Smart Camera Edge Storage for On-Demand Video Upload
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video capture systems face challenges in providing an efficient, low-cost, and easy-to-use solution for distributing video content due to the need for significant transmission bandwidth and cloud storage, which is costly and resource-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A system of smart edge devices with local storage and cloud-based control, where video content is captured and stored locally, and specific snippets are uploaded to the cloud upon user request, using asynchronous communication to reduce bandwidth load and reliance on continuous streaming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all video content is transmitted to a central server, then video content can be centrally stored and accessed, but transmission bandwidth requirements and cloud storage costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary portions of video content (specific snippets requested by users) from the local storage devices and transmits them to the cloud server, rather than transmitting all video content. This selective extraction approach maintains video accessibility while dramatically reducing the quantity of data transmitted over the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by capturing and storing video content locally at the source devices before any transmission occurs. This advance local storage eliminates the need for continuous or bulk transmission to a central server, as content is already available when needed, thus reducing bandwidth requirements while maintaining reliability.
2Ease of operation
If all video content is stored in the cloud, then centralized access is enabled, but cloud storage costs and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and transmits only the specific video snippets that users request from local storage devices to the cloud server for temporary access. This approach enables centralized access functionality while minimizing the amount of data that needs to be stored in the cloud, thereby reducing cloud storage capacity requirements and associated costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The cloud server acts as an intermediary that facilitates access to video content stored locally on edge devices, rather than serving as the primary storage location. The intermediary coordinates between user requests and local storage resources, enabling centralized access without requiring bulk cloud storage capacity.
3Speed
If continuous video streaming is implemented, then real-time access is provided, but bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and transmits only the specific video snippets that users request, rather than continuously streaming all video content. This selective transmission approach provides fast access to requested content while dramatically reducing overall bandwidth consumption compared to continuous streaming of all available video.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous streaming, the system implements periodic action by transmitting video content only when specifically requested by users. This on-demand transmission model maintains access speed for requested content while reducing total bandwidth consumption by eliminating unnecessary continuous data flow.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces bandwidth requirements, lowers costs, and ensures efficient distribution of requested video snippets while maintaining reliability, even over low-bandwidth connections, without the need for local hubs or servers.
Implementation Method 1
an image sensor configured for capturing images of objects in a field of view of the smart camera
Implementation Method 2
one or more optical elements configured for projecting an image of a field of view of the smart camera onto the image sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A system provides video files of a participant participating in an activity at a facility, the system comprising a plurality of smart cameras, each associated with a facility location and including an image sensor, optical elements, processor-executable instructions in first memory, second memory for storing captured video, and network transceiver circuitry; a cloud-based storage server for receiving and storing video content from the smart cameras; and a cloud-based control server that, upon user command to generate a participant video file at a specified location, directs at least one associated smart camera to assemble a video file from stored content and upload the generated file to the cloud-based storage server.