[libcamera-devel] [PATCH v2 3/4] libcamera: camera: add state machine to control access from applications

Niklas Söderlund niklas.soderlund at ragnatech.se
Thu Feb 28 17:27:07 CET 2019


Hi Kieran,

Thanks for your feedback.

On 2019-02-28 13:21:02 +0000, Kieran Bingham wrote:
> Hi Niklas,
> 
> A few quick comments, not necessarily a full review - I havent' been
> through it all but was skim-reading.
> 
> 
> On 28/02/2019 02:16, Niklas Söderlund wrote:
> > There is a need to better control the order of operations an application
> > performs on a camera for it to function correctly. Add a basic state
> > machine to ensure applications perform operations on the camera in good
> > order.
> > 
> > Internal to the Camera states are added; Available, Acquired,
> > Configured, Prepared and Running. Each state represents a higher state
> > of configuration of the camera ultimately leading to the highest state
> > where the camera is capturing frames. Each state supports a subset of
> > operations the application may perform.
> > 
> > Signed-off-by: Niklas Söderlund <niklas.soderlund at ragnatech.se>
> > ---
> >  include/libcamera/camera.h |  18 ++-
> >  src/libcamera/camera.cpp   | 230 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-------
> >  2 files changed, 203 insertions(+), 45 deletions(-)
> > 
> > diff --git a/include/libcamera/camera.h b/include/libcamera/camera.h
> > index 9c8ae01ed5c607f1..e5212cf05d221279 100644
> > --- a/include/libcamera/camera.h
> > +++ b/include/libcamera/camera.h
> > @@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ public:
> >  	Signal<Camera *> disconnected;
> >  
> >  	int acquire();
> > -	void release();
> > +	int release();
> >  
> >  	const std::set<Stream *> &streams() const;
> >  	std::map<Stream *, StreamConfiguration>
> > @@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ public:
> >  	int configureStreams(std::map<Stream *, StreamConfiguration> &config);
> >  
> >  	int allocateBuffers();
> > -	void freeBuffers();
> > +	int freeBuffers();
> >  
> >  	Request *createRequest();
> >  	int queueRequest(Request *request);
> > @@ -56,20 +56,30 @@ public:
> >  	int stop();
> >  
> >  private:
> > +	enum State {
> > +		CameraAvailable,
> > +		CameraAcquired,
> > +		CameraConfigured,
> > +		CameraPrepared,
> > +		CameraRunning,
> 
> Do these need to be prefixed with Camera?
> 
> The enum is already scoped to the Camera class so the common prefix
> feels a bit redundant?

I added the prefixes in v2 after a comment from Laurent that they where 
very generic and might conflict with applications. As they are only used 
internally in the camera object I do not feel strongly one way or the 
other.

> 
> 
> > +	};
> > +
> >  	Camera(PipelineHandler *pipe, const std::string &name);
> >  	~Camera();
> >  
> > +	bool stateBetween(State low, State high) const;
> > +	bool stateIs(State state) const;
> > +
> >  	friend class PipelineHandler;
> >  	void disconnect();
> > -	int exclusiveAccess();
> >  
> >  	std::shared_ptr<PipelineHandler> pipe_;
> >  	std::string name_;
> >  	std::set<Stream *> streams_;
> >  	std::set<Stream *> activeStreams_;
> >  
> > -	bool acquired_;
> >  	bool disconnected_;
> > +	State state_;
> >  };
> >  
> >  } /* namespace libcamera */
> > diff --git a/src/libcamera/camera.cpp b/src/libcamera/camera.cpp
> > index 84b97b5c2ce94ecf..4f0833300b9b7ffc 100644
> > --- a/src/libcamera/camera.cpp
> > +++ b/src/libcamera/camera.cpp
> > @@ -52,6 +52,78 @@ LOG_DECLARE_CATEGORY(Camera)
> >   * created with the create() function which returns a shared pointer. The
> >   * Camera constructors and destructor are private, to prevent instances from
> >   * being constructed and destroyed manually.
> > + *
> > + * \section camera_operation Operating the camera
> > + *
> > + * An application needs to preform a sequence of operations on a camera before
> > + * it is ready to process requests. The camera needs to be acquired, configured
> > + * and resources allocated or import to prepare it for start. Once started the
> > + * camera can process requests until it's stopped. When an application is done
> > + * with a camera all resources allocated to process requests needs to be freed
> > + * and the camera released.
> > + *
> > + * An application may start and stop a camera multiple times as long as it's
> > + * not released. The camera may also be reconfigured provided that all
> > + * resources allocated are freed prior to the reconfiguration.
> > + *
> > + * \subsection Camera States
> > + *
> > + * To help manage the sequence of operation need to control the camera a set
> > + * of states are defined. Each state describes which operations may be preformed
> > + * on the camera.
> > + *
> > + * \dot
> > + * digraph camera_state_machine {
> > + *   node [shape = doublecircle ]; Available;
> 
> Out of interest, why do you double circle this state? Because it's the
> initial state or such?

