Abstract:
A method of capturing images comprises capturing a video image and converting the video image to a digital video image. The method performs at least one operation on the digital video image and communicates the operated digital video image to at least one of two paths with at least one of the paths being a remote destination and at least another path being a local destination. The method determines whether an event occurs in the video image and selects the path based on the event. The method stores the operated digital video image on a memory at the remote destination if the event occurs in addition to storing the digital video image on a memory at the local destination.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present disclosure is directed to a system for automatic and continuous remote data storage of an output of a digital video camera. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to remote data storage of digital video that is compressed and processed to improve a quantity of remote storage and to allow remote storage in an improved continuous and rapid manner. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0002]    Prior art surveillance applications are known in the art. The surveillance applications include a digital video camera connected to a digital video recorder. 
         [0003]    Generally, the digital video recorder has a memory and is operatively connected to the digital video camera close by. When motion is detected inside the predetermined area, video capture can be activated. Digital or analog video data can then be recorded on to the local recorder. 
         [0004]    The digital video camera may also include methods to increase an amount of video that can be stored on the digital video recorder. For example, the digital video camera may compress the images and record a time stamp indicating the day, hour, minute and second associated with the capture of the image. 
         [0005]    Other prior art surveillance applications may include a backup memory that is located a distance away from the digital video camera and the local digital video recorder. To protect the recorded video data file from being stolen or destroyed by an intruder, the recorded video data can be transmitted to a remote server for secured storage. The local digital video recorder only provides local video compression and storage. Generally, the communication network associated with the digital video camera and digital video recorder is limiting. 
         [0006]    The prior art does not allow a user to continuously and automatically select whether to transmit the video data to a path associated with a local digital video recorder or a path associated with the local digital video recorder and a remote memory and to process the video data based on the content of the video data. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of capturing images. The method comprises capturing a video image and converting the video image to a digital video image. The method performs at least one operation on the digital video image and communicates the operated digital video image to at least one of two paths with at least one of the paths being a remote destination and at least another path being a local destination. The method determines whether an event occurs in the video image and selects the path based on the event. The method stores the operated digital video image on a memory at the remote destination if the event occurs in addition to storing the digital video image on a memory at the local destination. 
         [0008]    In yet another aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a video capture system comprising a video camera and a computing device coupled to the video camera. The computing device has a processor and a memory. The system also has a network connection coupled to the computing device. The network connection is for communicating data to a remote memory. The video camera captures images and communicates the captured image to the computing device. The computing device determines at least one parameter of the video image and stores the video image on (i) the local memory or (ii) on the local memory in addition to the remote memory based on the at least one parameter. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a video capture system. The system has a digital video camera and a computing device coupled to the digital video camera. The computing device has a processor and a local memory. The system also has a network connection being coupled to the computing device and the network connection is for communicating data to a remote memory. The digital video camera captures images and communicates the captured images to the computing device. The computing device determines at least one parameter of the video image and stores the video image on (i) the local memory or (ii) on the local memory and on the remote memory based on the at least one parameter. A path of the digital video images is modulated based on the at least one parameter. The digital video images are processing based on the at least one parameter. 
         [0010]    According to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure there is provided a recordable medium comprising program instructions for capturing video images and program instructions for directing the captured video images to (i) a local memory or (ii) the local memory and a remote memory. The medium also includes program instructions for assigning a priority to the captured video images and transferring the captured video images to (i) the local memory or (ii) to the local memory and to the remote memory based on the priority of the images in a non-sequential manner. 
         [0011]    According to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure there is provided a system comprising a camera for capturing video images and an agent for directing the captured video images to (i) a local memory or (ii) the local memory and a remote memory. The system also has a controller for assigning a priority to the captured video images and transferring the captured video images to the local memory or to both the local memory and the remote memory based on the priority of the images. 
