Alan Cooper

US Patent:

6580951, Jun 17, 2003

Filed:

Jun 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/879893

Inventors:

Alan N. Cooper - Addison TX
David W. Bauerle - Argyle TX

Assignee:

Ultrak, Inc. - Lewisville TX

International Classification:

G05B 1101

US Classification:

700 21, 700 79, 700 83, 713200, 713201, 713202, 709201, 709223, 709219

Abstract:

A computer system and method for distributing, decisions in a network. The network is partitioned into multiple levels including a user interface level, a gateway level and a domain level. All attached devices in the network communicate either directly or indirectly with user interface unit. Several gateway systems are attached to the user interface level. Each gateway system has decision-making capability. Each gateway system has connected to it multiple domains. Each domain level again has a set of decision-making capabilities. When the domain level receives an input, the domain level decides whether or not it may react based upon its decision-making capabilities. The domain system may react to the input and provide the gateway with a report of the event and the domain systems reaction to it. Once the gateway system receives the event and domain system status, the gateway determines whether to react to this event. The gateway may react to this event and direct the domain system to act according to its predetermined programming.

US Patent:

6892246, May 10, 2005

Filed:

Jun 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/880063

Inventors:

Alan N. Cooper - Addison TX, US
David W. Bauerle - Argyle TX, US

International Classification:

G06F015/16
H03M007/30

US Classification:

709247, 380217, 380269, 704500, 704503

Abstract:

A computer system and method for storing video data in memory is disclosed. Memory capacity is evaluated. If the memory capacity is sufficient to allow the storing of video data in the mass storage device, then the video data is stored. If the memory capacity available is insufficient to storage the video data and the mass storage device, the oldest stored video data in the mass storage device is identified. The oldest stored video data is then removed from the mass storage device and stored in memory. The video data in memory is then modified to require less space in memory. The new video data and the modified video data are then written to the mass storage device.

US Patent:

7298397, Nov 20, 2007

Filed:

Jul 24, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/202968

Inventors:

Alan Neal Cooper - Coppell TX, US
Christopher Michael Fritz - Dallas TX, US
James Walter Exner - Plano TX, US

Assignee:

Freestone Systems, Inc. - Addison TX

International Classification:

H04N 5/225

US Classification:

3482071

Abstract:

The present invention provides a video transmission system that comprises a camera and a base unit. The camera includes a sensor memory adapted to store video data until each line of the video data is sequentially transmitted, a data buffer adapted to receive and store the sequentially transmitted video data until it is completely received at a base unit memory without errors, a data port adapted to receive from the data buffer and transmit to a camera physical transceiver the data buffered video data, a controller adapted to control data flow between the camera and the base unit, and the camera physical transceiver adapted to transfer the data buffered video data to a physical transceiver of the base unit. The base unit includes the base unit physical transceiver adapted to receive the transferred video data, a base unit data port adapted to receive from the base unit physical transceiver and transmit to a data buffer of the base unit, the transferred video data, a controller adapted to control data flow between the base unit and the camera, the base unit data buffer adapted to store the transferred video data from the base unit data port until it is completely received at the base unit physical transceiver without errors, and the base unit memory adapted to receive and sequentially store each line of the transferred video data.

US Patent:

7312816, Dec 25, 2007

Filed:

Jul 24, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/202283

Inventors:

Alan Neal Cooper - Coppell TX, US
Christopher Michael Fritz - Dallas TX, US
James Walter Exner - Plano TX, US

Assignee:

Freestone Systems, Inc. - Addison TX

International Classification:

H04N 5/225

US Classification:

3482071

Abstract:

A digital observation system and method for processing and transmitting video data between a video camera, or video cameras, and a base unit. The video data is transmitted, for example, by a communication protocol that is compliant with Ethernet physical drivers for transmitting and receiving data at around 100 Mbps. Video is captured at a sensor in the video camera, digitally processed and transmitted, thus overcoming limitations associated with analog processing and allowing unique features to be added. Images and other data may be transmitted efficiently in their native format, with reduced overhead, and in a non-compressed format due to the data transmission rate at or below 100 Mbps.

