Video Surveillance System Third-Party Camera Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Video surveillance systems often face gaps in coverage due to the high cost of adding additional cameras, and existing solutions do not effectively utilize on-demand cameras made available by third parties.
Innovation Solution
A method for integrating both system and on-demand cameras into a video surveillance system, allowing third-party cameras to be registered, validated, and dynamically activated or deactivated, with distinct icon representation and bulk activation/deactivation capabilities, enabling efficient use of available camera resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If additional video cameras are added to a video surveillance system to improve coverage, then surveillance coverage is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges third-party on-demand cameras with system-owned cameras into a unified surveillance system. The camera server consolidates video streams from both sources, allowing the system to leverage externally available cameras without bearing their full cost, thus expanding coverage while controlling expenses.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera server is designed to handle multiple types of cameras universally - both system-owned cameras and third-party on-demand cameras. This multi-functionality allows the system to integrate diverse camera sources through a single platform, expanding surveillance coverage without requiring separate infrastructure for each camera type.
2Area of stationary object
If third-party on-demand cameras are integrated into the video surveillance system, then surveillance coverage is enhanced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The camera server acts as an intermediary between the video surveillance system and third-party on-demand cameras. It abstracts the complexity of integrating multiple camera sources by providing a standardized interface for receiving, managing, and distributing video streams from both system and third-party cameras, thereby enhancing coverage without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual representation of third-party cameras within the surveillance infrastructure. The camera server receives and processes video streams from external cameras, treating them similarly to internally-owned cameras through standardized protocols, thus integrating external resources without requiring physical integration of complex hardware.
3Productivity
If multiple camera streams are managed simultaneously, then surveillance capability is improved, but server resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The camera server implements partial action by selectively activating and deactivating camera streams based on current surveillance needs. Rather than continuously processing all available camera feeds, the system activates only the necessary subset of cameras for current monitoring requirements, thereby improving surveillance capability while reducing unnecessary server resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic action through dynamic activation and deactivation of camera streams based on changing surveillance requirements. The camera server periodically assesses which cameras are needed and adjusts active streams accordingly, allowing the system to maintain high surveillance capability when needed while conserving server resources during periods of lower demand.
Data Source
AI summary
A video surveillance system includes both system cameras that are commissioned as part of the video surveillance system and registered on-demand cameras that are voluntarily made available to the video surveillance system by third parties for use in conjunction with the video surveillance system. A method includes displaying on a display a representation of available cameras including both system cameras and registered on-demand cameras, wherein the system cameras are represented using a first style of icon and the on-demand cameras are represented using a second style of icon different from the first style of icon. A selection of two or more cameras from the representation of available cameras for display is accepted. Video streams from each of the selected two or more cameras are displayed on the display viewable by an operator of the video surveillance system.