Bandwidth and storage space calculator
Camera parameters
Bandwidth and storage space calculator Camera parameters |
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Bandwidth and storage space calculator Camera parameters |
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All fields of the table are shown below.
Red colored parameters are required for calculation.
Green colored parameters are corrective, but influence on the result too.
Purple parameters are intermediate results which can be corrected by user.
Blue parameters are optional. They are useful for reference, filtering and sorting.
Olive parameters are calculation results.
In real projects there is no necessity to use all fields. At various cases different parameter sets are necessary. You can hide unnecessary columns, place the rest columns in required order and save obtained view. After that at any moment you can restore the saved view, by selecting its name in the View list.
To show/hide any particular column:
| • | Click on the black triangle on the top-left corner of the table; |
| • | In the appeared menu choose Visible columns; |
| • | In the appeared list of all columns check or clear name of necessary columns. |
Camera
Scene
Viewing
Recording
Alarm recording
Bandwidth
Storage
Camera
Unique identifier of the row. It can be used for sorting.
Camera name. Optional reference field.
At the foot of the column the number of cameras is indicated.
Camera model name.
If the model name in this field coincides with any model name in any pattern, then this pattern will be assigned to the Pattern field, calculations for this camera will be performed according to this pattern.
Font in the Pattern field will become red and the Pattern field will be locked from changing. To change pattern in locked field, you should change model name in the Model field.
If model name in the Model field doesn't coincide with any of model names in all patterns, then this field is used as a reference field.
In the drop-down list all models in all patterns and models of all cameras in the project are present.
See also: Patterns
Layout on which the camera is placed. Optional reference field.
Group of cameras. Optional reference field. Assign identical groups to cameras connected to the same network equipment or share network segments. You can filter cameras by group to estimate the load of separate network segments or equipment. When importing a VideoCAD9 project with camera groups, group names are transferred to this parameter.
Pattern name. The Frame size of this camera will be calculated according to this pattern.
Calculations are based on practical results of measuring traffic. The results are combined in the calculation patterns, which are editable text files.
Special patterns can be created by skilled users or manufacturers (distributors) of CCTV equipment by practical measurements of traffic for certain equipment, scenes and compression algorithms.
Different cameras in one project can be assigned different patterns. Thus the project can include cameras of different manufacturers with different compression algorithms.
The patterns can include a list of supported camera models.
If the model name in the Model field coincides with any model name in any pattern, then this pattern will be assigned to the Pattern field, calculations for this camera will be performed according to this pattern.
Font in the Pattern field will become red and the Pattern field will be locked from changing. To change pattern in locked field, you should change model name in the Model field.
See also: Patterns
Check this box if the camera is Black-and-White. The calculated frame size will be reduced by a factor specified in the pattern.
Check this box if the camera produces sound traffic. The calculated camera traffic will be increased by a summand specified in the pattern.
In this field you can specify the number of identical cameras described by one row in the table. Calculated traffic and disk space will be multiplied by the number in this field. If null is specified, then this camera will be ignored in the calculation.
At the foot of the column the sum of values in these fields is indicated.
Scene
Attention! Complexity, Activity and Noise of the scene are subjective parameters. At the same time they considerably influence calculation results. In most cases the possible error in estimation of these parameters can be compensated after installation of CCTV system by correcting Compression Level. The image quality will change too. In critical cases it is recommended to choose values of Complexity and Activity with reserve.
Relative complexity of the scene.
The more complex a scene is, the more small details it has, the bigger size has each frame processed by any compression. Exact influence of scene complexity on the result depends on compression features and is determined by factors in the chosen pattern.
Relative activity of the scene.
The more changes occur on a scene in time unit, the bigger traffic is generated by a camera with interframe compression (MPEG4, H.264). Exact influence of scene activity on the result depends on compression features and is determined by factors in the chosen pattern.
Relative noisiness of the image.
