Remote configuration of digital video surveillance system elements
A method and system are provided for configuring or provisioning a digital video surveillance system (DVSS) element, such as a digital video recorder (DVR). Implementations described herein use a scannable device identifier, such as a bar code or a quick response (QR) code, to uniquely identify a DVSS element. Rather than relying on a technician connecting a laptop to the DVSS element using a direct wired connection, or on the availability of network connectivity, the bar code of the DVSS element is scanned, optionally a network name is assigned and a network password is calculated based on the scannable device identifier. A direct wireless connection is established between a mobile communications device and a wireless transceiver at the DVR. An authentication screen is displayed to enable the configuration connection and provide access to configuration functions for configuring or provisioning the DVSS element.
1. A non-transitory computer-readable memory storing statements and instructions for execution by a mobile communications device processor to perform a method for establishing a configuration connection to a digital video surveillance system (DVSS) element, the processor-implemented method comprising:
scanning a scannable device identifier on the DVSS element, the scannable device identifier representing a serial number for the DVSS element, each DVSS element in a digital video surveillance system having a unique scannable device identifier;
establishing a network name for the DVSS element, the network name being a derivative of the serial number associated with the scannable device identifier;
calculating a network password based on the scannable device identifier;
establishing a wireless connection between the mobile communications device and a wireless transceiver at the DVSS element; and
displaying an authentication screen to provide access to configuration functions for configuring the DVSS element.
2. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein, in the method, establishing the wireless connection comprises establishing a direct wireless connection between a radio of the mobile communications device and the USB wireless dongle in the absence of a connection to a network.
3. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein, in the method, calculating the network password is based on a network password calculation function in the mobile communications device.
4. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein the mobile communications device comprises a smartphone and wherein the provisioning connection is established between the smartphone and the DVSS element.
5. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises sending a provisioning command from the mobile communications device to the DVSS element over the wireless connection between the mobile communications device and the DVSS element.
6. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein the DVSS element comprises an edge device.
7. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein the DVSS element comprises a digital video camera.
8. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 1 wherein the bar code comprises a quick response (QR) code.
9. A non-transitory computer-readable memory storing statements and instructions for execution by a processor in a mobile communications device to perform a method of establishing a configuration connection to a digital video surveillance system (DVSS) element, the processor-implemented method comprising:
scanning a scannable device identifier on the DVSS element, the scannable device identifier representing a serial number for the DVSS element, each DVSS element in a digital video surveillance system having a unique scannable device identifier;
establishing a direct wireless connection between the mobile communications device and a wireless transceiver at the DVSS element based on the scanned device identifier;
enabling the configuration connection for configuring the DVSS element;
establishing a network name for the DVSS element, the network name being a derivative of the serial number associated with the scannable device identifier;
calculating a network password based on the scannable device identifier and is performed using a network password calculation function in the mobile communications device; and
wherein establishing the direct wireless connection is performed using the established network name and the calculated network password.
10. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 9 wherein, in the method, establishing the direct wireless connection comprises establishing the direct wireless connection between a radio of the mobile communications device and the wireless transceiver of the DVSS in the absence of a connection to a network.
11. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 9 wherein the method further comprises sending a provisioning command from the mobile communications device to the DVSS element over the wireless connection between the mobile communications device and the DVSS element.
12. The non-transitory computer-readable memory of claim 9 wherein the method further comprises displaying an authentication screen to provide access to configuration functions for configuring the DVSS element.