Network video recorder system
An apparatus and method is presented for network video management and recording of video signals and video analytics generated by a network of IP-enabled cameras. A set of IP cameras are connected in a LAN to a network video recorder further connected by LAN or WAN to a set of client stations. The client station operates a hybrid program including a web-browser and a native application operating on a computer. The network video recorder operates a media recorder to store video streams from the IP cameras into a media database and further operates a relational database for storing camera configuration data, device drivers, event information and alarms. The network video recorder includes a zero configuration networking discovery service for automatically detecting and downloading default configurations to the cameras. Client stations can stream video directly from IP cameras, receive recorded video streams and query the relational database for cameras and events.
1. In a system comprising a network, a network video recorder connected to the network, a set of cameras connected to the network video recorder, and a server connected to the network, the network video recorder programmed to store and execute instructions that cause the system to automatically perform a method comprising the steps of:
connecting each camera of the set of cameras to the network video recorder;
powering each camera of the set of cameras;
receiving a broadcast message from each camera of the set of cameras;
automatically transmitting an IP address to each camera of the set of cameras;
determining a set of video parameters based on the broadcast message for each camera of the set of cameras;
sending the set of video parameters to each camera of the set of cameras;
synchronizing a time among the set of cameras;
automatically configuring an event delivery address for each camera of the set of cameras;
automatically configuring a set of motion detection parameters for each camera of the set of cameras;
wherein the broadcast message further comprises a set of connectivity data, and wherein the step of determining further comprising the steps of:
automatically reporting the set of connectivity data from the broadcast message;
automatically comparing the set of connectivity data with the set of video parameters;
sending a request for the set of video parameters based on the set of connectivity data;
receiving the set of video parameters in response to the request;
receiving the broadcast messages from each camera by the network video recorder using a zero configuration networking protocol, the connectivity data in each broadcast message including a make, a model, a list of inherent capabilities, and a MAC address for a respective camera;
providing the IP addresses of each camera by the network video recorder using a dynamic host configuration protocol service;
including a video compression, a video frame rate, a video quality, a video resolution and a data transfer rate in the video parameters for the cameras;
providing a network time protocol service by the network video recorder to synchronize a time of each camera;
setting up event delivery for each camera by communicating an IP address of the network video recorder to each camera as the event delivery address for camera events from each camera;
wherein the step of determining further comprising the steps of:
searching a SQL database for a match between the set of connectivity data and the set of video parameters;
when a match is not determined:
requesting a set of video parameters from the server by the network video recorder;
receiving the set of video parameters from the sever after the server searches for and retrieves the requested set of video parameters from a database of the server; and,
saving the set of video parameters by the network video recorder prior to sending the set of video parameters to each camera.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
establishing a video streaming session with each camera of the set of cameras;
configuring a media recorder for the video streaming session; and,
receiving a streamed video from each camera of the set of cameras through the video streaming session.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of establishing a video streaming session further comprises the step of automatically configuring a real time streaming protocol video streaming session with each camera of the set of cameras.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving a set of preferences for each camera of the set of cameras.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of automatically receiving a set of event data and a set of alarm data.
6. A security system comprising:
a first network;
a set of security devices connected to the first network;
a network video recorder further comprising a processor, a memory connected to the processor, a set of controllers connected to the processor, a set of communication ports connected to the set of controllers, and a power source connected to the set of communication ports, connected to the first network;
a power signal generated by the power source;
a discovery program saved in the memory and executed by the processor;
whereby the discovery program sends the power signal through each of the set of communication ports to each of the set of security devices and configures each of set of security devices;
the network video recorder programmed to automatically carry out the steps of:
determining a set of video parameters based on a broadcast message for each security device of the set of security devices;
sending the set of video parameters to each security device of the set of security devices;
wherein the broadcast message further comprises a set of connectivity data, and wherein the step of determining further comprising the steps of:
automatically reporting a set of connectivity data from the broadcast message;
automatically comparing the set of connectivity data with the set of video parameters;
sending a request for the set of video parameters based on the set of connectivity data;
receiving the set of video parameters in response to the request;
receiving the broadcast messages from each security device by the network video recorder using a zero configuration networking protocol, the connectivity data in each broadcast message including a make, a model, a list of inherent capabilities, and a MAC address for a respective security device;
providing the IP addresses of each security device by the network video recorder using a dynamic host configuration protocol service;
including a video compression, a video frame rate, a video quality, a video resolution and a data transfer rate in the video parameters for the set of security devices;
providing a network time protocol service by the network video recorder to synchronize a time of each security device;
setting up event delivery for each security device by communicating an IP address of the network video recorder to each security device as an event delivery address for security device events from each security device;
wherein the step of determining further comprising the steps of:
searching a SQL database for a match between the set of connectivity data and the set of video parameters;
when a match is not determined:
requesting the set of video parameters from a server connected to a second network by the network video recorder;
receiving the set of video parameters from the sever after the server searches for and retrieves the requested set of video parameters from a database of the server; and,
saving the set of video parameters by the network video recorder prior to sending the set of video parameters to each security device.