Yes I wanted to somehow highlight the default state. I'm open to change 
or remove the double circle.

> 
> > + *   node [shape = circle ]; Acquired;
> > + *   node [shape = circle ]; Configured;
> > + *   node [shape = circle ]; Prepared;
> > + *   node [shape = circle ]; Running;
> > + *
> > + *   Available -> Available [label = "release(), streams(), streamConfiguration()"];
> > + *   Available -> Acquired [label = "acquire()"];
> > + *
> > + *   Acquired -> Available [label = "release()"];
> > + *   Acquired -> Acquired [label = "streams(), streamConfiguration()"];
> > + *   Acquired -> Configured [label = "configureStreams()"];
> > + *
> > + *   Configured -> Available [label = "release()"];
> > + *   Configured -> Configured [label = "streams(), streamConfiguration(), configureStreams()"];
> > + *   Configured -> Prepared [label = "allocateBuffers()"];
> > + *
> > + *   Prepared -> Configured [label = "freeBuffers()"];
> > + *   Prepared -> Prepared [label = "streams(), streamConfiguration(), createRequest()"];
> > + *   Prepared -> Running [label = "start()"];
> > + *
> > + *   Running -> Prepared [label = "stop()"];
> > + *   Running -> Running [label = "streams(), streamConfiguration(), createRequest(), queueRequest()"];
> > + * }
> > + * \enddot
> > + *
> > + * \subsubsection Available
> > + * The base state of a camera, an application can inspect the properties of the
> > + * camera to determine if it wishes to use it. If an application wishes to use
> > + * a camera it should acquire it to proceed to the acquired state.
> > + *
> > + * \subsubsection Acquired
> > + * In the acquired state an application have exclusive access to the camera and
> > + * may modify the camera's parameters to configure it and proceed to the
> > + * configured state.
> > + *
> > + * \subsubsection Configured
> > + * The camera is configured and ready for the application to prepare it with
> > + * resources. The camera may be reconfigured multiple times until resources
> > + * are provided and the state progressed to provided.
> > + *
> > + * \subsubsection Prepared
> > + * Camera have been configured and provided with resource and is ready to be
> > + * started. The application may free the camera's resources to get back to the
> > + * configured state or start it to progress to the running state.
> > + *
> > + * \subsubsection Running
> > + * The camera is running and ready to process requests queued by the
> > + * application. The camera remains in this state until it's stopped and moved
> > + * to the prepared state.
> >   */
> >  
> >  /**
> > @@ -116,17 +188,42 @@ const std::string &Camera::name() const
> >   */
> >  
> >  Camera::Camera(PipelineHandler *pipe, const std::string &name)
> > -	: pipe_(pipe->shared_from_this()), name_(name), acquired_(false),
> > -	  disconnected_(false)
> > +	: pipe_(pipe->shared_from_this()), name_(name), disconnected_(false),
> > +	  state_(CameraAvailable)
> >  {
> >  }
> >  
> >  Camera::~Camera()
> >  {
> > -	if (acquired_)
> > +	if (!stateIs(CameraAvailable))
> >  		LOG(Camera, Error) << "Removing camera while still in use";
> >  }
> >  
> > +bool Camera::stateBetween(State low, State high) const
> > +{
> > +	static const std::string stateNames[] = {
> > +		"Available",
> > +		"Acquired",
> > +		"Configured",
> > +		"Prepared",
> > +		"Running",
> > +	};
> 
> Should this be moved nearer to the enum so that it can be easily updated
> if the states ever change? Perhaps not a big deal.

