USB Virtual Port Segmentation for Bidirectional Camera Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication methods between control devices and camera devices, such as those using the UVC protocol, are limited to unidirectional video transmission and require additional mechanisms for bidirectional data exchange and flexible information transmission.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method that configures UVC ports and virtual network ports on both control devices and camera devices, allowing for the establishment of bidirectional transmission channels through which various types of information, including address information, firmware updates, and AI algorithm libraries, can be transmitted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the UVC protocol is used for communication between control device and camera device, then video data transmission is supported, but bidirectional data transmission capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The USB port functionality is segmented into multiple virtual ports: a first virtual port for UVC protocol-based video transmission and a second virtual port for bidirectional data transmission. This segmentation allows each virtual port to specialize in specific communication protocols, enabling both unidirectional video streaming and bidirectional control commands to coexist without interference
Solution Approach 2:
A single physical USB port is designed to provide multiple functions by creating virtual ports with different protocols. The first virtual port handles UVC video transmission while the second virtual port handles bidirectional control and data exchange, making the USB interface universal for both camera control and video acquisition purposes
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional communication channels are established for bidirectional transmission, then control capability is enhanced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual port technology acts as an intermediary layer between the physical USB hardware and the application layer. The driver creates virtual ports that appear as separate physical interfaces to the operating system, allowing multiple communication protocols to coexist on a single physical connection without requiring complex hardware modifications or multiple physical cables
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple virtual ports are created from a single USB port, then communication flexibility is improved, but driver complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The solution adds a virtualization dimension to the physical USB interface. Instead of creating multiple physical ports in space, the driver creates multiple virtual ports in the software domain, mapping multiple logical interfaces to a single physical connection. This dimensional transformation allows complex communication requirements to be satisfied without increasing physical hardware complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
An information transmission method is provided, including: A control device obtains a second universal serial bus video class UVC port and a second virtual network port based on configuration of a universal serial bus USB port of the control device. The control device determines address information of a camera device, where a first UVC port and a first virtual network port are configured on the camera device, and the first UVC port and the first virtual network port are obtained based on configuration of a USB port of the camera device. The control device sends the address information to the camera device through a UVC channel, where the UVC channel is established based on the first UVC port and the second UVC port. The control device and the camera device establish a bidirectional transmission channel based on the first virtual network port, the second virtual network port, and the address information.