add boost libs

.gitignore

@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 .venv
 .idea
+build

README.md

@@ -3,56 +3,37 @@
 This project is a demo for streaming video output from multiple "client" devices to one "server". This is a basic demo
 of what sauron-cv seeks to accomplish.
 
-## Installation
+## Building
 
-It is strongly recommended that you use a virtual environment. These instructions will assume you are using venv, you
-can substitute this with your preferred environment management. You will need to make sure that the `virtualenv` package
-is installed globally, either via pip or the `python3-virtualenv` package in your system package manager.
+This project uses Meson for build management.
 
-When first cloning this repo, run the following:
+### Install Dependencies
+
+Install the following packages from your distribution package manager:
+- `meson`
+- `opencv`
+- `boost`
+
+A better procedure for this (hopefully involving Meson) will be added / documented at a later date.
+
+### Setup Meson
 
 ```shell
-python -m venv .venv
-source .venv/bin/activate
-pip install -r requirements.txt
+meson setup build
 ```
 
-This will create a virtual environment, enter that virtual environment, and install the required packages.
+*NOTE FOR JETBRAINS / CLION USERS: PLEASE SET YOUR MESON BUILD DIRECTORY TO `build` IN THE IDE SETTINGS UNDER "Build /
+Execution / Deployment" -> "Meson"*
 
-If you start a new shell, you will need to re-enter the virtual environment:
+### Compiling
 
 ```shell
-source .venv/bin/activate
+meson build client # for client only
+meson build server # for server only
 ```
 
 ## Running
-
-### Client
-
-To run the client with a localhost target:
-
 ```shell
-python -m client
+./build/client # for client application
+./build/server # for server application
 ```
-
-To target an external server, provide its IP address using the `-s` flag:
-
-```shell
-python -m client -s [server IP address]
-```
-
-### Server
-
-```shell
-python -m server
-```
-
-### Common Flags
-
-Make sure that these match between your client and server!!
-
-| Short | Long | Description | Default |
-|-------|---|---|---|
-| `-p`  | `--port` | The port for the client / server to communicate on. | `5005` |
-| `-W`  | `--width` | Image width in pixels. | `640` |
-| `-H` | `--height` | Image height in pixels. | `480` |

client.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+#include <opencv2/videoio.hpp>
+#include <cstring>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <netinet/in.h>
+#include <sys/socket.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include "transfer.h"
+
+using namespace std;
+
+int main() {
+    // create video capture
+    cv::VideoCapture cap = cv::VideoCapture(0);
+
+    // create socket
+    int clientSocket = socket(AF_INET, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
+
+    // specifying address
+    sockaddr_in serverAddress;
+    serverAddress.sin_family = AF_INET;
+    serverAddress.sin_port = htons(8080);
+    serverAddress.sin_addr.s_addr = INADDR_ANY;
+
+    cv::Mat image = cv::Mat::zeros(cv::Size(640, 480), CV_8UC3);
+
+    info("Ready to connect.");
+    // sending connection request
+    connect(clientSocket, reinterpret_cast<sockaddr *>(&serverAddress),
+            sizeof(serverAddress));
+
+    info("Connected.");
+    // create buffer for serialization
+    vector<uchar> imgbuf;
+
+    while (true) {
+        cap.read(image);
+        trace("Sending image");
+        sendImage(clientSocket, image, imgbuf);
+    }
+
+    close(clientSocket);
+    return 0;
+}