The enum is defined in the header file and I don't think this would fit 
well in the header file. In v1 I had two functions checking states and 
then this was a global lookup table which I thought was kind of ugly. So 
in v2 where I opted to only have one function actually checking state I 
made ut a static local variable.

> 
> 
> > +
> > +	if (state_ >= low && state_ <= high)
> > +		return true;
> > +
> > +	LOG(Camera, Debug) << "Camera in " << stateNames[state_]
> > +			   << " state trying operation requiring state between "
> > +			   << stateNames[low] << " and " << stateNames[high];
> > +
> > +	return false;
> > +}
> 
> I wondered if any calls would be available in discontinuous states,
> (like Configured and Running, but not prepared) but I can't imaging any
> such use case - so I like this 'stateBetween' concept.

Me neither :-) If this changes we can modify this later easily as it 
should only be used inside the camera object and not visible to the 
application.

> 
> > +
> > +bool Camera::stateIs(State state) const
> > +{
> > +	return stateBetween(state, state);
> 
> I suspect this may as well be it's own implementation.
> 
> If the state is correct, then it has to do two comparisons instead of
> one to validate that, and if it's incorrect - then the LOG() message
> will print saying it requires the state between RUNNING and RUNNING or
> such ... which also seems a bit wierd.
> 
> *if* you choose to move stateNames out of stateBetween, a simple
> implementation here would be clearer I think.

I had this in v1 but though it was ugly, I think this is a bit of a test 
issue, I will yield to popular demand. If someone else agrees with you I 
will turn this into its own implementation similar to v1.

> 
> > +}
> > +
> >  /**
> >   * \brief Notify camera disconnection
> >   *
> > @@ -140,6 +237,17 @@ void Camera::disconnect()
> >  {
> >  	LOG(Camera, Debug) << "Disconnecting camera " << name_;
> >  
> > +	/*
> > +	 * If the camera was running when the hardware was removed force the
> > +	 * state to prepared to allow applications to call freeBuffers() and
> > +	 * release() before deleting the camera.
> > +	 *
> > +	 * \todo: Update comment when importing buffers as well as allocating
> > +	 * them are supported.
> > +	 */
> > +	if (state_ == CameraRunning)
> > +		state_ = CameraPrepared;
> > +
> >  	disconnected_ = true;
> >  	disconnected.emit(this);
> >  }
> > @@ -158,13 +266,19 @@ void Camera::disconnect()
> >   * \todo Implement exclusive access across processes.
> >   *
> >   * \return 0 on success or a negative error code otherwise
> > + * \retval -ENODEV The camera is no longer connected to the hardware
> > + * \retval -EBUSY The camera is not free and can't be acquired by the caller
> >   */
> >  int Camera::acquire()
> >  {
> > -	if (acquired_)
> > +	if (disconnected_)
> > +		return -ENODEV;
> > +
> > +	if (!stateIs(CameraAvailable))
> >  		return -EBUSY;
> >  
> > -	acquired_ = true;
> > +	state_ = CameraAcquired;
> > +
> >  	return 0;
> >  }
> >  
> > @@ -173,10 +287,18 @@ int Camera::acquire()
> >   *
> >   * Releasing the camera device allows other users to acquire exclusive access
> >   * with the acquire() function.
> > + *
> > + * \return 0 on success or a negative error code otherwise
> > + * \retval -EBUSY The camera is running and can't be released
> 
> Perhaps we should add the state restrictions to the function API
> documentation?
> 
> (That comment applies to all functions in Camera of course)

I don't like this very much, that is why I tried to describe all of this 
in the class documentation. The idea was to collect all state machine 
information in one place and document the functions on there own. I fear 
adding this information in the class documentation and in the function 
documentation would just be copying the same sentences around adding 
little value. I'm open to discuss this however.

