(12) United States Patent
`Boykin
`
`US006831556B1
`US 6,831,556 B1
`Dec. 14, 2004
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
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`(54)
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`(75)
`(73)
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`COMPOSITE MOBILE DIGITAL
`INFORMATION SYSTEM
`
`Inventor: Paul R. Boykin, Mt. Juliet, TN (US)
`Assignee: Digital Safety Technologies, Inc.,
`Nashville, TN (US)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 8 days.
`
`Notice:
`
`5,815,093 A * 9/1998 Kikinis ....................... 340/937
`6,002,326 A * 12/1999 Turner .......
`... 340/426
`6,298,290 B1 * 10/2001 Abe et al. ..................... 701/35
`6,389,340 B1 * 5/2002 Rayner ........................ 701/35
`6,411,874 B2 * 6/2002 Morgan et al. ............... 701/36
`6,421,080 B1 * 7/2002 Lambert ....
`... 348/143
`6,518,881 B2 * 2/2003 Monroe ...................... 340/539
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Daryl Pope
`Appl. No.: 09/855,653
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Sughrue Mion, PLLC
`Filed:
`May 16, 2001
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`Int. Cl." … G08B 1/08
`A surveillance system includes a device for capturing video,
`U.S. Cl. .................... 340/539.1; 340/937; 348/143;
`348/148; 701/35
`audio, and data information. The device is provided in a first
`Field of Search ........................... 340/539.1, 426.1,
`location, such as a vehicle. A server is provided for inte
`340/426.13, 426.16, 426.19, 426.2, 426.25,
`grating and storing the captured information in the vehicle.
`937; 348/143, 148; 701/35, 36
`The server may be a mobile server which is capable of
`transmitting the captured information from the vehicle to a
`second location, such as a building.
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,677,979 A * 10/1997 Squicciarini et al. ......... 386/46
`
`25 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
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`

`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Dec. 14, 2004
`Dec. 14, 2004
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`Sheet 1 of 2
`Sheet 1 0f 2
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`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
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`Dec. 14, 2004
`Dec. 14, 2004
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`US 6,831,556 B1
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`US 6,831,556 B1
`
`1
`COMPOSITE MOBILE DIGITAL
`INFORMATION SYSTEM
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`The present invention is directed to a composite mobile
`digital information recording system. In particular, the
`present invention is directed to a system for use in public and
`commercial vehicles to capture video, audio, and related
`information for surveillance and evidentiary purposes.
`BACKGROUND
`Typical video recording systems, such as those currently
`deployed in police vehicles, use a standard fixed camera and
`a videocassette recorder (VCR) recording on a standard
`videotape, such as a video home system (VHS) tape. The
`VCR is usually located in the trunk of the vehicle. Recording
`quality is limited, primarily by the recording speed of the
`videotape. At standard speed the tape must be changed every
`two hours. At the slowest speed, a maximum of six hours is
`possible. Recording at the slowest speed, however, signifi
`cantly reduces the quality of the recorded material.
`Besides quality and capacity issues, VCR problems also
`include machine failure and tape failure, which require
`physical replacement and repair, and often occur without the
`knowledge of the user. Also, with respect to the videotapes,
`the user must physically remove and replace the videotapes
`in the VCR, and it is cumbersome to store the videotapes.
`The VCR is a technical device nearing the end of its
`lifecycle; therefore, no serious advancements are on the
`drawing board that address the numerous technical issues
`incumbent to videotape recording. On the other hand, digital
`capture and storage is at the beginning of its technological
`curve, with rapid development of new devices. The only
`available means to ensure sufficient quality and control of
`video recording, access, and storage is an increase in the
`number of well-trained persons with those responsibilities.
`On the other hand, advancements of digital technologies are
`reducing the need for human involvement and even training.
`The present invention is an elegant solution to the prob
`lems inherent in the current videotape systems deployed by
`public agencies and private companies for surveillance and
`evidentiary purposes.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention provides an effective and efficient
`method for capturing, transmitting, and storing potential
`evidentiary video and related information in mobile envi
`ronments. The captured data is stored in onboard hard
`drives, or other storage facilities, such as flash memory, solid
`state memory, etc., and transferred to a home base data
`repository for archival, retrieval, and evidentiary use.