legacy/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+# Video Streaming Proof of Concept
+
+This project is a demo for streaming video output from multiple "client" devices to one "server". This is a basic demo
+of what sauron-cv seeks to accomplish.
+
+## Installation
+
+It is strongly recommended that you use a virtual environment. These instructions will assume you are using venv, you
+can substitute this with your preferred environment management. You will need to make sure that the `virtualenv` package
+is installed globally, either via pip or the `python3-virtualenv` package in your system package manager.
+
+When first cloning this repo, run the following:
+
+```shell
+python -m venv .venv
+source .venv/bin/activate
+pip install -r requirements.txt
+```
+
+This will create a virtual environment, enter that virtual environment, and install the required packages.
+
+If you start a new shell, you will need to re-enter the virtual environment:
+
+```shell
+source .venv/bin/activate
+```
+
+## Running
+
+### Client
+
+To run the client with a localhost target:
+
+```shell
+python -m client
+```
+
+To target an external server, provide its IP address using the `-s` flag:
+
+```shell
+python -m client -s [server IP address]
+```
+
+### Server
+
+```shell
+python -m server
+```
+
+### Common Flags
+
+Make sure that these match between your client and server!!
+
+| Short | Long | Description | Default |
+|-------|---|---|---|
+| `-p`  | `--port` | The port for the client / server to communicate on. | `5005` |
+| `-W`  | `--width` | Image width in pixels. | `640` |
+| `-H` | `--height` | Image height in pixels. | `480` |

legacy/client.py

@@ -5,37 +5,49 @@ import socket
 import numpy as np
 import uuid
 
-from common import StdPacket, InterlacedPacket, DoublyInterlacedPacket
+from common import StdPacket, InterlacedPacket, DoublyInterlacedPacket, TiledImagePacket
+
 
 def send_packet(sock, packet):
     sock.sendto(packet, (UDP_IP, UDP_PORT))
 
-def breakdown_image_norm(frame):
+def breakdown_image_norm(frame, last_frame):
     (cols, rows, colors) = frame.shape
     # break the array down into 16x16 chunks, then transmit them as UDP packets
     for i in range(0, cols, 16):
         for j in range(0, rows, 16):
             # print("Sending frame segment (%d, %d)", i, j)
-            pkt = StdPacket(uuid, j, i, frame[i:i + 16, j:j + 16])
+            arr = frame[i:i + 16, j:j + 16]
+            last_arr = last_frame[i:i + 16, j:j + 16]
+            # only update if image segments are different
+            if not np.allclose(arr, last_arr):
+                pkt = StdPacket(uuid, j, i, arr)
                 send_packet(sock, pkt.to_bytestr())
 
-def breakdown_image_interlaced(frame):
+def breakdown_image_interlaced(frame, last_frame):
     (cols, rows, colors) = frame.shape
     # break the array into 16x32 chunks. we'll split those further into odd and even rows
     # and send each as UDP packets. this should make packet loss less obvious
     for i in range(0, cols, 32):
         for j in range(0, rows, 16):
             # print("Sending frame segment (%d, %d)", i, j)
-            pkt = InterlacedPacket(uuid, j, i, False, frame[i:i + 32:2, j:j + 16])
+            arr = frame[i:i + 32:2, j:j + 16]
+            last_arr = last_frame[i:i + 32:2, j:j + 16]
+            if not np.allclose(arr, last_arr):
+                pkt = InterlacedPacket(uuid, j, i, False, arr)
                 send_packet(sock, pkt.to_bytestr())
 
     for i in range(0, cols, 32):
         for j in range(0, rows, 16):
             # print("Sending frame segment (%d, %d)", i, j)
-            pkt = InterlacedPacket(uuid, j, i, True, frame[i + 1:i + 32:2, j:j + 16])
+            arr = frame[i + 1:i + 32:2, j:j + 16]
+            last_arr = last_frame[i + 1:i + 32:2, j:j + 16]
+            # only update if image segments are different
+            if not np.allclose(arr, last_arr):
+                pkt = InterlacedPacket(uuid, j, i, True, arr)
                 send_packet(sock, pkt.to_bytestr())
 
