HK1142465A - Video imagery display system and method - Google Patents

Description

Video image display system and method

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method and system for displaying archived video images upon request for payment. The reader will be familiar with major viewing events relayed via television, such as sporting events including football games. Television images are broadcast to many television receivers in real time or stored and then transmitted and replayed after a match.

Background

During the performance of a major ornamental sporting event, such as a football game, live or replayed images are primarily focused on players and balls during the game. For major ornamental events (including but not limited to sporting events such as football games), the range of mementos that viewers can purchase and retain is limited. For example, spectators can buy images, photographs, hats, scarves, and posters printed with clubs, sports pairs, or players, and the sales market for such mementos is considerable. However, there are no images of the fans 'responses to memorable events that are embodied in the fans' facial and/or physical manifestations that reflect the nature of the event. Generally, selected fans will show pleasure when their team scores a goal or wins a game. Similarly, sadness can be manifested when key players of opposing teams are kicked into the field or lost. Further, there may be a fear that may become a resulting or tie shot showing joy or celebration. The inventors have recognized that there is market prospect for capturing the emotions of a spectator at an important event (such as an emotion of a football game watched by a fan, or a group of fans of friends or family) and then playing back. In this regard, the inventors have provided other helpful mementos in addition to the already existing mementos in the form of archived video images that can be played back for appreciation, entertainment, or celebration. Thus, a group of friends participating in a game may play back images of their facial/body representations via cell phones or other means after paying a corresponding fee.

Nowadays, electronic devices (such as mobile phones) capable of playing video signals transmitted via mobile networks have been developed considerably. The improvement in the resolution of the display screen of such mobile devices means that video images of acceptable quality can be repeatedly displayed on such devices. Users who have mobile devices such as cell phones with such displays are quite a lot and often carry them around due to their portability and convenience.

For example, when a group of common friends is discussing a football game, assuming at least one person has a cell phone, by typing in information containing a unique identifier associated with a particular time selection worth recording the game, such as the location of the person or persons who have scored the goal and need to see his facial and/or physical performance, then after payment of the corresponding fee, video images of the person or persons who are going to see the game may be downloaded to the cell phone and played for that person or other persons in the group of friends for appreciation or celebration.

Instead of game images, such as indeterminate images of players, and/or balls or groups of people, video images, such as facial and/or physical performance of people who have been confirmed to watch the game, particularly at important moments such as sporting events, are a commodity of keepsake that can be sold and which themselves can be displayed in a repeatable manner after the game by paying the appropriate fee.

The device and system of the present invention may be used as a means for capturing a memorial image of the expression of one or more persons seeing important or memorable events such as a goal in a football game, a missed goal, a deal, a player being punished, etc. These images may be stored for many years, i.e. in an archive, and retrieved for playback if needed after weeks, months or even years of the game. It can act as a means to capture facial and/or body performance to an archive during important competitions for subsequent retrieval and play as requested using appropriate querying, playback and display means. For example, it is preferable to transmit the desired image at the time of payment based on a request from a cellular phone, although payment display on a computer screen or a television screen of an interactive television is also possible.

Disclosure of Invention

According to the present invention, there is provided in one aspect thereof a system of devices arranged to play video imagery stored in a video archive on request, the system comprising:

(a) a plurality of cameras capable of capturing video images;

(b) a master video compression mechanism adapted to compress video images received from the camera (a);

(c) video archive programming means arranged to process the video signal compressed by the compression means (b);

(d) a video archive mechanism arranged to store the compressed video signal;

(e) a secondary video compression mechanism connected to the archive mechanism (d) and adapted to compress the video imagery obtained from the archive mechanism (d) into one of a mobile device format, a network video format, and a television video format.

(f) Server means adapted to said format and arranged to query said archiving means (d) and capable of communicating with (g) a remote mobile device, web browser or television display controller and (h) a payment gateway adapted to said format, and wherein archived video images are compressed and relayed to said server means (f) and upon authorization by said payment means (h), said archived video images are subsequently transmitted to said mobile device, web browser or television display controller (g) upon request from said server means when triggered by a request for a particular video image from any of said mobile device, web browser or television display controller (g).

The second aspect of the present invention also provides a method for displaying video images on a mobile device using the aforementioned apparatus, wherein:

(i) relaying a text message including a unique identifier associated with a particular video imagery to be displayed on the mobile device to a server mechanism (f) adapted to a mobile device format;

(ii) said server means (f) transmitting a request to query said video archiving means (d) and locate said requested particular video imagery;

(iii) said video archiving mechanism (d) converting said particular video imagery to be compressed into a formatted file suitable for said mobile device;

(iv) (iv) relaying the compressed file obtained in step (iii) back to the server means (f);

(v) deducting payment for the requested particular video imagery from an account of the mobile device user;

(vi) relaying an identification of acceptance of payment to said server means (f), and

(vii) relaying the requested particular video imagery to the mobile device and displaying thereon.

In the case where the selected video imagery is displayed to a web browser for display on a computer screen, the server mechanism may be a web server in communication with a web payment gateway and the web browser.

In the case of displaying the selected video imagery on a television screen, the server mechanism may be a television front end in communication with a television payment gateway and television screen through a remote television controller provided as required. The picture-in-picture functionality may be particularly effective in presenting so that the sporting event may fill the main screen and the performance of the selected fan may be overlaid thereon in the form of a small window (picture-in-picture) near one corner of the main screen.

Preferred and optional features of the invention appear from the dependent claims.

Detailed Description

The present invention employs three available video imaging system architectures for capturing, archiving and remote playback when a particular desired video image is requested.

They are:

(1) closed Circuit Television (CCTV)

(2) Machine vision

(3) Professional consumption level equipment

Professional consumption level equipment (3)

Professional consumer-grade technologies using Digital Video (DV) are an ideal format for personal computer or network-based video. There are many cameras available on the market and the cameras selected by the present invention should reflect the required video quality and the available budget.

The personal computer is sufficient to handle the storage and performance requirements required for video data processing. The existing processors provide enough processing power to handle video conversion, and the increase in memory capacity and reduction in memory price also make DV technology well applicable. The operating system itself has good support for digital video connectivity features, such as firewire, plug and play support for mobile hard disks and DV cameras.

Professional-grade (professional consumer-grade) cameras are cumbersome in terms of physical size and therefore less feasible. Furthermore, such cameras require manual operation, which can present two additional difficulties. Firstly, a person must be allocated to each individual camera, which increases the labor costs, and secondly, standing camera operators on the field may obstruct the view of the audience and may present health and safety issues.

Machine vision (2)

Machine vision engineering includes computer science, optics, mechanical engineering and industrial automation. Current machine vision systems use digital cameras, smart cameras, and image processing software to perform similar inspections.

Such systems are typically programmed to perform tasks such as counting objects on the conveyor belt, reading serial numbers, and searching for surface defects. Most, if not all, machine vision systems are a possible solution because they require a high degree of automation.

The main advantage of implementing the present invention in a machine vision system is that substantially no human intervention is required in the process, or manual errors outside of the automation are eliminated. The acquisition side is less highly automated in view of the fact that only one person is physically required to operate/monitor the camera after installation. The invention has high automation degree, but mainly focuses on network communication rather than image processing. In fact, the subjective adjustment of the person is more beneficial than the adjustment of a predefined computer system for any adjustment required during the game.

The only manual intervention required by this system is to adjust the manual settings of the cameras according to the light level or weather, although there may be more manual operations.

CCTV(1)

Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) is an isolated system in which all loops are closed and directly connected. This is in contrast to broadcast television, which acquires signals by a particular receiving device tuned to be able to receive signals from a broadcast channel.

