System and method for archiving data from a sensor array

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for archiving and processing information from an array of remote sensors. Aspects of the innovations may be incorporated, for example, into a gunshot detection and location system to preserve sensor information surrounding a gunshot event for later review or analysis. According to one implementation, an exemplary method may including sampling video signals from the sensors and storing samples in a storage device such that the video signals detected from the sensors may be selected and/or reproduced. Other exemplary implementations may include creating a searchable database wherein the video information is indexed as a function of parameters, which may include data associated with the capture of video signals such as sensor information, time of capture, etc.

1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . A method for archiving information in a gunshot detection system of a type having an array of sensors placed over a geographic area, wherein said array of sensors detects gunshots which occur proximate to the array, the method comprising the steps of:
 utilizing a storage device;   periodically sampling video signals from the sensors; and   storing each sample in said storage device wherein the video signals detected by each sensor can be selected using time data, wherein video signals may be reproduced with the relative timing between the video signals of each sensor preserved.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising
 providing a file structure on said mass storage device, said file structure having a plurality of files, each file having an absolute time associated therewith.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16   wherein the samples are stored in a file having an appropriate absolute time associated therewith.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein each file of said plurality of files represents one second of sampled video. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said files representing one second of sampled video are organized into minute directories, each minute directory having sixty said files representing one second of sampled video. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15  further including the step of, when a gunshot is detected, storing an index to the location of the stored samples in said mass storage device corresponding to said gunshot. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  further including the step of reproducing the video surrounding said gunshot by using said index to locate said stored samples corresponding to said gunshot. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the video signals are further indexed according to metadata so as to provide a metadata index. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the metadata index parses the searchable database into subsets which comprise impulsive noise events. 
   
   
       24 . A method for archiving video information in a gunshot detection system of a type having an array of acoustic sensors placed over a geographic area, wherein said array of sensors detects gunshots which occur proximate the array, the method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining, from data storage elements on remote sensors, information indicative of video signal samples that contain impulsive noise components;   creating a searchable database wherein the information is indexed as a function of a sensor and a time associated with capture of video signals;   processing data in the searchable database to identify an impulsive noise component or a video signal sample of interest; and   downloading, from a remote sensor, video data associated with the impulsive noise component or the audio signal sample of interest.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the information in the searchable database is further indexed according to metadata so as to provide a metadata index. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the metadata index parses the information in the searchable database into subsets of information which comprise impulsive noise components. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising providing a file structure on said mass storage device, said file structure having a plurality of files, each file having an absolute time associated therewith. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein the samples of video data are stored in a file having an appropriate absolute time associated therewith. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein each file of said plurality of files represents one second of sampled audio. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 24  further including the step of, when a gunshot is detected, storing an index to the location of the stored samples in said mass storage device corresponding to said gunshot. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30  further including the step of reproducing the video surrounding said gunshot by using said index to locate said stored samples corresponding to said gunshot. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein a permanent recording is made of said later reproduction. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 24  further comprising identifying a non-gunshot event and storing an index to the location of the stored samples in said mass storage device corresponding to said non-gunshot event. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33  further including the step of reproducing the video surrounding said non-gunshot event by using said index to locate said stored samples corresponding to said non-gunshot event. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein determination of a source location of said gunshot event is performed from said later reproduction. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 detecting video events; and   creating a searchable database wherein video signals containing the video events are indexed, with each video signal being indexed as a function of a sensor that detected the video signal.   
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the detected video events include start times, and wherein each video signal is further indexed as a function of the start times.