-def breakdown_image_dint(frame):
+def breakdown_image_dint(frame, last_frame):
     (cols, rows, colors) = frame.shape
     # break the array into 16x32 chunks. we'll split those further into odd and even rows
     # and send each as UDP packets. this should make packet loss less obvious
@@ -45,7 +57,25 @@ def breakdown_image_dint(frame):
                 # print("Sending frame segment (%d, %d)", i, j)
                 i_even = l % 2 == 0
                 j_even = l >= 2
-                pkt = DoublyInterlacedPacket(uuid, j, i, j_even, i_even, frame[i + i_even:i + 32:2, j + j_even:j + 32:2])
+
+                # breakdown image
+                arr = frame[i + i_even:i + 32:2, j + j_even:j + 32:2]
+                last_arr = last_frame[i + i_even:i + 32:2, j + j_even:j + 32:2]
+                # only update if image segments are different
+                if not np.allclose(arr, last_arr):
+                    pkt = DoublyInterlacedPacket(uuid, j, i, j_even, i_even, arr)
+                    send_packet(sock, pkt.to_bytestr())
+
+def breakdown_image_tiled(frame):
+    (cols, rows, colors) = frame.shape
+    # break the array into 16x32 chunks. we'll split those further into odd and even rows
+    # and send each as UDP packets. this should make packet loss less obvious
+    xslice = cols // 16
+    yslice = rows // 16
+    for i in range(0, xslice):
+        for j in range(0, yslice):
+            # print("Sending frame segment (%d, %d)", i, j)
+            pkt = TiledImagePacket(uuid, j, i, rows, cols, frame[i:cols:xslice, j:rows:yslice])
             send_packet(sock, pkt.to_bytestr())
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
@@ -80,7 +110,11 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
     # create the socket
     sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)
 
+    frame = np.zeros((HEIGHT, WIDTH, 3), dtype=np.uint8)
+    last_frame = np.zeros((HEIGHT, WIDTH, 3), dtype=np.uint8)
+
     while True:
+        last_frame = frame.copy()
         # Capture frame-by-frame
         ret, frame = cap.read()
 
@@ -89,7 +123,7 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
             print("Can't receive frame (stream end?). Exiting ...")
             break
 
-        breakdown_image_dint(frame)
+        breakdown_image_dint(frame, last_frame)
 
     # Release the capture and close all windows
     cap.release()

legacy/common.py

@@ -134,3 +134,38 @@ def from_bytes_dint(b: bytes) -> DoublyInterlacedPacket:
     array = np.frombuffer(b[28:], np.uint8).reshape(16, 16, 3)
 
     return DoublyInterlacedPacket(uuid, x, y, even_x, even_y, array)
+
+class TiledImagePacket(Packet):
+    """Distributed selection from image."""
+    size = 16 + 4 + 4 + 768
+
+    def __init__(self, uuid: UUID, x: int, y: int, width: int, height: int, array: np.ndarray):
+        super().__init__(uuid, x, y, array)
+        self.width = width
+        self.height = height
+        self.xslice = width // 16
+        self.yslice = height // 16
+
+    def to_bytestr(self) -> bytes:
+        bytestr = b""
+        bytestr += self.uuid.bytes
+        bytestr += self.x.to_bytes(length=4, signed=False)
+        bytestr += self.y.to_bytes(length=4, signed=False)
+        bytestr += self.array.tobytes()
+        return bytestr
+
+    def apply(self, image: np.ndarray) -> np.ndarray:
+        x = self.x
+        y = self.y
+        arr = self.array
+        image[y:self.height:self.yslice, x:self.width:self.xslice] = arr
+        return image
+
+def from_bytes_tiled(b: bytes) -> TiledImagePacket:
+    """Convert a byte string obtained via UDP into a packet object."""
+    uuid = UUID(bytes = b[0:16])
+    x = int.from_bytes(b[16:20], signed = False)
+    y = int.from_bytes(b[20:24], signed = False)
+    array = np.frombuffer(b[24:], np.uint8).reshape(16, 16, 3)
+
+    return TiledImagePacket(uuid, x, y, 640, 480, array)

legacy/requirements.txt

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 opencv-python
 numpy
 rich
+asyncudp

legacy/server.py

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import socket
 import numpy as np
 from datetime import datetime
 import asyncio
+import asyncudp
 import argparse
 from rich.console import Console
 
