IP Camera SSD Storage for Server-Free Multi-Camera Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Small installations of security cameras require additional resources and costs for local video management systems (VMS) and recording equipment, leading to increased installation and maintenance costs, and can overload the master camera when managing multiple cameras.

Innovation Solution

Equipping the master camera with SSD storage and a management application, allowing slave cameras to perform media clip upload and live streaming, while the master camera maintains a passive role, reducing the burden on the master camera.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a local video management system (VMS) and recorder are installed to manage multiple cameras, then the camera system can be managed effectively, but the installation cost and maintenance cost increase due to additional equipment and VMS licenses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera system management capabilityVSAvoidinstallation and maintenance cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the VMS functionality and storage capacity directly into the master camera unit. The master camera integrates a processor configured to manage multiple slave cameras, an SSD storage module for video data, and a web server for remote access, eliminating the need for separate VMS software and recorder hardware that would otherwise be required to manage multiple cameras effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The master camera performs multiple functions: it acts as a regular surveillance camera, serves as a video recorder for slave cameras, functions as a video management system controller, and provides web-based remote viewing capability. This multi-functionality consolidates what would traditionally require separate dedicated devices into a single universal unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If the master camera directly manages video shooting, streaming, and recording of multiple cameras, then no additional VMS is needed, but the master camera becomes overloaded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem configuration simplicityVSAvoidmaster camera processing burden
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the management functions among the slave cameras themselves, which independently handle their own video shooting, encoding, and streaming tasks. The master camera's processor is thus relieved of heavy processing burdens and only needs to perform coordination and storage management, while each slave camera operates autonomously to reduce the central load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If additional recorder and VMS equipment are provided for wide-area camera installation, then comprehensive monitoring and recording are achieved, but the installation investment increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring and recording coverageVSAvoidinstallation investment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the VMS functionality and storage capacity directly into the master camera unit. The master camera integrates a processor configured to manage multiple slave cameras, an SSD storage module for video data, and a web server for remote access, eliminating the need for separate VMS software and recorder hardware that would otherwise be required to manage multiple cameras effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4683317A1IP camera with inbuilt SSD storage and IP camera management system and method
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 HANWHA VISION CO LTD
  • EP4683317A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4683317A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4683317A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A camera includes: a processor configured to control a management application; and a storage module storing instructions, executable by the processor, and the management application, where the processor is configured to execute the instructions to: configure at least one bucket respectively corresponding to at least one slave camera in the storage module, respectively store data about media clips captured by the at least one slave camera in the at least one bucket.