WO2008037128A1

WO2008037128A1 - Video recorder

Info

Publication number: WO2008037128A1
Application number: PCT/CN2006/003004
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ching-Shan Chang
Original assignee: Appro Technology Inc.
Priority date: 2006-09-29
Filing date: 2006-11-09
Publication date: 2008-04-03
Also published as: CN101155270A

Abstract

A video recorder mainly comprising an image processing unit and a storage unit is provided. The image processing unit encodes/decodes and compresses received image signals and then records the processed image signals in the storage unit. The video recorder also can comprise a receiver unit having digital signal input terminals and/or analog signal input terminals for processing and recording the received digital image signals and/or the analog image signals. The video recorder also can comprise a wireless transceiver module for processing and recording received wireless image signals or transmitting wireless image signals. Furthermore, the video recorder also can comprise an output unit having digital signal output terminals and/or analog signal output terminals for outputting received digital image signals and/or received analog image signals.

Description

VIDEO RECORDER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a video recorder, and more particularly to a video recorder capable of simultaneously receiving/outputting different types of image signals and processing the image signals.

Description of Related Art

[0002] With the rapid development of innovative communication signal processing technologies, monitoring cameras have gradually shifted from the analog type to the digital type in recent years due to the lower power wastage when images are transmitted using digital signals. Digital camera can convert the received analog signals into digital signals and then transmit the digital signals to a video recorder. However, according to the actual requirements, some users might install analog cameras or digital cameras, or even link up the cameras through a network with the monitored images of other addressed cameras. [0003] If the user wishes to link up the monitored images of a camera to a storage apparatus, a matching video recorder must be installed in order to capture the image taken by different types of cameras. Because the conventional video recorders are also classified into digital or analog according to the types of cameras, different types of signals cannot be simultaneously received. Therefore, if the user needs to simultaneously process digital image signals and analog image signals, at least a few different types of video recorders have to be installed. Aside from using up space and increasing cost, many steps and procedures are also introduced when the cameras are installed, thereby leading to an additional waste of time and labor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Accordingly, the present invention is to provide a video recorder having digital signal input terminals and analog signal input terminals. Digital image signals are received through the digital signal input terminals or analog image signals are received through the analog signal input terminals, then the received image signals are processed and the processed image data are recorded.

[0005] At least another aspect of the present invention is to provide a video recorder having wired signal input terminals and a wireless transceiver module. Wired image signals are received through the wired signal input terminals or wireless image signals are received through the wireless transceiver module, then the received image signals are processed and the processed image data are recorded.

[0006] At least yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a video recorder having digital signal output terminals and analog signal output terminals. The video recorder receives image signals. After the image signals are processed to produce image data, the processed image data are output as digital image signals through the digital signal output terminals or output as analog image signals through the analog signal output terminals and then recorded.

[0007] At least one aspect of the present invention is to provide a video recorder having wired signal output terminals and a wireless transceiver module. The video recorder receives image signals. After the image signals are processed to produce image data, the processed image data are output as wired image signals through the wired signal output terminal or output as wireless image signals through the wireless transceiver module and then recorded.

[0008] To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention provides a video recorder comprising a receiver unit, an image processing unit and a storage unit. The receiver unit has at least one digital signal input terminal and at least one analog signal input terminal. The digital signal input terminal is used for receiving digital image signals and the analog signal input terminal is used for receiving analog image signals. The image processing unit is coupled to the receiver unit for encoding/decoding and compressing the image signals received by the receiver unit and outputting the image data. The storage unit is coupled to the image processing unit for recording the image data output by the image processing unit. [0009] The present invention also provides a video recorder comprising a wireless transceiver module, a receiver unit, an image processing unit and a storage unit. The wireless transceiver unit is used for receiving and transmitting wireless image signals. The receiver unit has at least one wired signal input terminal for receiving wired image signals. The image processing unit is coupled to the receiver unit for encoding/decoding and compressing the image signals received through the receiver unit and the wireless transceiver module and outputting image data. The storage unit is coupled to the image processing unit for recording the image data output from the image processing unit.

[0010] The present invention also provides a video recorder comprising a storage unit, an output unit and an image processing unit. The storage unit is used for recording image data. The output unit has at least one digital signal output terminal and at least one analog output terminal. The digital signal output terminal is used for outputting digital image signals and the analog signal output terminal is used for outputting analog image signals. The image processing unit is coupled between the storage unit and the output unit for encoding/decoding and compressing the image data and outputting corresponding digital image signals and analog image signals through the output unit.

