Surveillance Cameras System using an Ad Hoc Network

Surveillance Cameras System using an Ad Hoc Network

The Murata Uemura Laboratory at Ryukoku University is researching a surveillance camera system using an ad hoc network.

"Conventionally, data has been managed on a server, but with this system, the idea is that data is shared using only ad hoc network devices. If a server is used, there's the problem of how to manage data if the server goes down. But by managing data using the devices alone, even if one device is absent, its data management can be done by another device. So this eliminates the problem."

This system consists of two kinds of wireless devices: those with a camera, and those without. When a device with a camera takes a picture, the data is sent to a neighboring device as well as being stored on the original device. Because devices may enter or leave the network, the method used to send the data is broadcasting, which doesn't specify the receiving device. In other words, all devices within the signal reception range receive the picture data at the same time. When a neighboring device receives the picture correctly, it sends it on to the next one. This process is repeated to distribute and share the picture among all the devices.

This system is expected to help prevent crime in two ways. Firstly, criminals don't know where they're being photographed from, so they can't find a blind spot. Secondly, even if a criminal breaks one device, the data has already been shared with other devices, so the photographic evidence isn't lost.

"I think this technology could also be used in emergency situations. If antennas go down in a fire or earthquake, the network won't function. But an ad hoc network could be constructed. We think this system could be utilized in that kind of way."