This guide outlines the step-by-step process for connecting cameras to a specific location within the Vision system. Whether you're adding cameras manually or automatically, or even connecting a USB camera, these instructions will help you navigate the setup process with ease.
Initial steps for connecting a camera
To add a camera, follow these steps (see Figure 1):
- Navigate to the Control Panel
, located in the bottom right corner of the starting interface.
- Open the Control Panel menu and select the Cameras tab.
- In the Cameras tab, click the "+" sign
to open three options:
Add Cameras Manually
Add Cameras Automatically
Add USB Cameras Manually
Figure 1 – Add Camera
Option 1: Adding cameras manually
When adding a camera manually, choose the location for which you’re adding the camera. Enter the number of cameras you want to add and press the `Add` button to preview the added cameras in the camera list (see Figure 2).
Figure 2 – Add cameras manually
The cameras will be added and visible on the Cameras tab. Find the camera you added and click it to enter the camera details (see Figure 3).
For manual addition, camera details require manual input. This includes:
- Camera Name.
- RTSP URL.
- Camera Address.
- RTSP port.
- Username and Password.
When all this information is entered, click the Connect button.
How to create an RTSP URL?
An example of an RTSP URL for HIKVISION cameras:
rtsp://USERNAME:PASSWORD@IPADDRESS:RTSPPORT/Streaming/Channels/101 -> Primary RTSP URL
rtsp://USERNAME:PASSWORD@IPADDRESS:RTSPPORT/Streaming/Channels/102 -> Secondary RTSP URL
An additional list of RTSP URLs can be found here.
For most cameras, the RTSP port will always be 554.
Figure 3 – Entering camera details manually
Option 2: Adding cameras automatically
To add a camera automatically, select the desired location from a drop-down menu and click the Scan button (see Figure 4).
Figure 4 – Adding cameras automatically
After the initial scan, you should be able to see all the cameras existing in your network. Select the cameras you want to add to the Vision user interface by clicking the “Add” button (see Figure 5).
Figure 5 – Scan results
Once added, the camera will appear in the Cameras tab. Double-click the newly added camera to preview all details (see Figure 6).
Figure 6 – New camera
In Camera Details, enter the camera username and password, then click the “Connect” button. The remaining fields will be automatically filled (see Figure 7).
Figure 7 – Camera details
And if you wish to delete the camera from Vision just click on the “Delete Camera” button and then confirm the deletion (see Figure 8).
Figure 8 – Delete camera
Option 3: Adding USB camera manually
We've recently added the option to add a USB camera manually. This process is similar to adding other cameras manually. You'll need to provide the necessary details and click the Connect button.
AI services in Vision system
AI Services within the Vision system are tools that apply artificial intelligence for real-time video feed analysis. These include features like person counting, face recognition, and age and gender prediction. Additionally, to ensure privacy, the Vision system complies with GDPR regulations using features such as Identity Anonymize.
Understanding AI services
AI services refer to advanced features that use artificial intelligence to analyze video feeds in real time. Here's a breakdown of the AI services:
- AI Processing: The application of artificial intelligence in analyzing video feeds. When AI processing is enabled, the system uses machine learning algorithms to interpret the video data it receives.
- People Counting: This feature uses AI to count the number of people in the camera's field of view. It can be used in various settings, such as retail stores to track customer traffic, offices to monitor occupancy, or public spaces to manage crowd sizes.
- Face Recognition: This AI service can identify or verify a person by comparing and analyzing patterns based on the person's facial contours. It is commonly used for access control in buildings, or for identifying individuals in a crowd.
- Age and Gender Prediction: These features use AI to estimate a person's age and gender based on their facial features. This can be useful in demographic studies or targeted marketing campaigns.
- Identity Anonymize: In compliance with privacy regulations like GDPR, this feature obscures the identities of individuals captured in the video feed. This is especially important in public spaces where privacy is a concern.
Some of these AI services require substantial computational resources, and the accuracy of their results can depend on various factors, including the quality of the video feed and the specific algorithms used.
