Periodic Video Capture System for Border Traffic Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for providing video segments of vehicular and pedestrian traffic conditions at international border crossings are inefficient due to high bandwidth requirements, costly ISP charges, and poor video quality, as they typically involve streaming live video from multiple cameras, which leads to increased server resource demands and lengthy processing times.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that allows a single camera to capture multiple video segments of variable duration at predetermined intervals, processing and uploading them to a local remote server, which then sends them to a domain server for conversion into suitable formats for display, reducing bandwidth needs and ISP costs, while ensuring near real-time video footage is available.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If live streaming video is used to provide real-time traffic conditions, then video quality and real-time information availability are improved, but bandwidth requirements, server resource demands, and ISP charges increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereal-time information availabilityVSAvoidbandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system captures video segments at predetermined time intervals (e.g., every 5-30 minutes) rather than continuously streaming. The camera captures video segments of predetermined duration (e.g., 5-60 seconds) at these intervals, and the segments are uploaded to the server for periodic updates. This periodic capture and upload approach provides near real-time traffic condition information while dramatically reducing bandwidth consumption compared to continuous live streaming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple cameras are deployed to cover different shots, then traffic condition monitoring coverage is improved, but device complexity and ISP costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraffic condition monitoring coverageVSAvoidnumber of cameras and servers
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single camera is configured to capture multiple different shots by rotating to different positions. The camera can capture a first shot at a first position and a second shot at a second position, effectively performing the function of multiple cameras. This multi-functionality approach provides comprehensive traffic condition monitoring coverage while reducing the number of cameras and servers needed, thereby lowering device complexity and associated costs.

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

3Reliability

If video recording software is used to record video continuously, then complete video coverage is ensured, but processing time and server resource requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo coverage completenessVSAvoidvideo processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous video recording, the system captures video segments at predetermined time intervals. The camera captures video segments of predetermined duration (e.g., 5-60 seconds) every 5-30 minutes, and these segments are uploaded to the server for periodic processing and updates. This approach ensures that traffic condition information is captured and updated regularly while dramatically reducing the total volume of video data that needs to be processed, stored, and managed compared to continuous recording.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3328074B1System and method for capturing and delivering video images
Publication Date: 2019.11.06 SOLUTIONS XYZ
  • EP3328074B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3328074B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3328074B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a system and method for providing, over a network, updated and accurate video segments of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. At least one camera forms a part of the system receiving a set of instructions to capture a video segment of a predetermined duration at predetermined time intervals. Users of the system request video segments from a selected camera, which is subsequently transmitted by the system, over a network, for viewing by the user.