Open Source Solutions for Live Video Distribution? 33
"The video encoders would have to be deployed in the field (protected cabinets, but still subject to tempreature extremes), while the decoders would all be indoors. The decoders would also have to support rapid (sub-second) switching between video streams. We would require full remote management of both encoders and decoders. I know I can use something like vlc (VideoLAN client) just to read the video streams coming from a VBrick encoder (I have that working on our demo units). However, I'm not sure I'm totally comfortable with the cost of the propsed solutions, especially when it's my tax dollars (in part at least) that are paying for it.
Video distribution would have to be on-demand viewing of any encoded video stream, by any authorized party. The control center has a large (14 screen) video wall that, ideally, should be able to display any video in any of the 14 quadrants, or to show video spread over multiple quadrants.
I'm perfectly happy to do the research (and I've started doing some), but I'm looking for tips or ideas. I'm not an expert when it comes to video solutions on open source operating systems."
Don't help this guy! (Score:1, Funny)
How expensive? (Score:2)
If you have space to put a PC with USB ports in a wiring closet, you might be able to get away with a cheap video encoder, like the one X10 [x10.com] sells, for $70 apiece. There is one problem with that sort of solution, however; I don't know whether or how well one can connect multiple encoders to a single PC. That would bring your expense back up.
Aint this a hardware problem? (Score:1)
Sure theres open source Specs, Designs and/or VHDL for stuff (eg Grapics cards)
But you seem to be looking for a hardware solution.
My only thought is runing some ogg tarkis encoder on an embedded linux board
Re:Aint this a hardware problem? (Score:2)
Re:Aint this a hardware problem? (Score:2)
There's several open source cores for FPGA's, and an ARM based single board computer [tudelft.nl].
Dave
Re:Aint this a hardware problem? (Score:1)
1. Replace the encoders with something less expensive / less proprietary than a VBrick encoder, and/or
2. Replace the deocders with something less expensive / less proprietary than a VBrick decoder?
That's all I'm really asking. If we could cut the price to $3K per camera, the savings will still be huge. If we could cut it even more, the savings are even more...
QuickTime (Score:5, Informative)
QuickTime Streaming Server is available as an Open Source solution. From Apple's website:
"Open Source Versatility
While QuickTime Streaming Server is designed for Mac OS X Server, it's also available as an open source server called Darwin Streaming Server. Versions are available for Linux, Solaris and Windows NT/2000. And because it's an open source technology, Darwin Streaming Server can be ported to other platforms by modifying a few platform-specific source files."
That should help at least with your software needs.
Re:QuickTime (Score:1)
Re:QuickTime (Score:1)
The Streaming Server is free, however the Quicktime Encoder isn't.
That's an interesting distinction, of which I was not aware. Care to elaborate? You have apparently researched the solution.
Re:QuickTime (Score:1)
Encoder --> Server --> Client 1
|
--> Client 2
The streaming server is basically a tool to rebroadcast what it recieves from the Encoder. It doesn't have any way of connecting to any video hardware, a separate machine has to do that or a separate program is more accurate. The same machine can technically do it, but there is no encoder available for Linux.
Re:QuickTime (Score:4, Informative)
Re:QuickTime (Score:2)
I will say I compiled the DSS and MPEG4IP stuff, and it is hella cool, if only because the only viable option I had for realtime streaming before was expensive hardware (VBrick) or Windows Media Services.
noncommercial (Score:2)
Re:noncommercial (Score:1)
Re:QuickTime (Score:1)
PCs running linux (Score:2, Informative)
While the temp extremes your talking about are real the problem is rather minor. In this case the older the hardware the better. Run the whole thing off a CDROM and a small harddrive.
More heat equals less wetness. Here PVC pipes are your bestest friends. Run the heated air from the CPU and drive area out to heat up the area above the Box.
Keep a hole in the joints of the pipes to drain stray water. just keep a $5 keyboard hooked up to it and some temp sensors and your done. I have done this sort of thing for other people.
Worked fine for a trafficCam for a local website. Sounds like you have more resources for this.
But if you have to spend more then $100 a unit your thinking right.
Re:PCs running linux (Score:1)
Re:PCs running linux (Score:2, Informative)
An etherboot-enabled NIC attached to an old P2 system (or K6/2 - those are pretty nice, and the K6/3 or a lowend P3 would have no problems. No athlons for heat concerns!), and a proper video capture card (BT848 or BT868 are nice'n'cheap, but you could go for one with onboard MPEG encoding and use a less-powerful machine) with good Linux support should do wonders.
For powering concerns, if there will be any: Don't bother with a UPS for every machine. Just use ATX motherboards that are Wake-on-LAN compliant. When the power comes on, wait for the network harware to start working again, and broadcast the WOL command. If you're still worried about power/environment concerns (odd 150000v spike from lightning, etc), use a good surge suppressor on the network, power, and video lines and keep a good supply of spare parts on hand.
Re:PCs running linux (Score:1)
ffmpeg (Score:2, Informative)
How do we know... (Score:2)
Big Brother is as entitled to open source as anyone, but consider the irony.
Carry on. About these "traffic cameras." Do any need to fly on Predators?
software (Score:2, Informative)
Re:software (Score:1)
Cu30 for GPL (Score:3, Informative)
Its under the GPL and MPL and has (or still is) been supported via open h323 [openh323.org] as an external library and gnome meeting should work. (I havn't confirmed either)
Qvix Technologies [qvix.biz] has a propritary version of the same codec, only much more refined. (I used to work for them.)
Codecs (Score:1)
Alternately, you could run Quicktime Streaming Server (which is open-source) and Quicktime Pro (which isn't), using Sorenson or MPEG4. However, you wouldn't get realtime encoding on anything other than a newer mac, so that could get expensive.
Better solutions available (Score:2)
The Video Server [cdw.com] route is a lot more expensive ($800 per camera) but works with existing video cameras. I doubt that would save you any money, since plain NTSC video cameras are not very expensive.
Ask FLDOT (Score:2)
Now why can't I get 1000BaseSX to my house? =(
Re:Ask FLDOT (Score:2)
I didnt mention anything about security concerns. The FLDOT's network is all over private leased lines, so security isn't too much of an issue. From the poles it goes straight back to their datacenter and that is where they focus on security.
Re:Ask FLDOT (Score:1)
better question (Score:2)