`The present invention provides a surveillance system
`which includes a device for capturing video, audio, and data
`information. The device is provided in a first location, such
`as a vehicle. A mobile server is provided for integrating and
`storing the captured information in the vehicle. The mobile
`server is capable of transmitting the captured information
`from the vehicle to a second location, such as a building.
`In addition, the present invention involves a method for
`managing video, audio, and data information which includes
`capturing the information, integrating the information into
`one data stream, and storing the data stream.
`The invention also involves a computer system, interface,
`and computer program product for implementing the fore
`going method.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The above objects and advantages of the present invention
`will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred
`embodiments thereof with reference to the attached
`drawings, in which:
`FIG. 1 illustrates the present invention in a police car
`example; and
`FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of the present
`invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`The present invention simultaneously captures and stores
`visual, audible, time, data, and motion-related activities for
`safety, emergency, and evidentiary purposes. The present
`invention can be deployed on police, fire, and rescue
`vehicles and is adaptable for use on transportation and
`industry vehicles, as well as having rail and airline appli
`cations. The present invention is not limited to these
`applications, and may be used in any environment in which
`a surveillance system is desired, either mobile or non
`mobile.
`The system generally operates through the integration of
`the following components: video capture; audio capture;
`related-data capture; an information integrator; a computer
`processing unit (CPU); a storage unit; and a transmission
`unit. The user has the option of video-only capture, audio
`only capture, data-only capture, or any combination of the
`three information processors.
`With the present invention according to the preferred
`embodiment, there is no limitation due to the tape speed or
`quality because digital video and related information are
`recorded on the hard drive of an onboard computer. The
`capacity of the present invention to capture, store, and
`transmit streams of video/audio/event information data sig
`nificantly expands the value and the capacity of an onboard
`videotape surveillance system.
`The embodiment disclosed herein is used in a police car
`wherein the information is captured, stored and can be
`transmitted back to a home base (e.g., a station precinct);
`however, the present invention is not limited to this example
`and may be used in any type of environment in which a
`surveillance system is desired.
`FIG. 1 illustrates the present invention embodied in a
`police car 100. In particular, a composite mobile digital
`information system (CMDIS) unit 150 is provided in the
`police car 100 for storing and transmitting captured infor
`mation. In this example, up to four video cameras are
`strategically mounted in four locations on the police car 100
`for use with the CMDIS 150: a first camera 110 is mounted
`on a roof 102 facing forward; a second camera 120 is
`mounted on a rearview mirror 103 facing forward; a third
`camera 130 is mounted on a bumper (grill) 104 facing
`forward; and a fourth camera 140 is mounted on a front cage
`105 facing towards a back seat 106. Of course, varying
`numbers of cameras may be used in these or other desired
`locations.
`The cameras 110–140 may be, for example, high
`resolution National Television System Committee (NTSC)
`analog cameras, digital cameras, or component analog cam
`eras. A multiplexer can be added to the cameras 110–140 to
`increase the number of views seen at one time.
`The cameras located on the police car 100 can be remote
`controlled by a local user (e.g., officer), a remote user (e.g.,
`precinct personnel), or can be operated to track the officer or
`specified object. Camera controls permit pan, tilt, record,
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`search, playback, focus and contrast adjustments, as well as
`other features which may be necessary for obtaining a high
`quality surveillance system. Moreover, one or more of the
`cameras 110–140 can also be enabled to automatically track
`the officer, without requiring any human input, if appropriate
`software is installed in a mobile server 200 (described later).
`During recording and playback of the recorded data,
`digital coding provides tags for future search parameters.
`For instance, searchable identification code may be embed
`ded in the data which is associated with a particular event.
`Thus, the data can be easily retrieved for evidentiary pur
`poses at a later time without necessitating labor intensive
`searches of the recorded material.
`With the present invention, data is digitally captured and
`processed from any one or all of the cameras for integration
`and storage in the mobile server 200 (see FIG. 2) of the
`CMDIS unit 150. In addition, live views of video/audio/data
`information may be transmitted from the vehicle 100 to a
`home base 210 through high speed local links, e.g., cellular
`devices, as discussed in further detail later. In addition,
`video/audio/data information can be broadcast or transferred
`from the home base 210 to the vehicle 100, or to multiple
`vehicles in various locations.