CCTV systems are also starting to find increasing use outside the security industry and are now widely used in surveillance and control applications, although commercial applications for public events are not yet available. Although the scale proposed by the present invention is very large, CCTV systems themselves can vary in scale, so that smaller scale installations can be deployed in larger sites if sufficient hardware resources are added. Thus, with this means of capturing and archiving video graphics, system capacity can be increased relatively simply for subsequent on-demand remote playback.

Although each CCTV system exists as a separate unit, its own level of control and integration is not comparable to the above possible applications. In fact, such CCTV solutions are naturally and routinely built as part of network systems, whereby application of CCTV is the best system for capturing and archiving video imagery.

Network CCTV systems are typically highly automated in communications technology.

Any CCTV solution employed remains independent of stadium CCTV (which has its own mission) and plays a major role in broader networks.

Basic equipment

Although CCTVs use devices of varying applications and ranges, they contain certain basic components. The components must be compatible and operate within the scope of the present invention in an efficient manner for efficient operation. These core components are:

(a) video camera

(b) Lens barrel

(c) Cable with a flexible connection

(d) Recording and monitoring device

(e) Illumination/lighting

Video camera

The main purpose of a camera is to project an image onto a sensor using light and a lens. The camera used in the present invention is selected taking into account a number of factors, including environment, weather, possible damage, and light level. These variables can be balanced against the requirement of resolution of detail in the picture so that the output video file is clear and of high quality to the end user. CCTV cameras come in several categories (some cameras may have one or more of the following attributes):

monochromatic camera

In an environment with poor illumination, black and white cameras provide higher video quality than color cameras. Monochrome cameras may also be used in conjunction with Infrared (IR) illumination that is not visible to the naked eye. For stadiums where the stand lighting conditions are poor and there is limited or no ability to install large lighting equipment or equipment above the crowd area, a monochrome camera is a suitable option.

Color camera

Color is extremely important for most recorded video media, and color cameras can render full color images. Since most fans will not want to purchase black and white video, the present invention is best suited to install a camera that provides color graphics.

Color/monochrome camera

Color/monochrome cameras are multi-function cameras that can work well with good or poor lighting conditions at the same time. They can provide high quality color images under normal lighting conditions and switch from color mode to black and white mode when the light level drops. This is also a preferred option of the invention to provide maximum flexibility when the light level decreases for some unforeseen reason.

Dome camera

Transparent plastic may be used to surround the camera to protect the camera and disguise the direction in which the device is pointed. The use of dome cameras to protect cameras located around stadiums is excellent because cameras can be the target of projectiles thrown from people.

Infrared color/monochrome camera

Infrared color/monochrome cameras are designed to provide higher performance in environments where lighting is always poor. An infrared color/monochrome camera is comprised of a camera and lens, and an integrated Infrared (IR) Light Emitting Diode (LED) array mounting unit. The use of additional lighting is preferable to seeking to improve image quality by the camera for any portion of the stand that is always in poor lighting conditions from which a particular desired video image is to be captured.

The following CCTV cameras can be used to acquire the video clip (footage) of the present invention.

Indoor dome camera

High resolution color dome camera with 3-9mm zoom lens powered by 12VDC or 24 VAC. This camera is only suitable for indoor environments.

Damage-proof dome camera

High resolution vandal-proof color camera with 3-9mm zoom lens powered by 12VDC or 24 VAC. While being suitable for indoor and outdoor environments.

Universal camera

High resolution color cameras with 2.8-10mm zoom lenses powered by 12VDC or 24 VAC. Suitable for use indoors and includes a ledge with cable controls.

Color suite

A pre-set external camera kit including a high resolution color camera with a 2.8-12mm zoom auto-iris lens. The camera is mainly used for outdoor environments and comprises a camera protective cover and a wall rack.

Day/night suite

A pre-set external camera kit comprising a high resolution day/night camera with a 3.5-10.5mm zoom auto-iris lens. The camera is mainly used for outdoor environments and comprises a camera protective cover and a wall rack.

Night vision suite

The external camera kit comprises a preset external camera kit of a high-resolution day/night camera with a 3.5-10.5mm zoom auto-iris lens, and an outdoor camera shield. The kit generates a high resolution color image during daylight, a high resolution monochrome image in complete darkness and can cover distances up to 30 meters or more in complete darkness.

Lens barrel

A lens is an optical device attached to a camera for focusing light in front of the camera onto an electronic sensor in the camera.

The focal length of the lens is directly related to the viewing angle or field angle. A shorter focal length results in a wider viewing angle. As the focal length increases, the field of view of the camera narrows. The standard viewing angle is a viewing angle similar to that of the naked eye (about 35 degree)

Shots are generally divided into three types:

fixed focus lens

The focal length of the fixed-focus lens is fixed, and the fixed-focus lens is used for the condition that the visual angle does not need to be changed or adjusted. The fixed focus lens is the most basic form of a CCTV camera lens. The prime lens is less expensive than other options, which can significantly reduce the cost of this system component.

Zoom Lens (Vari-focal Lens)

The focal length of this type of lens can be adjusted slightly manually during installation. During mounting, the field of view or the field of the zoom lens may be slightly changed, which allows for a limited error range.

Zoom (tele) lens

Such lenses have a long focal length to produce high magnification, but a narrow viewing angle. Manually variable focal length lenses (zoom lenses) can have a wide range of adjustments when mounted. An operator may use an electrically variable focal length lens to automatically change the field of view to zoom in and out on the target. These lenses are the most expensive and add significantly to the cost of this system component.

Aperture

The natural light that can reach the lens in the field and any artificial light that must be provided when natural light is not available can greatly affect the final video quality. Therefore, in order to obtain the best image quality, it is most important to have the correct amount of light reach the camera sensor via the lens. In actual operation, the adjustment is performed through a lens aperture.

Automatic aperture lens

The auto iris lens automatically adapts to the change of the illumination level, so the auto iris lens is widely applied to the outdoor and the environment with regular change of the illumination level. Because the invention often cannot accurately give the illumination level of a specific event, the automatic iris lens is an ideal iris of the invention.

Aspherical lens

Aspheric lenses are special optics and cameras used in low light environments together achieve higher sensitivity. When the illumination condition is poor, the aspheric lens has better performance, and can effectively generate sharper and clearer images at dusk or dawn.

However, aspheric lenses are more complex and therefore less economical, and auto-stop lenses are preferred.

Illumination of light

Since the camera only captures light reflected from the stand, illumination is essential for recording video content. When natural light is not available, artificial light must be provided because poor illumination can lead to poor video quality. Natural light may be sufficient during day games, however, night games may require additional lighting, particularly in isolated parts of the population.

Existing CCTV installations obtain additional illumination by using general public lighting or Infrared (IR) covert lighting that is invisible to the naked eye but detectable by a monochrome camera. Systems using infrared video content are not preferred because consumers will want to see themselves substantially in color rather than black and white. Therefore, there is a need to install lighting on stands for possible night-time event games.

Any such additional lighting installation should provide illumination that covers substantially the full field. CCTV cameras should not be such that the camera points directly into any light source, whether natural or artificial. Since the color temperature (coloremperture) fluctuates with weather factors such as cloud cover, any artificial lighting should be tested to obtain the optimum lighting level for a night game at different times of the year.

A balance is struck between providing sufficient lighting for a full-color image camera and ensuring that the experience of a soccer game is not disturbed.

An overview of preferred lighting options is given below:

incandescent lighting-uses a filament used in a general electric bulb. Heated to produce white light.

General filament lighting-can be used for indoor applications.

Tungsten halogen-color is well developed but at a higher cost.

Fluorescent lighting-the emission of light produced by a gas discharge. Fluorescence provides excellent color rendering and is more economical and therefore the best illumination.

