`
`PTO/SB/28 (04-07)
`Approved for use through 09/30/2007. 0MB 0651-0031
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid 0MB control number.
`
`PETITION TO MAKE SPECIAL UNDER ACCELERATED EXAMINATION PROGRAM
`
`Attorney Docket I 101488.0003US2
`Number
`
`First Named I Paul DeKeyser
`Inventor
`
`Application Number (if Known)
`
`I Loop Recording With Book Marking
`
`Title of
`Invention
`APPLICANT HEREBY PETITIONS TO MAKE THE ABOVE-IDENTIFIED APPLICATION SPECIAL UNDER THE
`REVISED ACCELERATED EXAMINATION PROGRAM. See Instruction sheet on page 3.
`Claims of the application:
`1.
`a. The application must contain three (3) or fewer independent claims and twenty (20) or fewer total claims. The
`application may not contain any multiple dependent claims.
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`b. Applicant hereby agrees not to separately argue the patentability of any dependent claim during any
`appeal in the application. Specifically, the applicant agrees that the dependent claims will be grouped together
`with and not argued separately from the independent claim from which they depend in any appeal brief filed in
`the application (37 CFR 41.37(c)(1 )(vii)).
`
`C. The claims must be directed to a single invention.
`
`I ntervIews:
`Applicant hereby agrees to have (if requested by examiner):
`a. An interview (including an interview before a first Office action) to discuss the prior art and any potential
`rejections or objections with the intention of clarifying and possibly resolving all issues with respect to
`patenlability at that lime, and
`
`b. A telephonic interview to make an election without traverse if the Office determines that the claims are not
`obviously directed to a single invention.
`neexammauon :;earcn .,,atement ana AcceIeratea 1:xammat1on :;upport uocument:
`With this petition, applicant is providing: a preexamination search statement, in compliance with the requirements
`set forth in item 8 of the instruction sheet, and an "accelerated examination support document" that includes:
`a. An information disclosure statement in compliance with 37 CFR 1.98 citing each reference deemed most
`closely related to the subject matter of each of the claims;
`
`b. For each reference cited, an identification of all the limitations of the claims that are disclosed by the
`reference specifying where the limitation is disclosed in the cited reference;
`
`C. A detailed explanation of how each of the claims are patentable over the references cited with the
`particularity required by 37 CFR 1.111(b) and (c);
`
`d. A concise statement of the utility of the invention as defined in each of the independent claims (unless the
`application is a design application);
`
`e. An identification of any cited references that may be disqualified as prior art under 35 U.S.C. 103(c) as
`amended by the CREA TE act; and
`
`f. A showing of where each limitation of the claims finds support under the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C.
`112 in the written description of the specification. If applicable, the showing must also identify: ( 1) each means-
`(or step-) plus-function claim element that invokes consideration under 35 U.S.C. 112, ,J6; and (2) the structure,
`material, or acts that correspond to any means- (or step-) plus-function claim element that invokes
`consideration under 35 U.S.C. 112, ,i6. If the application claims the benefit of one or more applications under
`title 35, United St ates Code, the showing must also include where each limitation of the claims finds support
`under the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112 in each such application in which such support exists.
`
`The information is required to obtain or retain a benefit by the public which is to file (and by the USPTO to process) an application. Confidentiality is governed by
`35 U.S.C. 122 and 37 CFR 1.11 and 1.14. This form is estimated to take 12 hours to complete, including gathering, preparing, and submitting the completed
`application form to the US PTO. Time will vary depending upon the individual case. Any comments on the amount of time you require to complete this form and/or
`suggestions for reducing this burden, should be sent to the Chief Information Officer, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, U.S. Department of Commerce, P.O. Box
`1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450. DO NOT SEND FEES OR COMPLETED FORMS TO THIS ADDRESS. If you need assistance in completing the form, call
`1-800-PTO-9199 and select option 2.
`EFS Web 2.2
`
`
`
`Doc Code: PET.SPRE.ACX
`
`PTO/SB/28 (04-07)
`Approved for use through 09/30/2007. 0MB 0651-0031
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid 0MB control number.
