INR-410 - Video recorder ACTi - Free user manual and instructions

Product Type	Network Video Recorder (NVR)
Operating System	Microsoft Windows Embedded Standard 7 Professional
Software	ACTi NVR 3.0 (Server and Client)
Number of Channels	Up to 64
Video Resolution	Up to 1920x1080 (depending on camera)
Recording Modes	Manual, Schedule, Event (motion, digital input, PIR)
Playback Features	Synchronized multi-channel playback; search by time, event type, video analytics (motion, tamper)
PTZ Control	Optical and digital PTZ via mouse or PTZ panel; supports preset tours
Audio	Two-way audio; audio-in and audio-out; broadcast to multiple channels
Network Protocols	TCP/IP, HTTP
Client Access	Local workstation, remote workstation, web browser (Internet Explorer)
Storage	Internal SATA HDD (capacity not specified)
Power Supply	External power adapter; 100-240V AC input
Dimensions (Approx.)	200 x 200 x 50 mm
Weight (Approx.)	2 kg
Operating Temperature	0°C to 40°C
Security	User accounts with passwords; auto-login and remember login options
Maintenance	Keep unit in well-ventilated area; clean with dry cloth
Spare Parts & Repairability	Contact ACTi technical support for spare parts and repairs

Frequently Asked Questions - INR-410 ACTi

How do I log in to the INR-410 NVR?

You can log in via the NVR3 Workstation (local or remote) or via Internet Explorer. Default account is Admin with password 123456. Enter the server IP and port (default 80) for remote access.

How can I add cameras to the Live View?

In Live View, open the Device List panel. Double-click on a device or drag it to the display area. You can also double-click on 'All Devices' to add all cameras.

How do I manually start recording?

Right-click on a channel and select Manual Record. To record all channels in the current view, click the record button on the Live View Control panel. The left indicator on the channel title bar turns red when recording.

How can I search and playback recordings?

Go to the Playback screen. Drag a camera or view to the display area. Use the time bar to navigate, or search by event type or video analytics (motion, tamper). You can also use the search panel to filter results.

How do I export video recordings?

In Playback, define the start and end on the time bar by right-clicking and selecting Mark Export Start and Mark Export End. Then click the export button. Choose format (RAW or AVI), set options, and select a destination folder.

How can I control PTZ cameras?

Select the PTZ camera channel. Use the PTZ Panel for optical controls: 8-directional navigation, zoom, focus, iris, and preset tours. You can also use mouse: click to pan/tilt, scroll wheel to zoom.

What should I do if I cannot access the NVR via web browser?

Check if the NVR server is running. Ensure port 80 is not occupied by another service. If using IE, enable ActiveX controls and add the server IP to trusted sites. Use a 32-bit IE browser.

How can I change my user password?

Click the user icon on the title bar and select Update Profile. Enter your current and new password, then click Apply. You can also change your email address there.

How do I set up view patrolling?

On the Live View screen, click the patrol button on the title bar. Select a saved patrol or create an instant patrol. Define the views and dwell time, then click Apply. The views will cycle automatically.

How do I use fisheye camera modes?

Right-click on a fisheye camera channel and select Fisheye Mode. Choose from modes like Panorama, Double Panorama, Quad, etc. You can then navigate using mouse or PTZ panel. The view can be changed during playback as well.

USER MANUAL INR-410 ACTi

This manual is intended for End Users who actually execute security tasks such as monitoring activities, patrolling secured zones, searching video data and managing alarms with use of NVR surveillance system. The reader is expected to own not only the basic operation skills but permissions to access major functionalities, as the access rights are based upon different user roles defined by the System Administrators.

Content Overview

This manual provides information needed for monitoring the whole system and playback recordings. Its content consists of the following sections:

• NVR User Interface Overview gives you a glance of the user interface components and module functions.
• Live View introduces the methods to add your desired channels and arrange your customized live view layout on live view screen.
• Monitoring provides guidance on how to read the system alerts and status, do live view PTZ operations, take a snapshot and execute manual recording.
• Playback gives instructions on how to perform synchronized playback and export files from NVR server system.

Related Documentation

Since this manual focuses on operation instructions for live view operations, playback, search video and export files from NVR server, there is very limited information about system installation and configurations for System Administrator. System Administrators and End Users who would like to obtain the instructions on NVR system setup, please acquire the latest GNR-3000 Administrator's Manual from http://www.acti.com/downloadcenter

Technical Support

For technical support or feedback, please contact our engineers via our Customer Help Desk platform at http://www.acti.com/CHD.

Conventions Used in This Manual

The following are typographic conventions used in this manual:

• Bold indicates keywords, major functions of NVR, or a title of a section/column.
• Italic is used for a filename or location path.
  ● Underlined is used for a document name or hyperlink.
• “Bold” indicates the name of a button, a menu or a choice item.

Some notices are placed within the following boxes; each type of the box indicates different purposes or levels of importance for system:

Important Notice

The content within this box is an important notice. This notice is important for you to get certain function to work properly, or to prevent from certain potential problems that may damage your system. Make sure you read this notice and follow the instructions.