Noisiness is increased at low light conditions. Noisiness depends on scene illumination, camera sensitivity, and maximal AGC gain of camera. The noisier the image is the bigger size each frame has. Exact influence of image noisiness on the result depends on compression and camera features. It is determined by factors in the chosen pattern.
Scene name.
Any pattern can contain results of traffic measurements for some averaged scene with correction factors for its complexity and activity, and the results of traffic measurement for real scenes.
In the drop-down list of this field there are scenes, results of measurement for which are present in the chosen pattern. If one of such scenes will be chosen in this field, the field font will become red; calculation will be carried out according to the measured traffic for the chosen scene. In this case Scene Complexity and Activity will be ignored in calculation. If the scene name in this field is absent in the pattern, the field become a reference field and does not influence on the result.
Calculation can be carried out for cameras that generate up to 3 simultaneous streams (Viewing, Recording, Alarm recording) with different resolution, compression, frame rate and recording time.
Viewing traffic has an effect on the bandwidth calculation but has no effect on the storage calculation.
If the Viewing traffic must be taken into account for this camera, check the Viewing>On check box.
Numbers of pixels on horizontal and vertical of viewing stream frames. The more pixels an image contains, the bigger size each frame has. Drop-down list contains numbers of pixels, specified in the chosen pattern. You can enter any values from the keyboard.
Compression type. Drop-down list contains compression types, whose results of testing the chosen pattern have.
Compression level. Drop-down list contains compression levels, whose results of testing the chosen pattern have. Different compression types can have different levels.
In most cases the possible error in estimation of scene activity and complexity can be compensated after installation of CCTV system by correcting the Compression Level. The image quality will change too. In critical cases it is recommended to choose the Compression Level with reserve, close to maximal quality.
Estimated average frame size.
Calculation is carried out on the basis of results of traffic measurement in the pattern in concordance with the chosen compression type and level, number of pixels, color, sound, scene features. The accuracy of calculation result depends on accuracy of pattern data and correctness of scene parameters. Scene parameters are subjective and unpredictable, therefore a considerable error might be.
However in the most of practical cases you can fit real frame size in the calculated value by changing compression level with some change of image quality.
For cameras with rigid requirements of image quality, use high values of scene complexity and activity, a compression with the high quality. It will give big frame size and a reserve.
If more accurate value is known, check the Fix checkbox on the left of the Frame size field then enter known value to the Frame size field.
If the Fix check box is checked, specified frame size value will be used in the subsequent calculation. In this case the font in the Frame size field will become red, fields on the left from the Frame size field will be disabled.
If the Fix checkbox is not checked, the Frame size field indicates intermediate calculation result, protected from editing.
Frame rate, frames per second. The more frame rate, the more the Traffic is.
Calculated traffic of viewing stream. The traffic is equal to the frame size multiply by the frame rate.
For frame-by-frame compression types (Motion JPEG) the frame size does not depend on the frame rate, and the traffic is proportional to the frame rate.
For interframe compression types (MPEG, H.264) the dependence is more complicated. Therefore as a result of changing frame rate, the frame size is recalculated too. The dependence can differ for different compression types and levels. The dependence is defined in the pattern.
If more accurate value is known, check the Fix checkbox on the left of the Traffic field then enter known value to the Traffic field.
If the Fix check box is checked, the specified traffic value will be used in the subsequent calculation. The font in the Traffic field will be red, fields on the left from the Traffic field will be disabled.
If the Fix checkbox is not checked, the Traffic field indicates intermediate calculation result, protected from editing.
At the foot of the column the sum of the viewing traffic values of all visible rows is indicated.
Recording switches on and of according to a timetable. Recording traffic has an effect on the bandwidth calculation as well as on the storage calculation.
If the Recording traffic must be taken into account for this camera, check the Recording>On checkbox.
Numbers of pixels on horizontal and vertical of recording stream frames. The more pixels an image contains, the bigger size each frame has. Drop-down list contains numbers of pixels, specified in the chosen pattern. You can enter any values from the keyboard.
Compression type. Drop-down list contains compression types, whose results of testing the chosen pattern have.
