The cWatchTheHamster

..software project presents a very efficient client-/server backend to stream images from any webcam connected to a linux pc to nearly every kind of client. The server-backend uses v4l4j, client- and server-backend are completely written in java. There is a swing frontend using the client (like hosted in this project) and a beautiful android client (+widget) available in the android market.

Finally in the market!!! → marketlink

Server-Features

• Stream images in different FPS to many clients
• Using JPEG encoding
• Every client sets its own FPS, the server captures the images in the highest one and sends them to the clients in their individual requested rate
• RESOURCE SAVING: The server disables the unused webcam completely → NO client connected, NO power wasted
• Runs on every linux system (Testsystem is a armv7 board running ubuntu → pandaboard)
• Connects up to 256 usb webcams, no limit in clients
• The clients can switch the device WHILE watching!
• The capturing resolution is also set by the client, the first client connected to a device sets the initial resolution
• Multithreaded
• Client timeout
• Server configuration done by configuration file
• Multiple useraccounts supported
• Blacklisting: After a configureable number of failed login attemps the clients ip is blacklisted until the server is restarted

Client-Features

• Save connection to the server
• Very less ressources needed, depending on requested fps
• Closes reliable if the connection is closed / broken

cHamster-Authentication (cHA)

• Secure authentication system used by the cWatchTheHamster-Project
• Multiple MD5-Hashing included
• Fast + reliable
• Multi-User-Support, used by the server

Swing-Client-Features

• Runs with open-jdk on every os
• widget mode with 1 FPS: Click into the displayed image rezises the window, sets it to the upper layer and removes the window decoration, on a intel atom this mode uses <3% CPU
• instantly change FPS and the device

Android-Client-Features

• Same (!) client-backend for swing / PC and android
• KISS
• Swipe to change device
• WIDGET: Display freqently images on your homescreens, choose you webcam
• Low resolution supported
• Even running on HTC Wildfire
• Best solution seen right now
• Interested? Take a look in the android market :)

Upcomming-Features

• Windows support for the server-backend
• Server creates one picture containing every device and streams this as a preview to the clients
• Statistics for the client backend (AVG FPS, transfered bytes.. etc)

• What is this coding power done for?!?

Easy answer: To watch the hamster of my girlfriend in MY (!) home..

• What the hell should I need this for???

Starring: Hugo the hamster