         [0012]    According to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure there is provided an agent. The agent comprises a module for receiving digital video images and audio data. The agent directs the captured video images to (i) a local memory or (ii) the local memory and a remote memory. The agent is hardware or software, or a combination of hardware and software. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0013]    The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout different views. The drawings are not meant to limit the invention to particular mechanisms for carrying out the invention in practice, but rather, the drawings are illustrative of certain ways of performing the invention. Others will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a system diagram according to the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  shows a general purpose computer operatively connected to a video camera for using the video camera with a software platform controlled by an input device; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  shows a number of method steps for a method of determining whether the images are to be recorded on a local memory or recorded on the local memory and a remote memory and whether the images are communicated over a number of different paths. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    The present disclosure preferably is directed to an intelligent video compacting agent that permits an automatic backup of video data in a remote and continuous manner. The present disclosure preferably has an agent  20  that may direct digital data to either a first path or a second path. The first path is from the digital video camera  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c ,  12   d  to a local digital video recorder  18 . The second path is from the digital video camera  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c ,  12   d  or the local digital video recorder  18  and to a remote destination or a remote memory, which is located operable on a remote server  36 . The second path can be communicated via a wireless or wired method. For example, the communication path can be communicated by a Network router, a Wi-Fi dongle, a Wi-Fi Router, Wi-Max, Cellular Phone Network or a wireless protocol shown as reference numerals  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c.    
         [0018]    Preferably, the agent  20  records continuously to the local memory  18 . In some instances, the agent  20  may also record to the local memory  18  and the remote memory  36 . A software developer may create source code typically in a high-level software program and the agent  20  may be implemented in software, hardware, firmware, as program instructions, an application, a software platform or any combination thereof as discussed below. In another less preferable embodiment, the agent  20  may record to only one of the local memory  18 , or the remote memory  36 . In a further less preferable embodiment, the agent  20  may be software that communicates the data to a third entity and the third entity may communicate the data to the local memory  18  or the remote memory  36 . In a further less preferable embodiment, the agent  20  may distribute the data to more than two locations, including the local memory  18  and the remote memory  36 . 
         [0019]    Turning now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a system  10  for automatically processing digital video data and automatically making copies of the data so that these additional copies may be used to restore the original after a data loss event. The system  10  includes a first digital video camera  12   a , a second digital video camera  12   b , a third digital video camera  12   c  and a fourth digital video camera  12   d . The first through third digital video cameras  12   a ,  12   b  and  12   c  are connected to a video/data compacting agent  20  in a wired manner by a coaxial cable or the like while the fourth digital video camera  12   d  is preferably connected to the agent  20  in a wireless manner. The fourth digital video camera  12   d  is wirelessly connected to a base station  14 . The first digital video camera  12   a  is coupled directly to the agent  20  while the second and the third digital video camera  12   b  and  12   c  are coupled to the base station  14 , which is coupled to the agent  20 . 
         [0020]    The first through fourth digital video cameras  12   a  through  12   d  are preferably cameras that take video or still photographs, or both, digitally by recording images via an electronic image sensor. The first through fourth digital video cameras  12   a  through  12   d  can be closed-circuit television cameras, generally used for security, surveillance, and/or monitoring purposes. The first through fourth digital video cameras  12   a  through  12   d  can be small, easily hidden, and able to operate unattended for monitoring a predetermined area for long periods of time. For example, the first through fourth digital video cameras  12   a  through  12   d  can be webcams operable for use as a closed circuit television camera. The first through fourth digital video cameras  12   a  through  12   d  each may convert a signal from the electronic image sensor directly to a digital output and can incorporate a circuit to directly interface with a specific protocol into the base station  14  and the agent  20 . 
         [0021]    Alternatively, the first through fourth digital video cameras  12   a  through  12   d  can interface and output a digital signal to a video and data monitoring device  16  such as a computer or communications hardware, particularly mobile phones, a Personal Digital Assistant, a net book, a desktop, and predetermined models of laptop computers. The first through fourth digital video cameras  12   a  through  12   d  may further pass an output through an analog-to-digital converter in order to store the output or send the output to a wider network. The digital video may be H.261, H.263, H.264, JPEG, MJPEG, MPEG or any other digital video formats. 