Note

The content within this box is a note. A note is some necessary information you need to know about the action you are currently taking, like what will happen after you follow or don't follow certain procedure.

Tip

The content within this box is a tip. A tip gives you an alternative method to easily or quickly achieve an objective, usually for specific conditions.

Legal Notice

Disclaimer

• The information contained in this document is intended for general information purposes. ACTi Corporation shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages arising from the furnishing, performance, or use of this manual.
  ● The information contained herein is subject to change without notice.
• The English version of this document is the official one for all purpose. All the translated versions are provided as a convenience. Any discrepancies or differences created in the translations of any other languages are not legally binding.

Copyright

Copyright © 2003-2014 ACTi Corporation All Rights Reserved.

Trademarks

● ACTi Connecting Vision and its logo Corporation.

are registered trademarks of ACTi

- Microsoft® and Windows® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

All other product or company names mentioned in this document may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Table of Contents

1 About This Manual 2

Target Audience 2

Content Overview 2

Related Documentation .... 3

Technical Support 3

Conventions Used in This Manual 4

2 Legal Notice 5

Disclaimer 5

Copyright 5

Trademarks....5

3 Table of Contents 6

Product Overview 9

Server / Client Architecture 10

4 Log In to the System 11

Access the NVR Server via NVR3 Workstation 11

Local Workstation Client Login....12

A. Enter Account & Password 12
B. Choose the Initial Page 12
C. Language 12
D. Remember Login Information and Auto Login 12
E. Retrieve the User Password 13

Remote Workstation Client Login.... 13

A. Server IP & Server Port 13
B. Enter Account & Password 13
C. Choose the Initial Page 13
D. Language 14
E. Remember Login Information and Auto Login 14
F. Retrieve the User Password 14
G. Server Name/Server Sites List 14

Change User Profile.... 16

Access the NVR Server via Internet Explorer 17

Accept ActiveX Controls Installation Requests 17

Log in Failure Troubleshooting 17

Condition 1: Why can't I access NVR server via web browser? 17

Condition 2: Why can't I install Active X controls after logging in? 19

Login 21

A. Enter Account & Password 21

B. Change UI language 21

C. Remember Account/Password 21

D. Retrieve the Forgotten Password 21

5 NVR User Interface Overview 22

NVR Resident Tool Bars 22

NVR Main Module Screens 24

Live View 24

Playback....24

Setup....24

6 Live View 25

Watch Live View 26

Select a View 26

Select a Camera 27

Device List 27

Remove a Channel 28

Remove All Channels....28

Enable View Patrol 29

7 Monitor the System 30

Read System Alerts and Channel Status 30

Channel Status 30

Event Panel....31

Instant Event Playback....32

Pop-up Event Playback 33

Hot-Spot Window 33

Live View Operations.... 35

Show Mini Live View Windows on a Map 35

Adjust Audio-in Volume 36

Send Audio Signal....36

Trigger Digital-out Device 37

Watch Instant Playback of a Channel....38

Manual Recording....38

Take a Snapshot of Live Image 39

Digital PTZ Operation....39

Optical PTZ Operation 40

PTZ Panel Overview 40

Using Mouse Controls 41

Navigate a Fisheye Camera Channel.... 42

Change Fisheye Mode 42

PTZ Operation 43

8 Playback 44

Playback UI Introduction.... 44

How to Do Playback 45

Add Video Source 45

Remove Unwanted Channels.... 45

Search on Time Bar 47

Display Event Types 47

Event Type Highlight Colors 48

Playback Controls 48

Daylight Saving Time Switch.... 48

Digital Zoom on Playback.... 49

Explore Fisheye View....50

Search by Time....51

Search by Event Type 52

Search by Video Analytics.... 53

View Search Results 56

Take a Snapshot of the Playback View.... 58

Export the Recordings 59

Define the Section of Exported Video on Time Bar 59

Set the Export Video Settings 60

Product Overview

GNR-3000 is a compact and reliable multi-channel standalone NVR. It contains a pre-installed Windows operating system, and ACTi NVR 3.0 video management software along with client software.

This unit is composed of:

●Computer

A PC, with Microsoft ® Windows Embedded Standard 7 Professional operating system pre-installed.

●NVR 3.0 Server System

A video management software that allows this PC to become a server, where the system administrator performs the administrative tasks and NVR server services (event handling, schedule recording, media streaming, etc) take place.

●NVR 3.0 Client Application

The dedicated client application of NVR3 system - NVR3 Workstation, allowing the user to directly access NVR3 interface. A remote client can also access this system via network.

Server / Client Architecture

NVR 3.0 is a typical web-based server/client system. In a video surveillance system architecture, the Server serves as a video management service provider, aimed to run 24/7 offering non-stop services for clients. A Client makes requests of monitoring video streams or playback recordings to Server, which can reside on the same computer with server program (as from local) or on another computer (as from remote). Server starts automatically as soon as the Server computer (where it is installed) boots up, and operates in the background without requiring login by administrator. It would provide services over the TCP/IP network to multiple Clients upon request through HTTP Protocol.