@@ -34,33 +35,6 @@ class Client:
 # Dictionary of client states stored by UUID
 frames: Dict[str, Client] = {}
 
-async def read_packet():
-    """Asynchronous coroutine to read UDP packets from the client(s)."""
-    while True:
-        # we repeat this a ton of times all at once to hopefully capture all of the image data
-        for i in range(0, 1600):
-            try:
-                data, addr = sock.recvfrom(DoublyInterlacedPacket.size)  # packet buffer size based on the packet size
-                # print("received packet from", addr)
-                if data:
-                    pkt = from_bytes_dint(data)
-
-                    uuid = str(pkt.uuid)
-
-                    # if this is a new client, give it a new image
-                    if uuid not in frames.keys():
-                        console.log(f"New client acquired, naming [bold cyan]{uuid}[bold cyan]")
-                        frames[uuid] = Client()
-                        stat.update(f"[bold yellow]{len(frames.keys())}[/bold yellow] clients connected.")
-
-                    frames[uuid].update(pkt)
-
-            except BlockingIOError:
-                pass
-
-        # this is necessary to allow asyncio to swap between reading packets and rendering frames
-        await asyncio.sleep(0.001)
-
 async def show_frames():
     """Asynchronous coroutine to display frames in OpenCV debug windows."""
     while True:
@@ -70,20 +44,43 @@ async def show_frames():
                 console.log(f"Client likely lost connection, dropping [bold red]{id}[/bold red]")
                 cv2.destroyWindow(id)
                 frames.pop(id)
-                stat.update(f"[bold yellow]{len(frames.keys())}[/bold yellow] clients connected.")
             else:
                 # show the latest available frame
                 cv2.imshow(id, frames[id].read())
 
         cv2.waitKey(1)
         # this is necessary to allow asyncio to swap between reading packets and rendering frames
-        await asyncio.sleep(0.01)
+        await asyncio.sleep(0.05)
+
+async def listen(ip: str, port: int):
+    """Asynchronous coroutine to listen for / read client connections."""
+    sock = await asyncudp.create_socket(local_addr=(ip, port))
+
+    console.log("Ready to accept connections.", style="bold green")
+
+    while True:
+        # receive packets
+        data, addr = await sock.recvfrom()
+
+        if data:
+            # convert the byte string into a packet object
+            pkt = from_bytes_dint(data)
+
+            uuid = str(pkt.uuid)
+
+            # if this is a new client, give it a new image
+            if uuid not in frames.keys():
+                console.log(f"New client acquired, naming [bold cyan]{uuid}[bold cyan]")
+                frames[uuid] = Client()
+
+            frames[uuid].update(pkt)
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     # argument parser
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Proof-of-concept server for sauron-cv")
     parser.add_argument("-p", "--port", type=int, default=5005)
-    parser.add_argument("-l", "--listen", type=str, default="")
+    parser.add_argument("-l", "--listen", type=str, default="0.0.0.0")
     parser.add_argument("-W", "--width", type=int, default=640)
     parser.add_argument("-H", "--height", type=int, default=480)
     args = parser.parse_args()
@@ -98,22 +95,12 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     HEIGHT = args.height
     WIDTH = args.width
 
-    # create the UDP socket
-    sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET,  # Internet
-                         socket.SOCK_DGRAM)  # UDP
-    sock.setblocking(False)
-    sock.bind((UDP_IP, UDP_PORT))
-
-    console.log("Ready to accept connections.", style="bold green")
-
-    with console.status("[bold yellow]0[/bold yellow] clients connected.", spinner="pong") as stat:
-
     # create the async event loop
     loop = asyncio.new_event_loop()
     asyncio.set_event_loop(loop)
 
