Adding cameras
Once the account is prepared with API keys and SMTP credentials in Getting started you're ready to add cameras.
Once keys and credentials are set up you will use them when configuring cameras and other devices to send alarms.
Below, we'll outline the general steps to configure a security camera to trigger alerts on motion. The exact procedures will differ between different brands and models, but the process is often fairly similar. For specific instructions, please refer to the sections to the right. Is your brand missing? Please Submit a support request and we'll create one together!
The below steps are generally required to set up a security camera to send alarms to the Irisity Alarm Filter:
- Configure the detection
- Set up the Alarm Filter as a recipient
- Configure video motion events to trigger alarm-sending
- Test it, and done!
The first step is to configure the detection. For simpler cameras this is often a rudimentary VMA, video motion analysis, triggering an alarm on anything that moves. For more advanced cameras and AI-enabled cameras, it is often possible to get better results by using a more capable source.
Typically you need to login as an administrator in the camera's web UI and go into the Setup or Settings section.
From there, look for Event, Scenarios, Alarm, or Trigger settings.
Then look for Video Detection, Motion Detection, or other more capable.
Use an Irisity or third-party app in the camera
Some more advanced cameras support functionality like detections as "apps". Some, like Axis and Mobotix, have support for third-party apps. These apps will often give you the best detection results.
We highly recommend trying out the Irisity Intrusion Detection App for Mobotix Cameras as the source for the Alarm Filter or our Axis ACAP App for our IRIS+ CM platform.
You can also use third-party apps, such as the Axis Perimeter Defender App which will provide highly sensitive detections, but also typically a fair bit of false alarms that the Alarm Filter platform will remove.
When configuring the detection, we always recommend masking out (black masking) irrelevant areas from the view. This will remove any irrelevant activity from alarms sent for validation and filtering, meaning human activity in the background will not be classified as a True alarm.
Some analytics additionally support setting a specific region of interest (ROI) to only trigger alarms on motion inside that zone. Below is an example of a scene where ROI has been used to define activity zones in both examples. To the right, we see an improved version where a black mask has been added to remove any irrelevant movement.
If ROI is not supported in your camera, and/or you cannot mask out irrelevant parts of the image for some reason, it is possible to add precise free-form polygon alarm zones in the Irisity Alarm Filter as well.
False alarms will consume bandwidth
While the Alarm Filter will filter out nuisance alarms and activity outside the defined alarm zone, sending such alarms will consume additional bandwidth and resources. We recommend ensuring each camera is set up to mask unimportant areas to minimize bandwidth consumption.
For some devices, you have the option to set output parameters already when configuring the detection. Look for terms like Send email, Send alarms to destination, or Activate alarm sending.
The Alarm Filter should optimally receive three images spaced 1 second apart, where the middle one is the detection frame.
Alternatively, you can send a short video clip (around 2 seconds long with 0.5-1 seconds pre-recording and 1.5-1 seconds post-recording). Please disable audio if possible.
Look for settings like Send clip, Send snapshots, or Send recording.
If only a single frame can be sent this is also supported, but not recommended. It will not be possible to assess what objects are moving and therefore relevant using only one image.
Always send three frames when possible
While single-image alarms are supported by the Alarm Filter you will get much better results and more high-quality validation and filtering performance when sending three frames or a short video clip with each alarm.
Some camera manufacturers separate alarm recipients from alarm configuration. In these cases, look for the configuration of Endpoints, Recipients, or Receivers, or look for settings like Network => HTTP and Network => SMTP.
When possible, configure the alarms to be sent using HTTPS. Input the following HTTP details:
HTTPS endpoint settings
URL: https://in.alarmfilter.irisity.io Port: 443 API-KEY: <use API key from Getting started >
HTTPS camera identification
When making the request, add query parameters to identify the camera. An example of this could be
POST https://in.alarmfilter.irisity.io/?c=unique-camera-id-123
HTTPS - Send images or the clip in the body
Encode the body of the request as multipart/form-data and send the images or clip.
Camera identification for HTTPS
When we parse incoming HTTPS alarms we try to identify the camera based on the incoming request.
If HTTPS is not supported or you prefer to use SMTP, use the following configuration for the
SMTP server settings
Email Server (SMTP): s.alarmfilter.irisity.io Username: <use SMTP credentials from Getting started > Password: <use SMTP credentials from Getting started > Port: 587 Encryption: TLS
SMTP recipient settings
To: [email protected] From: <any-valid-email>
If not already set up in one of the steps below, make sure that events generated in (1) are sent to the recipient/endpoint configured in (2).
This is typically done in sections called Scenarios, Rules, or Triggers.
Now it's time to test the setup! Many cameras offer a "Test alarm" button or "Test alarm sending" button.
Typically, test alarms will reach the Alarm Filter platform and show up in the list of alarms, allowing you to verify that alarm sending works. They may, however, be flagged as Errors due to the camera not sending any video clip or images with the test alarm.
So, the best way to test the setup is often to have an actual motion alarm triggered by the camera.
Congratulations!
You successfully configured a camera to send alarms to the Irisity Alarm Filter!