Enabling AI services
To enable the AI service, navigate to the AI Services tab in the camera details and click Enable AI Processing (see Figure 9):
Figure 9 – AI services
When AI processing is enabled, People Counting will always be active, while face recognition, age, and gender prediction can be turned on or off.
Anonymization of identity in live view
We've gone a step further in making the Vision solution fully GDPR compliant by adding an anonymization feature. The identity anonymization feature allows you to exclude the personal information of recognized identities in Live View . However, we recommend that you select this option only if required by the regulations in your country.
Figure 10 – Identity Anonymize feature
Understanding identity Creator and Validator
If you set the "Camera Identity" option, in the details of a certain camera, as Identity Validator, it means that this camera will not create new identities but only verify individuals by comparing them with existing identities in the system.
Figure 11 - Camera Identity Type
Identity Creator camera
The Identity Creator settings in the details of a certain camera refers to the camera's ability to create a new identity profile based on an individual's facial features. Additionally, the sliders associated with the Identity Creator adjust the following parameters:
- Minimum face size: This is the smallest face size (in pixels) that the system will consider when creating a new identity. Faces smaller than this size will be ignored.
- Minimum recognition (face exposure) time: This is the minimum amount of time (in milliseconds) that the system needs to observe a face before it can create a new identity. This ensures that the system has enough data to create a reliable profile.
- Minimum face orientation angle: This is the minimum angle at which the system can reliably recognize a face. Faces that are turned away from the camera beyond this angle are not recognized reliably.
Figure 12 - "Identity Creator" Adjustment
Identity Validator camera
The Identity Validator setting in the details of a specific camera enables the verification of an individual by comparing them with existing identities in the system, however, a camera configured as a Validator will not be able to create new identities. Additionally, the sliders associated with the Identity Validator adjust the following parameters:
- Minimum face size: Similar to the Identity Creator, this is the smallest face size that the system will consider when matching a face to an existing identity.
- Minimum recognition (face exposure) time: This is the minimum amount of time that the system needs to observe a face before it can match it to an existing identity.
- Minimum face orientation angle: This is the minimum angle at which the system can reliably match a face to an existing identity.
Figure 13 - "Identity Validator" Adjustment
These parameters ensure that the system can create and validate identities accurately and reliably.
Mapping cameras in Vision VMS
The "Camera Mapping" option in the Camera Details of the selected camera is where you define the role for that camera in your system. Four options (Default, Entry Camera, Entry/Exit Camera, Exit Camera) correspond to the specific function each camera performs in monitoring movement in and out of the location. Here's a more detailed explanation:
- Default: When you create a camera in the system, it's set to "Default" by default. This is a general-purpose camera that isn't specifically designated for monitoring entrances or exits but is ready to start capturing footage immediately.
- Entrance Camera: This camera is positioned to monitor an entrance. It primarily captures individuals entering a location.
- Entrance/Exit Camera: This camera is positioned to monitor a point of entry/exit that people use to both enter and leave a location.
- Exit Camera: This camera is positioned to monitor an exit. It primarily captures individuals leaving a location.
Figure 14 - Camera Mapping
Utilizing the Time Clock
The "Time Clock" data is a feature that uses camera designations to track the movement of recognized individuals. , you can find more information about Time Clock by visiting here.
Camera Mapping roles
For example, when a recognized individual passes an "Entrance Camera", it logs a "Check-In" time. Similarly, when they pass an "Exit Camera", it logs a "Check-Out" time. The system then uses these times to calculate the "Total Active Period" (the time spent inside the location) and the "Total Off Period" (the time spent outside the location).
Time Clock data
If none of these options are enabled on any camera, the system will not be able to track the movement of individuals in this way, which is why the "Time Clock" section would display "Currently no data" in the identity details on the Directory page. The ability to filter by a camera in the directory allows you to review movement data for specific cameras, which can be useful for analyzing traffic patterns at different entrances/exits. Check out the Directory Guide to learn how to interpret your identities' Time Clock Data.