Rear view mirror with integrated video system

Abstract

A vehicle-mounted system ( 1010 ) for recording video and audio. The system ( 1010 ) uses distributed processing, including encoding the video and audio at their source(s), and a high-speed, e.g., Ethernet, bus ( 1148 ) connecting the various system components and external devices. The system ( 1010 ) may include a display monitor ( 1040 ) which is integrated into the same housing ( 1020 ) as a rear view mirror ( 170 ) of the vehicle, with the display monitor ( 1040 ) being located behind the mirror ( 170 ) and video displayed on the monitor being visible through the mirror ( 170 ).

1 . A video surveillance system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
 a housing for mounting within the vehicle, said housing having a rearview mirror;   a first video camera mounted in or on the housing and operable to record a first video signal;   a second video camera associated with the vehicle and operable to record a second video signal;   a central control unit mounted within the housing and including
 a processor for receiving the first and second video signals from both the first and second video cameras, and 
 a solid state memory for storing the first and second video signals upon receipt of the signals by the central control unit and from the respective first and second video cameras; 
   a display monitor mounted behind the rearview mirror and in the housing and configured to receive at least one of said first and second video signals and display viewable video indicative of said received video signals upon activation of the display monitor; and   a location determining device for acquiring the location of the vehicle,   wherein the system is configured to associate at least some of the video signals with a location of the vehicle when the video signals were recorded and to mark stored video signals with the associated location.   
     
     
         2 . The video surveillance system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is operable to implement a pre-event recording loop, such that upon activation of a record input, the system stores in said solid-state memory the recorded video signals from at least one of said cameras for a pre-set period of time prior to activation of the record input. 
     
     
         3 . The video surveillance system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to electronically stamp the video signals with an electronic watermark to indicate tampering or alteration of the video signals. 
     
     
         4 . The video surveillance system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said system is configured to stream a live video signal to a remote location from either or both of said first or second video cameras. 
     
     
         5 . The video surveillance system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to receive a password or code prior to activation of the system. 
     
     
         6 . The video surveillance system as set forth in  claim 1 , the system including at least one software component for implementing the functionality of the system, wherein said at least one software component of said system is upgradeable while said system is located in the field as during normal use of the system. 
     
     
         7 . The video surveillance system as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein an upgrade of said at least one software component is performed by use of an external device in wireless communication with said video system. 
     
     
         8 . The video surveillance system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to verify the identity of a user prior to allowing the user access to the system. 
     
     
         9 . The video surveillance system as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the system receives biometric data from the user to verify the identity of the user. 
     
     
         10 . The video surveillance system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second video cameras includes a unique identifier, and the system is configured to stamp the video signals recorded by the respective camera with the respective unique identifier. 
     
     
         11 . The video surveillance system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said video camera, central control unit, or display monitor comprises a backup power source for operating said video camera, central control unit, or display monitor in the event a primary power source is lost.