Cisco Video Surveillance 7000 Series IP Camera Configuration Guide, Release 2.0.0

Video Control

Video Codec drop-down list

Choose the codec for video transmission (H.264 or MJPEG).

Video Resolution display

Displays the resolution for video transmission. The resolutions in this depends on the video standard that you selected.

Viewer

Video viewer drop-down list

Choose the viewer to use for video. Options are:

• ActiveX —Available only if you are using accessing the IP camera through Microsoft Internet Explorer. Allows you to configure several IP camera options, such as motion detection and privacy zone.
• QuickTime —Allows viewing of H.264 streams only. Does not allow you to configure several IP camera options, such as motion detection and privacy zone.
• VLC —Allows viewing of H.264 and MJPEG streams. Does not allow you to configure several IP camera options, such as motion detection and privacy zone.

The default video viewer value is ActiveX.

Image tools

Hotspot Zoom button

Click this latch button to enables the digital zoom feature, which provides five-step digital zooming in for the normal (not full screen) video display. Click this button again to disable the digital zoom feature.

To perform a digital zoom, engage the Hotspot Zoom button and click the video display. The first five clicks zoom the display. The sixth click returns to unzoomed display.

Hotspot Pan+Tilt button

Not supported.

Save Snapshot button

Captures and saves a the current video image as a .gif file or a .jpg file in the location of your choice and with the file name of your choice.

When you click this button, the Snapshot window appears. Click Save and follow the on-screen prompts to save the image with the name and in the location that you want.

Flip button

Rotates the video image by 180 degrees.

Mirror button

Reverses the video image.

Restore button

Displays the default video image, which is not rotated and not reversed.

Full Screen button

Displays the video image in full screen mode.

To return to normal display mode, click the full screen image.

Audio Control

Enable/Disable Speaker toggle button

Click the Disable Speaker button to mute audio that is sent from the IP

camera to the PC that you are using. The button changes to the Enable Speaker button .

Click the Enable Speaker button to unmute audio. The button changes to the Disable button.

Mute/Un-Mute Microphone toggle button

Click the Mute Microphone button to mute the audio stream that is

captured and sent to the IP camera from the internal or external microphone of the PC that you are using. When you click this button, the speaker that is attached to the IP camera does not play audio that is transmitted from your PC.

Note If you are simultaneously accessing other IP cameras in different browser sessions on the same PC, clicking this button in one browser session does not mute the audio that the PC sends to the other IP cameras.

When you click the Mute Microphone button, it changes to the Un-Mute Microphone button .

Click the Un-Mute Microphone button to unmute audio that is sent to the IP camera. The button changes to the Mute Microphone button.

Restore button

Resets audio controls to their default values.

Speaker Volume slider

When the speaker is unmuted, drag this slider to adjust the volume at which your PC speakers play the audio from the IP camera, or enter a value from 0 through 100 in the field and press the Enter key.

The default value is 50.

Microphone Sensitivity slider

Drag this slider to adjust the gain of the PC microphone (that is, how sensitive it is to the audio that it picks up and that is sent to the IP camera), or enter a value from 0 through 100 in the field and press the Enter key.

The default value is 50.

Camera Settings controls

Note To display these controls click the Expand icon next to Camera Settings under the video image. The icon changes to the Collapse icon . Click the Collapse icon to hide these controls.

If you make changes to any of the Camera Settings options, click the Save button to save the changes.

Picture Adjustments

Brightness slider

To control the brightness of the video image, drag the slider to select a value from 1 through 10. A higher value increases the brightness and a lower value decreases the brightness. For example, if the IP camera is facing a bright light and the video appears too dark, you can increase the brightness.

The default value is 5.

Contrast slider

To control contrast of the video image, drag the slider to select a value from 1 through 10. A higher value increases the contrast and a lower value decreases the contrast.

The default value is 5.

Sharpness slider

To control the sharpness of the video from the IP camera, drag the slider to select a value from 1 through 100. A higher value increases the sharpness and a lower value decreases the sharpness.

The default value is 50.

Saturation slider

To control the saturation of the video from the IP camera, drag the slider to select a value from 1 through 10. A higher value increases the saturation and a lower value decreases the saturation.

High saturation provides a vivid, intense color for a video image. With less saturation, the video image appears more muted and gray.

The default value is 50.

Restore button

Resets brightness, contrast, sharpness, and saturation to their default values.

White Balance Mode drop-down menu

Choose one the following white balance modes:

• Auto—White balance automatically set by camera and suitable for most conditions.
• Manual—Choose this option if you want to set the white balance by setting RGain (Red Gain) and BGain (Blue Gain) manually.

The default setting is Auto.

Exposure Control

Exposure level drop-down menu

Choose a value to increase or decrease the exposure level of the video image.

The default value is 0.0.

Exposure mode drop-down menu

Choose one of these options:

• Manual —Choose this option if you want to set Exposure time and Gain control manually.
• Auto —Suitable for most conditions.

The default setting is Auto.

Flickerless check box

Appears when you choose Manual from the Exposure mode drop-down menu.