There are two types of Clients in NVR 3.0 system: Web Client and Workstation Client. A user, connecting from whether web browser or workstation, will enjoy the same user interface and NVR functions.

• Web Client: the web version of interface to access NVR server without need of installing any client program to become a client. Logging in the NVR server is as simple as visiting a website through IE browser.
• Workstation Client: the client application making accessing NVR server free from the use of browser. The workstation includes a set of programs that provide interface between users and the NVR server.

graph LR
    A["Camera Site"] --> B["Network"]
    B --> C["Standalone NVR"]
    B --> D["Local display"]
    B --> E["Security Officer"]
    C --> F["Network"]
    D --> F
    E --> F
    F --> G["Remote Access"]
    G --> H["Workstation"]
    G --> I["Remote User"]
    F --> J["Remote Access"]
    J --> K["Web Client"]
    J --> L["Remote User"]
    F --> M["Remote Access"]
    M --> N["Mobile Client"]
    M --> O["Remote User"]

Log In to the System

Access the NVR Server via NVR3 Workstation

NVR3 Workstation includes a set of programs that provide the interface between users and the NVR server. It may be installed in the NVR server, or in the remote client computer that connects to the NVR server via network. For the local client of the NVR server, NVR3 Workstation will start automatically after you login to Windows; for the remote client, please double-click the shortcut icon on your desktop to execute this workstation application.

graph LR
    A["Remote Workstation Client"] -->|LAN| B["NVR Server and Local Workstation Client"]
    B -->|WAN| C["Remote Workstation Client"]

Local Workstation Client Login

Local Workstation Client refers to the user who runs NVR3 Workstation on the NVR server to log in to the NVR system. The login process is described as follows.

A. Enter Account & Password

Account (non case-sensitive)

Admin (default)

Password (case-sensitive)

123456 (default)

B. Choose the Initial Page

The user interface consists of three main module screens, Live View, Playback and Setup. You may choose one where

you would like to enter after login. Default is Live View screen.

C. Language

Choose a UI language from the dropdown list.

D. Remember Login Information and Auto Login

To have NVR3 Workstation remember the Account, Password, Initial Page and UI Language, simply check "Remember login info". Click "Don't Remember" will clear your input text and reset to default. If the NVR server or remote client computer may be accessed by someone else, you might consider not using this function.

To automatically login to the NVR system, please check both "Remember login info" and "Auto Login" to skip the Login page. If the NVR server or remote client computer may be accessed by someone else, you might consider not to use this function.

To cancel auto-login, on title bar, click → "Logout" to return to login page, and this function will be cancelled.

E. Retrieve the User Password

The NVR server can send the password of the User's account to the saved email address. To have users be able to use this service, please make sure (1) the SMTP settings have been configured and (2) a valid email address has previously been saved in Setup page → Users tab → User list.

The email address input in Forgot Password window should match the one under your User account saved in the NVR server.

Remote Workstation Client Login

Remote Workstation Client refers to the user who runs NVR3 Workstation on a computer rather than the NVR server, and tries to reach the NVR server via network. The login process is described as follows.

A. Server IP & Server Port

In Server IP field, please input the LAN or WAN IP address of the NVR server.

In Server Port field, key in the port number. The default value is 80.

B. Enter Account & Password

Account (non case-sensitive)

Admin (default)

Password (case-sensitive)

123456 (default)

C. Choose the Initial Page

The user interface consists of three main module screens, Live View, Playback and Setup. You may choose one where you would like to enter after login. Default is Live View screen.

D. Language

Choose a UI language from the dropdown list.

E. Remember Login Information and Auto Login

To have NVR3 Workstation remember the Account, Password, Initial Page and UI Language, simply check "Remember login info". Click "Don't Remember" will clear your input text and reset to default. If the NVR server or remote client computer may be accessed by someone else, you might consider not to use this function.

To automatically login to the NVR system, please check both "Remember login info" and "Auto Login" to skip the Login page. If the NVR server or remote client computer may be accessed by someone else, you might consider not to use this function.

To cancel auto-login, on title bar, click → "Logout" to return to login page, and this function will be cancelled.

F. Retrieve the User Password

Please refer to E. Retrieve the User Password on page 13

G. Server Name/Server Sites List

NVR3 Workstation can remember multiple server sites and their login settings and show the site lists on Login window. To add a new site:

1. Click in the Server Name box and input the server site name.

2. Fill in the other fields. If you disable the "Remember login info", then only the Server Name, Server IP and Server Port of this server site will be remembered.

3. Click "Save".

4. After a server site is saved, it will be shown on Server Name dropdown list.

You may click on its name to enter its Login window or ✗ to delete it from the list.

1. You can export the saved server sites, or import it to another Workstation client computer. Access the NVR server via NVR3 Workstation, go to Setup page → System tab → Workstation.