Compression level. Drop-down list contains compression levels, whose results of testing the chosen pattern have. Different compression types can have different levels.
In most cases the possible error in estimation of scene activity and complexity can be compensated after installation of CCTV system by correcting the Compression Level. The image quality will change too. In critical cases it is recommended to choose the Compression Level with reserve, close to maximal quality.
Estimated average frame size.
Calculation is carried out on the basis of results of traffic measurement in the pattern in concordance with the chosen compression type and level, number of pixels, color, sound, scene features. The accuracy of calculation result depends on accuracy of pattern data and correctness of scene parameters. Scene parameters are subjective and unpredictable, therefore a considerable error might be.
However in the most of practical cases you can fit real frame size in the calculated value by changing compression level with some change of image quality.
For cameras with rigid requirements of image quality, use high values of scene complexity and activity, a compression with the high quality. It will give big frame size and a reserve.
If more accurate value is known, check the Fix checkbox on the left of the Frame size field then enter known value to the Frame size field.
If the Fix check box is checked, specified frame size value will be used in the subsequent calculation. In this case the font in the Frame size field will become red, fields on the left from the Frame size field will be disabled.
If the Fix checkbox is not checked, the Frame size field indicates intermediate calculation result, protected from editing.
Frame rate, frames per second. The more frame rate, the more the Traffic is.
Calculated traffic of recording stream. The traffic is equal to the frame size multiply by the frame rate.
For frame-by-frame compression types (Motion JPEG) the frame size does not depend on the frame rate, and the traffic is proportional to the frame rate.
For interframe compression types (MPEG, H.264) the dependence is more complicated. Therefore as a result of changing frame rate, the frame size is recalculated too. The dependence can differ for different compression types and levels. The dependence is defined in the pattern.
If more accurate value is known, check the Fix checkbox on the left of the Traffic field then enter known value to the Traffic field.
If the Fix check box is checked, the specified traffic value will be used in the subsequent calculation. The font in the Traffic field will be red, fields on the left from the Traffic field will be disabled.
If the Fix checkbox is not checked, the Traffic field indicates intermediate calculation result, protected from editing.
At the foot of the column the sum of the viewing traffic values of all visible rows is indicated.
Expected average recording time, hours per day (24h). The parameter is used in calculation of required disk space.
At the foot of the column the average value of the recording time of all visible rows is indicated.
Alarm Recording switches on and of by any events, motion detector, external switch, sensor etc. Alarm Recording traffic has an effect on the bandwidth calculation as well as on the storage calculation.
If the Alarm Recording traffic must be taken into account for this camera, check the Alarm Recording>On checkbox.
Numbers of pixels on horizontal and vertical of alarm recording stream frames. The more pixels an image contains, the bigger size each frame has. Drop-down list contains numbers of pixels, specified in the chosen pattern. You can enter any values from the keyboard.
Alarm recording>Compression>Type
Compression type. Drop-down list contains compression types, whose results of testing the chosen pattern have.
Alarm recording>Compression>Level
Compression level. Drop-down list contains compression levels, whose results of testing the chosen pattern have. Different compression types can have different levels.
In most cases the possible error in estimation of scene activity and complexity can be compensated after installation of CCTV system by correcting the Compression Level. The image quality will change too. In critical cases it is recommended to choose the Compression Level with reserve, close to maximal quality.
Alarm recording>Frame>Size, kbytes
Estimated average frame size.
Calculation is carried out on the basis of results of traffic measurement in the pattern in concordance with the chosen compression type and level, number of pixels, color, sound, scene features. The accuracy of calculation result depends on accuracy of pattern data and correctness of scene parameters. Scene parameters are subjective and unpredictable, therefore a considerable error might be.
However in the most of practical cases you can fit real frame size in the calculated value by changing compression level with some change of image quality.
For cameras with rigid requirements of image quality, use high values of scene complexity and activity, a compression with the high quality. It will give big frame size and a reserve.