Flickering can occur when a combination of indoor and outdoor light get to the IP camera, due to a difference in capture frequency and actual indoor lighting frequency. Check this check box to limit the range of exposure time, which prevents flickering.

Exposure time slider

Appears when you choose Manual from the Exposure mode drop-down menu.

To control the minimum length of time in seconds that the IP camera keeps its iris open for each frame, drag the left slider box. To control the maximum length of time in seconds that the IP camera keeps its iris open for each frame, drag the right slider box.

When capturing video, the IP camera automatically selects the optimum value between the minimum and maximum values that you configure.

If the Flickerless check box is not checked, the minimum exposure value is 1/32000 and the maximum value is 1/5. If the Flickerless check box is checked, the minimum exposure value is 1/120 and the maximum value is 1/5.

Gain control slider

Appears when you choose Manual from the Exposure mode drop-down menu.

To control the minimum gain of the IP camera, drag the left slider box. To control the maximum gain, drag the right slider box. A value of 0 does not boost the gain, so the image may appear darker in a darker environment. A higher value increases the exposure of the image, which can cause the image to look brighter, but can also cause the image to appear more noisy.

When capturing video, the IP camera automatically selects the optimum value between the minimum and maximum values that you configure.

Iris mode drop down menu

Appears only when you choose Auto from the Exposure mode drop-down menu. Choose one of these options for the IP camera iris:

• Indoor —Suitable for indoor conditions
• Outdoor —Suitable for outdoor conditions

Measurement Window

Choose one of the following options to control how the IP camera calculates exposure:

• Full View —The entire IP camera image is considered for the exposure calculation.
• Custom —Lets you draw up to 4 Inclusion regions and up to 4 Exclusion regions for the exposure calculation.

To designate regions, right-click the video image, choose Draw Region , then hold down the left mouse button and draw the region, which is indicated by a green rectangle.

A region is an Inclusion region by default.

To move a region, left-click it and drag its window to the desired area.

To resize a region, left-click it and drag a box in the edge or corner of the region.

To remove a region, left-click it, then right-click it and choose Delete Region .

• BLC —Back Light Compensation causes only the middle part of the IP camera image, indicated by a white dashed rectangle, to be considered for the exposure calculation.

Region Properties

Appears when you click a custom region that you created.

To expand region properties information, click the + icon next to Region Properties. The icon changes to a – icon, which you click to collapse region properties information.

• Location—X and Y coordinates, respectively, of the top left corner of the selected custom region. To expand location information, lick the + icon next to Location . The icon changes to a – icon, which you click to collapse region location information.
• Region Type—Type of the region (Inclusion or Exclusion). To change the region type, left-click that region, click Region Type , then choose one of the following values from the drop-down menu that appears on the Region Type line. Alternatively, you can double-click Inclusion or Exclusion to toggle between these values.

– Inclusion —The region is used to calculate the exposure value

– Exclusion —The region is ignored in the exposure value calculation

Advanced Settings

Enable Low Light Compensation check box

In a low-light environment, check this check box to reduce noise in the video image.

Enable DRX check box

In situations in which there is significant contrast between light and dark parts of an image, check this check box to cause the IP camera to continually adjust the image for optimal appearance.

Sensitivity drop-down menu

Appears when you check the Enable DRX check box.

Choose Low or High to specify how quickly the IP camera adjusts the image for optimal appearance.

Strength drop-down menu

Appears when you check the Enable DRX check box.

Choose Low , Medium , or High to specify the relative adjustment that the IP camera makes between the light and dark parts of an image.

Gamma Curve

Select a gamma curve value to adjust the monitor gray-scale for video from the IP camera.

Motion Detection

Note To display these controls click the Expand icon next to Motion Detection under the video image. The icon changes to the Collapse icon . Click the Collapse icon to hide these controls.

If you make changes to any of the Motion Detection options, click the Save button to save the changes.

Enable Motion Detection check box

Enables the motion detection feature.

When motion detection is enabled, the IP camera monitors activity in the video field areas that you specify. If activity at a defined level occurs in any of these areas, the IP camera generates an alert and takes the configured actions.

To designate regions, right-click the video image, choose Draw Region , then hold down the left mouse button and draw the region, which is indicated by a green rectangle (for an inclusion region) or a red rectangle (for an exclusion region).

You can draw up to 4 Inclusion regions and up to 4 Exclusion regions for a total of up to 8 regions.

To move a region, left-click it and drag its window to the desired area.

To resize a region, left-click it and drag a box in the edge or corner of the region.

To remove a region, left-click it, then right-click it and choose Delete Region .

Region Properties

To expand region properties information, click the + icon next to Region Properties. The icon changes to a – icon, which you click to collapse region properties information.