A. Export current server sites list

Click "Browse" to select a folder to save the list, and then click "Export". This file will be saved as an *.xml file.

B. Import a server site list

Click "Browse" to select the *.xml file, and then click "Import". The server sites will appear in Server Name dropdown list on Login window of your next login.

Change User Profile

You can maintain your own account information on NVR interface without System

Administrator's help.

On NVR screen, click

→ "Update Profile".

You may change the email address or password and then click "Apply" to save the settings to NVR server.

Access the NVR Server via Internet Explorer

In addition to NVR3 Workstation, you can also log in to the NVR system with Internet Explorer (IE). If you open the IE browser on the NVR server, you will be directed to the NVR system Login page immediately. If you are connecting to the NVR server as a remote client, please type the NVR server's LAN or WAN IP address, or domain name in the URL box. Remember to append a colon and the port number after the hostname or IP address.

Accept ActiveX Controls Installation Requests

NVR 3.0 system interface requires the add-on ActiveX Control components, please make sure browser's security settings allow ActiveX controls to be downloaded and installed. When your browser asks if you allow ACTi Corporation's add-on components to run, please allow.

Log in Failure Troubleshooting

Once you confront with problems accessing the NVR server, refer to the possible conditions below and follow the instruction to solve your issues.

Condition 1: Why can't I access NVR server via web browser?

After typing in the correct NVR server IP, if you cannot access NVR Login page, you may get the below browser screens:

Cause 1: The NVR server is not ready

Solution: It may happen when you just start the NVR server and it is still booting up. Please wait a few seconds and connect again.

Cause 2: The NVR server is not able to respond to your request through current path because port 80 has been seized by another service running on server computer. This may happen when that service is executed right before the NVR server starts its services.

Solution: Please check if there is another service using port 80 right now, and change the setting in that program to release port 80 for the NVR server. Below are the steps to find the service:

1. Please click on "Windows Start" (Windows-Logo), then enter "cmd.exe" in the run box and execute it.
2. Input the command "netstat -a -o -b". You will be provided with the ports in use and the services using them. Find the Local Address that has taken port 80, and the PID number.

1. Press down "ctrl" + "alt" + "Delete" keys to bring up Windows Task Manager. Select "View", then "Select columns", and enable the "PID (Process Identifier)" to appear on search results. Please also make sure "Show process from all users" is enabled.

2. On Task Manager Process tab, locate the PID number of the service using port 80. The service name is shown under "Image Name" column.

Condition 2: Why can't I install Active X controls after logging in?

ActiveX Control components are essential for the NVR server to present user interface. The message below will show if these controls were not installed. Please try refresh the browser first, making IE pop up the prompts again.

Cause 1: Your Internet Explorer browser version does not support NVR 3.0 system.

Solution: Make sure your browser is 32-bit version.

Cause 2: Your browser restricts the installation of add-on components.

Solution: Internet Explorer security settings may restrict the installation of add-on components.

To ensure the NVR server is always accessible from your web client regardless of any change in browser's overall Internet security settings, you may add the NVR server site to Internet Explorer's trusted sites. Trusted sites are the sites which you consider safe and wish to visit with low security restrictions while maintaining higher security for the rest of the Internet.

1. On IE browser, click Tools → Safety and make sure ActiveX Filtering is unchecked.
2. On IE browser, go to Tools → Internet Options → Security tab, select "Trusted sites", set the security level to "Medium High", and then click "Sites".

3. Add http://localhost or the NVR server IP to the zone, and clear the box "Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this zone".

4. Back on Security tab, click "Apply" to apply the changes. This will allow ActiveX and scripting to be available for the chosen sites but not for the Internet as a whole.

Login

A. Enter Account & Password

Account (non case-sensitive):

Admin (default)

Password (case-sensitive):

123456 (default)

B. Change UI language

To change UI language, select the desired language from "Language" dropdown list.

C. Remember Account/Password

To have the server remember your Login Account and Password in the future, check "Remember Account/Password". Click "Don't Remember" will clear your input text and reset to default.

To directly enter the main page every time you log in, check "Remember Account/Password" then "Auto Login" to skip the Login page. If your computer may be accessed by someone without proper authority, please DO NOT use either of these functions.

To cancel auto-login, on title bar, click → "Logout" to return to login page, and this function will be disabled.

D. Retrieve the Forgotten Password

Please refer to E. Retrieve the User Password on page 13.

NVR User Interface Overview

Unlike some NVR system products on the market, whose tree-like structure may easily confuse the User. NVR 3.0's easy user interface structure saves you a lot of time and hassle going from one page to another. Once you log in to the system, you may switch to any of the main function modules: Live View, Playback and Setup on any screen.

graph LR
    A["Live View"] --> B["Playback"]
    B --> C["Setup"]
    C --> A
    style A fill:#f9f,stroke:#333
    style B fill:#ccf,stroke:#333
    style C fill:#cfc,stroke:#333

NVR Resident Tool Bars

These resident tool bars are important functions or links that you often need through all the operations in NVR system.

