.. -*- coding: utf-8; mode: rst -*-

.. _metadata:

******************
Metadata Interface
******************

Metadata refers to any non-image data that supplements video frames with
additional information. This may include statistics computed over the image
or frame capture parameters supplied by the image source. This interface is
intended for transfer of metadata to userspace and control of that operation.

The metadata interface is implemented on video capture device nodes. The device
can be dedicated to metadata or can implement both video and metadata capture
as specified in its reported capabilities.

Querying Capabilities
=====================

Device nodes supporting the metadata interface set the ``V4L2_CAP_META_CAPTURE``
flag in the ``device_caps`` field of the
:c:type:`v4l2_capability` structure returned by the :c:func:`VIDIOC_QUERYCAP`
ioctl. That flag means the device can capture metadata to memory.

At least one of the read/write or streaming I/O methods must be supported.


Data Format Negotiation
=======================

The metadata device uses the :ref:`format` ioctls to select the capture format.
The metadata buffer content format is bound to that selected format. In addition
to the basic :ref:`format` ioctls, the :c:func:`VIDIOC_ENUM_FMT` ioctl must be
supported as well.

To use the :ref:`format` ioctls applications set the ``type`` field of the
:c:type:`v4l2_format` structure to ``V4L2_BUF_TYPE_META_CAPTURE`` and use the
:c:type:`v4l2_meta_format` ``meta`` member of the ``fmt`` union as needed per
the desired operation. Both drivers and applications must set the remainder of
the :c:type:`v4l2_format` structure to 0.

.. _v4l2-meta-format:

.. tabularcolumns:: |p{1.4cm}|p{2.2cm}|p{13.9cm}|

.. flat-table:: struct v4l2_meta_format
    :header-rows:  0
    :stub-columns: 0
    :widths:       1 1 2

    * - __u32
      - ``dataformat``
      - The data format, set by the application. This is a little endian
        :ref:`four character code <v4l2-fourcc>`. V4L2 defines metadata formats
        in :ref:`meta-formats`.
    * - __u32
      - ``buffersize``
      - Maximum buffer size in bytes required for data. The value is set by the
        driver.