`
`PETITION TO MAKE SPECIAL UNDER ACCELERATED EXAMINATION PROGRAM
`(Continued)
`First Named I Paul DeKeyser
`Inventor
`
`Attorney Docket I 101488.0003US2
`Number
`
`I
`
`Attachments:
`
`a.
`
`b.
`
`C.
`
`d.
`
`□
`
`Accelerated Examination Support Document (see item 3 above).
`
`A statement, in compliance with the requirements set forth in item 8 of the instruction sheet, detailing the preexamination
`search which was conducted.
`
`Information Disclosure Statement.
`
`Other (e.g., a statement that the claimed subject matter is directed to environmental quality, energy, or
`countering terrorism (37 CFR 1.102(c)(2)).
`
`Fees: The following fees must be filed electronically via EFS or EFS-Web:
`
`a.
`
`b.
`
`The basic filing fee, search fee, examination fee, and application size fee (if required) under 37 CFR 1.16.
`
`Petition fee under 37 CFR 1.17(h) - unless the petition is filed with a showing under 37 CFR 1.102(c)(2).
`
`Signature:
`
`Click Remove if you wish to remove this signatory
`
`Remove
`
`Signature
`
`/Robert D. Fish/
`
`Name
`(Print/Typed)
`
`Robert D. Fish
`
`Click Add if you wish to add additional signatory
`
`Date
`
`2008-11-10
`
`Registration
`Number
`
`33880
`
`Add
`
`Note: Signatures of all the inventors or assignees of record of the entire interest or their representative(s) are required in accordance with 37 CFR 1.33 and 10. 18. Please
`see 37 CFR 1.4(d) for the form of the signature.
`
`EFS Web 2.2
`
`
`
`PTO/SB/28 (04-07)
`Approved for use through 09/30/2007. 0MB 0651-0031
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid 0MB control number.
`
`Instruction Sheet Petition to Make Special Under the Accelerated Examination
`A grantable petition must meet the following conditions:
`1. The petition to make special under the accelerated examination program must be filed with the application and accompanied by the
`fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(h) or a statement that the claimed subject matter is directed to environmental quality, energy, or
`countering terrorism.
`
`2. The application must be a non-reissue utility or design application filed under 35 U.S.C. 111 (a).
`
`3. The application must be filed electronically using the Office electronic filing system (EFS) or EFS-Web.
`
`4. The application must be complete under 37 CFR 1.51 and in condition for examination on filing. For example, the application must be
`filed together with the basic filing fee, search fee, examination fee, and application size fee (if applicable), and an oath or declaration
`under 37 CFR 1.63.
`
`5. The application must contain three (3) or fewer independent claims and twenty (20) or fewer total claims. The application may not
`contain any multiple dependent claims. The petition must include a statement that applicant will agree not to separately argue the
`patentability of any dependent claim during any appeal in the application. Specifically, the applicant is agreeing that the
`dependent claims will be grouped together with and not argued separately from the independent claim from which they depend in any
`appeal brief filed in the application (37 CFR 41.37(c)(1 )(vii)).
`
`6. The claims must be directed to a single invention. The petition must include a statement that applicant will agree to have a
`telephonic interview to make an election without traverse in a telephonic interview if the Office determines that all the claims are not
`directed to a single invention.
`
`7. The petition must include a statement that applicant will agree to have an interview (including an interview before a first Office action)
`to discuss the prior art and any potential rejections or objections with the intention of clarifying and possibly resolving all issues with
`respect to patentability at that time.
`
`8. At the time of filing, applicant must provide a statement that a preexamination search was conducted, including an identification of
`the field of search by United States class and subclass and the date of the search, where applicable, and, for database searches, the
`search logic or chemical structure or sequence used as a query, the name of the file or files searched and the database service, and
`the date of the search.
`a. This preexamination search must involve U.S. patents and patent application publications, foreign patent documents, and nonpatent
`literature, unless the applicant can justify with reasonable certainty that no references more pertinent than those already
`identified are likely to be found in the eliminated source and includes such a justification with this statement.
`b. This preexamination search must be directed to the claimed invention and encompass all of the features of the independent claims,
`giving the claims the broadest reasonable interpretation.
