Multi-Camera Bandwidth Allocation via Dynamic Bit Rate Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional camera systems fail to effectively utilize extra available network bandwidth when using Variable Bit Rate (VBR) encoding schemes, as they do not dynamically adjust bit rates across cameras to maintain optimal network bandwidth utilization.
Innovation Solution
A camera system with multiple cameras using variable bit rate encoding schemes, where a receiving device periodically measures total bandwidth and adjusts the encoding schemes of individual cameras to either lower or higher bit rates based on threshold values, ensuring the total bit rate remains within predetermined limits while utilizing spare bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If VBR encoding is used for individual cameras, then image quality is maintained for complex video images, but extra available network bandwidth cannot be utilized by other cameras
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic bit rate allocation where the receiving device continuously monitors total network bandwidth usage and adjusts the bit rates of individual cameras in real-time. When total bandwidth is below the threshold, some cameras switch to higher bit rate encoding to improve image quality. When bandwidth exceeds the threshold, bit rates are reduced to maintain overall system stability. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to varying network conditions and充分利用 available bandwidth.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the encoding parameters (bit rate) of cameras based on total network bandwidth conditions. The receiving device sends control signals to individual cameras to adjust their encoding bit rates upward or downward depending on whether the total bandwidth is below or above the predetermined threshold. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by allowing cameras to use higher bit rates when bandwidth is available and lower bit rates when bandwidth is constrained.
2Reliability
If static bit rate allocation is used to ensure total bandwidth is below network limit, then network stability is maintained, but extra available bandwidth cannot be utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving device implements a feedback mechanism where it continuously measures the total bandwidth of video signals from all cameras and compares it against a predetermined threshold. Based on this feedback, the receiving device sends control signals to individual cameras to adjust their bit rates. When total bandwidth is below the threshold, cameras are instructed to increase bit rates. When total bandwidth exceeds the threshold, cameras are instructed to decrease bit rates. This closed-loop feedback system maintains network stability while dynamically utilizing available bandwidth.
Solution Approach 2:
Each camera adjusts its own bit rate based on control signals from the receiving device, effectively managing its own resource allocation. The system allows cameras to self-adjust their encoding parameters in response to overall network conditions, enabling automatic optimization of bandwidth utilization without manual intervention while maintaining network stability.
Data Source
AI summary
Each of multiple cameras encodes and transmits a video signal captured, the encoding being performed with one of multiple variable bit rate encoding schemes each of which has a different average bit rate. A receiving device periodically measures the total bandwidth of the video signals received from the multiple cameras, and when the total bandwidth exceeds a first threshold value the receiving device switches the encoding scheme used by the cameras to a scheme having a lower average bit rate. In addition, when the total bandwidth falls below a second threshold value that is equal to or less than the first threshold value, the receiving device switches the encoding scheme used by the cameras to a scheme having a higher average bit rate.