Server-Mediated Video Stream Distribution for Multi-User Camera Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current remote camera video viewing systems limit multiple users to accessing and controlling a single camera, leading to command conflicts and network overload, which hampers efficient monitoring and analytics in applications like crowd control, inventory monitoring, and security.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allow multiple users to remotely access and control a single camera by using a server to receive and distribute video streams, with a gateway subsystem determining the appropriate stream size and preventing direct connection to the camera, enabling each user to view and manipulate their own stream independently without conflicting commands or overburdening the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple users directly access and control a single IP Video Camera simultaneously, then each user can view and manipulate the video stream, but command conflicts occur and network bandwidth is overwhelmed
Solution Approach 1:
A server is introduced as an intermediary between multiple users and the IP Video Camera. The server receives video streams from the camera and distributes them to multiple users, while also mediating control commands to prevent conflicts. This intermediary architecture allows multiple users to access the camera simultaneously without direct peer-to-peer conflicts, resolving the contradiction between multi-user accessibility and command execution reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the IP Video Camera distributes multiple video streams to each user, then each user can independently control and manipulate their own stream, but network bandwidth is heavily burdened and lag time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating multiple independent video streams from the camera, the system creates a single primary stream and generates simplified copies or representations for distribution to users. The server receives one stream from the camera and distributes it to multiple users, or creates derived streams through video processing techniques. This copying approach enables multiple users to access and manipulate streams independently while avoiding the network bandwidth consumption and lag associated with multiple full-resolution streams from the camera itself.
3Reliability
If the IP Video Camera backlogs commands from multiple users and executes them in order received, then command conflicts are avoided, but the camera behavior appears erratic to users
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as an intelligent intermediary that receives control commands from multiple users and intelligently arbitrates between them. Rather than simple backlog execution, the server can prioritize commands, merge conflicting commands, or coordinate execution to maintain predictable camera behavior. This mediator approach preserves command execution reliability while improving user control predictability compared to simple FIFO backlog processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for substantially simultaneously remote monitoring including receiving, at a server, one or more video data streams, and providing, from the server, the one or more video data streams to multiple users, each one of the multiple users being able to view and manipulate the one or more video data streams. Systems that implement the method are also disclosed.