`c. The preexamination search must also encompass the disclosed features that may be claimed, in that an amendment to the claims
`(including any new claim) that is not encompassed by the preexamination search will be treated as non-responsive and will not be
`entered.
`d. A search report from a foreign patent office will not be accepted unless the search report satisfies the requirements set forth above.
`e. Any statement in support of a petition to make special must be based on a good faith belief that the preexamination search was
`conducted in compliance with these requirement. See 37 CFR 1.56 and 10.18.
`
`9. At the time of filing, applicant must provide in support of the petition an accelerated examination support document that includes:
`a. An information disclosure statement in compliance with 37 CFR 1.98 citing each reference deemed most closely
`related to the
`subject matter of each of the claims;
`b. For each reference cited, an identification of all the limitations of the claims that are disclosed by the reference specifying
`where the limitation is disclosed in the cited reference;
`c. A detailed explanation of how each of the claims are patentable over the references cited with the particularity required by 37
`CFR 1.111(b)and (c);
`d. A concise statement of the utility of the invention as defined in each of the independent claims (unless the application is a
`design application);
`e. An identification of any cited references that may be disqualified as prior art under 35 U.S.C. 103(c) as amended by the CREATE
`act; and
`f. A showing of where each limitation of the claims finds support under the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112 in the written
`description of the specification. If applicable, the showing must also identify: (1) each means- (or step-) plus-function claim
`element that invokes consideration under 35 U.S.C. 112, 1f6; and (2) the structure, material, or acts that correspond to any means(cid:173)
`(or step-) plus-function claim element that invokes consideration under 35 U.S.C. 112, 1f6. If the application claims the benefit of
`one or more applications under title 35, United States Code, the showing must also include where each limitation of the claims
`finds support under the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112 in each such application in which such support exists.
`For more information, see notice "Changes to Practice for Petitions in Patent Applications to Make Special and for Accelerated
`Examination" available on the USPTO web site at http://www.uspto.gov/webloffice slpacldapplogsheet.html
`
`EFS Web 2.2
`
`
`
`Privacy Act Statement
`
`The Privacy Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-579) requires that you be given certain information in connection with your submission of the attached form related to
`a patent application or patent. Accordingly, pursuant to the requirements of the Act, please be advised that: (1) the general authority for the collection
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`The information on this form will be treated confidentially to the extent allowed under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and
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`A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to the public after either publication of the application pursuant
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`CFR 1.14, as a routine use, to the public if the record was filed in an application which became abandoned or in which the proceedings were
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`A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to a Federal, State, or local law enforcement agency, if the
`USPTO becomes aware of a violation or potential violation of law or regulation.
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`
`
`PTOISB/01 (10-08)
`Approved for use through 06130/2010. 0MB 0651-0032
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`Under the Paoerwork Reduction Act of 1995 no □ arsons are reouired to resoond to a collection of information unless it contains a valid 0MB control number.
`Attorney Docket
`Number
`First Named Inventor
`
`Doc Code: OATH
`Document Description: Oath or declaration filed
`
`r
`
`DECLARATION FOR UTILITY OR
`DESIGN
`PATENT APPLICATION
`(37 CFR 1.63)
`
`101488.0003US2
`
`Paul DeKeyser
`COMPLETE IF KNOWN
`
`~ Declaration
`
`Submitted
`With Initial
`Filing
`
`OR
`
`□ Declaration
`
`Submitted after Initial
`Filing (surcharge
`(37 CFR 1.16 (f))
`required)
`
`Application Number
`
`Filing Date
`
`Art Unit
`
`Examiner Name
`
`I hereby declare that: (1) Each inventor's residence, mailing address, and citizenship are as stated below next to their name;
`and (2) I believe the inventor(s) named below to be the original and first inventor(s) of the subject matter which is claimed and
`for which a patent is soui:iht on the invention entitled:
`Loop Recording with Book Marking
`
`the application of which
`(xi
`
`is attached hereto
`OR
`□ was filed on (MM/DD/YYYY)
`
`Application Number
`
`... I _______ _,
`
`(Title of the Invention)
`
`as United States Application Number or PCT International
`
`and was amended on (MM/DDNYYY)
`
`.__ ______ _.I
`
`(if applicable).