High Intensity Discharge (HID) -HID uses a starting circuit and can provide reliable and stable special lighting for long periods of time. The run-up period and the re-strike period mean that these luminaires should only be used with CCTV for long periods of time, over weeks. These lamps are economical but not suitable for stadium events of short duration.

Sodium Low pressure (SOX) -a major source of illumination in urban street lighting. Unfortunately, colors cannot be effectively distinguished in CCTV systems, meaning that it is not a preferred option.

High pressure Sodium (SON) and metal Halide (HPI) -both have excellent color rendering in CCTV systems, when realized at higher cost.

LED lighting-LED technology for white light and infrared lighting. This type of lighting operates at a relatively low cost and has an extremely long life. However, as previously mentioned, this illumination system is not preferred due to the need for color images.

If desired, a fluorescent lighting system is preferred as the additional lighting. For most stadiums, auxiliary lighting may be needed to obtain superior quality video content.

Camera selection

In selecting a preferred camera, the following factors may be considered:

a) the cameras may be very close to thousands of fans, so it is preferable to choose a model that can be potentially damaging.

b) It is conceivable that a fan would not want a large number of cameras to be clearly pointed in their direction throughout the course of the event. Therefore, it is preferable to use a camera which disguises the direction of the camera's line of sight.

c) It is preferable to use a high resolution camera to reproduce clear video on a computer monitor and on a mobile device after compression.

d) Although infrared imaging is a desirable additional feature in darker environments, it is not a necessary component.

The infrared image may be reproduced in monochrome.

According to these criteria, the best camera is a tamper-proof dome camera. Which hides the direction in which the camera is pointing, is highly durable, and provides maximum flexibility in high/low light environments.

Number of cameras required

Taking the stadium of the easton villa team-the veranda park-as an example, the number of cameras required to cover the entire stadium population can be derived by appropriate calculations. The logistics (logistics) and placement of the cameras is not considered, as this is only a subjective consideration made on each stadium. Accurate calculations can only be made by entering each stadium and making a thorough estimate of each stand.

The veranda park can accommodate 42,573 people. Assuming that one camera can adequately cover 100 people (10 rows by 10 columns of fans), this stadium requires 426 cameras. If a wenbuli court that can accommodate 90,000 people is used as the application site for the present invention, 900 cameras are required to cover the field.

Video delivery

Delivering video over the internet/mobile network requires very high rates of compression to reduce the transmission bandwidth requirements and costs associated with large size video files. In most cases, eliminating data redundancy can reduce file size to one percent or even less. For example, a 150 megabyte video may be reduced to 1.5 megabytes while retaining the basic information needed for human perception and interpretation.

Codec and format

In order to make more mobile users available, it is desirable to consider encoding mobile video using multiple codecs and formats. The mobile market is equally discrete, if not outweighed, by the dilemma faced by internet-based content providers in which formats video content is provided.

Unfortunately, handsets have one major drawback: unlike personal computer based video offerings (where a user can download additional software to view content), mobile phone handsets are somewhat limited by CPU and memory, and thus application downloads have not reached widespread use. Users (particularly those not interested in technology) will generally think that everything they need to be able to view a video has been pre-installed on their cell phone. Currently on the market, not all handsets themselves support video playback, but mobile operators generally consider the average time to change handsets to be months, rather than years. Upgrade software can and does enable video playback to enter the market in a faster time than embedded systems.

The codecs and formats currently in the market are divided into three types: mobile standard (mobile standard), vendor standard (vendor standard), proprietary codec (proprietary standard).

Standard-based codec

The main mobile standard is specified by 3GPP (third generation partnership project), which is a collaboration of several telecommunication standards organizations. The scope of 3GPP is not limited to multimedia, which gives most of today's specifications based on global system for mobile communications (GSM) networks. For content providers, the 3GPP multimedia standards family specifies a container of video content, and supported video and audio codecs multiplexed within the container.

Current handsets use two main video codecs: h.263 and MPEG-4. Most video conferencing applications use h.236. Such a codec has a very low delay, making it suitable for live applications. The CPU requirements required for decoding are also quite low, well matching the CPU capabilities of current handsets. However, h.236 is not considered a new codec and is very bandwidth inefficient compared to other available codecs.

MPEG-4, and more specifically MPEG-4Simple Profile is the equivalent of H.263. It has many of the same delay and decoding characteristics and is more efficient at encoding and thus higher video quality. Most content providers in the mobile industry use MPEG-4 as the video codec for 3GPP content, which is the current best solution for the present invention to achieve as many targeted customers as possible.

The latest standard-based codec is h.264, also known as advanced video coding. The content provider industry uses h.264 coding for transmissions to mobile devices and high definition television networks. Compared with the current broadcasting standard MPEG-2, the coding efficiency is improved by two to three times. Hardware-based h.264 encoders are now in commercial use, but are not currently in widespread support by handsets. H.264 may provide exceptional image quality for a given data rate and is expected to set up the player as a standard for video handsets in the near future.

While h.264 is the best choice in terms of video quality, encoding into 3GPP video is suggested to ensure that extensive support can be made for the current market.

Vendor format

Two mainstream vendor formats are RealVideo from Realnetworks, inc and Windows media codec/format from microsoft. Windows media is generally pre-installed in a mobile phone or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) running operating software such as a mobile phone version PocketPC or a Pocket PC 2003. Mobile phones using operating software such as Symbian, Palm OS, and Pocket PC can use a mobile player of Realnetworks corporation. Some models of nokia corporation (9200 series handsets and 3650 and 7650) have the software in their embedded systems.

Since the early days of the internet had relevant software to generate low bit rate compressed video, the vendor format provided the easiest entry to the mobile market for content providers. For mobile viewers, some adjustments to the encoding parameters are required, but the overall barrier to entry is much lower than for mobile standard or proprietary codecs. Although Pocket PC and Palm based handsets gain more and more market share, the common handsets still account for the vast majority of the circulation, and the current price of both handsets is still seen with this trend continuing at least in the near future. Thus, the use of these codecs helps the present invention to get a part of the potential audience.

Proprietary formats

A third type of format and codec is a proprietary format and decoder. They are many based on the J2ME virtual machine and are an available method of providing video content to users whose handsets do not themselves support video. These codecs are themselves optimized for low bandwidth operation and decoding efficiency. Tools provided by codec vendors encode content into these formats.

As described, there are many codecs and formats, and there is no simple mechanism to choose which one is supported. By definition, the need to download a dedicated player and codec to the end user's handset makes the threshold for entry and acceptance higher than native functionality. This system requires not only the identification of its audience by demographics, but also by the device it carries. Thus, this system is not preferred for soccer fields.

Transport mechanism

Mobile video delivery can be divided into two categories: real-time streaming (live streaming) and Video On Demand (VOD). VOD can also be divided into TVOD (true video on demand) and download. In TVOD, after a user requests, the content is streamed to the handset in real time. In the case of download, the entire content is downloaded to the device before the fans (i.e., users of the present invention) can play back.

True video on demand/streaming

A problem with TVOD is that the content is never saved in the mobile device, but TVOD becomes a problem since one advantage of the present invention is that the user can save the content with his own preferences.

As long as mobile technology is still a current consideration, TVODs still pose several problems. In order to provide a satisfactory user experience, the available stable bandwidth of the user's mobile network must be equal to or greater than the data rate of the video clip. In practice, this is very difficult to achieve since the data connection of the sender is a shared source, and therefore, if this option is chosen, the common consumption of bandwidth will adversely affect the user experience. This option is therefore not preferred.

