Digital video recorder with additional video inputs over a packet link

1. A method of operating a video system, the method comprising:

outputting, by a first group of analog cameras, analog video;

outputting, by other groups of cameras, video, wherein each of the other groups is located remote from the first group;

receiving and encrypting, by a first camera interface of a digital video recorder, the analog video output by the first group of analog cameras;

receiving, by an at least one packet interface of the digital video recorder, video in a packet format from a packet link;

storing, by a storage system located within the digital video recorder, video from the first analog camera interface and from each of the packet interfaces, wherein the storage system converts from the packet format to a common video format and stores the video corresponding to the video output by the other groups of cameras;

receiving, by a second camera interface of a video encoder, the video output by the other groups of cameras;

processing, by an output interface of the video encoder, the video from the other groups of cameras into the packet format; and

transferring, by the output interface of the video encoder, the video from the other groups of cameras in the packet format to the digital video recorder over the packet link.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the video captured from other groups of cameras comprises receiving in a digital format the video captures from the other groups of cameras.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the video captured from other groups of cameras comprises receiving in an analog format the video captures from the other groups of cameras.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises encrypting, by the second camera interface, the analog video output by the other groups of cameras.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises encoding, by the second camera interface, the analog video output by the other groups of cameras.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises processing, by the output interface, the analog video received from the second camera interface of the video output by the other groups of cameras.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the packet format comprises an Internet protocol (IP) packet format.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the packet link comprises a packet link over the Internet.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the packet link comprises a wireless packet link.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the storing comprises storing, in a selected frame rate, the video corresponding to (1) the video from the first plurality of analog cameras and (2) the video from the packet link.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

retrieving, by a playback system, a selected portion of the video stored by the storage system and displaying the selected portion of the video to a user of the digital video recorder.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying, by a playback video from one or more of a day-at-a-glance, a week-at-a-glance, and a motion-based search of the stored video.

13. A video system comprising:

a first group of analog cameras outputting analog video;

other groups of analog cameras outputting analog video, wherein each of the other groups is located remote from the first group of analog cameras;

a digital video recorder comprising:

a first analog camera interface receiving analog video from each of the analog cameras in the first group via a different analog link,

packet interfaces, wherein each packet interface receives video in a packet format from a different packet link,

a storage system located within the digital video recorder and storing video from the first analog camera interface and from each of the packet interfaces;

a playback system receiving a selected portion of the video stored by the storage system and displaying the selected portion of the video to a user of the digital video recorder;

a graphical user interface configured to allow the user to select video stored by the storage system for playback; and

video encoders, wherein each video encoder is coupled to the digital video recorder by a different packet link and wherein each video encoder comprises:

a second analog camera interface receiving analog video from each of the analog cameras in one of the other groups via a different analog link, and

an output interface processing the received analog video into a packet format and transmitting the video in packet format over a packet link connecting the output interface and one of the digital video recorder's packet interfaces, wherein the storage system converts from a packet format to a common video stores in a non-packet format and stores the video corresponding to the analog video output by the other groups of analog cameras.

14. The video system of claim 13 , further comprising: a playback system displaying video from one or more of a day-at-a-glance, a week-at-a-glance, and a motion-based search of the stored video.

15. The video system of claim 13 , wherein the playback system presents live video captured by the first group of analog cameras simultaneously to the selected portion of the video stored by the storage system.

16. The video system of claim 13 , wherein the playback system presents live video captured by the other groups of cameras simultaneously to the selected portion of the video stored by the storage system.

17. The video system of claim 13 , wherein the user interface further allows the user to select live video for play back captured by either the first group of analog cameras or by the other groups of cameras.

18. The video system of claim 13 , wherein the user interface further allows the user to set criteria for the storage system in saving the video from the first group of analog cameras and video from the other groups of cameras.

19. The video system of claim 18 , wherein the criteria include different resolutions, frame rates, and image retention features.