US Patent:

7511764, Mar 31, 2009

Filed:

Jul 24, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/202668

Inventors:

Alan Neal Cooper - Coppell TX, US
Christopher Michael Fritz - Dallas TX, US
James Walter Exner - Plano TX, US

International Classification:

H04N 9/475
H04N 5/06
H04N 9/45
H04N 9/455

US Classification:

348516, 348512, 348521

Abstract:

The present invention provides a synchronization system comprising a base unit and at least one video camera. The base unit includes a master time-base adapted to set a time period that samples a frame of video data, a memory, and a base unit communications transceiver. The base unit communications transceiver is adapted to transmit a frame synchronization signal to a video camera communications transceiver. The video camera includes an image sensor adapted to store the video data, an exposure control adapted to control an exposure level of the image sensor, and a camera time-base adapted to receive the frame synchronization signal from the video camera communications transceiver. The camera time-base is further adapted to receive the frame synchronization signal, reset its time and initiates its internal timing sequence, transmit signals to the exposure control to control a length of the exposure, and transmit timing signals to the image sensor to read the video data.

US Patent:

RE43786, Nov 6, 2012

Filed:

Dec 18, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/642698

Inventors:

Alan Neal Cooper - Coppell TX, US
Christopher Michael Fritz - Cypress TX, US
James Walter Exner - Plano TX, US

Assignee:

Immersive Media of Texas, LLC - Longview TX

International Classification:

H04N 5/225

US Classification:

3482071

Abstract:

A digital observation system and method for processing and transmitting video data between a video camera, or video cameras, and a base unit. The video data is transmitted, for example, by a communication protocol that is compliant with Ethernet physical drivers for transmitting and receiving data at around 100 Mbps. Video is captured at a sensor in the video camera, digitally processed and transmitted, thus overcoming limitations associated with analog processing and allowing unique features to be added. Images and other data may be transmitted efficiently in their native format, with reduced overhead, and in a non-compressed format due to the data transmission rate at or below 100 Mbps.

US Patent:

20040017333, Jan 29, 2004

Filed:

Jul 24, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/202257

Inventors:

Alan Cooper - Coppell TX, US
Christopher Fritz - Dallas TX, US
James Exner - Plano TX, US

International Classification:

G09G005/00

US Classification:

345/003100

Abstract:

The present invention provides a universal serial bus (USB) display unit comprising a microprocessor with a USB interface, where the USB interface is adapted to receive video data from a first source, and a video decoder adapted to receive other video data from a second source. The USB unit also comprises a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) adapted to process the video data and the other video data, a memory adapted to store the processed video data and the processed other video data, and a display adapted to contemporaneously display the processed video data and the processed other video data. The microprocessor is adapted to transmit the processed other video data to the first source via the USB interface which is adapted to receive audio data from the first source. The USB unit further comprises an audio circuit adapted to provide the audio data via the FPGA, where the video decoder, the audio circuit, the microprocessor, the display, and the memory are operably coupled to the FPGA.

US Patent:

58701397, Feb 9, 1999

Filed:

Aug 28, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/519879

Inventors:

Alan Neal Cooper - Coppell TX
David William Bauerle - Coppell TX
Merwyn Simpson - Farmers Branch TX

Assignee:

Ultrak, Inc. - Lewisville TX

International Classification:

H04N 718

US Classification:

348159

Abstract:

A plurality of video cameras each send a video signal and an audio signal to a video controller. Each of the video cameras receive a vertical drive signal and a horizontal drive signal from the video controller. A sensor interface sends sensor signals to the video controller. The video controller sends camera status signals to camera status indicators which indicate which of the video cameras are active. The video controller determines which of the video cameras are active, selects the video signals from one of the plurality of cameras, inserts a camera number code into the selected video signals which corresponds to the selected video camera, inserts indicator symbology into the selected video signals which represent the information from the status interface, and sends the selected video having the camera number code and the indicator symbology to a video recorder.