`With respect to the capture of video information, the
`resolution of the video capture (or signal) is compressed or
`decompressed (encoded/decoded (CODEC) for transmis
`sion and then decoded once it reaches its destination) to
`provide the appropriate resolution for storage. Typical reso
`lutions are 720×480, 320x240, or 160x120 pixels. Pixels are
`the smallest element of a video image. The lower the pixels
`selected, the lower the quality of the resolution and the
`higher the capacity for storing images.
`In the present embodiment, a video capture processor and
`digitizer 220 captures, digitizes, and transmits the captured
`video to a video/audio/data information multiplexer/
`CODEC 250 of the mobile server 200. The video/audio/data
`information multiplexer/CODEC 250 may include a digital
`signal processor (DSP) (e.g., the Texas Instruments
`TMS320C6415), or other similar device.
`In addition to the video capture described above, an audio
`capture processor and digitizer 230 captures, digitizes, and
`transmits captured audio to the video/audio/data information
`multiplexer/CODEC 250. In the example shown in FIG. 2,
`there is provision for the input of two audio sources 232,234
`to be digitally captured and processed. For example, a police
`officer can wear a wireless microphone 234 and one micro
`phone 232 may be configured to capture sound from the rear
`seat of the vehicle 100. After the audio is captured, the audio
`is transmitted to the video/audio/data information
`50
`multiplexer/CODEC 250 and the appropriate CODEC
`(compression) is applied. Of course, the present invention is
`not limited to having two audio sources; an appropriate
`number of audio sources may be provided in a variety of
`locations depending on the application requirements.
`A data capture processor and digitizer 240 captures vari
`ous types of data which are also transmitted to the video/
`audio/data information multiplexer/CODEC 250. In the
`present example, capture and processing of sixteen inputs
`241 (e.g., time, various event information, and motion
`related events) are provided. For instance, the surveillance
`system of the present invention can capture and store the
`action of removal of a weapon from its rack, a car door
`opening or closing, the status of the ignition, air bag
`deployment, presence of an unauthorized individual, and
`vehicle speed. The various inputs can be configured accord
`ing to a user need and the particular event.
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`In addition to the sixteen related-events inputs 241, other
`automatically recorded data may include location, using a
`Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receiver 242, time of day,
`driver name, unit number, and incident number and other
`types of relevant information.
`Various ports are provided for allowing input and output
`of data. For example, two serial ports 246, 247 and two
`universal serial bus (USB) ports 248,249 may be provided
`for additional data input and output. For example, the USB
`ports 248, 249 can be used to input information from a
`magnetic or optical reader 244 and a fingerprint reader 245.
`One serial port 246 can be used to input and output data to
`and from a laptop 243, and the other serial port 247 can be
`connected to receiving/transmitting device 283 (one of a
`variety of wireless modem, cellular, satellite, and microwave
`devices) that sends radio signals back to the home base or
`precinct 210. Of course, the present invention is not limited
`to this configuration since a variety of ports can be provided
`depending on the types of data being captured and the
`parameters required for the specific application in which the
`present invention is employed. The transmitting/receiving
`device 283 may comprise any device capable of transmitting
`at least some of the audio, video, and data information
`collected by the server 200. The transmitting receiving
`device 283 which is employed for a particular surveillance
`system will depend upon the user’s preferences and envi
`ronmental limitations.
`The captured data from the sixteen inputs, GPS 242, and
`ports are digitized and relayed to the video/audio/data infor
`mation multiplexer/CODEC 250 and combined with the
`video and audio information from the video capture proces
`sor and digitizer 220 and the audio capture processor and
`digitizer 230 to create aggregated documentation that is sent
`to a storage unit 270 in one data stream. In particular, the
`stream of data is multiplexed into one final composite
`compressed stream. Thus, all of the various types of infor
`mation are aggregated into a single data stream which is then
`stored in the storage unit 270. Although in this embodiment
`the compression is shown in the multiplexer/CODEC 250,
`this function can be carried out by software in an alternative
`embodiment, for example with CPU 260.
