Camera system

摘要

Each of multiple cameras encodes and transmits a video signal captured, the encoding being performed with one of multiple variable bit rate encoding schemes each of which has a different average bit rate. A receiving device periodically measures the total bandwidth of the video signals received from the multiple cameras, and when the total bandwidth exceeds a first threshold value the receiving device switches the encoding scheme used by the cameras to a scheme having a lower average bit rate. In addition, when the total bandwidth falls below a second threshold value that is equal to or less than the first threshold value, the receiving device switches the encoding scheme used by the cameras to a scheme having a higher average bit rate.

主权项

1. A camera system comprising:
a plurality of cameras each of which encodes video signals captured and sends encoded video signals, the encoding being performed with one of a plurality of variable bit rate encoding schemes whose average bit rates are different from one another; and a receiving device connected to the plurality of cameras via a network, the receiving device comprising:
a measuring unit which periodically measures a total bandwidth of the video signals received from the plurality of cameras via the network; anda control unit which, if the measured total bandwidth of the video signals is above a first threshold value, switches from a variable bit rate encoding scheme used for the individual cameras to another one having a lower average bit rate, and which, if the measured total bandwidth of the video signals is below a second threshold value that is equal to or less than the first threshold value, switches from the variable bit rate encoding scheme used for the individual cameras to another one having a higher average bit rate.