         [0022]    Base station  14  preferably receives the signal from the second through fourth digital video cameras  12   b  through  12   d  and communicates the signal to the intelligent video and data compacting agent  20  as opposed to the first digital video camera  12   a , which is directly connected to the agent  20 . The base station  14  is preferably a radio receiver/transmitter that serves as the hub of a local wired or wireless network formed from a number of digital video cameras  12   b ,  12   c ,  12   d  and other optional components of the system  10 . Base station  14  is preferably a gateway between a wired network and the wireless network. Base station  14  comprises a housing including a low-power transmitter and wireless router for facilitating communication between the digital cameras  12   b ,  12   c  and  12   d  and the agent  20 . 
         [0023]    The system  10  also has a local digital video recorder  18 , which is connected to the agent  20 . Local digital video recorder  18  receives digital data from the first through the fourth digital video cameras  12   a  through  12   d . The local digital video recorder  18  is a device that records video in a digital format to a disk drive or other memory medium within a device. The local digital video recorder  18  may be a low cost device and may include a stand-alone set-top box, a portable media player, or a personal computer having a software program that enables video capture and playback to and from disk. The local digital video recorder  18  may also be a hard drive or a device that is incorporated into a monitor  16  with hardware and software built in to the monitor  16  itself. 
         [0024]    The local digital video recorder  18  is preferably configured and has an appropriate memory size for physical security applications, for example, 500 GB memory or less, 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, 8TB or more or the like. The local digital video recorder  18  may record audio and video signals from closed circuit television cameras for detection and documentation purposes. The local digital video recorder  18  may optionally monitor and optimize memory usage and may be programmed to overwrite the oldest security footage should the memory of the local digital video recorder  18  becomes full. In one embodiment, the local digital video recorder  18  may record substantially all of the audio and video signals from closed circuit television cameras for detection and documentation purposes. 
         [0025]    The system  10  further includes an intelligent video/data compacting agent  20 . The agent  20  can be of the form of hardware, software or a merger of hardware and software. It can be ported into a hardware such as a camera  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c , or  12   d , a control box, a computer, or electronic device and place the function/features into many different hardware or software devices. Agent  20  may alternatively be a in the form of program instructions in a software program and loaded on a memory associated with the camera  12   a , DVR  18  or another component of the system  10 . The agent  20  can be either in software, hardware, and firmware and includes any written programs, procedures or rules and associated documentation pertaining to the operation of a computer system and the system  10 . It should be appreciated that the agent  20  shown in  FIG. 1  may include various different embodiments and is not limited to hardware alone. 
         [0026]    The intelligent video/data compacting agent  20  is connected to a video data transfer control device  22  and a monitor  16 , which permits the user to graphically interface with the system  10  and to optionally monitor the output from the first through fourth digital video cameras  12   a - 12   d . The intelligent video/data compacting agent  20  advantageously directs data along one or at least two different paths. The first path is from the first through fourth digital video cameras  12   a - 12   d  to the local digital video recorder  18  for recordation purposes. Preferably, the data from each of the cameras  12   a - 12   d  is continuously recorded to the local memory or DVR recorder  18 . The second path is from the first through fourth digital video cameras  12   a - 12   d  to a remote destination for storage purposes. The selection of the first or the second path may be made in a continuous and automatic manner and may further be made based on the specific content of the images captured by the first through fourth digital video cameras  12   a - 12   d.    
         [0027]    The two paths that video/audio data are sent is herein described. Data from each of the cameras  12   a  to  12   d  is delivered to the local memory  18 . Preferably, the local memory  18  receives the video and audio data. The data undergoes a basic compression plus basic processes through either agent  20  or from the specific camera  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c , and  12   d  directly. The compressed data is then stored directly at local memory  18  substantially continuously regardless if the system  10  detects motion, detects an alarm or detects an object in the field of vision of the specific camera  12   a - 12   d  or otherwise determines if there is any adversary situation to indicate that an intruder entered the protected premises. Data from the specific camera  12   a - 12   d  is delivered to the remote memory  36  along the second path for remote storage purpose. 
