from said
`
`first position of said display screen.
`438. A method of indicating a display status of video
`
`cameras selected for display from among a plurality of
`
`video cameras included in a closed-circuit video
`30 surveillance system, the method comprising the steps of:
`
`displaying in a window on a display screen
`
`images generated by one or more of said cameras, said one
`
`or more of said cameras having been selected for display;
`displaying, outside of said window on said
`
`35 display screen, a plurality of symbols each corresponding
`
`to a respective one of said plurality of video cameras
`
`included in said closed-circuit video surveillance system;
`
`and
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`displaying one or more indicia for indicating
`which one or ones of said plurality of video cameras have
`been selected for display, each of said one or more
`
`indicia being displayed in proximity to one of said
`5 symbols which corresponds to a video camera selected for
`
`display.
`
`439. A closed-circuit video surveillance system,
`
`comprising:
`
`a plurality of video cameras;
`
`10
`
`display-selection means for display-selecting
`
`one or more of said video cameras;
`
`display means including a display screen for
`
`displaying respective streams of video images generated by
`
`ones of said video cameras display-selected by said
`
`15 display-selection means, each respective displayed stream
`
`of video images being displayed in a respective display
`
`window on said display screen;
`
`record-selection means for record-selecting one
`
`or more of said video cameras;
`
`20
`
`recording means for recording video information
`
`corresponding to the video images generated by ones of
`
`said video cameras record-selected by said record-
`
`selection means; and
`
`25 means, said control means causing said display means to
`
`control means for controlling said display
`
`display a record-enable indicia at a border of each said
`
`display window, said record-enable indicia for indicating
`
`whether the display-selected video camera corresponding to
`
`the respective display window is currently record-selected
`
`30 by said record selection means.
`
`440. A closed-circuit video surveillance system
`
`according to claim 439, wherein said display means
`
`simultaneously displays in respective display windows the
`
`video image streams generated by a plurality of display-
`
`35 selected cameras, said display means simultaneously
`
`displaying a respective record-enable indicia at a
`
`respective border of each of said simultaneously-displayed
`
`display windows.
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`441. A closed-circuit video surveillance system
`according to claim 440, wherein said display means
`simultaneously displays four display windows each
`corresponding to a respective display-selected video
`
`5 camera.
`442. A closed-circuit video surveillance system
`according to claim 441, wherein said display means
`simultaneously displays nine display windows each
`corresponding to a respective display-selected video
`
`10 camera.
`443. A closed-circuit video surveillance system
`according to claim 439, wherein said recording means
`records the video information corresponding to the video
`images generated by each of said record-selected video
`15 cameras according to a respective selected one of a
`plurality of recording modes, said plurality of recording
`modes including a first recording mode in which images
`generated by the respective record-selected camera are
`continuously recorded at intervals that do not exceed a
`20 maximum interval, and a second recording mode in which
`images generated by the respective record-selected camera
`are only recorded in response to detection of an alarm
`condition, the record-enable indicia displayed for each
`video camera that is both record- and display-selected
`25 being displayed in a first state when the first recording
`mode is currently selected for the respective video
`camera, and being displayed in a second state different
`from the first state when the second recording mode is
`currently selected for the respective video camera.
`444. A closed-circuit video surveillance system
`according to claim 439, wherein said recording means
`includes at least one hard disk on which is recorded the
`video information corresponding to the video images
`generated by said record-selected video cameras.
`445. A method of indicating a recording status with
`respect to video cameras included in a closed-circuit
`video surveillance system, the method comprising the steps
`
`30
`
`35
`
`of:
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`displaying in a window on a display screen a
`dynamic image generated by one of said video cameras;
`displaying at a border of said window a record-
`enable indicia to indicate whether signals output by said
`5 one of said video cameras have been selected for
`recording.
`446. A method according to claim 445, further
`comprising the step of simultaneously displaying, in
`respective windows, a plurality of image streams each
`10 generated by a respective one of said video cameras, each
`of said windows having a border at which a respective
`record-enable indicia is provided to indicate whether
`signals of the respective video camera have been selected
`
`15
`
`for recording.
`447. In a closed-circuit video surveillance system
`including a video camera, a method of automatically
`diagnosing the video camera, comprising the steps of:
`storing a reference image generated by the video
`
`camera;
`
`20
`
`analyzing the stored reference image to form
`reference parameters indicative of characteristics of the
`
`stored reference image;
`
`storing the reference parameters;
`automatically and periodically operating the
`
`25 video camera to generate comparison images;
`
`storing and analyzing the comparison images to
`
`generate
`
`comparison
`
`parameters
`
`indicative
`
`of
`
`characteristics of the respective comparison images; and
`comparing the comparison parameters with the
`
`30 stored reference parameters;
`at least one of said comparison images being
`generated at least five days after said reference image
`
`was stored.
`448. A method according to claim 447, wherein at
`35 least one of said comparison images is generated at least
`100 days after said reference image was stored.
`449. A method according to claim 447, wherein said
`reference parameters include a color histogram and a
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`spatial frequency distribution.
`450. A method according to step 447, wherein said
`step of periodically operating the video camera to
`generate said comparison images is performed weekly.
`451. Apparatus for automatically diagnosing a video
`camera included in a closed-circuit video surveillance
`system, the apparatus comprising:
`means for storing a reference image generated by
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`the video camera;
`means for analyzing the stored reference image
`to form reference parameters indicative of characteristics
`of the stored reference image;
`means for storing the reference parameters;
`calendar means for generating calendar signals;
`diagnosis operation means, responsive to said
`calendar signals, for automatically and periodically
`operating the video camera to generate comparison images;
`means for storing and analyzing the comparison
`images to generate comparison parameters indicative of
`20 characteristics of the respective comparison images; and
`means for comparing the comparison parameters
`with the stored reference parameters;
`said diagnosis operation means causing said
`video camera to