     # create async tasks for reading network packets, displaying windows
-        loop.create_task(read_packet())
+    loop.create_task(listen(UDP_IP, UDP_PORT))
     loop.create_task(show_frames())
     try:
         loop.run_forever()

logging.h

@@ -0,0 +1,178 @@
+#ifndef LOGGING_H
+#define LOGGING_H
+
+#include <iostream>
+#include <iomanip>
+#include <chrono>
+#include <ctime>
+
+// Logging levels
+#define LOG_ERROR 0
+#define LOG_WARN 1
+#define LOG_INFO 2
+#define LOG_DEBUG 3
+#define LOG_TRACE 4
+
+// Set logging arguments
+// TODO: set these by compiler arguments or env vars or something
+#define LOGGING LOG_DEBUG // logging level
+#define LOGGING_COLOR true // enable color
+#define LOGGING_TIMESTAMP true // enable timestamp
+#define LOGGING_TIMESTAMP_FMT "%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%z" // timestamp format (local time)
+#define LOGGING_POSITION true // display position (only works on C++20 or newer)
+
+// Color codes
+#define ANSI_RESET   "\033[0m"
+#define ANSI_BLACK   "\033[30m"      /* Black */
+#define ANSI_RED     "\033[31m"      /* Red */
+#define ANSI_GREEN   "\033[32m"      /* Green */
+#define ANSI_YELLOW  "\033[33m"      /* Yellow */
+#define ANSI_BLUE    "\033[34m"      /* Blue */
+#define ANSI_MAGENTA "\033[35m"      /* Magenta */
+#define ANSI_CYAN    "\033[36m"      /* Cyan */
+#define ANSI_WHITE   "\033[37m"      /* White */
+#define ANSI_BOLD    "\033[1m"       /* Bold */
+
+template <typename T>
+void print(T t) {
+  std::cout << t << std::endl;
+}
+
+template <typename T, typename... Args>
+void print(T t, Args... args) {
+  std::cout << t;
+  print(args...);
+}
+
+inline void printTimestamp() {
+  #if LOGGING_TIMESTAMP
+    auto now = std::chrono::system_clock::now();
+    auto time_c = std::chrono::system_clock::to_time_t(now);
+    std::tm time_tm;
+    localtime_r(&time_c, &time_tm);
+    std::cout << std::put_time(&time_tm, LOGGING_TIMESTAMP_FMT) << ": ";
+  #endif
+}
+
+// if we're on C++20 or later, then use the source_location header and add source location to logs
+#if __cplusplus >= 202002L
+#include <source_location>
+
+inline void printPosition(std::source_location& location) {
+  #if LOGGING_POSITION
+  std::cout << location.file_name() << ":" << location.function_name << ":" << ANSI_CYAN << location.line() << ANSI_RESET <<  ": ";
+  #endif
+}
+
+inline void printHeader(std::string name, std::string color, std::source_location& location) {
+  #if LOGGING_COLOR
+    std::cout << ANSI_BOLD << color << "[" << name << "] " << ANSI_RESET;
+    printTimestamp();
+    printPosition(location);
+  #else
+    printHeader(name);
+  #endif
+}
+
+inline void printHeader(std::string name, std::source_location& location) {
+  std::cout << "[" << name << "] ";
+  printTimestamp();
+  printPosition(location);
+}
+
+template <typename... Args, typename Sl = std::source_location>
+void trace(Args... args, Sl location = std::source_location::current()) {
+  #if LOGGING >= LOG_TRACE
+    printHeader("TRACE", ANSI_CYAN, location);
+    print(args...);
+  #endif
+}
+
+template <typename... Args, typename Sl = std::source_location>
+void debug(Args... args, Sl location = std::source_location::current()) {
+  #if LOGGING >= LOG_DEBUG
+    printHeader("DEBUG", ANSI_MAGENTA, location);
+    print(args...);
+  #endif
+}
+
+template <typename... Args, typename Sl = std::source_location>
+void info(Args... args, Sl location = std::source_location::current()) {
+  #if LOGGING >= LOG_INFO
+    printHeader("INFO", ANSI_GREEN, location);
+    print(args...);
+  #endif
+}
+
+template <typename... Args, typename Sl = std::source_location>
+void warn(Args... args, Sl location = std::source_location::current()) {
+  #if LOGGING >= LOG_WARN
+    printHeader("WARN", ANSI_YELLOW, location);
+    print(args...);
+  #endif
+}
+
+template <typename... Args, typename Sl = std::source_location>
+void error(Args... args, Sl location = std::source_location::current()) {
+  #if LOGGING >= LOG_ERROR
+    printHeader("ERROR", ANSI_RED, location);
+    print(args...);
+  #endif
+}
+#else
+inline void printHeader(std::string name, std::string color) {
+  #if LOGGING_COLOR
+    std::cout << ANSI_BOLD << color << "[" << name << "] " << ANSI_RESET;
+    printTimestamp();
+  #else
+    printHeader(name);
+  #endif
+}
+
+inline void printHeader(std::string name) {
+  std::cout << "[" << name << "] ";
+  printTimestamp();
+}
+
+template <typename... Args>
+void trace(Args... args) {
+  #if LOGGING >= LOG_TRACE
+    printHeader("TRACE", ANSI_CYAN);
+    print(args...);
+  #endif
+}
+
+template <typename... Args>
+void debug(Args... args) {
+  #if LOGGING >= LOG_DEBUG
+    printHeader("DEBUG", ANSI_MAGENTA);
+    print(args...);
+  #endif
+}
+
+template <typename... Args>
+void info(Args... args) {
+  #if LOGGING >= LOG_INFO
+    printHeader("INFO", ANSI_GREEN);
+    print(args...);
+  #endif
+}
+
+template <typename... Args>
+void warn(Args... args) {
+  #if LOGGING >= LOG_WARN
+    printHeader("WARN", ANSI_YELLOW);
+    print(args...);
+  #endif
+}
+
+template <typename... Args>
+void error(Args... args) {
+  #if LOGGING >= LOG_ERROR
+    printHeader("ERROR", ANSI_RED);
+    print(args...);
+  #endif
+}
+#endif
+
+#endif //LOGGING_H