         [0028]    In some instances, video and audio data is sent from the specific camera  12   a - 12   d  to the agent  20  and to the remote memory  36  for storage. The video and audio data undergoes basic compression and basic and advanced process operations. The data can be delivered in a specific manner and according to a predetermined schedule. For example, data can be transmitted according to a pre-scheduled operation such as, for example, commencing at 10:00 am daily. Data can also be transmitted according to an urgent situation such as when in an adversary situation. For example, if an alarm is activated, this may indicate that an intruder has entered the field of view of the cameras  12   a - 12   d  and the agent  20  may deliver the data to both the local memory  18  and to the second path to the remote memory  36  to assist with apprehension of the intruder as the intruder may have access to the local memory  18  but not the remote memory  36 . 
         [0029]    The data sent to the remote memory  38  may undergo basic compression and may include one or more video/audio compression schemes including, but not limited to JPEG, MJPEG, MPEG, H.264, and any other compression scheme known in the art. The data sent to the remote memory  38  may undergo basic process operations including a time stamp and other operations. The data sent to the remote memory  38  may undergo advanced processes including inactive frame removal, face detection, area detection, and other processes known in the art to promote apprehension of an intruder and to capture and record high quality video and high quality audio. 
         [0030]    The intelligent video/data compacting agent  20  may further perform a digital processing operation on the video data received from at least one of (or all of) the first through fourth digital video cameras  12   a - 12   d . The operation can be the compression of the data received from at least one of the first through fourth digital video cameras  12   a - 12   d . For example, the compression may be operable with a motion detection feature whereupon if no motion is detected, then a predetermined number of frames may be removed from the data as redundant data. 
         [0031]    For example, if motion is detected, then the predetermined number of video frames are not removed, and recorded as the data is deemed highly relevant. Preferably, the compression of the data permits communication of the data at a relatively higher data rate over a transmission medium. Alternatively, the processing operation may be operable with an external alarm signal received from an alarm. If an alarm is activated, then the agent  20  can control the first through fourth digital cameras  12   a - 12   d  to capture video and to record the captured data in local memory  18  or remote memory  36  in response to the external alarm signal. Further, the agent  20  can also control the first through fourth digital cameras  12   a - 12   d  to record data in response to the detection of a predetermined object or portion of an object that appears within the field of view of the first through fourth digital video cameras  12   a - 12   d.    
         [0032]    For example, the agent  20  may control the specific digital camera  12   a - 12   d  to initiate recording or magnify an image in response to a signal that an alarm has been triggered (door alarm, motion detector alarm). If no alarm is detected, then a predetermined number of frames may be removed from the data as redundant data or the image is not magnified as the image is simply the same images as the previously recorded image and is redundant. If an alarm is detected, then the video frames are not removed and the image is not compressed. The images are recorded or even magnified, or recorded with a higher resolution as the data is deemed highly relevant. This may indicate that an intruder has gained access to the space and high resolution images are desired to capture the relevant video data. Agent  20  may also control the cameras  12   a - 12   d  to pan, tilt and zoom in response to a detected object, alarm, or motion. 
         [0033]    Additionally, the agent  20  may control the specific digital camera  12   a - 12   d  to initiate recording or magnify an image in response to the detection of a specific number of pixels in a pattern that assumes that a specific object is in the video image. For example, a specific number of pixels arranged in the form of a human body, or in the form of a vehicle, or headlights may enter the field of view of the cameras  12   a - 12   d  and the processor  22  can detect and assume that an intruder has entered into the protected space. If no object is detected in the recorded image, then a predetermined number of frames may be removed from the data as redundant data. For example, if an object or a portion of the object is detected, then the video frames are not removed. The video data can then be recorded or even magnified, or recorded with a higher resolution as the data is deemed highly relevant. The agent  20  may further embed or incorporate data into the captured video image. The embed data can be text such as the day, hour, minute, second, camera identification information (Camera 1, Camera 2, etc.), alarm, object presence, event data, or any other identification data known in the art. The agent  20  may further embed or incorporate metadata into the captured video image. For example, if an object is detected, the agent  20  may embed “intruder detected” and the date and time into the lower right hand corner of the video image. In this manner, the user may only select parameters to display only relevant video data when reviewing to ensure that the user does not have to review all of the video data. 