`The CPU server 260 runs embedded operating systems,
`such as Windows NT or a real-time operating system, and
`functions as a server for all sources of information. The CPU
`260 can control the multiplexer/CODEC 250, the storage
`unit 270, and other aspects of the CMDIS 150. In an
`alternative arrangement, the CPU 260 can perform the
`multiplexing function itself, thereby eliminating the need for
`a separate multiplexer.
`The CPU 260 has remote access features that allow
`technicians to perform system maintenance and repairs at
`any time, day or night. If a user experiences a malfunction,
`technicians can examine and resolve it, or ship a repair part
`quickly. The remote service connection also provides field
`updating of new software features for the CMDIS 150.
`The CPU 260 may include a remote, local, and/or auto
`matic tracking camera control 264, for controlling the vari
`ous functions of the cameras 110–140, as discussed earlier.
`The CPU 260 also commands the multiplexer/CODEC
`250 to embed the searchable identification code (tags) which
`is associated with a particular event or information, into the
`data stream. The CPU 260 detects the particular events or
`information, and commands the multiplexer/CODEC 250 to
`include the tags.
`In addition, a flash memory 272 may be provided for
`storing instructions for execution by the CPU 260.
`
`

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`US 6,831,556 B1
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`The storage unit 270 contains a random access memory
`(RAM) memory buffer 276, and two hard disk storage drives
`278 that are driven by the CPU 260. The combined video/
`audio/data information stream is first sent to the RAM
`memory buffer 276 that holds two or more minutes of
`real-time information. The RAM memory buffer 276
`refreshes every time a new record command tells the CPU
`260 to transmit the first minutes of the buffered memory onto
`the hard drives 278. One purpose of the RAM memory
`buffer 276 is to provide the operator with a view of the
`events that initiated the recording process. For instance,
`when information is being retrieved at a later date, the
`viewer is able to see the events and/or information which
`triggered the recording process.
`More specifically, the processor CPU 260 commands the
`RAM memory buffer 276 to transmit the stored information
`to the permanent storage memory, e.g., the hard drive 278,
`upon the triggering of a particular event. Such an event may
`include, but is not limited to, the activation of a siren on the
`police car 100, the removal of a gun from its gun rack,
`sudden acceleration of the vehicle, etc. All of the informa
`tion which was recorded during the specified time and saved
`to the RAM memory buffer 276 is then digitally saved to the
`permanent storage memory, e.g., one of the two onboard
`hard disk drives 278. Thus, the surveillance system records
`an event, as well as a specified time before the event. This
`time period of information may be valuable for determining
`the events that transpired before the triggering event, e.g.,
`removal of gun, acceleration of vehicle.
`If the surveillance system is commanded to continuously
`record onto the permanent storage memory, a triggering
`event is not required for the CPU 260 to command the RAM
`buffer memory 276 to transmit captured information to the
`permanent memory storage. In other words, the RAM buffer
`memory 276 would continuously transmit information to the
`permanent memory storage.
`The present invention is not limited to the use of hard disk
`drives. Solid state memory or other types of non-volatile,
`non-rotating memory devices may be substituted for the
`hard disk drives, e.g., flash, etc.
`Moreover, the present invention is not limited to a RAM
`memory buffer. The invention may utilize any type of
`memory buffer, or may be a flash memory, etc.
`A transmission unit 280 may house the serial port 247
`connected to the wireless modem/cellular/satellite/
`microwave transmitting/receiving device 283, allowing live
`transmission of video/audio information packets back to the
`home base (or precinct) 210 via a home base information
`receiver/transmitter 213 or networked computers. An opera
`tor located in the home base 210 is able to control which
`information is transmitted from the mobile server 200 back
`to the home base 210. For instance, the operator may view
`location, and/or listen to audio, and/or access other data
`which is transpiring at the vehicle location. As broadband
`technology improves, increased amounts of data will be
`capable of being transmitted in this manner.