[0011] The present invention also provides a video recorder comprising a storage unit, a wireless transceiver module, an output unit and an image processing unit. The storage unit is used for recording image data. The wireless transceiver module is used for receiving and transmitting wireless image signals. The output unit has at least one wired signal output terminal. The wired signal output terminal is used for outputting wired image signals. The image processing unit is coupled to the storage unit, wireless transceiver module and output unit for encoding/decoding and compressing the image data and outputting corresponding wired image signals through the output unit and corresponding wireless image signals through the wireless transceiver module.

[0012] In another embodiment of the present invention, the foregoing wired signal input terminal includes a digital signal input terminal or an analog signal input terminal. The digital signal input terminal is used for receiving digital image signals and the analog signal input terminal is used for receiving analog image signals. [0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, the foregoing image processing unit includes an address setting unit for setting an internet protocol (IP) address so that the receiver unit can connect with a corresponding digital camera and retrieve the digital image signals output from the digital camera. [0014] Because the video recorder of the present invention has a structure capable of receiving/outputting digital image signals, analog image signals and wireless image signals, the video recorder can be used to receive the image signals of different types of apparatus on demand. Furthermore, the user can select the type of image signals to be output. In the meantime, the structural design of the present invention is able to lower the design cost of the video recorder and allows the video recorder to simultaneously transmit digital, analog, wireless, or network signals. Thus, the usefulness and flexibility of the video recorder are significantly enhanced.

[0015] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. [0017] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a video recorder according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a video recorder according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [0019] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a video recorder according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a video recorder according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0021] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

[0022] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a video recorder according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the video recorder 110 includes a receiver unit 101, an image processing unit 102 and a storage unit 103. The receiver unit 101 includes a plurality of digital signal input terminals D₁ ~ DM that can be connected to digital cameras for receiving digital image signals and a plurality of analog signal input terminals A₁ ~ AN that can be connected to analog cameras for receiving analog image signals, wherein M and N are positive integers. [0023] In the present embodiment, the digital image input terminals D₁ ~ DM can be network connectors (for example, RJ45) and the analog signal input terminals A₁ ~ AN can be bayonet neill concelman (BNC) connectors for receiving analog signals. Therefore, the video recorder 110 can be connected to a number of different types of cameras (for example, digital cameras and analog cameras) through a coaxial cable or a network connection to simultaneously receive a number of different image signals. In another embodiment of the present invention, the foregoing digital image input terminals D₁ ~ DM can be replaced using BNC connectors or telephone line connectors (for example, RJ-11).

[0024] The image processing unit 102 is coupled to the receiver unit 101. The image processing unit 102 encodes/decodes and compresses the digital image signals or the analog image signals received from the receiver unit 101 and outputs an image data ID to the storage unit 103. In general, the storage unit 103 may use a storage device such as a hard disk recorder, an optical disk or a memory to record the processed image data. [0025] The digital signal input terminal of the receiver unit 101 can be a common network connector. Therefore, the receiver unit 101 can be connected to network cameras or digital cameras to receive digital image signals through a network connection. The image processing unit 102 includes an address setting unit 108 so that the receiver unit 101 can be connected to a corresponding network camera or a digital recording device to receive digital image signals by setting an address. [0026] Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a video recorder according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 2, the video recorder 210 includes a receiver unit 201, an image processing unit 202, a storage unit 203 and a wireless transceiver module 204. The receiver unit 201 includes a plurality of digital signal input terminals D₁ ~ DM and a plurality of analog signal input terminals A₁ ~ AK that can be used to receive wired image signals transmitted from digital cameras through a network line or a coaxial cable. The wireless transceiver module 204 can receive wireless image signals transmitted from cameras through a wireless transmission protocol or wireless image signals transmitted from an electronic device (for example, a mobile phone) with image transmission capability. The wireless transmission protocol includes, for example, the 802.1 Ia₅ 802.1 Ib, and worldwide interoperability for microwave access (Wi-MAX).

[0027] The image processing unit 202 is coupled to the receiver unit 201 and has an address setting unit 208 therein. By setting a network address (for example, a network address that matches the world wide web or area network address protocol) through the address setting unit 208, the receiver unit 201 can link up with a network camera or a digital camera device corresponding to the address for receiving wired image signals or wireless image signals. [0028] The image processing unit 202 inside the video recorder 210 is coupled to the receiver unit 201. The image processing unit 202 encodes/decodes and compresses the wired image signals received from the receiver unit 201 or the wireless image signals from the wireless transceiver module 204 and then outputs the image data ID to the storage unit 203. The storage unit 203 can use a device such as a hard disk recorder, an optical disk or a memory to record the processed image data. [0029] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a video recorder according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 3, the video recorder 310 includes a receiver unit 301, an image processing unit 302, a storage unit 303 and an output unit 305. The main difference between the present embodiment and the one in Fig. 1 is the additional output unit 305. The output unit 305 includes a plurality of digital signal output terminals D' i ~ D'; and a plurality of analog signal output terminals A'i ~ A'_j, wherein i and j are positive integers.