> 
> 
> >   */
> > -void Camera::release()
> > +int Camera::release()
> >  {
> > -	acquired_ = false;
> > +	if (!stateBetween(CameraAvailable, CameraConfigured))
> > +		return -EBUSY;
> > +
> > +	state_ = CameraAvailable;
> > +
> > +	return 0;
> >  }
> >  
> >  /**
> > @@ -236,17 +358,19 @@ Camera::streamConfiguration(std::set<Stream *> &streams)
> >   * to calling this function, otherwise an -EACCES error will be returned.
> >   *
> >   * \return 0 on success or a negative error code otherwise
> > - * \retval -ENODEV The camera is not connected to any hardware
> > - * \retval -EACCES The user has not acquired exclusive access to the camera
> > + * \retval -ENODEV The camera is no longer connected to the hardware
> > + * \retval -EACCES The camera is not in a state where it can be configured
> >   * \retval -EINVAL The configuration is not valid
> >   */
> >  int Camera::configureStreams(std::map<Stream *, StreamConfiguration> &config)
> >  {
> >  	int ret;
> >  
> > -	ret = exclusiveAccess();
> > -	if (ret)
> > -		return ret;
> > +	if (disconnected_)
> > +		return -ENODEV;
> > +
> > +	if (!stateBetween(CameraAvailable, CameraConfigured))
> > +		return -EACCES;
> >  
> >  	if (!config.size()) {
> >  		LOG(Camera, Error)
> > @@ -273,20 +397,25 @@ int Camera::configureStreams(std::map<Stream *, StreamConfiguration> &config)
> >  		stream->bufferPool().createBuffers(cfg.bufferCount);
> >  	}
> >  
> > +	state_ = CameraConfigured;
> > +
> >  	return 0;
> >  }
> >  
> >  /**
> >   * \brief Allocate buffers for all configured streams
> >   * \return 0 on success or a negative error code otherwise
> > + * \retval -ENODEV The camera is no longer connected to the hardware
> > + * \retval -EACCES The camera is not in a state where buffers can be allocated
> > + * \retval -EINVAL The configuration is not valid
> >   */
> >  int Camera::allocateBuffers()
> >  {
> > -	int ret;
> > +	if (disconnected_)
> > +		return -ENODEV;
> >  
> > -	ret = exclusiveAccess();
> > -	if (ret)
> > -		return ret;
> > +	if (!stateIs(CameraConfigured))
> > +		return -EACCES;
> >  
> >  	if (activeStreams_.empty()) {
> >  		LOG(Camera, Error)
> > @@ -295,7 +424,7 @@ int Camera::allocateBuffers()
> >  	}
> >  
> >  	for (Stream *stream : activeStreams_) {
> > -		ret = pipe_->allocateBuffers(this, stream);
> > +		int ret = pipe_->allocateBuffers(this, stream);
> >  		if (ret) {
> >  			LOG(Camera, Error) << "Failed to allocate buffers";
> >  			freeBuffers();
> > @@ -303,14 +432,22 @@ int Camera::allocateBuffers()
> >  		}
> >  	}
> >  
> > +	state_ = CameraPrepared;
> 
> And a function which causes a state transition (if it succeeds) should
> also document that in it's function documentation I think.

Same comment as above.