         [0034]    Preferably, the agent  20  will route the data received from the first through the fourth digital video cameras  12   a - 12   d  along the first path or the second path based on whether the data is processed by the agent  20  or not. The processed data is communicated to the local memory  18  and also along the second path to the remote destination  36 . 
         [0035]    The agent  20  is primarily a process and may be configured as a number of program instructions that are loaded on a component of the system  10  alone. The process can be deployed on a dedicated hardware device, such as, for example a base station  14 , computing device, or in the network camera  12   a - 12   d  or on the network video recorder  18 , or as mentioned distributed among a few hardware devices. It should be appreciated that the intelligent video/data compacting agent  20  may be hardware, or alternatively may be software stored as program instructions on a memory associated with the network camera  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c ,  12   d , a digital video recorder, a server, base station  14 , a network device, a circuit or any server or hardware device associated with the system  10 . Various agent  20  configurations are possible and within the scope of the present disclosure. In yet another less preferable embodiment, the agent  20  may be loaded on or be a part of a software platform in a cloud computing arrangement and the digital cameras  12   a - 12   d  may communicate the data to the cloud computing arrangement. 
         [0036]    Preferably, the data is communicated to the local memory  18  and to the second path. The data may be communicated to a remote server  36  associated with the remote destination. The second path may take various forms to communicate the data to the remoter server  36 . For example, the agent  20  may be connected along path  24   a  to a Network Router (not shown) or Wi-Fi router  32 , which communicates the digital information across the Internet  34  to the remote server  36 . The agent  20  may be connected to a software platform accessible form the Internet  36 . The software platform can be a SEEDONK® Video Management platform. The software platform can be a video monitoring and a video sharing application and is a consumer platform for viewing, managing and sharing cameras over the Internet. The software platform is operable on a personal computer, a mobile communication device, a network appliance, or is operable on a server. The computer running the first software platform may be a cloud computing configuration or may include a memory  38 , a processor  40 , a bus  42 , a display  16 , a user interface  46  and an internet connection  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Preferably, the bus  42  in one embodiment can be directly connected to the agent  20  and the video camera  12   a , however, the computing device likely is a distance away from the camera  12   a  and the bus  42  is connected to the agent  20  via network connection  24   a . The computing device of  FIG. 2  forms no limitations to the present disclosure and is merely illustrative of one non-limiting embodiment. For example, the software platform can view the output of the digital video camera  12   a - 12   d , or can control the digital video camera  12   a - 12   d  to pan, tilt, zoom or perform any other control functions associated with the first digital camera. 
         [0037]    Agent  20  may also be coupled to a Wi-Fi dongle  26 . A dongle  26  is a small piece of hardware that connects to the agent  20 , or a laptop or desktop computer. Dongle  26  acts as a broadband wireless adaptor or in general is a connector that translates one type of port to another and that facilitates the transfer of digital data from one component of the system  10  to the remote server  36 . Dongle  26  is connected to the agent  20  through path  24   b  which enables the connection to at least one network camera  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c ,  12   d  and data can be communicated in a wireless manner in a specific protocol to be received by a wireless router  32 , which is connected to the Internet  34  to communicate with the remote destination at the remote server  36 . 
         [0038]    Agent  20  may alternatively be coupled to a 3G dongle  28  along path  24   c . 3G refers to the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) or the 3rd Generation standards for mobile telecommunications defined by the International Telecommunication Union. 3G preferably includes at least one of GSM, EDGE, UMTS, and CDMA2000 as well as TDSCDMA, DECT and Wi-MAX. 3G may further include a wide-area wireless voice telephone, video calls, and wireless data, all in a mobile environment that allows simultaneous use of speech and data services and higher data rates of up to about 14.0 Mbit/s on the downlink and about 5.8 Mbit/s on the uplink. 