`
`I hereby state that I have reviewed and understand the contents of the above identified application, including the claims, as
`amended by any amendment specifically referred to above.
`
`I acknowledge the duty to disclose information which is material to patentability as defined in 37 CFR 1.56, including for
`continuation-in-part applications, material information which became available between the filing date of the prior application
`and the national or PCT international filing date of the continuation-in-part application.
`
`Authorization To Permit Access To Application by Participating Offices
`
`Ix] If checked, the undersigned hereby grants the USPTO authority to provide the European Patent Office {EPO), the Japan
`Patent Office (JPO), the Korean Intellectual Property Office {KIPO), and any other intellectual property offices in which a
`foreign application claiming priority to the above-identified application is filed access to the above-identified patent
`application. See 37 CFR 1.14(c) and (h). This box should not be checked if the applicant does not wish the EPO, JPO,
`KIPO, or other intellectual property office in which a foreign application claming priority to the above-identified application is
`filed to have access to the application.
`
`In accordance with 37 CFR 1.14(h)(3), access will be provided to a copy of the application-as-filed with respect to: 1) the
`above-identified application, 2) any foreign application to which the above-identified application claims priority under 35 USC
`119(a)-(d) if a copy of the foreign application that satisfies the certified copy requirement of 37 CFR 1.55 has been filed in the
`above-identified US application, and 3) any U.S. application from which benefit is sought in the above-identified application.
`
`In accordance with 37 CFR 1.14{c), access may be provided to information concerning the date of filing the Authorization to
`Permit Access to Application by Participating Offices.
`
`[Page 1 of 3]
`
`This collection of information Is required by 35 U.S.C. 115 and 37 CFR 1.63. The information is required to obtain or retain a benefit by the public which is to file
`(and by the USPTO to process) an application. Confidentiality is governed by 35 U.S.C. 122 and 37 CFR 1.11 and 1.14. This collection is estimated to take 21
`minutes to complete, including gathering, preparing, and submitting the completed application form to the USPTO. Time will vary depending upon the individual
`case. Any comments on the amount of time you require to complete this form and/or suggestions for reducing this burden, should be sent to the Chief Information
`Officer, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, U.S. Department of Commerce, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450. DO NOT SEND FEES OR COMPLETED
`FORMS TO THIS ADDRESS. SEND TO: Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandrla, VA 22313-1450.
`If you need assisrance in completing the form, call 1-BOO-PT0-9199 and select option 2.
`
`
`
`PTO/SB/01 (10-08)
`Approved for use through 06/30/2010. 0MB 0651-0032
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it contains a valid 0MB control number.
`
`DECLARATION - Utility or Design Patent Application
`
`Claim of Foreign Priority Benefits
`
`I hereby claim foreign priority benefits under 35 U.s.c_ 119(a)-(d) or (f), or 365(b) of any foreign application(s) for patent,
`inventor's or plant breeder's rights certificate(s), or 365(a) of any PCT international application which designated at least one
`country other than the United States of America, listed below and have also identified below, by checking the box, any foreign
`application for patent, inventor's or plant breeder's rights certificate(s), or any PCT international application having a filing date
`before that of the application on which priority is claimed-
`
`Prior Foreign Application
`Numbers
`
`Countrv
`
`Priority
`Certified Copy Attached?
`Not Claimed
`NO
`YES
`□ □ □
`□ □ □
`□ □ □
`□ □
`□
`□ Additional foreign application numbers are listed on a supplemental priority data sheet PTO/SB/02B attached hereto.
`
`Foreign Filing Date
`MM/DD/YYYY
`
`[Page 2 of 3]
`
`
`
`PTOISB/01 (10-08)
`Approved for use through 06/3012010. 0MB 065HJ032
`U.S. Patent and Trademar11 Office; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
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`
`DECLARATION - Utility or Design Patent Application
`
`Direct all
`correspondence to:
`
`Ix] The address
`associated with
`Customer Number:
`
`I
`
`24392
`
`I
`
`OR □ Correspondence
`address below
`
`Name
`
`Address
`
`City
`
`Country
`
`State
`
`ZIP
`
`Telephone
`
`
`WARNING:
`Petitfoner/applicanl is cautioned to avoid submitting personal information in documents filed in a patent application that may contribute to
`identity theft. Personal information such as social security numbers, bank account numbers, or credit card numbers (other than a check or
`credit card authorization form PT0-2038 submitted for payment purposes) is never required by the USPTO to support a petition or an
`If this type of personal information is included in documents submitted to the USPTO, petitioners/applicants should consider
`application.
