Multi-Stream Video Unit for DVM Resource Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital Video Management (DVM) systems face resource management challenges, as optimizing one resource, such as CPU, often comes at the expense of others like bandwidth and storage, due to the limitations of existing video streaming configurations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a multi-stream unit configuration in DVM systems, where each camera server can utilize video data from multiple streaming units with distinct video parameters, allowing for optimized stream assignment based on purpose, such as live viewing or recording, to efficiently manage resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If low compression stream is used, then CPU usage is reduced, but bandwidth and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the video stream into multiple compression levels (e.g., low compression stream and high compression stream). Each stream is optimized for different purposes: low compression streams conserve CPU for live viewing, while high compression streams reduce bandwidth and storage for recording and remote access.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the video data are assigned different compression qualities based on their intended use. Live viewing streams use low compression to maintain quality and reduce CPU load, while recording streams use high compression to minimize storage requirements. This local optimization resolves the contradiction by applying appropriate compression levels to specific data flows.
2Quantity of substance
If high compression stream is used, then bandwidth and storage requirements are reduced, but CPU usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The video processing is segmented into multiple compression streams generated simultaneously. High compression streams are created specifically for recording and remote access to reduce bandwidth and storage, while low compression streams handle live viewing. This segmentation allows CPU-intensive compression to be applied only where necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects different compression streams based on the intended purpose. Recording operations automatically use high compression streams to minimize storage, while live viewing uses low compression streams. This dynamic selection resolves the contradiction by applying high compression only when bandwidth and storage are concerns, not when CPU is the limiting factor.
3Device complexity
If single stream configuration is used, then system complexity is reduced, but resource optimization capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Each streaming unit is designed with multi-functionality, capable of generating multiple compression streams simultaneously. This universal capability allows the same hardware to serve different purposes (live viewing, recording, remote access) without increasing overall system complexity, as the multi-stream functionality is integrated into the basic streaming unit design.
Data Source
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AI summary
Described herein are systems and methods for managing video data. Embodiments are described by reference to a Digital Video Management (DVM) system which makes use of a plurality of camera servers. Each camera server is configured to utilise video data from an assigned one or more streaming units. For example, a camera server is optionally configured to make available live video data from a given streaming unit, and/or record to disk video data from that streaming unit. The system includes a plurality of such video streaming units, each streaming unit being configured to stream, onto a network, video data for a respective camera. At least one video streaming unit is a multi-stream unit configured to provide video data for its respective camera concurrently via at least a first and second stream. Embodiments of the present invention are directed towards systems and methods for making use of such a multi-stream unit for providing advantageous DVM functionalities. For example, in some embodiments the first and second streams are assigned to respective purposes, whilst in other embodiments the first and second streams are assigned to respective camera servers.