Video Source Prioritization for Storage Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surveillance systems face data loss due to the limited storage capacity of primary recording servers when the archive server is unavailable for an extended period, leading to potential deletion of previously stored video data or inability to store new data.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a priority management system that allows users to designate the importance of video sources, reducing the storage requirements for less important cameras by adjusting parameters such as frame rate, image resolution, or compression ratio, thereby optimizing storage capacity for more critical cameras during archive server unavailability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the primary recording server stores video data from all cameras, then complete video data is preserved, but storage capacity is quickly exhausted when the archive server is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different storage priorities to different video sources based on their importance. High-priority cameras receive guaranteed storage space and are preserved during storage shortages, while low-priority cameras have their storage reduced or deleted when the primary server reaches capacity. This differential treatment resolves the contradiction by preserving critical video data while managing limited storage resources effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes storage parameters (such as retention period, resolution, or frame rate) for different video sources based on their priority level. High-priority videos maintain original quality and longer retention, while low-priority videos have reduced quality or shorter retention periods. This parameter adjustment allows the system to preserve important data while optimizing storage utilization.
2Quantity of substance
If the primary recording server has larger storage capacity, then more video data can be stored during archive server unavailability, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing hardware storage capacity, the system changes operational parameters by implementing priority-based storage management. The primary recording server maintains its original storage capacity but dynamically adjusts what data to keep based on video source priority. This software-based solution achieves the effect of increased storage capacity without the cost and complexity of hardware expansion.
3Reliability
If video data from all cameras is archived, then complete surveillance coverage is maintained, but storage resources are wasted on less important cameras during archive server unavailability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by applying different storage policies to different video sources based on their priority. High-priority cameras (critical surveillance areas) receive full storage allocation and are guaranteed retention, while low-priority cameras (less critical areas) have reduced storage allocation. This ensures complete surveillance coverage for important areas while optimizing storage resource utilization by not wasting space on less critical video data.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for managing the storage of image data captured by a plurality of image capturing means is provided. The apparatus comprises designation means configured to receive a designation of the importance of at least one of the plurality of image capturing means; first storage means configured to store the captured image data; determining means configured to determine the availability of a second storage means to which image data stored on the first storage means is to be transferred, and to determine the available storage space of the first storage means; image data control means configured to transmit a control command to at least one of the plurality of capturing means and first storage means; and in the case that it is determined that the second storage means is unavailable, and the available storage space of the first storage means is determined to be less than a predetermined threshold, the image data control means is configured to transmit the control command to the at least one of the plurality of image capturing means and the first storage means to control the respective means so as to reduce the amount of captured image data stored on the first storage means in accordance with the designation of the importance of the at least one of the plurality of image capturing means.