[0030] In the present embodiment, the digital image output terminals D^ ~ D'j can be network connectors (for example, RJ45) and the analog signal output terminals A'] ~ A'j can be bayonet neill concelman (BNC) connectors for receiving analog signals. Therefore, the video recorder 310 can simultaneously output a number of different types of image signals (for example, digital image signals and analog image signals) through a coaxial cable or a network line to a display apparatus. In another embodiment of the present invention, the foregoing digital image output terminals O'\ ~ D'j can be replaced using BNC connectors or telephone line connectors (for example, RJ-11). [0031] The image processing unit 302 can directly output the wired image signals from the receiver unit 301 through the output unit 305. Alternatively, the image processing unit 302 can read the image data ID from the storage unit 303, decode the image data ID and then output the decoded image data ID through the output unit 305. Since the other operations related to the third embodiment are similar to the first embodiment, a detailed description is omitted.

[0032] Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a video recorder according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 4, the video recorder 410 includes a receiver unit 401, an image processing unit 402, a storage unit 403, a wireless transceiver module 404 and an output unit 405. The main difference between the present embodiment and the one in Fig. 3 is the additional wireless transceiver module 404. Therefore, the video recorder 410 can receive and transmit wireless image signals through the wireless transceiver module 404 or receive wired image signals, that is, digital image signals and analog image signals, through the receiver unit 401 and output the wired image signals through the output unit 405. In the present embodiment, the video recorder 410 can simultaneously or independently output wireless image signals and wired image signals through the wireless transceiver module 404 and the output unit 405. [0033] In other words, the video recorder 410 can simultaneously or independently receive wired image signals and wireless image signals. After the received image signals are encoded/decoded and compressed, the processed image data are recorded in the storage unit 403. When image signals need to be output from the video recorder 410, wireless image signals and wired image signals can be simultaneously or independently output through the output unit 405 and the wireless transceiver module 404. The image processing unit 402 can directly output the received image signals from the receiver unit 401 and the wireless transceiver module 404 through the output unit 405 and the wireless transceiver module 404, or according to the image data ID recorded by the storage unit 403, output the corresponding image signals. Since other related operations in the fourth embodiment have already been described in much detail in Figs. 1 through 3, those skilled in the art may easily deduce from the disclosure in the present invention. Hence, a detailed description is not repeated. [0034] Although the foregoing embodiments have depicted a possible configuration of the mechanism used in the video recorder of the present invention, those skilled in the art may notice that the apparatus for receiving source signals or the apparatus for outputting signals and the medium for receiving and transmitting signals are different. For example, the apparatus can be cameras or digital television video equipment and so on, and the medium for receiving and transmitting signals can be network lines, coaxial cables or telephone lines and so on. Therefore, the applications of the present invention are not limited to the possible configuration depicted above. In other words, any design wired to receive/transmit digital signals and analog signals or having a wireless transceiver module for receiving/transmitting wireless signals so that the function of a video recorder is enhanced should be regarded as within the scope of the present invention.

[0035] In summary, the mechanism of the video recorder in the present invention allows different types of source signals to be received according to the demands and type of services required by the user. After the image signals are processed, the image data are recorded and different types of signals are output. [0036] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A video recorder, comprising: a receiver unit, having at least one digital signal input terminal and at least one analog signal input terminal, wherein the digital signal input terminal is used for receiving a digital image signal and the analog signal input terminal is used for receiving an analog image signal; an image processing unit, coupled to the receiver unit for encoding/decoding and compressing the image signal received from the receiver unit, and outputting an image data; and a storage unit, coupled to the image processing unit for recording the image data output from the image processing unit.

2. The video recorder of claim 1, wherein the digital signal input terminal comprises a network connector.

3. The video recorder of claim 1, wherein the analog signal input terminal comprises a BNC connector.

4. The video recorder of claim 1, wherein the image processing unit comprises an address setting unit for setting an internet protocol (EP) address so that the receiver unit is linked up with a corresponding digital camera and is able to retrieve digital image signals from the digital camera.

