Bluecherry releases a Linux MPEG-4 compression card

OPEN SAUCE security surveillance vendor Bluecherry says it has released the software driver for version 2 of its Linux based hardware compression card.

According to the outfit's blog, this is a complete rewrite of its digital video recorder (DVR) software and is written from scratch. The technology involved is based on the Linux kernel's API for video (Video4Linux) and audio (ALSA).

"This effectively puts Bluecherry as the first company to produce a multi-input MPEG-4 hardware compression GPL driver written around the Linux kernel's API," the outfit claims. The driver was originally intended for Bluecherry's surveillance software but the outfit thinks other open source applications might make use of it.

This driver will load up to 16 MPEG-4 and JPEG encoders, 16 audio (ALSA) devices, along with a uncompressed YUV display port. This display port allows you to change the composite video output, for example you can have a quad view of attached cameras. This means that users don't need an external video quad or mulitplexer to combine separate cameras into one video output.

However the driver is really meant for those with a bit of technical knowledge in using the Video4Linux and ALSA APIs. So far the software only applies to MPEG-4 cards. Support for a separate line of H.264 cards will probably be out next month. µ