Mobile video download

Although it takes a long time for the content to arrive, the content download may guarantee a higher quality experience for the end user. In this case, all the content in the video is downloaded and stored in the memory of the handset. Playback of the file begins immediately after successful download and is not subject to possible network congestion. This allows viewing of content even without connecting to a network (uncovered area, tunnel, airplane, etc.). This also allows high quality video. The file of 128Kbps does not need to be pushed to the mobile phone in real time, so that the file with higher data rate can be stored on the mobile phone, and more excellent experience is provided for users.

Considering the screen size of current handsets (typically 176x144 pixels), 128Kpbs, although it seems to be the mainstream of the dial-up and ISDN era, provides the image quality and motion that users find suitable. The frame rate of the video is generally lower than computer-based broadband streaming media (8-10 for cell phones versus 15-30 for computer-based video), but the smaller screen plus the visual perception of the human eye compensate for the lower rate and thus appear to be of higher quality. Therefore, this option is preferable.

Development prospect

Many models have only 32-64 MB of video storage memory for storage capability on existing handsets. A data rate of 128Kbps allows about 34-68 minutes of video to be stored on the handset. This is sufficient to meet the needs of the current market, however, as more mobile content providers enter the market, users may need more capacity to store other video content.

Update frequency

Updates to the handset are made in the form of "carousels" to provide equal distributed scheduling (distribution scheduling) for the competing content owners, with a complete update period typically of 30 minutes. This is not a problem for most applications.

Mobile operator

Successful video delivery to mobile devices requires cooperation and coordination with the mobile operator. Mobile-based websites can operate without the cooperation of the operator.

In terms of quality of service, it is desirable to have the wireless carrier service have the end user's request.

The operator preferably routes traffic appropriately within his network and preferably knows his own network infrastructure. Given the accurate usage information available, operators can guarantee the most efficient delivery of content and allow users the best experience by providing content from topologically closest to them.

Hardware requirements

Monitoring device

These devices are used to view images, include a monitor screen, and may be a conventional CRT screen or a new generation TFT/LCD screen. If more than one channel is to be viewed on the same screen, the size of the monitor depends on the number of channels to be displayed at a given time, the viewing distance, and the space left.

Since this process can be automated, monitoring after installation is not necessary. No regular monitoring of the population is required other than for maintenance checks. Preferably there are a number of monitors actively supervising the content, and the number selected depends on, for example, the stadium and the number of cameras installed.

The viewing device can be compensated using the slave monitor so that the camera's view can be viewed at more than one location, or remotely if desired. The monitor typically has two BNC connectors, one for receiving signals from the camera or recording device and the other for looping back with the slave monitor when needed.

Auxiliary equipment

In addition to camera control and recording equipment, telemetry is required. The telemetry device is a signaling system for remotely controlling the positional functions (e.g., pan/tilt/zoom) of the camera. The preferred camera already carries these features, however, a dedicated keyboard is required to control these functions.

Preferably, a scrubbing member may be provided to clean the camera housing screen. For cleaning, a signal may be generated by a controller keyboard or handle near the monitor. The signal may be sent to a receiver near the camera head. This feature is required because raindrops or other projectiles can attack the camera's cover. Without proper telemetry, each camera needs to be manually cleaned.

A suitable keyboard for this purpose is a C-DKBD keyboard, which can be perfectly integrated with the selected camera and DVR unit.

Storing

The amount of video compression selected depends on the required video quality and file size. The file size determines the required storage capacity. The greater the degree of compression of the video, the lower the resolution/quality of the file. Conversely, the smaller the degree of compression of the video, the higher the resolution/quality, as shown in table 1 below.

TABLE 1

	Uncompressed	Depth compression
			Resolution/quality	Height of	Is low in
Required storage space	Big (a)	Small
			Data transmission speed	Is slower	Is quicker
Cost of transmission bandwidth	Very high/currently impossible	Is low in

Raw data that is not processed requires a very large storage space, and the data rate of video clips per minute often reaches 1 GB. Since the video imagery of the present invention is transmitted exclusively over the internet/mobile network, it is preferable to compress the data into a moderately compressed format prior to storage in the video library to minimize storage requirements.

The standard-based MPEG-4 format is widely used in modern CCTV systems and it appears capable of greatly reducing the size of video files while maintaining high quality video. In view of the extremely large storage capacity required, it is preferable to archive video content using a codec such as MPEG-4.

Digital hard disk video recorder

The present system requires a digital hard disk recorder (DVR) to archive video content. In addition to being a storage device, a DVR also acts as a control mechanism to record video clips onto a built-in hard disk while they are being transferred to a monitoring device.

The preferred DVR works by ingesting a specified number of input channels (e.g., connected to a stadium camera). The camera feedback array is communicated to the surveillance system for viewing in a selected manner (e.g., individually or on multiple screens where all images can be displayed simultaneously). This is particularly advantageous if more than one camera is to be viewed, recorded or displayed on a single monitor screen. Video captured, for example, from a stadium can be played back locally on a DVR via a monitor, or connected to a PC network for processing and propagation over the internet to a mobile server and transmitted to the user's cell phone, for example.

Current DVR technology can provide a versatile solution and can provide services beyond simple recording of video images that were previously available on a Video Cassette Recorder (VCR). CCTV systems employing DVR storage may provide many advanced features over VCR technology, including video searching through events, time, date, and cameras, and thus are the best form. This provides an interface between the software system required to query the database and the data from the consumer's textual information. The archiving function ultimately provides a way to separate the relevant video portions by time and camera.

Storage arrangement

A DVR may be set to store, for example, 25 frames per second so that the visual appearance of the video is a moving picture without noticeable flicker. This is called "real time" and has an image similar to broadcast television. The required storage space is reduced by recording in an interval photograph mode (time lap mode) in which a smaller number of frames per minute is stored. For example, when a video clip of 20 frames per second is recorded, 20% less storage space is required than in the aforementioned setting, thus reducing the associated cost.

Current cell phone video rarely attempts video at 15 frames per second or more, so content can be stored in interval picture mode at this frame rate. This requires a lot of compression before writing the data to the hard disk, thereby saving storage costs considerably. The capture frame rate can be increased/edited to ensure that playback matches handset/network capabilities, corresponding to industry trends as mobile technology evolves.

The disadvantage of using a low frame rate to save video segments is that it first causes the streamed video segments to become relatively low quality as technology advances, making them of limited value beyond the lifetime of current handset/network capabilities. Therefore, the video imagery content is preferably stored in a high quality compressed format, such as MPEG-4 at 25fps, so that the streamed video segments have a consistent quality regardless of how the mobile network evolves in the future.

Operating system

DVRs in CCTV systems may be classified as computer-based (PC-based) or embedded. The computer-based DVR architecture is part of a standard personal computer with a video capture card designed to capture video images. An embedded DVR is a specially designed digital video recorder with its own operating system and application software contained in firmware or read-only memory. The type of operating system depends on the model selected, however, it is preferably computer based to ensure maximum flexibility in updating and modifying. Embedded systems are not preferred in view of the high level of customization and integration that the present system can provide using customized application/event software components.

DVR settings

The DVR of the present apparatus and system may have the following preferred characteristics:

(a) the mounting or table top configuration is designed according to the working space given by the stadium.

(b) A plurality of video inputs with a connector type consistent with the analog or digital video being provided, such as coaxial cable, twisted pair or fiber optic cable. The most common number of inputs are 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16. Customizing a software system may require a large amount of more input.

(c) DVRs need to be pluggable into scalable systems. Many DVRs can be configured with a large number of inputs by grouping a single DVR into a network or connecting in a bus.

(d) Providing the controlled output to an external video display monitor.