> 
> 
> > +
> >  	return 0;
> >  }
> >  
> >  /**
> >   * \brief Release all buffers from allocated pools in each stream
> > + *
> > + * \return 0 on success or a negative error code otherwise
> > + * \retval -EACCES The camera is not in a state where buffers can be freed
> >   */
> > -void Camera::freeBuffers()
> > +int Camera::freeBuffers()
> >  {
> > +	if (!stateIs(CameraPrepared))
> > +		return -EACCES;
> > +
> >  	for (Stream *stream : activeStreams_) {
> >  		if (!stream->bufferPool().count())
> >  			continue;
> > @@ -318,6 +455,10 @@ void Camera::freeBuffers()
> >  		pipe_->freeBuffers(this, stream);
> >  		stream->bufferPool().destroyBuffers();
> >  	}
> > +
> > +	state_ = CameraConfigured;
> > +
> > +	return 0;
> >  }
> >  
> >  /**
> > @@ -333,7 +474,7 @@ void Camera::freeBuffers()
> >   */
> >  Request *Camera::createRequest()
> >  {
> > -	if (exclusiveAccess())
> > +	if (disconnected_ || !stateBetween(CameraPrepared, CameraRunning))>  		return nullptr;
> >  
> >  	return new Request(this);
> > @@ -351,16 +492,18 @@ Request *Camera::createRequest()
> >   * automatically after it completes.
> >   *
> >   * \return 0 on success or a negative error code otherwise
> > + * \retval -ENODEV The camera is no longer connected to the hardware
> > + * \retval -EACCES The camera is not running so requests can't be queued
> >   */
> >  int Camera::queueRequest(Request *request)
> >  {
> > -	int ret;
> > +	if (disconnected_)
> > +		return -ENODEV;
> >  
> > -	ret = exclusiveAccess();
> > -	if (ret)
> > -		return ret;
> > +	if (!stateIs(CameraRunning))
> > +		return -EACCES;
> >  
> > -	ret = request->prepare();
> > +	int ret = request->prepare();
> >  	if (ret) {
> >  		LOG(Camera, Error) << "Failed to prepare request";
> >  		return ret;
> > @@ -377,16 +520,26 @@ int Camera::queueRequest(Request *request)
> >   * until the capture session is terminated with \a stop().
> >   *
> >   * \return 0 on success or a negative error code otherwise
> > + * \retval -ENODEV The camera is no longer connected to the hardware
> > + * \retval -EACCES The camera is not in a state where it can be started
> >   */
> >  int Camera::start()
> >  {
> > -	int ret = exclusiveAccess();
> > -	if (ret)
> > -		return ret;
> > +	if (disconnected_)
> > +		return -ENODEV;
> > +
> > +	if (!stateIs(CameraPrepared))
> > +		return -EACCES;
> >  
> >  	LOG(Camera, Debug) << "Starting capture";
> >  
> > -	return pipe_->start(this);
> > +	int ret = pipe_->start(this);
> > +	if (ret)
> > +		return ret;
> > +
> > +	state_ = CameraRunning;
> > +
> > +	return 0;
> >  }
> >  
> >  /**
> > @@ -396,27 +549,22 @@ int Camera::start()
> >   * requests are cancelled and complete synchronously in an error state.
> >   *
> >   * \return 0 on success or a negative error code otherwise
> > + * \retval -ENODEV The camera is no longer connected to the hardware
> > + * \retval -EACCES The camera is not running so can't be stopped
> >   */
> >  int Camera::stop()
> >  {
> > -	int ret = exclusiveAccess();
> > -	if (ret)
> > -		return ret;
> > +	if (disconnected_)
> > +		return -ENODEV;
> > +
> > +	if (!stateIs(CameraRunning))
> > +		return -EACCES;
> >  
> >  	LOG(Camera, Debug) << "Stopping capture";
> >  
> >  	pipe_->stop(this);
> >  
> > -	return 0;
> > -}
> > -
> > -int Camera::exclusiveAccess()
> > -{
> > -	if (disconnected_)
> > -		return -ENODEV;
> > -
> > -	if (!acquired_)
> > -		return -EACCES;
> > +	state_ = CameraPrepared;
> >  
> >  	return 0;
> >  }
> > 
> 
> -- 
> Regards
> --
> Kieran

-- 
Regards,
Niklas Söderlund


More information about the libcamera-devel mailing list