① Tool Bar: To the right of title bar reside three links to most-used functions throughout all screens:

Options are certain useful functions you mostly need. The provided functions vary on different screens.

Live view Screen

Playback Screen

Setup Screen

System Log provides the search module for you to review the

records of user's behavior on this server. This is only available when your User right has permission to access it.

About Us displays the software version number and required ActiveX Control version number. You may also find ACTi supportive links here.

2 NVR Module Bar includes three main module screens: Live View, Playback and Setup. You can click the button to enter the function page directly.
3 Layout Selection Bar provides different layout styles for Live View and Playback screen.
④ View Tool Bar provides function keys for View editing on Live View screen.

NVR Main Module Screens

Click on the orange buttons on Module Bar to switch among these three main screens directly.

Live View

In this module you can see live view from cameras and devices, perform PTZ operations with mouse or Joystick, view system log, receive alert on the Event panel, setup view layouts, perform manual recording or take a snapshot.

Playback

You may find and playback existing recordings in this module. synchronously. Snapshots or video segments can be taken from playback files. Recorded files can also be exported to AVI format here.

Setup

This module includes user setup, device setup, event setup, schedule setup and system-wide settings

Live View

Live View is the interface where you see the live views from your cameras. It is where most of the security professionals access the surveillance system. Aside from keeping an eye on the video, you may also cycle through View layouts, drag and drop various cameras to the screen, review a log of events, take snapshots, control PTZ cameras, start or stop recording on a given channel, trigger Digital output and broadcast or talk to specific cameras. In this section, you will be given instructions on the said fundamental operations. To start, click Live View tab to enter live view screen.

• View Info: displays the information: [Current View name][Focused Channel name].
• Video Source Panels: View List panel and Device List panel provide two types of video source for live view display area.
  ● Event Panel: displays alerts of detected motion, abnormal system and device status.
• Live View Command Panels: Control panel and PTZ panel provide most used live view operation commands.
• Layout Selection Bar: offers different layout styles.
• View Tool Bar: you may create a view and save it using the buttons here. You may also assign specific layout to start patrolling.
  ● Live View Display Area: you may add up to 64 channels into this area to monitor them concurrently.

Watch Live View

Upon logging in to the system, you will enter the live view screen. If your System Administrator or colleagues have already set the default layout, you may immediately see the live view, and start monitoring without the need to arrange the devices or layouts.

Select a View

In NVR 3.0 system, a View refers to the layout where the live images of a few devices are arranged in proper positions to suit the monitoring purpose. This is very similar to a Camera Group, which consists of cameras in the same physical location or with the same device functions. For example, a View named First Floor may contain the cameras that actually placed in the secured area on the first floor. Once created, each camera view is assigned to a certain channel on the layout style selected by creator.

Note

Based on your User Group permissions, you may or may not own the privilege

● To create, edit or delete a Public View or a Private View
● To assign a specific View as default View
● To see all the cameras included in a Public View.

Therefore, you may find certain view edit functions not available on the View Tool Bar.

To watch a saved View, simply click on it on View List panel.

Above the View List panel title will display

[Current View name]:Device name

● The Public Views are open to every User
● The Private Views are only available to the User
who created them. You may not see this folder if without the User right to own the Private Views.
● The view with a pin on it is set by System
Administrator as default view. You will enter this view every time you log in.

For details about how to create and edit a View, please refer to the chapter Customize Views in GNR-3000 System Administrator's Manual.

Select a Camera

To watch the live view of individual devices, you need to identify and add this device video stream to a blank channel in display area. All the devices that you are allowed to see are in the Device List panel on the left. The permissions to watch different devices are defined by your User Group, the details of which are managed by the System Administrator.

To pull in video sources to the display area:

From Device List panel, double-click on a device or drag it to Display area. By double-clicking on "All Device", all the devices will be added to the Display area.

Device List

To view the device information, put the cursor over the device figure to bring the info box up.

In Device List panel, you may also sort the devices in different order. Click 📷 on title bar, select "Device Sort", and choose "by IP" or "by ID" as the sorting method.

By Device IP

By Device ID (default)

Remove a Channel

To remove a channel from display window, you may right-click to bring up quick menu on the channel, and select "Remove" to remove this video source.

Remove All Channels

You may disconnect all devices by clicking 📋 in title bar and selecting "Remove All".

Tip

Full Screen

On system title bar, click 📋 then select "Full Screen" to enter full screen mode. Click the icon 📋 on top right corner of title bar to return to normal mode.

Stretch/Un-stretch Channel View

On title bar, click 📋 then select "Stretch" to make the width of video to fulfill the window.

Enable View Patrol

You may have the saved Views patrol in turns. In this way, the views in different areas in your site may cycle through themselves for you automatically.

On title bar, click 📊 to select a saved patrol. As patrolling is running on Live View is doing patrol, click 📊 to stop.

You may create an Instant Patrol, which will only temporarily take effect during your current login.

