Patent ID: 6163338
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A device for providing a record of an occurrence close in time to a triggering event, said device comprising:a) a data detection apparatus having a location and an orientation, and configured for detecting an occurrence;b) control circuitry coupled to the data detection apparatus for developing a stream of electronic data representing a continuous sequence of data inputs in real time;c) a data storage bank coupled to the control circuitry for receiving the data inputs in real time and retaining the electronic data, said data storage bank having a first memory address and a last memory address and being of a size sufficient to store all data input for a desired pre-set time interval;d) an event detection mechanism responsive to a triggering event and coupled to the control circuitry for sensing occurrence of the triggering event;e) activation means coupled to the control circuitry for activating the control circuitry to generate the electronic data representing the continuous sequence of data inputs in real time;f) a control algorithm and processor coupled to the control circuitry for (i) storing the electronic data representing the continuous sequence of data inputs in the data storage bank, (ii) processing the electronic data to progressively write over the electronic data in the data storage bank after the data storage bank has become full, said writing over commencing at the first memory address and proceeding to the last memory address, and (iii) discontinuing storing electronic data in the data storage bank after detection of the triggering event so as to capture in the data storage bank a record of the continuous sequence of video images of the occurrence over a time interval adjacent to the occurrence of the triggering event, based upon the time of occurrence of the triggering event and independent of the location and orientation of the data detection apparatus; andg) means for downloading the electronic data from the data storage bank to a means for perceiving the data.