Patent ID: 6845913

Claim:
A method for capturing a video image of an element comprising the steps of: (a) providing a video camera system comprising a digital data processor, a video data capturing system and a memory module each housed within a camera body; (b) storing a predetermined identifying name of the element in the memory module; (c) associating a barcode with the element, said barcode comprising a bar pattern representative of the predetermined identifying name of the element; (d) scanning the barcode with a barcode scanner directly connected to the video camera system by a port in the camera body thereby generating an electrical signal in response to scanning the bar pattern; (e) interpreting the electrical signal within the video camera system to identify the element to the video camera system; (f) capturing the video image of the element with the video data capturing system; (g) processing the video image of the element with the digital data processor to provide a digital video image of the element; and, (h) storing the digital video image of the element in the memory module with the identifying name of the element associated therewith.