(e) The control panel switches and indicators, which allow control (preferably by a software program) of various functions of the machine, are preferably programmed by software.

(f) In conformity with the type of network and for controlling the functions of the video recorder and the network connection for transmitting and/or receiving video signals.

(g) Connection to an external control device such as a keyboard. The keyboard (C-DKDD) and the ZR-DHD1621NP DVR have complete integration (native integration).

(h) Connection to an external console with pan/tilt/zoom tools to drive the position camera.

(i) Video is archived to CDs, DVDs, VCRs on physical media.

(j) Connection to an external storage medium. This may provide the possibility of backup storage when the DVR hard disk is broken.

In view of these factors, it is contemplated that none of the DVRs can provide plug-and-play functionality with any system. In particular, multiple DVRs may be installed, configured, customized to be used as part of a customization unit to archive video content into a video library.

After considering multiple DVR models, the ZR-DHD1621NP is the appropriate model. The number required depends on the size of the stadium and thus the number of cameras installed. For example, for 426 estimated camera inputs required by a veranda park, if the 16-input mode is selected, 27 DVRs are required.

Storage space

For embodiments of the present invention, there are a number of factors that affect the storage space required. For example, some cameras use motion detection and do not record if a certain portion of the crowd is empty, saving a lot of hard disk space. In addition, a related process may be performed whereby the recording is initiated by an event on the field of view.

For purposes of making exemplary estimates, the amount of storage space required by an embodiment should be considered exemplary illustrations of possible storage requirements.

If 426 cameras are stored for 100 minutes at a bit rate of 1Mbps per game:

732.421875MB for 1Mbps by 6000 seconds, each camera for each game;

426 cameras are multiplied by 732.42 MB-304.7 GB (storage space required for each game).

Given that the largest hard disk available to the ZR-DHD1621NP is 1.2TB (terabytes), one such DVR would be full of storage capacity after four matches. Therefore, building such a system obviously requires taking into account the extra external memory.

If the hard disk is full, the DVR may be set to overwrite the oldest secure video segments, however, if video segments can be archived from all football matches, this approach may ideally be avoided so that these segments can be accessed at any point in the future.

Wiring

Each entity requires a physical connection to the next entity, which means that a large amount of wiring is required. The main cables used in CCTV systems are coaxial cables and category five cables (Cat 5).

Coaxial cable

This is the most widely used line carrying CCTV video signals. A coaxial cable is a wire used as a high-frequency transmission line carrying a high-frequency or broadband signal. Since the signal-carrying electromagnetic field is present only in the space between the inner conductor and the outer conductor, it does not interfere with, or is interfered by, external electromagnetic fields.

The data transmission distance of the coaxial cable can reach 300m at most. This is sufficient for smaller stadiums. Cat5

Category 5 twisted pair, commonly referred to as Cat5, is a type of twisted pair designed for high signal integrity and is a form of telecommunications cabling used in the CCTV industry. It is often used for structured wiring of computer networks like ethernet and also for carrying many other signals like basic voice services, token ring, and ATM (up to 155Mbit/s, shorter transmission distance) and is therefore a preferred form of wiring.

The distance of the 5-type twisted pair carrying CCTV signals is far more than that of a coaxial cable, and can reach 1000 meters. To ensure maximum adaptation for future use in larger stadiums, the Cat5 line, which is flexible and has higher performance, is the preferred choice.

Examples of different wiring options are as follows.

The maximum distance from the passive single channel-camera to the single channel interface of the five twisted pairs is 200 meters.

Passive four-way channels-five twisted pairs to the 4-channel interface of the control device, with a maximum distance of 200 meters.

Passive sixteen-way channels-category five twisted pairs to the 16-channel interface of the control device, with a maximum distance of 200 meters.

The maximum distance from the active single channel-camera to the single channel interface of the five twisted pairs is 600 meters. An active device of 12Vdc is required.

Active four channels-five twisted pairs to the 4-channel interface of the control device, the maximum distance is 600 meters. An active device of 12Vdc is required.

Active sixteen-way channels-five twisted pairs to the 16-channel interface of the control device, with a maximum distance of 600 meters. An active device of 12Vdc is required.

Wireless technology

While camera operators that live from the field often have historically been hardwired to production carts (production trucks), today's cameras may be equipped with RF transmitters. The camera signal is transmitted to the production truck and the camera signal is displayed on the monitor of the production truck just like any other video source. These units typically allow the camera operator to move freely to obtain pictures that are difficult to capture.

However, the sheer size of the single installation of the present invention means that it is not feasible to wirelessly transmit all of the video data from 426 cameras in such a concentrated space. Wireless technology can be subject to interference and high error rates, and sending defective video to customers is unacceptable.

Bottleneck problem

The internet is a public network whose implementation at the end-user site has changed. If a user in france wants to access content from an embodiment of the invention where the host is located only in the uk, a delay may occur in the way the data is transferred. This is not necessarily detrimental to e-mails or documents that the user can tolerate delays of several minutes. However, for video download applications where time is a critical factor, any major delay is important. Finally, the further the user is from the physical location of the server, the more route crossings the content needs to traverse, further increasing the likelihood of latency. The solution to this problem is to use edge server (edge server) technology.

Edge server

One solution to this bottleneck problem is to use edge servers. An edge server is a server that caches video content at strategic points closest to the network edge of the internet backbone. This means, for example, that users of continental europe may access servers in the united kingdom, while the accessed content need not travel over a network that is often congested. The video still needs to be hosted on the current server, however, the same data is kept close to the network edge to ensure faster delivery to the user.

Server redundancy

It is preferable to run the same service from several servers to minimize the possible downtime. When the primary server is fully operational, traffic load can be balanced to ensure that resources are optimally used. When one server needs to be upgraded or maintained (as often happens), one of the servers can continue to operate during downtime. In the case of using only one server, the service has to be completely stopped at the time of modification, meaning that all services are stopped and resulting in loss of revenue.

Server group/virtual host (Hosting)

The cost of the data and video accessed by the user depends on the amount of data transferred.

There are three ways available:

a) private-local ISPs may provide commercial, non-contention internet connections. For example, a 10Mbps line. This provides a direct path to the internet backbone, which is dedicated to the users of the system, i.e. the network traffic is not disturbed by third party traffic.

b) Contention lines-this arrangement involves sharing an internet connection with several users. For a consumer line, this ratio is typically 20: 1, i.e. the internet connection is shared with the other 20 users, whereby blocking may occur. Increasing the cost may reduce the sharing ratio to about 5: 1, however, such costs may still be much cheaper than the private line.

c) Server farm-a server may be located at the same site as servers of other companies. Providers of such services typically have their own dedicated internet connection, typically running at 100 Mbps. Each consumer has an upper limit of data transfer usage beyond which additional fees are paid.

The optimal choice is to set a dedicated line for the system at each stadium, taking into account the amount of data transferred and the need for a fast return time. This can provide guaranteed access to the internet backbone without fear of blocking that prevents the user from receiving video.

Summary of software requirements

Video content is difficult to manage and efficiently index. The present invention benefits from an efficient Content Management System (CMS) to locate, access and deliver the correct video to the user in a timely manner.

Failure to locate the requested video clip can result in lost clients and frequent failure to acquire the video clip should be avoided. Therefore, the present system is highly desirable to develop suitable CMS and mobile server applications.

The method of the CMS writing metadata to files and then indexing them can determine how quickly they can be retrieved from the video library. In general, tagging and presentation of Rich Media (Rich Media) is still a manual process, i.e., the process of defining and describing video content still requires manual input of information. Manual methods can increase the overall processing time by two-three times, thereby making it less efficient.

Briefly, a desired content management solution should be able to intelligently store, categorize, manage, retrieve video and audio, and then output after receiving a request.

