Shared server methods and systems for information storage, access, and security

Abstract

Devices and methods for managing multi-media files and associated metadata in a hybrid manner are disclosed. Methods for using the device(s) to implement different methods for managing information obtained (e.g., recorded) by a plurality of recording devices are also disclosed. This disclosure also relates to comprehensive use of multiple distinct surveillance systems in a coordinated manner. For example, a set of surveillance devices configured for use by one or more law enforcement agencies or other government agencies may share metadata to facilitate indexing, sharing, accessing, and coordinating potential surveillance recordings. In one example, metadata may be uploaded to cloud storage while associated multi-media files are maintained locally by the responsible agency. Maintaining metadata and actual multi-media content separately may reduce bandwidth transmission requirements and maintain confidentiality of surveillance recordings. Further, chain of custody of evidence requirements regarding digitally recorded evidence may be complied with.

1 . A computer system, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   one or more network communication interfaces communicatively coupled to the one or more processors,   wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions to cause the one or more processors to:
 receive, via the one or more network communication interfaces, first metadata information pertaining to a multi-media recording, the first metadata information comprising information regarding attributes describing recording circumstances of the multi-media recording and an access location of the multi-media recording; 
 initiate transmission of at least a portion of the first metadata information to a first storage location; and 
 categorize the multi-media recording using the first metadata information independently of the multi-media recording. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute instructions to cause the one or more processors to:
 process the first metadata information pertaining to the multi-media recording; and   incorporate the processed first metadata information in an index containing information pertaining to additional multi-media recordings obtained from multiple distinct portable recording devices.   
     
     
         3 . The computer system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute instructions to cause the one or more processors to:
 receive a query request to identify potentially applicable multi-media recordings; and   utilize the index to provide a response to the query request, wherein the response to the query request comprises metadata information pertaining to one or more potentially applicable multi-media recordings or information identifying a storage location of one or more potentially applicable multi-media recordings.   
     
     
         4 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the information regarding attributes describing recording circumstances comprises information pertaining to items selected from the group consisting of: recording location, recording time, recording initiation, recording termination, recording duration, event type/tag, and a user who performed the multi-media recording. 
     
     
         8 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute instructions to cause the one or more processors to:
 apply audit controls regarding access to and/or alteration of the first metadata information and/or the multi-media recording.   
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute instructions to cause the one or more processors to:
 receive an indication identifying one or more potentially applicable multi-media recordings, the indication responsive to a query request; and   request initiation of transmission of at least one of the one or more potentially applicable multi-media recordings from a remote storage location to a storage location accessible to the computer system.   
     
     
         11 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute instructions to cause the one or more processors to:
 apply a data retention policy to the multi-media recording, wherein the data retention policy indicates a data retention period for the multi-media recording based on the first metadata information.   
     
     
         12 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute instructions to cause the one or more processors to:
 initiate transmission of the multi-media recording to a second storage location different from the first storage location.   
     
     
         24 . The computer system of  claim 23 , wherein the first storage location is a local network accessible storage location and the second storage location is a remote storage location. 
     
     
         25 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute instructions to cause the one or more processors to:
 copy the first metadata information and/or the multi-media recording to a local storage area distinct from the first storage location.   
     
     
         26 . The computer system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a local storage area communicatively coupled to the one or more processors; and   a plug-in port communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and configured to interface with a portable recording device,   wherein the initiation of transmission of the first metadata information to the first storage location and/or initiation of transmission of the multi-media recording to a second storage location occurs automatically upon connection of a portable recording device to the plug-in port, the portable recording device storing the first metadata information and/or the multimedia recording, respectively.   
     
     
         27 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute instructions to cause the one or more processors to:
 correlate the first metadata information with additional metadata information to produce correlated metadata information, the additional metadata information comprising information regarding attributes describing recording circumstances of one or more additional multi-media recordings.   
     
     
         28 . The computer system of  claim 27 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute instructions to cause the one or more processors to:
 provide an interface to access the correlated information, wherein the interface provides information to assist in audit control of the first and additional metadata information and the first and the one or more additional multi-media recordings.   
     
     
         29 . The computer system of  claim 27 , wherein the correlating of the first metadata information with the additional metadata information to produce correlated metadata information comprises correlating the first and the one or more additional multi-media recordings based on an event type associated with each of the first and the one or more multi-media recordings, respectively, a recording location of each of the first and the one or more multi-media recordings, respectively, and/or a recording time of each of the first and the one or more multi-media recordings, respectively. 
     
     
         30 . A method comprising:
 receiving at a computer system, via one or more network communication interfaces, first metadata information pertaining to a first multi-media recording, the first metadata information comprising information regarding attributes describing recording circumstances of the first multi-media recording and an access location of the first multi-media recording;   initiating transmission of at least a portion of the first metadata information to a first storage location, the first storage location comprising a storage area configured for storing at least metadata; and   categorizing the first multi-media recording using the first metadata information independently of the first multi-media recording.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 receiving a query request to identify potentially applicable multi-media recordings; and   utilizing an index to provide a response to the query request,   wherein the response to the query request comprises metadata information pertaining to one or more potentially applicable multi-media recordings or information identifying a storage location of one or more potentially applicable multi-media recordings, and   wherein the index contains metadata information pertaining to multi-media recordings obtained from one or more portable recording devices.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 applying audit controls regarding access to and/or alteration of the first metadata information and/or the first multi-media recording.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication identifying one or more potentially applicable multi-media recordings, the indication responsive to a query request; and   requesting initiation of transmission of at least one of the one or more potentially applicable multi-media recordings from a remote storage location to a storage location accessible to the computer system.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 applying a data retention policy to the first multi-media recording, wherein the data retention policy indicates a data retention period for the first multi-media recording based on the first metadata information.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 initiating transmission of the first multi-media recording to a second storage location different from the first storage location, the second storage location comprising a storage area configured for storing at least multi-media recordings.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the first storage location is a local network accessible storage location and the second storage location is a remote storage location. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 correlating the first metadata information with additional metadata information to produce correlated metadata information, the additional metadata information comprising information regarding attributes describing recording circumstances of one or more additional multi-media recordings; and   generating an index based on the correlated metadata information, the index containing information pertaining to the first and the one or more additional multi-media recordings.