Surveillance Camera Arbitration for Bandwidth Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surveillance camera systems often consume excessive bandwidth when uploading image data to cloud storage systems, leading to network congestion and competition with other systems for access.
Innovation Solution
A distributed arbitration system where surveillance cameras calculate and share self-priority values to dynamically manage bandwidth allocation, ensuring that only higher-priority streams are uploaded to the cloud during peak hours, while lower-priority streams are stored locally, using a rules engine and messaging system to determine upload decisions based on event data and site profiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If surveillance cameras continuously upload image data to cloud storage systems, then remote storage capacity is improved, but network bandwidth consumption increases causing congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts upload behavior based on network conditions and priority levels. Cameras can switch between local storage and cloud upload modes depending on real-time bandwidth availability and assigned priorities, transforming a static storage approach into a dynamic adaptive system that balances storage capacity with bandwidth conservation
Solution Approach 2:
Different cameras are assigned different local storage capacities and upload priorities based on their specific requirements and importance. High-priority cameras can upload continuously while lower-priority cameras store locally during bandwidth-constrained periods, creating a differentiated quality of service across the network
2Reliability
If multiple surveillance cameras simultaneously upload to cloud storage, then data completeness is improved, but network congestion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the upload process by assigning time slots and priority levels to different cameras. Instead of all cameras uploading simultaneously, the arbitration system divides the upload window into segments based on priority, allowing high-priority cameras to upload first while lower-priority cameras wait, thereby preventing network congestion while maintaining data completeness
Solution Approach 2:
The arbitration system continuously monitors network conditions and camera priorities, adjusting upload decisions based on real-time feedback. When network congestion is detected or bandwidth becomes available, the system dynamically redistributes upload opportunities among cameras, ensuring data completeness without overwhelming the network
3Adaptability or versatility
If cameras prioritize cloud storage uploads, then remote accessibility is improved, but local storage capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring complete local storage capacity for all cameras, the system allows partial local storage for lower-priority cameras during bandwidth-constrained periods. Cameras can store only the essential local data when needed, while high-priority cameras maintain full cloud upload capability, optimizing the balance between local storage requirements and remote accessibility
Data Source
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AI summary
A surveillance camera and image data storage system is disclosed. The system includes surveillance cameras that generate image data. Each of the surveillance cameras calculates a self priority value for uploading the image data and sends its self priority value over a local network to the other surveillance cameras. Within each surveillance camera, a rules engine compares its self priority value and the self priority values from the other surveillance cameras to determine whether to upload the image data over the network to a remote storage system or to save the image data within each surveillance camera. This functions as an arbitration system implemented at the level of the individual cameras to arbitrate uploading of the image data, which limits network bandwidth. In another example, each surveillance camera calculates its self priority value in response to receiving security events from other security devices over a network.