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`Application Data Sheet 37 CFR 1.76
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`101488.0003US4
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`Application Number
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`Title of Invention
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`Loop Recording With Book Marking
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`Loop Recording With Book Marking
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`Loop Recording With Book Marking
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`PTO/SB/14 (02-07)
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`Application Data Sheet 37 CFR 1.76
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`101488.0003US4
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`Loop Recording With Book Marking
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`PTO/SB/14 (02-07)
`Approved for use through 02/28/2007. 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.
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`Application Data Sheet 37 CFR 1.76
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`Title of Invention
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`Loop Recording With Book Marking
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`

`

`Attny DktNo: 101488.0003US4
`
`LOOP RECORDING WITH BOOK MARKING
`
`[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application serial no 12/268286, filed
`
`November 10, 2008 which 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
`
`1
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`

`

`Attny DktNo: 101488.0003US4
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`important portions of the buffer wirelessly to a central office or physically to a DVD disc, or else
`
`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
`
`continuously saves recorded images to a circular buffer in a computer on the user's waist. When
`
`a user wants to save a piece of recorded video, the user must stop recording and offload the data
`
`at another location before the user can record again. Mann also discusses streaming the images
`
`directly to a wireless memory that may have a larger capacity; however, this means that the
`
`camera does not work in the absence of a wireless connection. U.S. Patent 5,523,799 to Hattori
`
`et al. also describes storing data in a memory having an archival portion. However, Hattori fails
`
`to address sending data to a remote memory.
`
`[0007] Thus, there is still a need for a recording camera that provides better recording and
`
`editing functions.
`
`III.
`
`Summary of the Invention
`
`[0008] The present invention provides apparatus, systems, and methods in which a surveillance
`
`apparatus processes images by (1) continuously recording a stream of imaged data, (2) write
`
`protecting segments of the recorded stream, and (3) sending write protected segments from a
`
`local memory to a remote memory using a wireless transmitter.
`
`[0009] The surveillance apparatus generally has a camera functionally coupled to a local
`
`memory with a circular buffer. As used herein, the term "a local memory functionally coupled to
`
`the camera" means that the memory that is distanced less than 20 cm from the camera, and is
`
`coupled to the camera using entirely physical connectors (e.g., wires, pins, conductive paths,
`
`etc.). This contrasts with a "remote memory functionally coupled to the camera", which would
`
`2
`
`

`

`Attny DktNo: 101488.0003US4
`
`be a memory that is distanced from the camera by at least 20 cm, or is coupled to the camera
`
`using a wireless connection. The circular buffer is preferably organized into a series of memory
`
`segments that loops back on itself and is organized into both available segments and write(cid:173)
`
`protected segments. This allows a recording facility to record the data stream available in
`
`portions of the circular buffer while skipping over write-protected matter. Preferably, the local
`
`memory is large enough to store at least 5 or 10 minutes of imaged data.
`
`[0010] Preferably, the recording facility continuously records the data stream into the circular
`
`buffer any time the surveillance apparatus is powered on. As used herein, the term "continuous"
`
`with respect to recording a video data stream means that data is recorded at least every half
`
`second over a given ten second period. When a signal to record is sent to the surveillance
`
`apparatus, a protecting facility designates a segment of the circular buffer to be write-protected
`
`to prevent that segment from being overwritten during the next recording loop. Part of the write(cid:173)
`
`protected portion could be a pre-recorded subset that is recorded before the signal is received,
`
`while part of the write-protected portion could be a post-recorded subset that is recorded after the
`
`signal is received. The pre-recorded subset could be as long as 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 30
`
`seconds, or more. Preferably, various aspects of both the pre-recorded subset and the post(cid:173)
`
`recorded subset can be configured with a user interface. While the write-protected portions
`
`could be electronically indexed using a memory heap or a clustered index, the write-protected
`
`portions are preferably stored as separate files in the memory. Such files could be stored in
`
`physically dis-contiguous parts of the circular buffer. Additionally, the indexing is preferably
`
`performed while the recording facility is still recording data into the memory.
`
`[0011] The signal to record is preferably automatically triggered by a sensor that detects an
`
`image in the camera or a sound by the camera's microphone. For example, the signal to record
`
`could be triggered by a human face, an open book, a computer screen, a whistle, a verbal
`
`command, a recognized object, or a pattern of knocks. Alternatively, a user interface could
`
`allow a human user to manually send the signal to record and could even allow the human user to
`
`designate a length of time of the pre-recorded subset or the post-recorded subset. A user could
`
`send two signals, one to start recording and another to stop recording, but preferably the user
`
`merely sends a signal to start recording for a specified period of time. In an exemplary
`
`embodiment, when the specified period of time has almost expired, say, for example, 5 seconds,
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`3
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`