meson.build

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+#=======================================================================================================================
+#  PROJECT SETTINGS
+#=======================================================================================================================
+project('video-streaming-poc', 'cpp', version : '0.0.1-SNAPSHOT',
+        default_options : ['c_std=c17', 'cpp_std=c++20'])
+
+#=======================================================================================================================
+#  DEPENDENCIES
+#=======================================================================================================================
+# opencv dependency
+opencv = dependency('opencv4', version : '>=4.0.0')
+# boost dependency
+boost = dependency('boost')
+
+#=======================================================================================================================
+#  SOURCE FILES
+#=======================================================================================================================
+# common files between client / server
+common = ['transfer.h', 'logging.h']
+# client-only files
+client = common + ['client.cpp']
+# server-only files
+server = common + ['server.cpp']
+
+#=======================================================================================================================
+#  BUILD TARGETS
+#=======================================================================================================================
+# client executable
+client_exe = executable('client', client,
+                        dependencies : [opencv, boost])
+# server executable
+server_exe = executable('server', server,
+                        dependencies : [opencv, boost])

server.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+#include <opencv2/highgui.hpp>
+#include <opencv2/core/mat.hpp>
+#include <cstring>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <netinet/in.h>
+#include <sys/socket.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include "transfer.h"
+
+using namespace std;
+
+int main() {
+    // TODO: read image data from socket instead of VideoCapture
+    // creating socket
+    int serverSocket = socket(AF_INET, SOCK_STREAM, 0);
+
+    // specifying the address
+    sockaddr_in serverAddress;
+    serverAddress.sin_family = AF_INET;
+    serverAddress.sin_port = htons(8080);
+    serverAddress.sin_addr.s_addr = INADDR_ANY;
+
+    // binding socket.
+    bind(serverSocket, reinterpret_cast<sockaddr *>(&serverAddress),
+         sizeof(serverAddress));
+
+    info("Ready to accept connections.");
+    // listening to the assigned socket
+    listen(serverSocket, 5);
+
+    // accepting connection request
+    int clientSocket = accept(serverSocket, nullptr, nullptr);
+    info("Client connected.");
+
+    // TODO: handle multiple images
+    cv::Mat image = cv::Mat::zeros(cv::Size(640, 480), CV_8UC3);
+
+    bool running = true;
+    // TODO: make this asynchronous. probably do that in tandem with setting up networking
+    while (running) {
+        // receive data
+        vector<uchar> buffer;
+        trace("Receiving image");
+        recvImage(clientSocket, buffer);
+
+        trace("Applying new data to image");
+        applyImage(image, &buffer);
+
+        trace("Displaying image");
+        imshow("image", image);
+        running = cv::waitKey(30) != 27;
+    }
+    close(serverSocket);
+    return 0;
+}

