Method and apparatus for segmented video compression
An archival video system uses profile images as a background for an image and delta images to indicate the difference between a current image and a profile image. An image may be segmented into multiple sectors, with each sector compared to a profile sector. The resulting image may be constructed using references to previously stored sectors from different images.
1. A video recording apparatus comprising:
image receiving circuitry for receiving electronic images;
storage means;
processing circuitry, coupled to the image receiving circuitry and the storage means, for:
receiving a current image from the image receiving circuitry at a specified index;
allocating the current image to a plurality of predefined sectors each containing a predefined sector image that is a portion of the current image;
for each of a plurality of the predefined sector images:
comparing the predefined sector image with a plurality of previously generated profile sector images stored in the storage means;
determining whether the predefined sector image matches a profile sector image within a predetermined threshold; and
associating the index and a plurality of the predefined sectors with profile sector images that match the predefined sector images of the plurality of predefined sectors within the predetermined threshold.
2. The video recording apparatus of claim 1 and further including a camera coupled to the image receiving circuitry.
3. The video recording apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry further generates a delta file indicating differences between a predefined sector image and the associated profile sector image.
4. The video recording apparatus of claim 1 wherein each predefined sector has the same shape.
5. The video recording apparatus of claim 1 wherein each predefined sector has an arbitrarily assigned shape.
6. The video recording apparatus of claim 1 wherein the storage means comprises a non-volatile solid state memory.
7. The video recording apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising communication circuitry for communicating data to a remote processing device.
8. The video recording apparatus of claim 7 wherein the processing circuitry sends a representation of the current image to the remote processing device by sending references to the associated profile sector images.
9. The video recording apparatus of claim 8 wherein the processing circuitry transmits a copy of an associated profile sector image if that associated profile sector image is not accessible to the remote processing device.
10. The video recording apparatus of claim 9 wherein the processing circuitry communicates with the remote processing device to determine whether the remote processing device has a copy of each associated profile sector image.
11. The video recording apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry further stores an association between the index, the predetermined sectors and the associated profile sector images.
12. The video recording apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry selects a profile image at least in part by reference to current lighting conditions and lighting conditions associated with each of the profile images.
13. The video recording apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry determines whether the predetermined sector image matches the profile sector image at least in part by reference to luminosity in the predetermined sector image and luminosity associated with each of the profile sector images.
14. The video recording apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry determines whether the predetermined sector image matches the profile sector image at least in part by reference to a time associated with the predetermined sector image and a time of day associated with each of the profile sector images.
15. The video recording apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry determines whether the predetermined sector image matches the profile sector image at least in part by reference to a date associated with the predetermined sector image and a date associated with each of the profile sector images.
16. The video recording apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry generates a single image from multiple profile sector images.
17. The video recording apparatus of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry generates a single image from multiple profile sector images and multiple delta files.
18. A method of recording video comprising:
receiving electronic images;
using processing circuitry:
receiving a current image at a specified index;
allocating the current image to a plurality of predefined sectors each containing a predefined sector image that is a portion of the current image;
for each of a plurality of the predefined sector images:
comparing the predefined sector image with a plurality of previously generated profile sector images stored in a storage device;
determining whether the predefined sector image matches a profile sector image within a predetermined threshold; and
associating the index and the predefined sector with a profile sector image that matches the predefined sector image of the predefined sector within a predetermined threshold.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the processor circuitry further performs the step of generating a delta file indicating differences between a predefined sector image and the associated profile sector image.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein each predefined sector has the same shape.
21. The method of claim 18 wherein each predefined sector has an arbitrarily assigned shape.
22. The method of claim 18 wherein the processing circuitry further performs the step of transmitting a representation of the current image to a remote processing device by sending references to the associated profile sector images.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein the processing circuitry transmits a copy of an associated profile sector image if that associated profile sector image is not accessible to the remote processing device.
24. The method of claim 18 wherein the processing circuitry further stores an association between the index, the predetermined sectors and the associated profile sector images.