The software application preferably includes the following capabilities:

(a) image capture rate for user selection either all input or one-by-one input. That is, different capture frame rates may be set for a single camera or a portion of a crowd.

(b) The capture frame rate and image resolution features may be programmed to automatically adjust the capture rate when the event occurs. For example, if the team is playing the ball in the back third of the field on the opposing half, the capture rate may increase from 15/20fps to 25 fps. This can cover the vast majority of video clips ordered and can greatly reduce the amount of storage space required.

(c) The image capture rate can be selectable either all input or one-by-one input. May also be triggered to change by an event/signal.

(d) Motion detection is one possible solution for a fully automated embodiment of the present system. Using the motion sensor, the camera can start and stop recording depending on the amount of activity in the field. In a football stadium, recording may begin one hour before the start of the ball and end about 30 minutes after the end.

(e) Motion detection may prompt the start and end of recording. This is not strictly required, however, which can provide significant space savings.

(f) Video input to the video monitor is initiated automatically upon user input or upon a warning or event.

(g) Input, time and date stamp

(h) Video logging based on appropriate video input

(i) Searchable index of events

(j) A request can be sent to or received from a mobile device.

(k) The model of the intelligent recognition equipment and the video player installed by the intelligent recognition equipment.

(l) Coding and publishing video according to mobile phone generating request

Load balancing

Multiple servers are employed to optimize performance by distributing incoming traffic over all support servers. Traffic may be distributed to the secondary servers before the performance of the primary server is compromised to minimize the likelihood of server crashes.

If a file on a server has been requested too many, the server may crash and need to be restarted. This is easily the case for some popular videos, reflecting an underestimation of the requests made by the user.

A load balancer (load balancer) is preferably provided to receive and analyze requests from users and pass those requests to the server with the largest capacity to respond to. When all servers reach 100% performance, the request is no longer received and the user may then receive an error message from the service.

Payment processing system

The system can use at least two different methods, i.e. payment by credit/debit card, or payment by cell phone, for internet users. There are also other payment methods available, such as online virtual payment providers (digital bills or electronic purses).

To facilitate these payment methods, a gateway is required to receive the transaction, and in the case of a credit/debit card, the gateway will connect the selected payment type to the system merchant account within the bank.

The payment system may be part of an existing or available suite of systems, for example as part of an interactive system, or as part of a television system with a dedicated interactive channel.

Internet merchant account

If payment is required over the internet via a credit/debit card, an internet merchant account for an acquiring bank (acquiring bank) is required. The acquirer (acquirer) authorizes the purchase using the credit card and guarantees that the funds are deposited into the merchant's bank account. When paying by SMS, this is not necessary as the payment gateway typically goes directly through the check or bank automatic bill exchange service (BACS).

Preferred gateway

The gateway would connect the payment system of the system to the bank's online/internet merchant account.

A typical gateway facilitates online payment by connecting the system to some merchant account at the processing bank. The gateway takes the submitted data and provides it to the processing bank. The gateway then gets a response from the bank and provides the returned data to the system for processing, e.g., depending on whether the transaction was accepted.

Using mobile SMS, the payment service provider is also commonly referred to as the gateway, and in most cases there is no connection to the merchant account since the gateway/service provider will pay directly once transfer confirmation is received from the mobile network provider.

The gateway itself does not provide the e-commerce functions typically found on a website, such as shopping carts, nor does it provide the required merchant account. However, many large gateway providers, particularly in the field of credit/debit card gateways, offer a packaged service such that the system can pay a fee to a provider to fully deliver the components of the system.

Selection criteria

Some important factors need to be considered, and in particular, when selecting and implementing, a suitable gateway should be:

(a) available characteristics

(b) Cost of

(c) Reliability of

(d) Payment method

Security is a major consideration in e-commerce transactions. Not only because the customer's sensitive information is stored in the file, but other personal information is passed through the gateway every day, particularly when dealing with credit or debit card transactions. This information is extremely valuable to hackers (hackers) and must be protected.

In general, most top-level gateway provider servers are physically located in the most advanced data centers and use the most advanced security methods to secure data, so the selected provider should provide satisfactory service level agreements and guarantees for its services.

Characteristics of

Most gateways are capable of providing more features than the ability to receive credit cards in an online fashion. In the current market, gateway providers tend to offer value-added features that can help increase revenue streams.

Circulating bill

Cycling the bill saves time when the customer is charged on a periodic basis, such as in a subscription mode (which may be a season ticket to the system, for example). By using a recurring bill, billing information can be provided to the gateway according to the frequency of charges. This feature is intended for services based on subscription or membership, however, can also be integrated into systems using one-time transactions.

Integration

Integration is a consideration when selecting a gateway. It actually relates to whether it is intended to make the checkout process completely transparent to the customer or whether integration into existing interfaces and related brands is required.

Reliability of

The gateway should work all the day so that the loss of service is relatively small. Therefore, Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and uptime guarantees should be provided.

Payment method

There are a number of suitable payment methods depending on the charge for the transaction and the intended target customer.

Credit or debit card

Accepting credit or debit card payments via the associated web site has advantages over most other payment means. Not only because of the wide spread use of credit/debit cards, but also because of the associated credit factors. More and more people use this option to shop online.

One of the main advantages of credit cards for buyers and sellers is that the transaction is completed immediately upon the issuance of funds. The customer does not need to complete any additional steps to end the purchase, i.e., as is the case with SMS payment. Security in both accepting transactions and transferring and storing information has improved dramatically. Not only, but unlike SMS payment, the pricing structure is more flexible. This is remembered when evaluating a credit card replacement.

Transaction processing is shown in FIG. 3:

1. the customer submits his credit card information at the checkout of the web site.

2. The shopping cart software sends the transaction to the gateway.

3. The gateway, which is a credit card processor, is in contact with the bank that issued the user's credit card.

4. The issuer approves or rejects the transaction.

5. The gateway then returns the results to the website shopping cart system.

It is common for a large number of gateways that offer payment via credit or debit cards to also comply with the security initiatives offered by mainstream credit card providers. These initiatives include Visa (Visa) Cardholder Information Security Program (CISP), MasterCard (MasterCard) Site Data Protection (SDP), and Discover information security and standardization (DISC). This gives the purchaser a greater sense of security and allows more and more people to use credit cards online.

Payment using mobile phone (SMS)

The primary payment method is preferably by mobile payment, more particularly by SMS. The handset uses micro-payment (micro-payment), specifically SMS messages using extra prices.

From a consumer's perspective, micropayments via SMS are as simple as using credit cards in supermarkets. The handset acts as a credit card and the handset operator acts as a bank. Fig. 4 shows the basic transaction processing:

selecting clips/segments of a video image to be displayed

The remote viewer needs a mechanism to select the appropriate clip. Depending on the seat number of his/her friend. If the friend purchases a season slip, he needs to be assigned and informed of the seat identifier (typically shared by a certain number of adjacent seats viewed by the same camera). The transmission to each set of ticket holders may be by e-mail or general mail. If the friend has only tickets for the match at the time, the identifier message may be sent to the friend along with the tickets or printed on the tickets. In both cases, the friend needs to tell the intended audience about the identifier.

In addition, additional codes are needed to identify interesting events, such as "goal 1", "click 1", "eat 1", "loss at hand", etc. Or a game time code such as "30 minutes" or the like.

In the case of a handset, these identifiers are sent to an SMS Short Code (SMS-Short Code).

In the case of a network, these identifiers need to be sent to a network server.

In the case of a television, these identifiers are sent to the television headend via a return path.