transfer.h

@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+#ifndef TRANSFER_H
+#define TRANSFER_H
+
+#include <chrono>
+#include <opencv2/core/mat.hpp>
+#include <opencv2/imgcodecs.hpp>
+#include <sys/socket.h>
+#include <logging.h>
+#include <vector>
+
+using namespace std;
+
+struct imageHeader {
+    size_t size;
+    chrono::milliseconds timestamp;
+};
+
+chrono::milliseconds getMillis() {
+    // Get current time
+    const auto now = chrono::system_clock::now();
+
+    // Get time since epoch in milliseconds
+    const chrono::duration ms = chrono::duration_cast<chrono::milliseconds>(now.time_since_epoch());
+
+    return chrono::milliseconds(ms.count());
+}
+
+inline void serializeImage(const cv::Mat& image, std::vector<uchar>& buffer) {
+    cv::imencode(".jpg", image, buffer);
+}
+
+int sendImage(int socket, const cv::Mat& image, std::vector<uchar>& buffer) {
+    serializeImage(image, buffer);
+    size_t totalSent = 0;
+
+    // first send the size of the serialized image
+    const size_t size = buffer.size();
+    const chrono::milliseconds timestamp = getMillis();
+    imageHeader header;
+    header.size = size;
+    header.timestamp = timestamp;
+    trace("Buffer size: ", size);
+    if (const ssize_t sent = send(socket, &header, sizeof(header), 0); sent == -1) {
+        error("Error sending data header");
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    // then start sending the serialized image
+    while (totalSent < size) {
+        const ssize_t sent = send(socket, buffer.data() + totalSent, size - totalSent, 0);
+        if (sent == -1) {
+            error("Error sending data");
+            return -1;
+        }
+        totalSent += sent;
+        debug("Packet sent (", sent, " bytes, total ", totalSent, " bytes)");
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
+
+int recvImage(int socket, std::vector<uchar>& buffer) {
+    // first receive the size of the image
+    imageHeader header;
+    if (ssize_t recvd = recv(socket, &header, sizeof(imageHeader), 0); recvd <= 0) {
+        error("Error receiving data header");
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    size_t dataSize = header.size;
+    chrono::milliseconds sentTime = header.timestamp;
+
+    trace("Buffer size: ", dataSize);
+
+    // resize the buffer to fit the whole image
+    buffer.resize(dataSize);
+
+    // start receiving the image until the whole thing arrives
+    size_t totalReceived = 0;
+    while (totalReceived < dataSize) {
+        ssize_t bytesReceived = recv(socket, buffer.data() + totalReceived, dataSize, 0);
+        if (bytesReceived <= 0) {
+            error("Error receiving data");
+            buffer.clear();
+            return -1;
+        }
+        totalReceived += bytesReceived;
+        debug("Packet received (", bytesReceived, " bytes, total ", totalReceived, " bytes)");
+    }
+    chrono::milliseconds currentTime = getMillis();
+
+    chrono::milliseconds diff = currentTime - sentTime;
+    debug("Packet latency: ", diff.count(), "ms");
+    return 0;
+}
+
+bool applyImage(cv::Mat& image, std::vector<uchar> *src) {
+    // decode the image into an OpenCV Mat
+    cv::imdecode(*src, cv::IMREAD_UNCHANGED, &image);
+    return true;
+}
+#endif //TRANSFER_H