`redacting such personal information from the documents before submitting them to the USPTO. Petitioner/applicant is advised that the record
`of a patent application is available to the public after publication of the application (unless a non-publication request in compliance with 37
`CFR 1.213(a) is made in the application) or issuance of a patent. Furthermore, the record from an abandoned application may also be
`available to !he public if the applicatfon is referenced in a published application or an issued patent (see 37 CFR 1.14). Checks and credit
`card authorization forms PT0-2038 submitted for payment purposes are not retained in the application file and therefore are not publicly
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`into the Privacy Act system of records DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, COMMERCE-PAT-?, System name: Patent Application Files.
`Documents not retained in an application file (such as the PT0-2038) are placed into the Privacy Act system of COMMERCE/PAT-TM-10,
`System name: Deposit Accounts and Electronic Funds Transfer Profiles.
`
`I hereby declare that all statements made herein of my own knowledge are true and that all statements made on information
`and belief are believed to be true; and further that these statements were made with the knowledge that willful false
`statements and the like so made are punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both, under 18 U.S.C. 1001 and that such willful
`false statements may jeopardize the validity of the application or any patent issued thereon.
`
`NAME OF SOLE OR FIRST INVENTOR:
`
`Given Name (first and middle ~f any])
`
`Paul
`
`I D A petition has been filed for this unsigned inventor
`
`Family Name or Surname
`
`DeKeyser
`
`lnventoi's =/4
`
`,
`Residence: City
`Irvine
`Mailing Address 55 Hidden Trail
`
`1 -
`State
`
`CA
`
`Country
`
`Citizenship
`
`us
`
`us
`
`} ./i
`c..
`(J y-
`
`/(
`Date
`
`City
`Irvine
`
`State
`
`CA
`
`n Additional inventors or a legal representative are being named on the
`
`I Zip
`
`92603
`
`I Country
`
`us
`
`supplemental sheet(s) PTO/SB/02A or 02LR attached hereto.
`
`[Page 3 of 3]
`
`
`
`Attny DktNo: 101488.0003US2
`
`LOOP RECORDING WITH BOOK MARKING
`
`[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application serial no. 11/770920,
`
`filed June 29, 2007, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent 60/824097, filed August
`
`31, 2006, and this application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application serial no.
`
`11/846217, filed August 28, 2007, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent
`
`60/824095, filed August 31, 2006. These and all other referenced extrinsic materials are
`
`incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Where a definition or use of a term in an
`
`incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein,
`
`the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference
`
`does not apply.
`
`I. Field of the Invention
`
`[0002] The field of the invention is video camera recording technology.
`
`II. Background
`
`[0003] Conventional camcorders use a variety of storage formats including digital video
`
`cassettes, mini-DY cassettes, or DVD-R discs that offer a limited amount of memory to store
`
`data. One of the major shortcomings of the existing camcorder technology is that the memory
`
`runs out too soon. Once a portion of the memory has been recorded, there is less memory
`
`available for further recording. Then when the memory is full, users have to return to their
`
`home/work computer or media station to transfer the recorded data from the camera to free up
`
`the memory. This creates inconvenience and inflexibility for recording on the go.
`
`[0004] WO 2006/044476 to Vanman describes an electronic camera mounted to a police vehicle
`
`with a circular buffer that is constantly recording. When the camera reaches the end of the
`
`memory it records from the beginning of memory, erasing the earliest recorded data. Such
`
`technology is often employed with surveillance cameras for long and continuous recording with
`
`little or no supervision. However, Vanman does not distinguish or differentiate any data that is
`
`of importance. To save data in the buffer, the user of the Vanman device needs to transfer
`
`important portions of the buffer wirelessly to a central office or physically to a DVD disc, or else
`
`1
`
`
`
`Attny DktNo: 101488.0003US2
`
`risk having the interesting data be recorded over during loop recording. Such transfers are
`
`processor intensive and may not be possible when the central office is out of range or an empty
`
`DVD disc is unavailable.
