Patent ID: 8199196
Filing Date: 2012-06-12
Classification: G08B,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling video stream quality levels for video streams provided by video camera controllers, comprising: monitoring for an event associated with one of a plurality of video camera controllers providing a plurality of video streams, each of the video streams being provided at least at a first quality level, at least one of the video streams being provided at a second quality level greater than the first quality level; when an event associated with one of the plurality of video camera controllers is detected, determining whether an additional video stream at the second quality level can be supported; in response to a determination that an additional video stream at the second quality level cannot be supported, determining whether to request that the one of the video camera controllers for which the event is detected switch from providing the video stream at the first quality level to providing the video stream at the second quality level; in response to a determination to request that the one of the video camera controllers for which the event is detected switch from providing the video stream at the first quality level to providing the video stream at the second quality level; propagating, toward the one of the video camera controllers for which the event is detected, a control message configured to request the one of the video camera controllers for which the event is detected to switch from providing the video stream at the first quality level to providing the video stream at the second quality level; and selecting one of the video camera controllers providing a video stream at the second quality level, and propagating, toward the selected one of the video camera controllers, a control message configured to request the selected one of the video camera controllers to switch from providing the video stream at the second quality level to providing the video stream at the first quality level.