`

`Attny DktNo: 101488.0003US4
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`10 seconds, or longer, the user could extend the length of specified time by sending another
`
`trigger to the surveillance apparatus. For example, the surveillance apparatus could send a
`
`warning 10 seconds before it is scheduled to stop recording by vibrating against the user; in
`
`response the user could say "don't stop" or merely cough to extend the length of the write(cid:173)
`
`protected portion of memory.
`
`[0012] While the surveillance apparatus could be a mounted on a hand-held video camera, the
`
`surveillance apparatus is preferably a small device that can be mounted inconspicuously on a
`
`person. For example, contemplated surveillance apparatus mounts are a pair of wearable
`
`sunglasses or eyeglasses, a lapel pin, a collar button, a hat or visor, a hair pin, or a front of a
`
`purse.
`
`[0013] Since the surveillance apparatus is typically too small to house a large amount of
`
`memory, the surveillance apparatus also preferably has a wireless transmitter that is also
`
`functionally connected to the local memory. A sending facility uses the wireless transmitter to
`
`transmit write-protected portions of the circular buffer to a remote memory that is not physically
`
`connected to the local memory in some way. For example, the wireless transmitter could send
`
`write-protected portions of the circular buffer to a mobile phone, or the surveillance apparatus
`
`could be plugged into a mobile phone which is then used as a wireless transmitter to forward a
`
`write-protected portion to another remote memory. In a preferred embodiment, after a write(cid:173)
`
`protected portion of the circular buffer is transferred to a remote memory, the protecting facility
`
`could remove the corresponding portion from protection so that the recording facility could use
`
`that portion to record data.
`
`[0014] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become
`
`more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the
`
`invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like
`
`components.
`
`IV. Brief Description of The Drawing
`
`[0015] Fig. 1 is a camera mounted on a pair of glasses connected to a circular buffer in a local
`
`memory that is controlled by a ring.
`
`4
`
`

`

`Attny DktNo: 101488.0003US4
`
`[0016] Fig. 2A and 2B show user interface buttons for the ring of Figure 1.
`
`[0017] Fig. 3 shows a diagram representation of the circular buffer of Figure 1.
`
`[0018] Fig. 4A-4H show representations of the circular buffer of Figure 1 while the surveillance
`
`apparatus is in use.
`
`V. Detailed Description
`
`[0019] In Figure 1, an example surveillance apparatus 100 generally comprising eyeglasses 110
`
`having a camera 120 mounted at the nose bridge, and an optional viewfinder 130 applied onto
`
`one of the lenses. A data and power cord 140 couples the camera 120 to a belt-worn recorder
`
`160, which cooperates with a ring-shaped signaling device 150 and a remote memory 170. Those
`
`skilled in the art will appreciate that the term "surveillance" is used herein in its broadest possible
`
`sense, to include not only professional or commercial types of surveillance, but also any other
`
`type of observation, including for example an ordinary person watching a baseball game or
`
`birthday party.
`
`[0020] The eyeglasses 110 are used here euphemistically to represent any type of camera mount.
`
`In a preferred embodiment, the camera mount is disguised to be a common object worn by a
`
`person or lying around a house, but could also be shaped and sized to look like a camera.
`
`Contemplated mounts include lapel pins, hair clips, shirt buttons, purses, staplers, desk clocks,
`
`tripods, head gear, hand grips, or security camera mounts. As used herein the term "camera"
`
`means any device or collection of devices that includes an image capturing component that
`
`captures image data, and a converting component that converts the image data into digital data,
`
`possibly at least one data stream. An image capturing component could include one or more
`
`charge-couple devices (CCD) complimentary metal-oxide-semiconductors (CMOS), CMOS
`
`focal plane arrays (CFP), radiometers, or other manners of image obtaining devices. Camera 120
`
`should be interpreted euphemistically to include all such variants. Likewise, a suitable converting
`
`component could include one or more analog-to-digital converters, software codecs, or
`
`integrated circuits.
`
`[0021] Camera 120 contains an imager lens 122 used to focus images for camera 120.
`
`Conventional lenses allow one or more of the following adjustments: aperture (to control the
`
`5
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`