• IsActive—To indicate whether the IP camera monitors a region for motion detection, left-click that region, click IsActive , then choose True (consider region) of False (do not consider region) from the drop-down menu that appears on the IsActive line. Alternatively, you can double-click True or False to toggle between these values.
• Location—X and Y coordinates, respectively, of the top left corner of the selected custom region. To expand location information, lick the + icon next to Location . The icon changes to a – icon, which you click to collapse region location information.
• Name—Name of the region. By default, the system assigns the name Region X , where X is a number 1 through 8. To rename a region, click its name (which appears in bold type on this line) and type a unique name of up to 32 characters.
• Region Type—Type of the region. To change the region type, left-click that region, click Region Type , then choose one of the following values f f rom the drop-down menu that appears on the Region Type line. Alternatively, you can double-click Inclusion or Exclusion to toggle between these values.

– Inclusion —The IP camera examines this region for motion

– Exclusion —The IP camera ignores motion in this area

Sensitivity slider

Becomes available when you left-click a motion detection region.

Designates the relative amount of activity that the IP camera must detect in the area before it generates an alert. A lower value means that more, or faster, activity is required to trigger an alert. A higher value means that less, or slower, activity is required. The default value is 80.

Threshold slider

Becomes available when you left-click a motion detection region.

Designates the percentage of pixels that the IP camera must identify as changed in the area before it generates an alert. The camera monitors for pixel changes at the defined sensitivity level. The default threshold value is Low.

Focus/Zoom

Note To display these controls click the Expand icon next to Focus/Zoom under the video image. The icon changes to the Collapse icon . Click the Collapse icon to hide these controls.

Zoom slider

Drag to the right to increase the zoom level of the video image (tele) and drag to the left to decrease the zoom level (wide). You also can use these buttons to adjust the zoom level:

• –10 —Decreases the zoom level by 10 steps
• –1 —Decreases the zoom level by 1 step
• +1 —Increases the zoom level by 1 step
• +10 —Increases the zoom level by 10 steps

Focus slider

Drag to the right sharpen the focus on objects at are farther away from the camera and drag to the left to sharpen the focus on objects that are nearer. You also can use these buttons to adjust the focus:

• –10 —Decreases the focus by 10 steps
• –1 —Decreases the focus by 1 step
• +1 —Increases the focus by 1 step
• +10 —Increases the focus by 10 step

Auto Focus button

Click to have the IP camera automatically adjust its focus. This adjustment uses larger steps that the full auto focus feature (see the “Full Auto Focus button” row in this table), but takes less time to complete than a full auto focus.

The auto focus process can take a few minutes to complete, and the Focus/Zoom controls are dimmed during this process. When the process completes, click OK in the dialog box that displays the message “Set Auto Focus successfully.”

Reset button

Click to set the zoom and focus controls to their default values. When the process completes, click OK in the dialog box that displays the message “Settings reset successfully.”

Specify Region check box

To automatically adjust the focus with priority given to a particular region in the field of view:

1. Check the Specify Region check box.

2. Right-click the video image and choose Draw Region .

3. Hold down the left mouse button and draw the region, which is indicated by a green rectangle.

To move a region, left-click it and drag its window to the desired area.

To resize a region, left-click it and drag a box in the edge or corner of the region.

To remove a region, uncheck the Specify Region check box.

Full Auto Focus button

Click to have the IP camera automatically adjust its focus. This adjustment uses smaller steps that the auto focus feature (see the “Auto Focus button” row in this table), but can result in a sharper focus and takes more time to complete than an auto focus.

The full auto focus process can take some time, and the Focus/Zoom controls are dimmed during this process. If you see a dialog with the message “Operation still in progress,” click OK . When the process completes, click OK in the dialog box that displays the message “Set Full Auto Focus successfully.”

Privacy Zone

Note To display these controls click the Expand icon next to Privacy Zone under the video image. The icon changes to the Collapse icon . Click the Collapse icon to hide these controls.

If you make changes to any of the Privacy Zone options, click the Save button to save the changes.

Enable Privacy Region check box

Enables the Privacy Zone feature.

You can create up to four user-defined masking zones that can used to provide regions of privacy in the camera field of view. When the Privacy Zone feature is enabled, video within privacy each region is not recorded in the camera, nor sent in the video stream. Instead of the actual video, privacy regions display as solid rectangles that you choose from the Region Color drop-down list.

To designate regions, right-click the video image, choose Draw Region , then hold down the left mouse button and draw the region, which is indicated by a green rectangle.

To move a region, left-click it and drag its window to the desired area.

To resize a region, left-click it and drag a box in the edge or corner of the region.

To remove a region, left-click it, then right-click it and choose Delete Region .

Region Color drop-down menu

Choose the color in which the system displays the zones that are defined by privacy regions. You can choose Red , Green , Black , or Blue .

Privacy Zone properties

To expand region properties information, click the + icon next to Privacy Zone Properties. The icon changes to a – icon, which you click to collapse region properties information.

• Name—Name of the region. By default, the system assigns the name Region X , where X is a number 1 through 4. To rename a region, click its name (which appears in bold type on this line) and type a unique name of up to 32 characters .
• IsActive—To indicate whether the IP camera displays a region as a privacy mask, left-click that region, click IsActive , then choose True (mask the region) of False (do not mask the region) from the drop-down menu that appears on the IsActive line. Alternatively, you can double-click True or False to toggle between these values.