Alternatively, the friend or remote viewer may visit a website to find his identifier. The interface to the web page is also important for viewing archived content. A calendar, menu and/or graphical representation of a stadium layout may be used.

The process of using a handset to access is briefly outlined as follows:

1. the consumer visits the site and obtains details of how to pay for the content.

2. The customer sends a unique seat identifier to the SMS short code (e.g., dermgs 4623).

3. The consumer receives a video link for download. Charge their mobile account and authorize payment immediately.

One of the unique factors paid for by the extra-priced SMS solution is its user-friendliness due to speed. Other factors are that consumers do not need to spend new technology nor share credit information with third parties.

The use of SMS as a payment solution is very helpful for establishing credit as it involves an established and trusted third party, i.e. the mobile operator.

Another benefit that is visible to the consumer is that the site cannot charge a premium without the consumer's permission because premium SMS messages are priced according to a predetermined classification.

Maintenance and adaptation

For all electrical installations, a number of problems need to be solved. This involves handing over the system to the customer and the establishment of a maintenance plan.

The handover of the system after completion involves:

(a) detailed inspection of system specifications

(b) Marking data in a document

(c) Displaying the location of each device event

(d) Marking the view of each camera

(e) Use of a presentation System

(f) Description of the recording Process

(g) Activating all devices

(h) If a telemetry device is included, all of its effects are demonstrated.

The maintenance of the system should:

(i) based on BSIA service rule

(ii) Within 12 months after installation (referred to as first level view because it is a basic requirement)

(iii) Checking to verify that the system is in compliance with the system determined at the time of the original handover

(iv) Confirming that the image quality of each camera is satisfactory

(v) Proving that no environmental changes have occurred that would have an impact on the system

If desired, the system and apparatus of the present invention may be used to provide or enhance a security method in that images of persons in or near a selected area, such as a stadium, may be captured and then replayed, for example for use by security personnel, authorities, police or in the court. For example, a CCTV camera may be located at or near a doorway and may be used to monitor the behavior of a number or group of people leaving and/or entering, for example, a stadium, or may monitor and replay images of people in an area on a stand. The system may be used to monitor for the possible presence of a prohibited individual.

When the main ornamental event is, for example, a concert, the venue may be divided into regions divided by unique colors, for example, pillars may be painted red, green, yellow, etc., and the venue may be further subdivided into blocks a, B, C, etc. The blocks may be further divided into rows of seats. To play back video images of one or more spectators in an event recorded by the CCTV camera of the present invention, and to display the played back images on the mobile phone, the person requesting the images can enter identification information according to the region, block, and seat row/seat number to be sent to the mobile operator via SMS text messages. It is helpful to the system that the seat number on the seat and/or ticket is clearly visible so that the viewer/fan can clearly remember the exact location to transfer to the video archive.

In order to illustrate the invention and to make it easier for a person skilled in the art to understand and carry out the invention, embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram and flow diagram illustrating components and their associated internal connections based on a preferred system shown on a cell phone;

FIG. 2 is a similar block diagram and flow diagram including additional devices and functionality that enable display on a computer screen via a web browser and/or on a television screen via a television front end.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a payment system suitable for use with a web browser and television display application;

fig. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a payment system suitable for mobile device applications using an SMS gateway.

Referring to the drawings, fig. 1 and 2 show two examples of suitable operating systems that are displayed upon request of some archived video imagery in response to scoring a viewer or a group of viewers in, for example, a football match or preventing a goal. This is only one of many possible end-uses.

Embodiments of the method of operation

With reference to the schematic drawings:

1. the consumer sends a text message with a unique identifier (meta-id) to the mobile server.

2. The server sends a request over the internet to query the video archive.

3. The archive transmits the video to be compressed into a suitable mobile device format.

4. The file is sent back to the mobile server via the internet.

5. The payment amount is deducted from the user account.

6. Confirmation of a successful transaction is sent to the mobile server.

7. The video is sent to the originating user.

Detailed Description

Example 1

The specific selection components that facilitate the capture of suitable video imagery of an audience in a stadium that can accommodate 42,573 people are as follows:

system assembly
	Mounting of
426 video cameras
	Illumination device
8AM-L219P display monitor
	27 DVR
ServerHardware
	Multi-format intelligent equipment identification mobile coding software
Special 10Mbps internet connection
	Mobile gateway
Content management system
	Hardware maintenance/upgrade (once a year)
Software maintenance/upgrade (once a year)
	Electronic commerce

Video acquisition

(a) When selecting a lens, it is important to understand the viewing angle and the illumination.

(b) For the part where the illumination on the stand is always poor, this should be solved by additional illumination, not by the camera.

(c) Artificial light should be provided when there is no natural light, since poor lighting will result in poor quality video.

(d) During the day's competition, natural light may be sufficient; however, night-time events may require additional lighting, particularly on individual parts of the population.

(e) A balance should be struck between providing sufficient lighting for the camera to capture a full color image and ensuring that the experience of the soccer game is not disturbed.

(f) The cameras can be arbitrarily placed according to different stadiums.

Video Transmission overview

(a) Transmission of video over the internet/mobile network requires considerable compression.

(b) To obtain the most possible mobile users, it is preferable to encode the mobile video with a variety of codecs and formats.

(c) Unlike computer-based offerings where users can download additional software to view content, cell phones are primarily limited by CPU and memory, and application software downloads are not widely used.

(d) Not all handsets support video playback by themselves.

(e) Upgrade software enables and does enable video playback to market to cell phones in a faster time than embedded systems.

(f) Most content providers in the mobile industry use MPEG-4 as the video codec for 3GPP content, a format that is currently the most suitable choice, assuming that the most customers can be made the target customers.

(g) H.264 can provide high image quality for a given data rate and is expected to be installed with a player as a videophone standard in the near future.

(h) Coding is proposed as 3GPP video to ensure that the current market is supported as much as possible.

(i) Although Pocket PC and Palm based handsets gain more and more market share, the common handsets still account for the vast majority and the current price of both handsets is still seen-this trend continues at least in the near future.

(j) There are many codecs and formats that can be supported.

(k) One of the basic features of the present system is that users can save content as long as they like.

(l) Content downloading guarantees a higher quality experience for the end user. In this case, each piece of content may be downloaded and stored into the memory of the handset.

(m) handset manufacturers are increasing the storage capacity of handsets to meet the increase in downloadable content on the market.

(n) if the system obtains accurate usage information, the operator can guarantee the most efficient delivery of the content and the best experience for the user by providing the content from the topologically closest place to them.

Summary of hardware requirements

(a) In view of the considerable storage capacity required, it is preferable to archive the video content using a codec such as MPEG-4.

(b) CCTV systems employing DVR storage may provide many more advanced functions than using VCR technology, including video searching based on events, time, date, and cameras, which is the best camera system.

(c) Recording in an interval picture-taking mode where fewer frames are stored per second is a good way to reduce the required storage space.

(d) Current cell phone video rarely tries more than 15 frames per second, so it can be considered to store content in interval picture mode at this frame rate.

(e) In view of the high level of customization and integration that the present system can provide using customized system event software components, it is desirable not to limit the system to use only embedded systems with functionality locks.

(f) Multiple DVRs may be installed, configured, customized to be used as part of a customization unit to archive video content into a video library.

(g) The present system may require a significant amount of additional external memory.

Overview of physical infrastructure

(a) Wiring is an integral aspect of the system and requires significant investment in the installation phase to cover the distance required for the stadium.

(b) Edge server technology may be employed to serve content in other countries.

(c) The sheer size of a single customer installation dictates that it is currently not feasible to wirelessly transmit all video data from 426 cameras in such a concentrated space.

(d) It is preferable to run the same service from several servers to prevent possible downtime.