`Attny DktNo: 101488.0003US4
`
`amount oflight), zoom (to control the field-of-view), or shutter speed (to capture continuous
`
`motion.). In preferred embodiments, these adjustments are automatically controlled by the
`
`camcorder electronics, generally to maintain constant exposure onto the imager without the
`
`manual adjustment from a user. It is contemplated that the preferred embodiments offer direct
`
`user control of all major optical functions. As with most modem digital recorders and
`
`camcorders, an analog-to-digital (ADC) converter is used to digitize the analog imager
`
`waveform output into a discrete digital-video signal. Thus, the recorder can be used to record
`
`analog or digital formats.
`
`[0022] Viewfinder image lens 130 is calibrated to have the same field of view as camera 120.
`
`Preferably, viewfinder image lens 130 is embedded in between the two glass lenses of eyeglasses
`
`110. Preferably viewfinder image lens 130 is a zoom lens with preferred standard zoom ration of
`
`3x in or out of the focal length of the camera. A more sophisticated viewfinder image lens 130 is
`
`contemplated to have a greater zoom range and also has nighttime vision or is able to render
`
`images under different light conditions. Within the lenses, viewfinder image lens 130 is outlined
`
`by tinted area or graticle and the outline graticle is embedded with glowing fiber optic filament.
`
`Eye-glasses are made preferably from opaque, translucent, or possibly photo gray-type tint of
`
`glasses. Alternatively, glasses change color slightly when energized.
`
`[0023] Where the camera is a hand-held camera and is not embedded in a pair of eyeglasses,
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`viewfinder image lens 130 can be permanently fixed to camera 120, or it can be interchangeable
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`with lenses of different focal lengths and other properties depending on the need and
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`circumstances of use.
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`[0024] Recorder 160 is any recording device that records video and/or audio/video data,
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`including conventional recorders. Recorder 160 preferably includes a processor 162 with
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`software or hardware that accomplishes the functions described herein, or one or more physical
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`memories that are collectively referred to herein as memory 166. Typically, the recorder or the
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`camera converts analog images into a digital format to be stored in the memory, or also
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`preferably records both audio and video input analog signals from the camera to the memory.
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`Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the concepts described herein with respect to
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`video and/or audio/video data can be applied to recordation of purely audio, or in fact any other
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`Attny DktNo: 101488.0003US4
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`type of data stream; this specification should be interpreted as expressly including such
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`application. A wearer could clip recorder 160 as a belt clip or another compact device.
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`Contemplated recorders include MP3 players, purses, or buttons. It is also contemplated that
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`recorder 160 could also comprise a cell or mobile phone having a suitable recorder application
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`installed that is configured to communicate with the other components of apparatus 100.
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`[0025] Although not expressly shown, recorder 160 also includes an appropriate power supply or
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`connection, supporting electronics, or a display or other interface. The power source can vary
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`considerably. For example, in embodiments where the recorded is relatively large, a suitable
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`power source can include a rechargeable battery. On the other hand, when the recorder is
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`relatively small, an appropriate power source can include an external power source ( e.g.,
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`transformer for wall outlet or cigarette lighter adapter). Whether embodied in control buttons or
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`in some other manner, it is also contemplated that recorder can include some sort of security
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`control requiring a password and some sort of automatic turnoff feature that activates after a
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`certain amount of inactivity. Authentication or authorization of user access provides for ensuring
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`a proper user of apparatus 100 retains desired control. For example, once a user is authenticated,
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`the user can control indexing, editing, transmitting, or adjusting content data in memory.
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`[0026] Recorder 160 would typically record images in digital format, but analog or combination
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`formats are also contemplated. Preferably, the recorder's electronics are preferably all on a
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`unitary printed circuit board with different functions, or facilities, encoded on a programmable
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`chip or disk. For example, a recording facility 163 could record the data stream from camera
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`120 to local memory 166, a protecting facility 164 could protect segments (not shown) of
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`recorded data on memory 166, or a sending facility 165 could transmit protected segments (not
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`shown) ofrecorded data to remote memory 170. While the different facilities are preferably part
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`of a single hardware or software program, the facilities could be split into different components
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`as necessary. Other facilities could be installed, for example a facility that allows editing of the
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`received image data or protected data. It is contemplated that such facilities could be purchased
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`through or installed on a cell phone, possibly through an on-line application store.
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`[0027] The contemplated memory could vary depending on the particular configuration of the
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`recorder. Particularly suitable memories include commercially available micro hard drives with
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`Attny DktNo: 101488.0003US4
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`a I-inch disc (which can preferably have a capacity of more than 1 GB), flash memory cards
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`with a capacity ofup to 128 MB and more, or other transient and/or permanent memory units.
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`Likewise, suitable memory can also include SDRAM, MRAM, racetrack memory, SIMM,
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`DIMM, etc. with a capacity of at least 32 MB, more preferably at least 64 MB, or most
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`preferably above 128 MB. In preferred embodiments, memory 164 is a SDRAM capable of
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`storing at least 1000 frames of data. Once received by memory 164, frames are preferably
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`compressed by employing conventional compression rates and methods to achieve at least a 50: 1
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`ratio.
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`[0028] In preferred embodiments, image data received by recorder 160 is stored in a circular
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`buffer 167 on memory 166. Preferably, all of the free space in memory 166 is used to create
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`circular buffer 167, however, multiple circular buffers could be created in the memory where
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`there exist multiple cameras connected to a single recorder. Once the recorder is turned on,
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`image data is continuously stored in circular buffer 167 for access. If no record or protect button
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`is pushed, the recorder will loop back and store the image data for a said length of time.
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`Recording, book-marking and protecting are used synonymously herein. Recording, book(cid:173)
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`marking and protecting means that a portion of the imaged data is write-protected upon an
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`activation of a signal by a user and can not then be overwritten unless the write-protection is later
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`removed. Consequently, protected data cannot be overwritten by newly stored imaged data in
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`the circular buff er.
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`[0029] The circular buffer is preferably large enough to store at least 3 minutes of data, more
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`preferably 5 minutes and most preferred 10 minutes of data. However, it is contemplated that
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`depending on the size and capacity of the devi