`
`[0005] Vanman and all other extrinsic materials identified herein are incorporated by reference
`
`in their entirety. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent
`
`or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided
`
`herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
`
`[0006] EP 1064783 to Mann describes a camera mountable to a pair of eyeglasses that
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`continuously saves recorded images to a circular buffer in a computer on the user's waist. When
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`a user wants to save a piece of recorded video, the user must stop recording and offload the data
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`at another location before the user can record again. Mann also discusses streaming the images
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`directly to a wireless memory that may have a larger capacity; however, this means that the
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`camera does not work in the absence of a wireless connection. U.S. Patent 5,523,799 to Hattori
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`et al. also describes storing data in a memory having an archival portion. However, Hattori fails
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`to address sending data to a remote memory.
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`[0007] Thus, there is still a need for a recording camera that provides better recording and
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`editing functions.
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`III.
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`Summary of the Invention
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`[0008] The present invention provides apparatus, systems, and methods in which a surveillance
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`apparatus processes images by (1) continuously recording a stream of imaged data, (2) write
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`protecting segments of the recorded stream, and (3) sending write protected segments from a
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`local memory to a remote memory using a wireless transmitter.
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`[0009] The surveillance apparatus generally has a camera functionally coupled to a local
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`memory with a circular buffer. As used herein, the term "a local memory functionally coupled to
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`the camera" means that the memory that is distanced less than 20 cm from the camera, and is
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`coupled to the camera using entirely physical connectors (e.g., wires, pins, conductive paths,
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`etc.). This contrasts with a "remote memory functionally coupled to the camera", which would
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`be a memory that is distanced from the camera by at least 20 cm, or is coupled to the camera
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`2
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`
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`Attny DktNo: 101488.0003US2
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`using a wireless connection. The circular buffer is preferably organized into a series of memory
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`segments that loops back on itself and is organized into both available segments and write(cid:173)
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`protected segments. This allows a recording facility to record the data stream available in
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`portions of the circular buffer while skipping over write-protected matter. Preferably, the local
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`memory is large enough to store at least 5 or 10 minutes of imaged data.
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`[0010] Preferably, the recording facility continuously records the data stream into the circular
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`buffer any time the surveillance apparatus is powered on. As used herein, the term "continuous"
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`with respect to recording a video data stream means that data is recorded at least every half
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`second over a given ten second period. When a signal to record is sent to the surveillance
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`apparatus, a protecting facility designates a segment of the circular buffer to be write-protected
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`to prevent that segment from being overwritten during the next recording loop. Part of the write(cid:173)
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`protected portion could be a pre-recorded subset that is recorded before the signal is received,
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`while part of the write-protected portion could be a post-recorded subset that is recorded after the
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`signal is received. The pre-recorded subset could be as long as 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 30
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`seconds, or more. Preferably, various aspects of both the pre-recorded subset and the post(cid:173)
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`recorded subset can be configured with a user interface. While the write-protected portions
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`could be electronically indexed using a memory heap or a clustered index, the write-protected
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`portions are preferably stored as separate files in the memory. Such files could be stored in
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`physically dis-contiguous parts of the circular buffer. Additionally, the indexing is preferably
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`performed while the recording facility is still recording data into the memory.
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`[0011] The signal to record is preferably automatically triggered by a sensor that detects an
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`image in the camera or a sound by the camera's microphone. For example, the signal to record
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`could be triggered by a human face, an open book, a computer screen, a whistle, a verbal
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`command, a recognized object, or a pattern of knocks. Alternatively, a user interface could
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`allow a human user to manually send the signal to record and could even allow the human user to
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`designate a length of time of the pre-recorded subset or the post-recorded subset. A user could
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`send two signals, one to start recording and another to stop recording, but preferably the user
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`merely sends a signal to start recording for a specified perio