7. The security system of claim 6 , wherein each communication port of the set of communication ports is an Ethernet port.
8. The security system of claim 6 , wherein the set of controllers further comprises an Ethernet switch.
9. The security system of claim 6 , wherein the power signal is a power over Ethernet signal.
10. The security system of claim 6 , wherein the set of controllers further comprises a set of Ethernet controllers.
11. The security system of claim 6 , further comprising;
a second network connected to the network video recorder; and,
an IP client station connected to the second network.
12. The security system of claim 11 , further comprising an update server connected to the second network.
13. The security system of claim 6 , further comprising a set of I/O contact closures connected to the set of security devices.
14. The security system of claim 6 , wherein the network video recorder further comprises a media recorder program saved in the memory and executed by the processor and connected to the first network to record a video stream.
15. A security system comprising:
a first network;
a set of security devices connected to the first network;
a network video recorder further comprising a processor, a memory connected to the processor, a set of controllers connected to the processor, a set of communication ports connected to the set of controllers, and a power source connected to the set of communication ports, connected to the first network;
a power signal generated by the power source;
the network video recorder programmed to automatically carry out the steps of:
connecting each security device of the set of security devices to the network video recorder;
sending the power signal to each security device of the set of security devices;
receiving a broadcast message from each security device of the set of security devices;
automatically transmitting an IP address to each security device of the set of security devices;
determining a set of video parameters based on the broadcast message for each security device of the set of security devices;
sending the set of video parameters to each security device of the set of security devices;
synchronizing a time among the set of security devices;
automatically configuring an event delivery address for each security device of the set of security devices;
automatically configuring a set of motion detection parameters for each security device of the set of security devices;
wherein the broadcast message further comprises a set of connectivity data, and wherein the step of determining further comprising the steps of:
automatically reporting a set of connectivity data from the broadcast message;
automatically comparing the set of connectivity data with the set of video parameters;
sending a request for the set of video parameters based on the set of connectivity data;
receiving the set of video parameters in response to the request;
receiving the broadcast messages from each security device by the network video recorder using a zero configuration networking protocol, the connectivity data in each broadcast message including a make, a model, a list of inherent capabilities, and a MAC address for a respective security device;
providing the IP addresses of each security device by the network video recorder using a dynamic host configuration protocol service;
including a video compression, a video frame rate, a video quality, a video resolution and a data transfer rate in the video parameters for the set of security devices;
providing a network time protocol service by the network video recorder to synchronize a time of each security device;
setting up event delivery for each security device by communicating an IP address of the network video recorder to each security device as an event delivery address for security device events from each security device;
wherein the step of determining further comprising the steps of:
searching a SQL database for a match between the set of connectivity data and the set of video parameters;
when a match is not determined:
requesting the set of video parameters from a server connected to a second network by the network video recorder;
receiving the set of video parameters from the server after the server searches for and retrieves the requested set of video parameters from a database of the server; and,
saving the set of video parameters by the network video recorder prior to sending the set of video parameters to each security device.
16. The security system of claim 15 , wherein the network video recorder is further programmed to carry out the steps of:
establishing a video streaming session with each security device of the set of security devices; and,
receiving a streamed video from each security device of the set of security devices through the video streaming session.