To configure the instant patrol, please:

1. Define the Global Dwell Time between the views. If you want to set different dwell time length for individual Views, do not check this option, and configure them separately in below table.

2. Choose the Views to display in patrol. If you select the All Device group, you will also need to select "All Device Layout Style" for it.

3. Click "Apply" to save the settings. This patrol will instantly start running until you click

Monitor the System

The security monitoring, in surveillance world, involve monitoring or patrolling the whole site, discovering unusual circumstances or investigating the scene at the earliest time. The said tasks would require knowledge and skills to make use of NVR server functions. This section will introduce the essentials of how you achieve the goal with NVR 3.0 server.

Read System Alerts and Channel Status

On NVR Live view screen, it is essential to observe the system status events. As unexpected environmental factors or human behaviors may take place to influence your surveillance system like power failure or internet connection interruption, NVR server may lose the connection with devices, and hence you might lose the important video evidence.

Channel Status

The title bar of each channel window displays certain status information about this device.

The indicators

The color of two indicators on top right channel title bar shows the following status:

•Right

:Device is connected with video presence

:Devices is not connected

:Device is connected, video is not received

• Left

: Performing manual recording

: Taking snapshot

If this device is triggered by events such as video motion, PIR motion or digital input device, the channel title bar would turn red for a while to alert you that some movements have been detected. Based on System Administrator's setting, you may hear the "Beep" audio alert when certain devices are triggered.

Interior view of an office with cubicles and desks (no visible text or symbols)

On a map channel, if a device is triggered by events such as video motion, PIR motion or digital input device, an event icon will blibk besides the device icon for a few seconds.

Click on the device icon to see mini live view window on the map.

Event Panel

It is important to check out the messages pushed into Event panel all the time. These messages are arranged in a reverse-time order (newest on top, oldest on bottom).

The messages notify you of the following device or system status:

graph TD
    A["MD 2<br>2012/05/23 15:06:09<br>05 Office 4F"] --> B["Motion Name"]
    A --> C["Date & Time"]
    A --> D["Device Name"]
    A --> E["Detected Motion"]
    A --> F["Digital Input triggered"]
    A --> G["PIR Motion"]
    E --> H["Video Recovery"]
    E --> I["Video Loss"]
    E --> J["Network Recovery"]
    E --> K["Network Loss"]
    H --> L["Delete File Fail"]
    I --> M["Disk Full"]
    J --> N["Disk Not Found"]
    K --> O["Disk is Available"]
    L --> P["Server Recovery"]
    M --> Q["Server Loss"]

Important Notice

When NVR server fails to connect a device, to get the video or have disk problems, it might be caused by a temporary network disconnection in your overall environment. The connection might recover after the problem is fixed. If not, please contact your System Administrator.

Instant Event Playback

Among these types of Event messages, you may individually watch the event playback of a motion (video motion, DI or PIR) event or transmission status event (video recovery & loss, network recovery& loss).

To bring up the instant event playback window, double-click on an event entry:

As the window pops out, it will immediately start playing live view stream. You may draw the time bar back and forth to search.

• Click ▶ to play video, □ to pause, or ▶ to play live view video.
• On time bar, click the blue mark or which indicates the event's occurrence, and then to playback this event.
• Click to start manual recording the currently-playing video.
• Click ☐ to take a snapshot of this view.
• Click >> to switch to Playback screen.
• Click on top right of the window title to close.

Pop-up Event Playback

Sometimes the instant event playback window would automatically pop-up to notify you of events detected on certain camera sites. As the events in certain sensitive spots will have higher priority than other channels, your System Administrator would apply this “Pop-up Event Window” function to these cameras. In this way, these critical events will be pushed into your sight actively.

On the left of the window may list a series of motions detected within the same period. You may double-click on any entry to see its live view or playback the event. This window would automatically disappear after a while, and you may still look these events up in the Event panel.

Hot-Spot Window

In your Live View screen, the upper left window may sometimes display a device video instead of the original channel. This is because the events detected in certain sensitive spots will have higher priority than other channels. Whichever View you are watching, the events detected by those cameras will be temporarily displayed in this window to catch your attention.

You can set any other channel on your live view screen to be the default hotspot channel.

Right-click on the desired channel and select "Default Hotspot"

Motion Region Indicator

The motion region indicator is a red frame that blinks when motion inside this ROI (Region of Interest) is detected.

You can turn off the indicators of all channels on Live View screen. On Live View screen, click → “Disable Motion Alert”.

Live View Operations

Aside from pure watching, there are more benefits provided by NVR server to accomplish more tasks. For example, you may make use of the audio function to commutate with people on camera side, look into more details with PTZ devices, or navigate the whole scene on the maps.

Show Mini Live View Windows on a Map

You may open mini live view windows of all devices on a map channel to get an overview of what is happening on this map.

• Click on the icon to enter another linked map.
• Double-click on a device icon to open its live view window.
• On the map channel, right-click and select "Show All Live View".

If certain mini windows appear out of view, you can drag on anywhere on the map to move the image until the window reveals.