         [0039]    A 3G dongle  28  is a broadband wireless adaptor or a connector that translates one type of port to another. 3G dongle  28  facilitates the transfer of digital data from one component of the system  10  to the remote server  36  over a wireless telecommunication network via a telecommunication base station. Dongle  28  is operatively connected to at least one network camera  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c ,  12   d  via the agent  20 . Data can be communicated along path  24   c  and then through 3G dongle  30  in a wireless manner in a specific protocol to be received by a nearby base station  30  and then to its central station (not shown), which is connected to the Internet  34  to communicate with the remote destination at the remote server  36 . It should be appreciated that the transfer of digital data is achieved in packets over a specific predetermined frequency. Wireless telecommunications network  30  is generally implemented with some type of remote information transmission system that uses electromagnetic waves, such as radio waves, for the carrier. The implementation usually takes place at the physical level or “layer” of the network. Alternatively, in a further embodiment, the agent  20  may communicate with the server  36  with a different standard, such as, for example the IEEE 802.16 standard. 
         [0040]    The system  10  further includes a video data transfer controller  22 . Video transfer controller  22  can be manufactured as a separate hardware element or a separate software element, or can be alternatively incorporated into the agent  20 . Preferably, the video transfer controller  22  may include an input device  46 . A user by using the input device  46  in association with the software platform may control one or more attributes of the agent  20 . For example, the controller  22  may control a rate that the video and audio is transmitted along the paths. Controller  22  may set a data rate from one or more choices so that the internet bandwidth along the paths is commensurate with the objectives of the user. For example, the controller  22  may set a data rate according to the status of the current Internet traffic so that the video and data transmission will not fully occupy the bandwidth when traffic is busy. When the Internet connection is not busy such as during off business hours, the video transfer rate can be set to a higher level to accomplish a backup of all video data at the remote server  36  in a rapid manner. Various data rate configurations are possible and within the scope of the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that the video compression may even permit the transfer of video over a relatively small bandwidth. 
         [0041]    Controller  22  also may control the agent  20  to determine a predetermined schedule of what data is transferred along the first or the second path and the time interval for transmitting data to the remote server  36 . Preferably, the data is continuously loaded along the first path to the local memory  18 , and selectively transmitted to the second path to the remote memory  36 . For example, using the software platform from the Internet  34 , the user can control controller  22  via input device  46  to determine when a periodic backup of data occurs. For example, the user may schedule a time slot of Monday at 1:00 a.m. for a full backup of the memory associated with the digital video recorder  18 . This can be an hour whereupon little traffic is expected and whereupon a backup can occur in a rapid manner and when no other users are on the network. Additionally, after a period of time, the agent  22  will record data and compress the data by a frame removal operation. Therefore, a backup of the data can occur in a rapid manner as relatively less data is required to be transmitted as redundant data has been removed and only important or critical data is retained or sent to the remote server  36 . 
         [0042]    Furthermore, the controller  22  may prioritize certain data recorded by the digital video camera  12   a - 12   d  as critical and higher priority and other data as low priority. For example, a user using a software platform may notice that an intruder is present in the field of view of one or more of the cameras  12   a - 12   d . The user will then control input device  46  to send a signal to the controller  22  to mark the data as high priority. In other embodiments, the software may receive an alarm signal or detect an intruder and mark the video as high priority. The data marked as high priority will be immediately or rapidly transmitted from the first path to the local digital video recorder  18  and to the second path and delivered to the remote server  36  along the Internet  34 . The critical data will take precedence over other data than is schedule for a periodic transfer. Preferably, the data is continuously loaded along the first path to the local memory  18 , and selectively transmitted to the second path to the remote memory  36 . 
         [0043]    Turning now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a method according to the present disclosure as reference numeral  48 . The method  48  commences at step  50  and passes to step  52  where digital video images and audio are recorded. Preferably, the data is continuously loaded along the first path to the local memory  18 . The local memory  18  receives data that undergoes a basic compression operation plus a basic processing operation (step  76 ). The compression and processing may be from the specific camera  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  and  12   d , the agent  20 , or the digital video recorder  18  (step  76 ). The compressed data is stored directly at local memory  18  (step  78 ) all the time and it does not matter if there is any alarm, motion detected or object detected that would indicate an adversarial situation. It should be also appreciated that the method steps are not limited to the hierarchal order shown and some steps can be performed before others and some steps can be performed simultaneously. Various configurations of the present method are possible and within the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0044]    In one embodiment of the present disclosure using a motion detector, an alarm or recognition software applications, for example, the controller  22  may receive a signal from an alarm (not shown) that a break in has occurred, a motion detector has been activated, or an object has been recognized in the field of view of at least one of the digital cameras  12   a - 12   d  (step  54 ). Controller  22  will then control agent  20  to mark the data as high priority. Generally, all images are recorded at the local digital video recorder  18 . However, for urgent images the data marked as high priority will be immediately and rapidly transmitted from the first path to the local digital video recorder  18  to the second path and delivered to the remote server  36  along the Internet  34 . Preferably, the data is continuously loaded along the first path to the local memory  18 , and selectively transmitted to the second path to the remote memory  36 . 
