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What is a video channel

A video channel is backed by an imaging pipeline that collects and processes raw video data. The camera may have a number of video channels, and the client requests a stream from a video channel by using the camera option.

When different clients request streams with different options (like resolution or compression), it can affect frame rate and bandwidth. To get the most out of your camera, try to use stream sharing when possible.

To optimize for quality and bandwidth, consider:

Each video channel represents a type of imaging pipeline. See Parameter Image.I#.Type and How to read the type of a video channel. You can enable or disable a video channel by setting Parameter Image.I#.Enabled.

Video channel of Source type​

This is a physical channel of a sensor and displays the full view of the image source in Parameter Image.I#.Source, see the Imaging API. If the type only contains Source, it's a CCD/CMOS image source.

Video channel of Thermal type​

If the type only contains Source,Thermal, it comes from a thermal sensor in the camera, see Thermal imaging and Thermal visual fusion configuration.

Video channel of Radar type​

If the type contains Source,Radar, it comes from a radar sensor in the camera, see Radar and Radar-video fusion.

Video channel of Composite type​

If the type contains Composite, then it is a multi-view channel, such as a quad view, and the Parameter Image.I#.Source contains a matrix describing how video from different sources is arranged. Rows are separated by semicolons, and each row is a comma-separated list of zero-based source identifiers. For example, a quad is described as 0,1;2,3.

Video channel of Viewarea type​

If the type contains Viewarea, it's a cropped part of the full view. You can stream and store view areas instead of the full view to minimize bandwidth and storage needs by, for example, removing the sky. If you enable PTZ for a view area, you can pan, tilt, and zoom within the sensor. Use the View Area API to control the area, and remember to enable the channel, see Parameter Image.I#.Enabled.

Video channel of dewarped views​

A camera with a fisheye lens most often supports dewarped views as different video channels. If the type only contains Other and the parameter Property.Image.Dewarp exists and is yes, it's a dewarped view.

Video channel of a networked radar​

If the type contains Other,Radar, the video channel needs to be paired with a network radar device to work, see Network Radar Pairing.