`The operator may command the cameras 110–140 via the
`remote/local camera control 264, as described above, to
`improve the composure, framing, and quality of the recorded
`data. The control. 264 can be commanded from the mobile
`server 200, or from a home base server 211 of the home base
`210 via the home base information receiver/transmitter 213
`and wireless device transmitter/receiver 283. Moreover, the
`audio or other aspects of the data capture may be controlled
`from the home base location using the wireless transmission
`and receiving components. With this aspect of the invention,
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`it is possible to set up a remote surveillance system wherein
`personnel are not required at the remote location to operate
`the equipment.
`When the vehicle 100 returns to the home base 210, it is
`connected via a high-speed, high-capacity Ethernet control
`ler 285 (such as a 3COM 1 GB controller) to the home base
`server 211 via port 290 and the digitally stored video/audio/
`related information (i.e., data stream) is data dumped to a
`home base master storage repository 212. The data can be
`dumped through copper wire, wireless transmission, fiber
`optics, laser or other means. FIG. 1 illustrates an example
`wherein a data dump outlet 160 is provided on the police car
`100 for connecting the port 290 to the home base informa
`tion storage 212. Once the data is loaded onto the main home
`base data servers 211, it is instantly and readily available for
`review by authorized personnel (e.g., attorneys, public inter
`est groups, agencies or other parties which may value the
`recorded information), and for transmission to courtrooms
`or other desired locations. In addition, the data can be
`viewed from a web browser or proprietary software. All
`recorded information data can be encrypted if desired.
`In addition, an Ethernet controller 285 (e.g., 10/100 type)
`may be connected to a port 290 for transmitting information
`to the laptop 243. With this configuration, the police officer,
`or another person who reaches the scene after an event has
`transpired, is able to view previously recorded information
`while in the vehicle 100.
`Due to the searchable identification code, i.e., tags, large
`amounts of information can be easily searched and viewed
`without requiring viewing irrelevant portions of the data.
`Moreover, a monitor or liquid crystal display (LCD)
`(typically provided on the laptop 243 and/or some other
`display device and/or at the home base) displays all of the
`recorded information at one time. Thus, for instance, the
`operator can view video, listen to audio, view time, date,
`location, and event-related data (e.g., removal of a gun from
`a weapon rack) simultaneously.
`A particular event, such as activation of the light bar on
`the police vehicle, can initiate the capture and processing of
`information in the present invention. Alternatively, informa
`tion can be continuously captured and processed throughout
`an officer’s shift, over a predetermined amount of time, etc.,
`as controlled by the CPU 260.
`One embodiment of the invention resides in a computer
`system. Here, the term “computer system” is to be under
`stood to include at least a memory and a processor. In
`general, the memory will store, at one time or another, at
`least portions of an executable program code, and the
`processor will execute one or more of the instructions
`included in that executable program code. It will be appre
`ciated that the term “executable program code” and the term
`“software” mean substantially the same thing for the pur
`poses of this description. It is not necessary to the practice
`of this invention that the memory and the processor be
`physically located in the same place. That is to say, it is
`foreseen that the processor and the memory might be in
`different physical pieces of equipment or even in geographi
`cally distinct locations.
`The computer system, such as the one in the above
`preferred embodiment, could include the CPU 260 and the
`flash memory 272 which are shown in FIG. 2.
`The above-identified invention may be embodied in a
`computer program product, as will now be explained.
`On a practical level, the software that enables the com
`puter system to perform the operations described further
`below in detail, may be supplied on any one of a variety of
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`US 6,831,556 B1
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`media. Furthermore, the actual implementation of the
`approach and operations of the invention are actually state
`ments written in a programming language. Such program
`ming language statements, when executed by a computer,
`cause the computer to act in accordance with the particular
`content of the statements. Furthermore, the software that
`enables a computer system to act in accordance with the
`invention may be provided in any number of forms
`including, but not limited to, original source code, assembly
`code, object code, machine language, compressed or
`encrypted versions of the foregoing, and any and all equiva
`lents.
`One of skill in the art will appreciate that “media”, or
`“computer-readable media”, as used here, may include a
`diskette, a tape, a compact disc, an integrated circuit, a
`ROM, a CD, a cartridge, a remote transmission via a
`communications circuit, or any other similar medium use
`able by computers. For example, to supply software for
`enabling a computer system to operate in accordance with
`the invention, the supplier might provide a diskette or might
`transmit the software in some form via satellite
`transmission, via a direct telephone link, or via the Internet.
