Digital video system using networked cameras

Abstract

A digital video system including a computer connected via a network to a number of video servers and cameras. The computer includes a program that provides a grid of display windows, each of which displays an image received from the camera associated with that window. The program sequentially polls each camera, accessing and displaying an image from the camera in its associated window. The program can access the cameras at different frame rates. The program stores image streams in a single file, concatenating each successive image onto the end of the file. The file is then indexed using SOI and EOI markers to permit fast access to individual images within the file. The program can monitor received video and automatically start recording upon detecting motion within the video stream. Motion detection is implemented by comparing color component values for pixels from different images.

1 . A method of controlling access by a computer program to a video server, comprising the steps of: 
 accessing a video server over a network from a computer using a computer program running on the computer;    obtaining from the video server a unique number stored in the video server;    retrieving at least one authorized unique number;    determining if the computer program is authorized to access the video server by comparing the unique number from the video server to the one or more authorized unique numbers and, if access is authorized, then initiating a video stream from the video server to the computer over the network.    
   
   
       2 . A method of controlling access by a computer program to a hardware device, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a computer program stored in computer readable form at a computer, the computer being connected to a hardware device via a network;    accessing the hardware device from the computer over the network using an IP address associated with the hardware device;    obtaining a MAC address from the hardware device over the network;    determining if the program is authorized to access the hardware device by validating the MAC address using data accessible to the client computer; and    if program is authorized to access the hardware device, then the method further comprises the step of permitting the computer program to retrieve data from the hardware device over the network using the IP address.    
   
   
       3 . A method of licensing a computer program on a per-device basis to prevent use of the computer program with unauthorized hardware devices, comprising the steps of: 
 identifying one or more authorized hardware devices, each having a MAC address;    providing a computer program in computer readable form, wherein the computer program is operable upon execution by a computer to permit a user of the computer to input network address information concerning a specific hardware device accessible to the computer via a network;    embedding the MAC address(es) of the authorized hardware device(s) into the computer program; and    executing the computer program on the computer by a user and providing access by the user to the specific hardware device if the specific hardware device has a MAC address that matches one of the MAC addresses embedded into the computer program.