(e) The optimal choice is to set a dedicated line for the system at each stadium, taking into account the amount of data transferred and the need for a fast return time.

Summary of software requirements

(a) There is a need for an efficient Content Management System (CMS) to locate, access and deliver the correct video to users in a timely manner.

(b) Appropriate CMS and mobile server applications need to be developed.

(c) The efficiency of the method of the CMS writing metadata to files and then indexing them will determine the speed at which they can be retrieved from the video library.

Payment processing System overview

(a) Many large gateway providers, particularly in the field of credit/debit card gateways, offer a packaged service so that the system can select one provider to fully deliver the components of the system.

(b) Transparent strong security (robust security) is a key persuasion when selecting a gateway provider.

(c) The selected provider should provide satisfactory service level agreements and guarantees for its services.

(d) The recurring bill may be used to charge the customer on a periodic basis, such as a subscription model (e.g., perhaps a system season ticket).

(e) It should also be checked whether the payment gateway will charge for pre-authorized or failed transactions, especially when using credit/debit card payments.

(f) The handset uses a micropayment, specifically an SMS message with an extra price.

(g) The use of SMS as a payment solution is very helpful for establishing credit as it involves an established and trusted third party, i.e. the mobile operator.

Architecture, build and run implementation suggestions

Any CCTV is made up of a large number of components, which themselves must be installed according to certain conventions if the final system is to function as intended. The following guidelines may be helpful in achieving the optimum results of the present system.

First, a commissioning can be established and operated at a smaller stadium taking into account the following parameters before moving the system to a larger stadium.

(a) It is preferable to mount the outdoor camera under the soffit or in a protected position that is not fully impacted by rain.

(b) The camera should not be directed directly at the light source, including street lights and searchlights, and strong light sources in the picture should be avoided.

(c) The maximum distance for IR illumination is 10 m. We consider that the maximum distance is preferably 6 m.

(d) The equipment and components should be mounted on a stable fixture that does not vibrate.

(e) The camera should be fixed to a fixed point that does not vibrate.

(f) The focal length of the lens can be adjusted to leave a slight margin during installation and then set to allow an optimum angle of view to be displayed on the monitor.

(g) All connectors should be properly connected and fixed in a weather-proof junction box (junction box), and the wiring can be installed according to the relevant electrical standard for cable installation.

(h) All connections should be properly connected and secured in the appropriate junction box.

(i) Five types of twisted pair are the best cables.

General guidelines

Camera/lens

(a) The camera is mounted in a shielded position.

(b) The camera is mounted and adjusted to obtain a good view of the target area.

(c) Tens of millions do not direct the camera towards a window, door, or intense light source.

(d) The outdoor camera is not subjected to the full force of rain.

(e) The specifications of the camera are checked to determine if the camera can be powered locally at the camera head or at a control point using the system power supply.

(f) The position of each camera and the position of the scene are always recorded in the system log.

Cable with a flexible connection

(a) The Cat5 line is a network line for transmitting video and electric power. This facilitates quick and easy installation. The connection may be terminated using an RJ45 connector.

(b) The cables are secured and will not be disturbed at the control point location.

(c) The cables are installed according to the relevant electrical standards and wiring rules.

(d) Standard twisted pair, multi-core or screen-flex cables are not used in place of Cat5 wires.

(e) Without unduly stretching or bending the cable.

(f) The wiring distance is not longer than the maximum distance specified by the system, i.e., the connection distance of the cable between the camera and the DVR of the control point.

(g) An adapter provided for the DVR of the control point and a power cord should be used.

(h) When connecting the camera to the video input, the correct connection of the camera (video source) is observed.

(i) Observe the correct programming of the DVR. Specifically, the most appropriate recording mode and the quality of the recorded image are selected.

(j) External I/O is used for remote control by a control system such as an external device or a video web server.

(k) The monitor terminal switch is ensured to be correctly set.

Recording and monitoring

(a) Only the adapter and power cord provided for the DVR of the control point are used.

(b) When connecting the camera to the video input, the correct connection of the camera (video source) is observed.

(c) Observe the correct programming of the DVR. Specifically, the most appropriate recording mode and the quality of the recorded image are selected.

(d) External I/O is used for remote control by a control system such as an external device or a video web server.

(e) Ensure that the monitor terminal switch is correctly set

(f) The DVR is selected in preparation for system expansion. The correct number of video signal paths is selected.

(g) The brightness and contrast of the monitor are set so that the viewer sees as much picture detail as possible.

Illumination/lighting

(a) Providing just right lighting over the scene.

(b) Infrared illumination is used to identify the claimed range of the outdoor camera (quoted range).

(c) It is guaranteed that artificial light is installed when natural light is unavailable.

(d) Not having the camera directly facing the light source, which could result in a colored spot or spot.

(e) A manual iris lens is not used in an installation site where the light level may vary. It is explicitly stated that auto-iris shots are preferred options.

Claims (15)

1. A system of devices arranged to play video imagery stored in a video archive upon request, the system comprising:

(a) a plurality of cameras capable of capturing video images;

(b) a master video compression mechanism adapted to compress video images received from the camera (a);

(c) video archive programming means arranged to process video signals compressed via said compression means (b);

(d) a video archive mechanism arranged to store the compressed video signal;

(e) a secondary video compression mechanism connected to the archiving mechanism (d) and adapted to compress the video imagery obtained from the archiving mechanism (d) into one of a mobile device format, a network video format, and a television video format;

(f) server means adapted to said format and arranged to query said archiving means (d) and capable of communicating with (g) a remote mobile device, web browser or television display controller and (h) a payment gateway adapted to said format, and wherein archived video images are compressed and relayed to said server means (f) and upon authorization by said payment means (h), said archived video images are subsequently transmitted to said mobile device, web browser or television display controller (g) upon request from said server means when triggered by a request for a particular video image from any of said mobile device, web browser or television display controller (g).

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device server (f) is communicatively connected to the video archiving mechanism via the internet or similar publicly accessible network connection.

3. The system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the secondary video compression mechanism (e) is communicatively connected to the mobile device server via the internet or similar publicly accessible network connection.

4. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the mobile device (g) is arranged to query the mobile device server via a text message comprising a unique identifier associated with the particular video imagery to be requested from the video archive mechanism (d).

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said server mechanism (f) is adapted to a television format.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the television display format is formed as a small window in the entire television picture.

7. A method of displaying video imagery on a mobile electronic display device using the system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein:

(i) relaying a text message including a unique identifier associated with a particular video imagery to be displayed on the mobile device to a server mechanism (f) adapted to a mobile device format;

(ii) said server means (f) transmitting a request to query said video archiving means (d) and locate said requested particular video imagery;

(iii) said video archiving mechanism (d) converting said particular video imagery to be compressed into a formatted file suitable for said mobile device;

(iv) (iv) relaying the compressed file obtained in step (iii) back to the server means (f);

(v) deducting payment for the requested particular video imagery from an account of the mobile device user;

(vi) relaying an identification of acceptance of payment to said server means (f), and

(vii) relaying the requested particular video imagery to the mobile device and displaying thereon.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the request for the video archive office query in step (ii) is made via the Internet or similar publicly accessible network connection.

9. A method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the transmission of the compressed file in step (iii) is performed via the Internet or a similar publicly accessible network connection.

10. A system as described herein of the device of any one of claims 1-6.

11. A system as described herein illustrating the apparatus of any one of claims 1-6.

12. A system of devices as described in any one of claims 1 to 6 as shown in the accompanying drawings.

13. A method of displaying a video image as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9 as described herein.

14. A method of displaying a video image as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9 as herein illustrated.

15. A method of displaying video images as described in any one of claims 7 to 9 and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.