System and Method for Video Recording, Management and Access

Abstract

A server-based hosted application used to transmit and manage multiple media across the Internet. Digital video recorders (DVRs) collect media (such as video with or without audio) and record it to a local disk. DVRs are located in sites or stores where they are attached to cameras, microphones and point-of-sale (POS), or other data collection devices. The DVR accesses the Internet through a typical “residential” broadband connection. A hybrid peer-to-peer network allows peers (a DVR and an Internet browser) to directly transmit and receive video and audio (and other information, such as POS data). A hosted infrastructure tracks the presence of DVRs. A server-based application exposes a presence database to users. Users find DVRs via an Internet interface. Viewers can then connect to the DVR and its corresponding media collection devices (such as cameras, microphones and POS devices) and control collection and use of media information directly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for two-way communication between a first computer and a VPN client, the system comprising:
 a virtual private network (VPN) server having a plurality of public IP addresses, the VPN server associating one of the plurality of public IP addresses with the VPN client, and the first computer having access to the one of the plurality of public IP addresses; and   a VPN established between the VPN client and the VPN server,   the first computer accessing data on the VPN client by pointing to the one of the plurality of public IP addresses, whereby the VPN server routes communication from the first computer to the VPN client via the VPN.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a server-based application operating on the VPN server provides a plurality of controls over the video camera. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the VPN server assigns a private IP address to the second computer, associates the one of a plurality of public IP addresses with the private IP address, and upon receiving communications from the first computer directed to the public IP address, routes the communications to the second computer via the private IP address. 
     
     
         4 . A video and data recording, management and access system comprising:
 a user network;   a VPN server;   a customer network; and   a VPN between the customer network and the VPN server,   the user network in communication with the customer network via a communications network and the VPN by means of the VPN server.   
     
     
         5 . The video and data recording, management and access system of  claim 4 , wherein the communications network comprises the public Internet. 
     
     
         6 . The video and data recording, management and access system of  claim 4 , wherein a public IP address is assigned to the VPN server, the VPN server assigns a private IP address to the customer network and associates the public IP address with the private IP address and upon receiving communications from the user network directed to the public IP address, routes the communications to the customer network via the private IP address. 
     
     
         7 . The video and data recording, management and access system of  claim 6 , wherein multiple private IP addresses are associated with the public IP address. 
     
     
         8 . The video and data recording, management and access system of  claim 7 , wherein each private IP address is assigned to a digital video recorder (DVR). 
     
     
         9 . The video and data recording, management and access system of  claim 4 , wherein a data processing application, running on a data center having the VPN server, is operable on any of the user network, the data center, or the customer network. 
     
     
         10 . The video and data recording, management and access system of  claim 4 , wherein data collected by the customer network is stored on a DVR appliance in the customer network. 
     
     
         11 . The video and data recording, management and access system of  claim 4 , wherein the data collected by the customer network is stored on a server in the data center. 
     
     
         12 . A method for recording, monitoring and accessing video and data, the method comprising:
 establishing a virtual private network (VPN) from a VPN client to a VPN server;   associating one of a plurality of public IP addresses, assigned to the VPN server, with the VPN client;   directing a transmission from a first computer to the VPN client through the public Internet by pointing the first computer to the one of the plurality of public IP addresses; and   forwarding the transmission from the VPN server to the VPN client via the VPN and the public IP address.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: creating an exception in a NAT and/or firewall of the VPN server enabling the first computer to access the VPN server via the public Internet. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: exposing the one of the plurality of public IP address to the first computer via the exception in the NAT and/or firewall. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising invoking, from the first computer, a server-based application and viewing a video signal within the server-based application. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising controlling a video camera within the server-based application. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein controlling a video camera within the server-based application includes panning, tilting and zooming the video camera; and adjusting quality, brightness, sharpness, contrast, and hue. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 controlling a customer premises appliance; and 
 monitoring a customer premises appliance. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the transmission facilitates access to a customer premises appliance. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising accessing point of sale (POS) data stored on the customer premises appliance.