Camera Streaming System Setup Instructions

Prerequisites

• Python 3.7+
• OpenCV
• gRPC
• NumPy

Installation

1. Install required packages:

pip install opencv-python grpcio grpcio-tools numpy protobuf

2. Generate Python code from the protobuf definitions:

# From the project root directory
python -m grpc_tools.protoc -I. --python_out=. --grpc_python_out=. camera.proto

This will generate two files:

• camera_pb2.py (message classes)
• camera_pb2_grpc.py (service classes)

Running the Server

Start the camera server:

# Basic usage
python camera_server.py

# With custom port and worker threads
python camera_server.py --port 50051 --workers 10

Running the Client

# List available cameras
python camera_client.py --list

# View a single camera (camera 0)
python camera_client.py

# View multiple cameras
python camera_client.py --cameras 0 1 2

# Connect to a different server
python camera_client.py --server 192.168.1.100:50051

System Architecture

The system follows a client-server architecture where:

1. Server manages camera connections and provides:

   • Camera discovery
   • Single frame capture
   • Continuous streaming with error handling

2. Client provides:

   • Connection to the gRPC server
   • Frame buffering for multiple cameras
   • Display capabilities for multiple simultaneous feeds

Performance Considerations

• The server uses thread pools to handle multiple clients
• Frame compression reduces bandwidth requirements
• Buffering on both client and server sides handles network latency
• Error recovery mechanisms for camera disconnections
• Automatic reconnection for failed camera connections

Camera Support

The system supports any camera compatible with OpenCV's VideoCapture:

• USB webcams
• IP cameras via RTSP/HTTP
• Virtual cameras
• Video files (by providing a file path instead of a camera ID)

Extending the System

To add support for more camera features:

1. Update the camera.proto file with new message types and RPC methods
2. Regenerate the Python code using protoc
3. Implement the new methods in the server
4. Update the client to use the new features