         [0045]    If at step  54 , an object, motion or an alarm is detected then control passes along from step  54  to step  56 . At step  56 , the data is deemed as urgent or critical material and thus determined to be delivered to the remote memory  36  immediately. The control passes along from step  56  to step  58  where it is determined whether the data is to be send to the remote memory  36  via a Wi-Fi router. If appropriate to be delivered by the Wi-Fi router then control passes along line  60  to step  64  where the data is transmitted to remote memory  36  and where an additional alarm message is sent to a user to review the data as a possible break in has occurred. Sending the alarm message can be accomplished via SMS, e-mail, signal or via the software platform as discussed. 
         [0046]    If not appropriate to be delivered by the Wi-Fi router at step  58  then control passes to step  62 . At step  62 , the data is deemed as urgent or critical material and it is determined whether the data is to be sent to the remote memory  36  via a network connection via the Internet as shown in  FIG. 1 . If appropriate to be delivered by the network connection then the data is transmitted to the remote server  36  and control passes along line  66  to step  64  where the data is transmitted to remote memory  36  and where an additional alarm message is sent to a user to review the data as a possible break in has occurred. Sending the alarm message can be accomplished via SMS, e-mail, signal or via the software platform as discussed. If not appropriate to be delivered by the network connection at step  62  then control passes to step  68 . 
         [0047]    At step  68 , the data is deemed as urgent or critical material and it is determined whether the data is to be send to the remote memory  36  via mobile communication protocol. If appropriate control passes along line  70  to step  64  where the data is transmitted to the remote memory  36  and an alarm message is sent to a user to review the data as a possible break in has occurred. Thereafter control passes from step  64  to step  52  to continue capturing video and audio images. It should be appreciated that the data can be transmitted immediately to the remote server  36  at steps  58 ,  62 , and  68  or by a predetermined schedule or priority. 
         [0048]    Preferably, the data recorded on the local memory  18  includes basic compression operations and basic process operations. The operations can be made through either the agent  20 , the camera  12   a - 12   d  or from the digital video recorded  18  shown as step  78 . The compressed data is then stored directly at local memory  18  all the time and does not matter if there is any adversary situation detected. If at step  54 , (i) no motion, alarm nor object is detected in the field of view of the images or at step  68  then control passes along lines  72  or  74  to step  76 . At step  76  the digital video data is compressed and processed and the digital data is recorded on the local digital video recorder  18  (step  78 ). 
         [0049]    Thereafter, control passes along line  80  to step  52  to continue capturing video images and audio. It should be appreciated that video and audio recording by the first path to local memory  18  preferably occurs in a continuous manner. The local recording is not be interrupted by the setting or decision of controller  22 . Preferably, the audio and video will be recorded at local memory  18 . The recorded video can then be send to remote memory  36  at a scheduled time for backup purposes. But when adversary situation happens (i.e., when an object is detected, or when motion is detected, or when an alarm sounds), the video data will be sent to both to the first and the second path at the same time. Therefore, the video data can be recorded at the remote memory  36  and the local memory  18  at the same time. In case the local memory  18  is accessible by the intruder and the intruder may tamper and destroy video prior to leaving the protected space, the user still has important video recorded and stored at the remote memory  36 , which is not accessible by the intruder. 