Adjust Audio-in Volume

If one or more cameras are connected with an audio-in device like a microphone, or supports two-way audio function, the audio signal will be recorded along with video stream. You may listen to the real-time audio on Live View screen or recorded audio in Playback screen. In Live view, NVR server will send out the audio signal when you select a channel. On bottom right of Live View screen is the audio-in volume control.

● To mute the channel audio, click

● To activate the channel audio, click

● To adjust audio volume, drag on the volume meter.

Send Audio Signal

- To talk to the audience through speaker connected to one camera, right-click on a channel to bring up the quick menu, and select "Audio Out". When this icon appears in orange, your audio-out function is activated, every sound you make through the microphone on your client computer will be sent out to this camera only.

- To broadcast to multiple cameras, click 📄 on Live view Control panel. Your audio will be sent to all the channels connected to a speaker in current View.

Trigger Digital-out Device

If a camera is connected with a digital-out device such as a door contact or an alarm, you may trigger it via NVR server on Live View screen. Do either of the following:

On the channel, right-click to bring up the quick menu, the DO icon will appear available if the corresponding DO device is connected. Click "DO" to trigger it, click again to stop triggering.

- As a channel is focused, click on Live view Control panel, click again to stop triggering.

Note

Trigger DO and sending audio to a specific device are only available on a single camera channel. On a map channel, you may do "Audio Broadcast" to all devices in this view.

Watch Instant Playback of a Channel

You may watch the playback of any channel in a pop-up window on Live View without switching to Playback screen. As a channel is focused, click ▶ on Live View Control panel.

Manual Recording

You may manually record the real-time video on Live view screen. This video will only be searchable in Playback. You may switch to Playback screen to find this clip (please refer to the section in this manual: How to Do Playback on page 45 for instructions).

To do manual recording, do one of the following:

- On a channel, right-click to bring up the quick menu, then select "Manual Record".

Once the recording starts, the left indicator on the channel title bar will turn red. To stop recording, click "Manual Record" again on quick menu.

- To manual record all channels in current View, on Live view Control panel, click to start; click RECALL to stop.

Take a Snapshot of Live Image

You may take a snapshot on a channel live image on Live View screen. The snapshot will be saved to default folder on your client computer as .jpg format (The system default location is Windows Desktop). You may find the location path on the bottom of NVR window after taking a snapshot.

Snapshot to: C:\Users\Wen.Cheng\Desktop\Channel01\_20121024184041\_759.jpg

You may do one of the following to take a snapshot:

- On a channel, right-click to bring up the quick menu and select "Snapshot". While the snapshot is being taken, the left indicator on the channel title bar will turn blue. After the picture is taken, the indicator will then turn grey.

- As a channel is focused, click 📄 on Live view Control panel to take a snapshot.

Digital PTZ Operation

Regardless of the device models, you may perform digital zooming on Live view screen.

1. Click and drag a highlight rectangle over any channel, and the area highlighted will be displayed in the full live video window. In this mode, a picture-in-picture view will show in the lower right of live view window. A red rectangle will mark the currently enlarged view area within the full size video. You may drag the red rectangle over the image to zoom another area.

1. To go back to the original full video view, just right-click on the minimized Picture in Picture view.

Optical PTZ Operation

If there is a camera supporting optical pan/tilt/zoom function in current view, you may operate it via the PTZ panel.

Once you select the camera, the optical PTZ controls will become available on PTZ Panel.

PTZ Panel Overview

Digital/Optical Zoom switch

Click to switch the PTZ mode between digital PTZ 📄 and optical PTZ mode 🙏 non-PTZ device will only have digital PTZ mode.

Zoom Controls

If the camera has controllable zoom, these two buttons will zoom the lens in or out.

8-directional PTZ navigation controls

Click to control PTZ movements.

Pan/Tilt/Zoom Speed Controls

Click on the speed meter to define the speed of PTZ movement.

Focus Controls

If the camera has controllable focus, this will shift the focus of the camera.

Iris Controls

If the camera has controllable iris, these two buttons will modify Iris level.

Goto Preset Menu

Select the preset point name from the list to go to the spot. Click the title "Goto Preset" to close menu.

Preset Tour Menu

Select a tour name from the list to start a PTZ tour.

Click "Stop" to stop touring.

Click the title "Preset Tour" to close menu.

PTZ Command Menu

Select a command from the list to execute particular action command. Click the title "PTZ Command" to close menu.

Using Mouse Controls

You may also use mouse to perform PTZ negation on a channel view or a mini live view window on a map.

Place the mouse over the channel to do the following PTZ operations:

• To execute optical Panning and Tilting, click anywhere on the live window to allow the camera to move in that direction. The length of the direction indicator is proportional to the Pan and Tilt speed. The farther you place the cursor from the center, the faster the Pan/Tilt movement.
• To execute optical Zoom in or Zoom out, scroll the mouse wheel forward to zoom in; scroll the mouse wheel backward to zoom out.