5. The video recorder of claim 1, wherein the storage unit comprises a hard disk recorder.

6. The video recorder of claim 1, wherein the storage unit comprises an optical disk.

7. The video recorder of claim 1, wherein the storage unit comprises a memory.

8. A video recorder, comprising: a wireless transceiver module, for receiving/transmitting a wireless image signal; a receiver unit, having at least one wired signal input terminal, wherein the wired signal input terminal is used for receiving a wired image signal; an image processing unit, coupled to the receiver unit for encoding/decoding and compressing the image signal received by the receiver unit and the wireless transceiver module, and outputting an image data; and a storage unit, coupled to the image processing unit for recording the image data output from the image processing unit.

9. The video recorder of claim 8, wherein the wired signal input terminal comprises a digital signal input terminal or an analog signal input terminal such that the digital signal input terminal is used for receiving a digital image signal and the analog signal input terminal is used for receiving an analog image signal.

10. The video recorder of claim 9, wherein the digital signal input terminal comprises a network connector.

11. The video recorder of claim 9, wherein the analog signal input terminal comprises a BNC connector.

12. The video recorder of claim 8, wherein the image processing unit comprises an address setting unit for setting an internet protocol (IP) address so that the receiver unit is linked up with a corresponding digital camera and is able to retrieve digital image signals from the digital camera.

13. The video recorder of claim 8, wherein the storage unit comprises a hard disk recorder.

14. The video recorder of claim 8, wherein the storage unit comprises an optical disk.

15. The video recorder of claim 8, wherein the storage unit comprises a memory.

16. A video recorder, comprising: a storage unit, for recording an image data; an output unit, having at least one digital signal output terminal and at least one analog signal output terminal, wherein the digital signal output terminal is used for outputting a digital image signal and the analog signal output terminal is used for outputting an analog image signal; and an image processing unit, coupled between the storage unit and the output unit for encoding/decoding and compressing the image data and outputting the corresponding digital image signal and analog image signal through the output unit.

17. The video recorder of claim 16, further comprising: a receiver unit, having at least one digital signal input terminal and at least one analog signal input terminal, wherein the digital signal input terminal is used for receiving a digital image signal and the analog signal input terminal is used for receiving an analog image signal; wherein the image processing unit is coupled to the receiver unit for encoding/decoding and compressing the image signal received from the receiver unit and outputting the image data.

18. The video recorder of claim 16, wherein the digital signal output terminal comprises a network connector.

19. The video recorder of claim 16, wherein the analog signal output terminal comprises a BNC connector.

20. The video recorder of claim 16, wherein the image processing unit comprises an address setting unit for setting an internet protocol (IP) address so that the output unit is linked up with a corresponding display apparatus and is able to output digital image signals to the display apparatus.

21. The video recorder of claim 16, wherein the storage unit comprises a hard disk recorder.

22. The video recorder of claim 16, wherein the storage unit comprises an optical disk.

23. The video recorder of claim 16, wherein the storage unit comprises a memory.

24. A video recorder, comprising: a storage unit, for recording an image data; a wireless transceiver module, for receiving/transmitting a wireless image signal; an output unit, having at least one wired signal output terminal, wherein the wired signal output terminal is used for outputting a wired imaged signal; and an image processing unit, coupled to the storage unit, the wireless transceiver module and the output unit for encoding/decoding and compressing the image data, and outputting the corresponding wired image signal through the output unit and the corresponding wireless image signal through the wireless transceiver module.

25. The video recorder of claim 24, further comprising: a receiver unit, having at least one digital signal input terminal and at least one analog signal input terminal, wherein the digital signal input terminal is used for receiving a digital image signal and the analog signal input terminal is used for receiving an analog image signal; wherein the image processing unit is coupled to the receiver unit for encoding/decoding and compressing the image signal received from the receiver unit and outputting the image data.

26. The video recorder of claim 25, wherein the image processing unit directly outputs the image signals received from the receiver unit through the output unit.

27. The video recorder of claim 24, wherein the wired signal output terminal comprises a digital signal output terminal or an analog signal output terminal such that the digital signal output terminal is used for outputting a digital image signal and the analog signal output terminal is used for outputting an analog image signal.

28. The video recorder of claim 27, wherein the digital signal output terminal comprises a network connector.

29. The video recorder of claim 27, wherein the analog signal output terminal comprises a BNC connector.

30. The video recorder of claim 24, wherein the image processing unit comprises an address setting unit for setting an internet protocol (IP) address so that the output unit is linked up with a corresponding display apparatus and is able to output digital image signals to the display apparatus.

31. The video recorder of claim 24, wherein the storage unit comprises a hard disk recorder.

32. The video recorder of claim 24, wherein the storage unit comprises an optical disk.

33. The video recorder of claim 24, wherein the storage unit comprises a

memory.