`Thus, the term, “computer readable medium” is intended to
`include all of the foregoing and any other medium by which
`software may be provided to a computer.
`Although the enabling software might be “written on’ a
`diskette, “stored in” an integrated circuit, or “carried over”
`a communications circuit, it will be appreciated that, for the
`purposes of this application, the computer usable medium
`will be referred to as “bearing” the software. Thus, the term
`“bearing” is intended to encompass the above and all
`equivalent ways in which software is associated with a
`computer usable medium.
`For the sake of simplicity, therefore, the term “program
`product” is thus used to refer to a computer useable medium,
`as defined above, which bears in any form of software to
`enable a computer system to operate according to the
`above-identified invention. Thus, the invention is also
`embodied in a program product bearing software which
`enables a computer to perform management of information
`according to the invention.
`The computer readable medium could be read by the CPU
`260 through a medium reader 266 as illustrated in FIG. 2, for
`example.
`The problems of current surveillance systems are elimi
`nated with the present invention because the digital opera
`tion and storage is self contained. Also, the system of the
`present invention is easier to operate and maintain, reduces
`the risk of data loss, and overcomes data retrieval problems
`with current surveillance systems.
`Digital storage capacity is virtually limitless. In current
`video systems, when used for evidentiary purposes, video
`tapes must be stored at appropriate temperatures and cli
`mates for up to 18 months. Though there are temperature
`requirements for digital storage, the range of acceptability is
`much wider than for videotape storage. Besides the required
`storage space for videotape, other physical storage issues
`include proper labeling, inventory control, potential for
`tampering (destruction, theft editing, or deleting), loss
`retrieval, and additional human handling errors. With the
`present invention, these problems are minimized because the
`data is stored on computer hard drives and/or computer tapes
`(e.g., back-up tapes) located in the home base data archiving
`facility along with other important data and computer equip
`ment. These computer equipment rooms tend to be more
`secure than the typical videotape storage facility.
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`Also, when the recorded material is transferred from the
`mobile unit to a storage hard drive at the home base, there
`is no degradation of the material because there is no loss of
`image with a digital transfer.
`With current systems, at the end of a shift the officer is
`required to remove all videotapes and turn them into a
`storage facility. However, with the present invention, the
`digitally stored material is data dumped via various down
`load devices including wireless transfer, without human
`contact.
`Data retrieval is much easier with the present invention
`than current systems, and during such retrieval loss of
`evidence is reduced. In videotape recording systems, it is
`necessary to conduct time consuming searches for the loca
`tion of critical evidentiary scene evidence on the videotape.
`There is also the possibility of degradation of the tape during
`handling since it can stretch, break or crease. The tape may
`require handling by several different people to share scenes
`with other law enforcement officials, district attorneys,
`defense attorneys, judges, juries, and others.
`In contrast, the digital video/audio/data information
`recorded by the present invention is time coded and can be
`easily searched without damage to data. The data can be
`transmitted to others for viewing via the Internet, in digital
`form on compact disks (CD) and digital video disks (DVD),
`on videotape, over low power video transmission, and
`through a variety of other formats without damaging or
`corrupting the original material.
`The system of the present invention will alert the main
`tenance personnel in case of a system failure or error. A
`remote technician using a modem can solve most problems
`immediately. The system is compact and requires no physi
`cal contact from the officer to function properly.
`While this invention has been particularly shown and
`described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof,
`it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various
`changes in form and details may be made therein without
`departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
`defined by the appended claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A surveillance system for an emergency response
`vehicle, comprising:
`a device for capturing at least two of video, audio, and
`data information, said device provided in the emer
`gency response vehicle, and
`a server for digitally integrating the captured information
`into one data stream and storing the data stream in the
`emergency response vehicle,
`wherein said server is operative to transfer the data stream
`from the emergency response vehicle to a second
`location.
`2. The surveillance system according to claim 1, wherein
`said server comprises:
`a stor