Automated integration of video evidence with data records

Abstract

A computer system receives event data associated with data records in a database, receives metadata corresponding to a digital media content file (e.g., a video, audio, or image file), compares the event data with the metadata, automatically identifies a matching event based on the comparison, and automatically tags the content file by modifying the metadata based on event data associated with the matching event. In one usage scenario, the digital media content file may be used as evidence in a criminal investigation. The event data may be provided in the form of a summary or snapshot of the database, which may include data records covering a limited period of time. The digital media content file can be recorded by any suitable digital media device, such as a video camera. The computer system may further include a dock configured to upload digital media content received from the digital media device.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving event data associated with a plurality of data records in a database, wherein the database comprises a records management system database or a computer-aided dispatch database, and wherein the event data is included in a database snapshot comprising a CSV file or an XML file;   receiving metadata corresponding to a digital media content file;   performing a comparison of at least a portion of the event data with at least a portion of the metadata;   based on the comparison, automatically identifying a matching event for the digital media content file, wherein the matching event is associated with at least one of the data records; and   automatically modifying the metadata based on event data associated with the matching event, wherein automatically modifying the metadata comprises updating or adding at least one of the following: an event identifier, an event type or category, and a location.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the database snapshot is generated periodically at a regular time interval. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the database snapshot includes data in a look-back window that exceeds the regular time interval. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the comparison comprises comparing a time frame in the event data with a time frame in the metadata. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the comparison comprises at least one of the following:
 comparing a user identifier in the metadata with a user identifier in the event data;   comparing a time frame in the event data with a time frame in the metadata; and   comparing a location in the event data with a location in the metadata.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digital media content file comprises a video file. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digital media content file comprises an audio file. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digital media content file comprises an image file. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metadata is included in the digital media content file. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising analyzing the modified metadata in response to a search query. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the search query comprises a search parameter, and wherein the modified metadata includes metadata corresponding to the search parameter. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising providing a search result based on the analysis of the modified metadata. 
     
     
         13 . A system comprising:
 at least one computing device having one or more processors and computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions configured to cause the at least one computing device to:
 receive event data associated with a plurality of data records in a database, wherein the database comprises a records management system database or a computer-aided dispatch database, and wherein the event data is included in a database snapshot; 
 receive metadata corresponding to a digital media content file; 
 perform a comparison of at least a portion of the event data with at least a portion of the metadata; 
 based on the comparison, automatically identify a matching event for the digital media content file, wherein the matching event is associated with at least one of the data records; and 
 automatically modify the metadata based on event data associated with the matching event, wherein automatically modifying the metadata comprises updating or adding at least one of the following: an event identifier, an event type or category, and a location. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising a dock configured to upload the digital media content file to the at least one computing device. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the comparison comprises comparing a time frame in the event data with a time frame in the metadata. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the database snapshot comprises a CSV file or an XML file. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the database snapshot is generated periodically at a regular time interval. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the database snapshot includes data in a look-back window that exceeds the regular time interval. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising a server computer having one or more processors and computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions configured to cause the server computer to:
 detect the event data in a destination folder; 
 encrypt the event data; and 
 upload the encrypted event data to the at least one computing device. 
 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions, including instructions that, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to:
 receive event data associated with a plurality of data records in a database, wherein the database comprises a records management system database or a computer-aided dispatch database, and wherein the event data is included in a database snapshot comprising a CSV file or an XML file;   receive metadata corresponding to a digital media content file;   perform a comparison of at least a portion of the event data with at least a portion of the metadata;   based on the comparison, automatically identify a matching event for the digital media content file, wherein the matching event is associated with at least one of the data records; and   automatically modify the metadata based on event data associated with the matching event, wherein automatically modifying the metadata comprises updating or adding at least one of the following: an event identifier, an event type or category, and a location.   
     
     
         21 . A system comprising:
 at least one processor;   a network interface; and   computer-readable storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions configured to cause the processor to:
 receive via the network interface a summary of a plurality of data records, the data records stored in at least one of a records management system database and a computer-aided dispatch database, the summary includes data regarding one or more events, the summary in the format of at least one of a CVS and XML file; 
 receive metadata associated with digital media content, the metadata related to an event recorded in the digital media content; 
 compare at least a portion of the data regarding the one or more events from the summary with at least a portion of the metadata; 
 in accordance with comparing, automatically identify one event from the one or more events that matches the event recorded in the digital media content; and 
 automatically modify the metadata to include at least one of an event identifier, an event type, an event category, and a location regarding the one event from the summary. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the summary comprises a snapshot of the data records at the time the snapshot is created. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein each row of the summary in the format of the CVS file includes data regarding one event. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the summary includes data regarding events that occurred during a period of time. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the digital media content comprises digital video content. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the processor further receives the summary periodically, the summary received each period includes data regarding events that occurred during a period of time. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the summary of the plurality of data records is generated at a regular time interval; and   for each summary generated, the processor executes the computer-executable instructions to receive, compare, identify, and modify.