DISTRIBUTING NETWORK CAMERA SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SAME

• US 20140375818A1
• Filed: 11/14/2013
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Lee, Seung-Woo, Lee, Bhum Cheol, Park, Young Ho, Lee, Jung Hee, Choi, Kang Il, Lee, Sang-Min
• Application Number:
  US14/080,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20140375818A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/159
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2662 Controlling the complexity of the video stream, e.g. by scaling the resolution or bitrate of the video stream based on the client capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/647 Control signaling between network components and server or clients; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients, e.g. controlling the quality of the video stream, by dropping packets, protecting content from unauthorised alteration within the network, monitoring of network load, bridging between two different networks, e.g. between IP and wireless real-time session protocols H04L65/1101
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A distributed network camera system includes a network camera configured to be connected to a network; and a distributed media server configured to process video data provided by the network camera in a network node which is located close to the network camera. Further, the distributed network camera system includes a centralized management server configured to be connected to the network and manage the connection establishment between the distributed media server and the network camera and the operation state of the distributed media server.

Claims

1. A distributed network camera system comprising:

a network camera configured to be connected to a network;

a distributed media server configured to process video data provided by the network camera in a network node which is located close to the network camera; and

a centralized management server configured to be connected to the network and manage the connection establishment between the distributed media server and the network camera and the operation state of the distributed media server.

2. The distributed network camera system of claim 1, wherein the distributed media server is configured to:

process and store the video data input from the network camera; and

upon a receipt of a request of the video data from a user terminal connected to the network, transmit the video data to the user terminal through a network node to which the user terminal is connected.

3. The distributed network camera system of claim 2, wherein the distributed media server is configured to:

when the user terminal makes a request for the video data, check the location where the user terminal is connected to the network;

when it is checked that the user terminal is connected to a network node that is located close to the distributed media server, transmit the video data with high quality; and

when it is checked that the user terminal is not connected to a network node that is located close to the distributed media server, transmit the video data with low quality.

4. The distributed network camera system of claim 1, wherein the distributed media server is configured to:

when there is a functional disorder of the distributed media server, deliver its own operational information to another distributed media server connected to a neighboring network node that serves as a virtualized management server so that the another distributed media server can perform the processing of the video data from the network camera.

5. The distributed network camera system of claim 4, wherein the operational information comprises a resource configuration, a network connection state, or stored video data information for the distributed media server having the functional disorder.

6. The distributed network camera system of claim 1, wherein the distributed media server comprises a media storage device that stores the video data.

7. The distributed network camera system of claim 1, wherein the distributed media server is located in association with the network node, which is located close to the network camera, on the network in a distributed manner.

8. The distributed network camera system of claim 1, wherein the video data comprises high quality video data or video/audio stream data.

9. The distributed network camera system of claim 8, wherein the distributed media server is configured to process the video/audio stream data on a stream basis through data virtualization.

10. The distributed network camera system of claim 1, wherein the network node comprises a switch or a router disposed between the distributed media server and the network camera.

11. The distributed network camera system of claim 2, wherein the user terminal has a data communicating capability with the distributed media server through the network connection.

12. The distributed network camera system of claim 11, wherein the user terminal device comprises a personal computer (PC), a notebook computer, a tablet PC, a PDA, or a smart phone.

13. A method for operating a distributed network camera system, the method comprising:

receiving, at a distributed media server, video data supplied from a network camera connected to a network, wherein the distributed media server is connected to a network node that is located close to the network camera;

processing, at a distributed media server, the video data to store the processed video data;

receiving a request of the video data from a user terminal through the network; and

transmitting, at a distributed media server, the video data to the user terminal device.

14. The distributed network camera system of claim 13, wherein said transmitting the video data comprises:

when the user terminal makes a request for the video data, checking the location where the user terminal is connected to the network;

when it is checked that the user terminal is connected to a network node that is situated close to the distributed media server, transmitting the video data with high quality; and

when it is checked that the user terminal is not connected to a network node that is situated close to the distributed media server, transmitting the video data with low quality.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said processing the video data to store the processed video data comprises processing the video/audio stream data on a stream basis through data virtualization.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the distributed media server is configured to:

when there is a functional disorder, delivering its own operational information to another distributed media server connected to a neighboring network node that serves as a virtualized management server so that the another distributed media server can perform the processing of the video data from the network camera.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the operational information comprises a resource configuration, a network connection state, or stored video data information for the distributed media server having the functional disorder.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the distributed media server is located in association with the network node, which is located close to the network camera, on the network in a distributed manner.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the video data comprises high quality video data or video/audio stream data.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the network node comprises a switch or a router disposed between the distributed media server and the network camera.