If more accurate value is known, check the Fix checkbox on the left of the Frame size field then enter known value to the Frame size field.
If the Fix check box is checked, specified frame size value will be used in the subsequent calculation. In this case the font in the Frame size field will become red, fields on the left from the Frame size field will be disabled.
If the Fix checkbox is not checked, the Frame size field indicates intermediate calculation result, protected from editing.
Alarm recording>Frame>Rate, fps
Frame rate, frames per second. The more frame rate, the more the Traffic is.
Alarm recording>Traffic, kbit/s
Calculated traffic of alarm recording stream. The traffic is equal to the frame size multiply by the frame rate.
For frame-by-frame compression types (Motion JPEG) the frame size does not depend on the frame rate, and the traffic is proportional to the frame rate.
For interframe compression types (MPEG, H.264) the dependence is more complicated. Therefore as a result of changing frame rate, the frame size is recalculated too. The dependence can differ for different compression types and levels. The dependence is defined in the pattern.
If more accurate value is known, check the Fix checkbox on the left of the Traffic field then enter known value to the Traffic field.
If the Fix check box is checked, the specified traffic value will be used in the subsequent calculation. The font in the Traffic field will be red, fields on the left from the Traffic field will be disabled.
If the Fix checkbox is not checked, the Traffic field indicates intermediate calculation result, protected from editing.
At the foot of the column the sum of the viewing traffic values of all visible rows is indicated.
Expected average alarm time, %. The parameter is used in calculation of required disk space.
At the foot of the column the average value of the alarm time of all visible rows is indicated.
Bandwidth
In this section the calculated required bandwidth for all generated streams (Viewing, Recording, Alarm recording) is indicated.
A method of the required bandwidth calculation is determined by the Sum/Max checkbox state.
The Sum/Max checkbox switches the method of Bandwidth calculation.
If the Sum/Max checkbox is checked then the required bandwidth is equal to the sum of traffics of all generated streams (Viewing, Recording, Alarm recording). If the camera generates several independent streams, the Sum/Max checkbox must be checked.
If the Sum/Max checkbox is not checked then the required bandwidth is equal to the maximal value of traffics of all generated streams (Viewing. Recording, Alarm recording). If the camera generates only one stream, which switches quality parameters according to timetable or by events, the Sum/Max checkbox must be not checked.
The Sum/Max checkbox has an effect on the bandwidth calculation but has no effect on the storage calculation. The storage traffic always equals to the sum of traffics of Recording and Alarm recording, taking into account Record time and Alarm %.
The Required bandwidth for all generated streams (Viewing, Recording, Alarm recording).
It is equal to the sum of traffics of all generated streams or to maximal traffic, according to the Sum/Max checkbox state.
If more accurate value is known, check the Fix checkbox on the left of the Bandwidth>Mbit/s field then enter known value to the Bandwidth>Mbit/s field.
If the Fix check box is checked, specified bandwidth value will be used in the subsequent calculation. The font in the Bandwidth>Mbit/s field will be red, fields on the left from the Bandwidth>Mbit/s will be disabled.
At the foot of the column the sum of the required bandwidths of all visible rows is indicated.
You can filter cameras by any field value and obtain the sum of required bandwidths of specified sets of cameras, thus calculate the required bandwidth for separate network segments or the load of specified equipment.
Storage
Storage parameters.
Required storage time for video archive of this camera. It is supposed after that period of time new records will be recorded over oldest records.
Required disk space to provide specified storage time. The disk space is calculated by the formula:
Ds=(Fr*(Tr/24)+Fa*(Ta/100%))*(1/1024)*(1/1024)*(1/8)*60*60*24*Ts
Where:
Ds - disk space, Gigabytes
Fr - traffic of recording stream kbit/s
Tr - expected record time, hours/day
Fa - traffic of alarm recording stream kbit/s
Ta - expected alarm time, %
Ts - storage time, days
You can filter cameras by any field value and obtain the sum of required disk space of specified sets of cameras, thus calculate the load of separate storages.
