Patent Publication Number: US-2011050898-A1

Title: Video monitoring system and video monitoring method

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to video monitoring devices and monitoring methods, and more particularly to a video monitoring system and a video monitoring method thereof. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Network cameras are typically employed for monitoring an activity in one location. Using a dedicated network video recorder or video management software in a personal computer (PC), video data from all the cameras are recorded simultaneously. For example, each of the network cameras captures the video data, and transmits the video data to the PC via a large frequency band. Before displaying video images on a display screen of the PC, parameters of the PC may be set to decode the video data. That is, the network cameras do not have decoding functions to decode the video data, and the video data are transmitted through large frequency bands. 
     What is needed, therefore, is an improved video monitoring device and a video monitoring method, so as to overcome the above-mentioned problems. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a video monitoring system. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a video monitoring system with a connecting hub. 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of one embodiment of a video camera of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a method for monitoring an area by using the video monitoring system of  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a video monitoring system  100 . The video monitoring system  100  typically includes a computer  1 , and at least one video camera  3 . The computer  1  includes one or more universal serial bus (USB) ports  11 . Each of the one or more USB ports  11  can be connected with a USB line  2 . The computer  1  connects with each of the at least one video camera  3  via the USB line  2 . In the embodiment, the at least one video camera  3  is installed in an area to be monitored. The at least one video camera  3  is operable to obtain a plurality of video streams of the monitored area, convert the video streams into signals which can be transmitted by the USB line  2  and is compatible with the USB ports  11  (hereinafter referred as “USB-compatible signals”). The USB-compatible signals are transmitted to the USB ports  11 . The computer  1  is operable to generate video images according to the USB-compatible signals, and display the video images on a display screen  10 . Thus, a user can browse the video images displayed on the display screen  10  to determine whether the monitored area has abnormities. 
     In one embodiment, each of the at least one video camera  3  has an identification (ID). The computer  1  can identify the video streams captured by different video cameras  3  according to the ID. In the embodiment, each video camera  3  may be a network camera, for example. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a connecting hub  4  needs to be arranged between the USB line  2  and the computer  1  for extending USB ports  11  of the computer  1 , if there are more video cameras  3  installed in the monitored area than there are USB ports  11 , namely, a total number of the video cameras  3  is larger than a total number of the USB ports  11 . 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of one embodiment of an example illustrating one of the video cameras  3 . In the embodiment, the video camera  3  may include a capturing module  30 , a CODEC  34 , a micro-programmed control unit (MCU)  32 , and a storage device  36 . One or more computerized codes of the capturing module  30  may be stored in the storage device  36  and executed by the MCU  32 . In general, the word “module,” as used herein, refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, written in a programming language, such as, for example, Java, C, or assembly. One or more software instructions in the modules may be embedded in firmware, such as an EPROM. It will be appreciated that modules may comprised connected logic units, such as gates and flip-flops, and may comprise programmable units, such as programmable gate arrays or processors. The modules described herein may be implemented as either software and/or hardware modules and may be stored in any type of computer-readable medium or other computer storage device. 
     The capturing module  30  is operable to obtain a plurality of video streams of the monitor area, separate each of the video streams to audio data and video data, and then send the audio data to the CODEC  34 . The CODEC  34  is operable to decode the audio data. 
     The capturing module  30  is further operable to send the video data to the MCU  32 . The MCU  32  is operable to receive the decoded audio data from the CODEC  34 , and receive the video data from the capturing module  30 . The MCU  32  is further operable to convert the decoded audio data and the video data into USB-compatible signals, and transmit the USB-compatible signals to the computer  1 . 
     The computer  1  receives the USB-compatible signals via a corresponding USB port  11 , generates video images with sound according to the USB-compatible signals, displays the video images on the display screen  10 , and synchronously plays the audio using a speaker of the computer  1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a method for monitoring an area by using the video monitoring system  100 . 
     In block S 400 , a user connects the at least one video camera  3  installed in a monitored area with the computer  1  via the USB line  2  to the computer  1 . 
     In block S 402 , the capturing module  30  obtains video streams of the monitored area captured by the at least one video camera  3 . 
     In block S 404 , the capturing module  30  separates each of the video streams to audio data and video data, sends the audio data to the CODEC  34 , and sends the video data to the MCU  32 . 
     In block S 406 , the CODEC  34  decodes the audio data, the MCU  32  converts the decoded audio data and the video data into USB-compatible signals. 
     In block S 408 , the MCU  32  transmits the USB-compatible signals to the computer  1  via the USB line  2 . 
     In block S 410 , the computer  1  generates video images with sound according to the USB-compatible signals, and displays the video images on the display screen  10  and synchronously plays the audio using a speaker of the computer  1 . 
     If the connecting hub  4  is arranged between the computer  1  and the USB line  2 , in block S 408 , the MCU  32  may transmit the USB-compatible signals to the computer  1  via the connecting hub  4 . 
     All of the processes described above may be embodied in, and fully automated via, functional code modules executed by one or more general purpose processors of computing devices. The functional code modules may be stored in any type of readable medium or other storage devices. Some or all of the methods may alternatively be embodied in specialized the computing devices. 
     Although certain inventive embodiments of the present disclosure have been specifically described, the present disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the present disclosure without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.