         [0050]    In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the agent  20  embeds data or metadata into the digital data associated with the video and audio. The embed data may indicate that an event occurred and that the user should review the digital video image and may include data to assist with locating the video and audio that corresponds to the event. The embed data enables the user to quickly find the relevant high priority data without having to view hours of irrelevant video data. The embed data also enables the user to search, retrieve and review the data using the software platform in a rapid manner. The agent  20  reduces the amount of data transmitted to the remote server  36 . The agent  20  also increases the amount of storage capacity available. The agent  20  provides that redundant data is not transmitted to the remoter server  36  and is eliminated. This also reduces any bottlenecks in transferring data and lowers costs associated with storage of the data at the remote server  36 . Moreover, if an intruder successfully breaks into the protected space, the intruder does not have access to the data transmitted over the remote server  36  and this may lead to apprehension of the intruder and assist the police. 
         [0051]    In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the agent  20  preferably may further deliver a signal to the user via an SMS, MSM, MSN®, YAHOO®, GOOGLE®, SKYPE®, AOL® instant message, e-mail, phone call, or voicemail message to indicate that a high priority critical video image or audio data has been recorded by at least one of the digital video cameras  12   a - 12   d . Message may be a signal that an alarm has been activated, a motion detector has been activated or an object has been recognized indicating that an event occurred and that the user should review the digital video image. The message may also identify or provide a link or hyperlink to the digital video data. User may then use a Personal Digital Assistant, an Apple® I-PHONE®, BLACKBERRY® device, MOTOROLA® DROID®, GOOGLE®/HTC® NEXUS ONE® phone, laptop, net book, desktop or other Internet communication devices to login to the software platform and access the video to remotely monitor the area via the digital cameras  12   a - 12   d  on a real-time basis. The software platform may also send the video and audio data along the second path to the user&#39;s device to enable the user to quickly find the relevant high priority data without having to view hours of video data in real time. Moreover, if an intruder successfully breaks into the protected space, the user may be alerted and call the authorities without having to pay for an individual to monitor the space and the intruder may be apprehended. The user may also assist the police by transferring the video data to the police using the software platform or via a computer. 
         [0052]    Generally, in operation, the computer system operable with that method shown in  FIGS. 1-3  is controlled by an operating system. Typical examples of operating systems are MS-DOS, Windows95, 98, 2000, XP, Vista and Windows 7 from Microsoft Corporation, or Solaris and SunOS from Sun Microsystems, Inc., UNIX based operating systems, LINUX based operating systems, or the Apple OSX from Apple Corporation. As the computer system operates, input such as input search data, database record data, programs and commands, received from users or other processing systems, are stored on storage device. Certain commands cause the processor to retrieve and execute the stored programs. The programs executing on the processor may obtain more data from the same or a different input device, such as a network connection. The programs may also access data in a database for example, and commands and other input data may cause the processor to index, search and perform other operations on the database in relation to other input data. Data may be generated which is sent to the output device for display to the user or for transmission to another computer system or device. Typical examples of the computer system are personal computers and workstations, hand-held computers, dedicated computers designed for a specific purpose, and large main frame computers suited for use many users. The present invention is not limited to being implemented on any specific type of computer system or data processing device. 
         [0053]    It is noted that the present invention may also be implemented in hardware or circuitry which embodies the logic and processing disclosed herein, or alternatively, the present invention may be implemented in software in the form of a computer program stored on a computer readable medium such as a storage device. In the later case, the present invention in the form of computer program logic and executable instructions is read and executed by the processor and instructs the computer system to perform the functionality disclosed as the invention herein. If the present invention is embodied as a computer program, the computer program logic is not limited to being implemented in any specific programming language. For example, commonly used programming languages such as C, C++, JAVA as well as others may be used to implement the logic and functionality of the present invention. Furthermore, the subject matter of the present invention is not limited to currently existing computer processing devices or programming languages, but rather, is meant to be able to be implemented in many different types of environments in both hardware and software. 
         [0054]    Furthermore, combinations of embodiments of the invention may be divided into specific functions and implemented on different individual computer processing devices and systems which may be interconnected to communicate and interact with each other. Dividing up the functionality of the invention between several different computers is meant to be covered within the scope of the invention. 
         [0055]    While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that is made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.