Pan/Tilt

Zoom in

Zoom out

Navigate a Fisheye Camera Channel

On a fisheye camera channel, you may change the fisheye view mode and view point at will. What you see on Live View screen will not affect what is being recorded, and you can have alternative choice of view mode when doing playback.

Change Fisheye Mode

On this channel, right-click to bring up channel menu, click "Fisheye Mode" and select one mode.

When you click on a channel which is set to such modes: Panorama mode with Wall mounting, Double Panorama mode with Wall mounting, Panorama Focus mode with Wall mounting and Double Panorama mode with Ceiling mounting, a clickable cursor will appear on the view to allow you explore the image.

Interior view of a room with two rows of sewing machines, one showing a white object and the other displaying black circular patterns (no text or symbols visible)

PTZ Operation

Select a fisheye mode; click the entire channel or a region of interest to navigate this view

- Use PTZ Panel controls to operate PTZ movements:

PTZ Controls on PTZ Panel

- Click the mouse anywhere on the view to pan/tilt, scroll the mouse wheel to zoom in/out.

Interior view of a cluttered room with tiled floor, scattered objects, and large windows (no visible text or symbols)

- To reset the PTZ navigation area back to default viewing angle, right-click to bring up channel menu, and then click "Reset".

Note

Once a channel is changed to any of the following fisheye modes: Dewarping, Panorama, Double Panorama, Panorama/Focus or Quad, the resolution of this live stream will become 1920x1080, so will the resolution of the snapshot.

Playback

NVR Playback is the NVR module that processes recorded clips, where you may search, playback and export video. Multiple channels can be played synchronously, and video clips may also be exported in either RAW or AVI formats.

Playback UI Introduction

Playback screen consists of four function areas: Video Source, Playback Display, Time Bar and Search Panel.

• Video Source Area: Provides both saved Views and Device Tree, you may drag a view or device to Playback Display Area to view the recordings.
• Playback Display Area: You may have multiple-channel synchronized playback in this area
• Tim Bar Area: The time bar of the video source in Playback Display Area will be shown here. You may drag on the time bar back and forth to your desired time spot.
• Search Tool Area: The Search results and Control panels are shown here. You may find the playback controls, search tool and export options in Control panel. The Search results will display your search results in thumbnails; with the help of event filter and pagination, it is easier for you to find the target moment.
• Playback Control Bar: All the controls related to video playing including play speed switch, play or pause button.

How to Do Playback

On NVR screen, click into "Playback" page to enter Playback view, none of the video sources is selected in the beginning, and you have to select your desired channels.

Add Video Source

There are two ways to pull in video sources:

1. In View area, click on a saved view.
2. From Device List panel, double-click on a device or drag it to Display area.

Through either way, you may add video sources, and their time bars will display in Time Bar area. Your playback operations and search will be based on these selected channels.

In the meanwhile, you may change the layout styles from Layout Selection Bar on title bar.

Remove Unwanted Channels

You will only need the desired channels to be kept in Display area, as you don't want too many unnecessary results after you perform a search.

To remove a channel from Display area, you may place your cursor over the channel, and right click the mouse, then right-click menu provides "Remove", "Export Video" and "Snapshot" for a single channel.

Note

The view of a map channel will not be record, and therefore it has no time bar or recordings for playback.

To remove all channels at one time, on title bar, click 📋 to bring up the most used playback-related commands menu, and select "Remove All".

Search on Time Bar

You may focus on a certain channel as a search base. Its time bar will be highlighted as well.

1. To adjust the time frame seen on the Time Bar, you can click on any location on the Time Bar and use the scroll wheel on your mouse:

a. Scroll upwards to view a narrower time frame (For ex: Change the time frame from 1 hour to 30 minutes)

b. Scroll downwards to view a broader time frame (For ex: Change the time frame from 1 hour to 2 hours)

Note that if your mouse doesn't provide a scroll wheel, this function can also be achieved by adjusting the "Time Bar Scale" in the Control panel.

1. To find specific later time spot, drag the cursor to the left.

2. To find specific former time spot, drag the cursor to the right.

3. Click on ☑ to previous time section; ☑ to next time section.

Display Event Types

By default, the "Manual" recording will display in orange, while "Schedule" recording displays in grey on the time bar. To highlight specific events, you may enable the "Event" and "DI" event highlighters on Playback Control Bar.

Event Type Highlight Colors

Playback Controls

The playback related controls reside in Playback Control Bar. You may adjust the video play speed, do a reverse / forward play, or pause the video to spot your desired view. For non-continuous recording types such as DI, or Event recording, you may use the "Previous Recording" or "Next Recording" buttons to jump to the part directly.

Daylight Saving Time Switch

NVR Server will detect and display your client computer local time on Live View and Playback screen. Once you apply Daylight Saving Time rule on your computer, NVR server will automatically enable this function on Control Bar. By default, this function will be enabled automatically as daylight saving time begins. You may disable this function to view playback according to Coordinated Universal Time.

Digital Zoom on Playback

Regardless of the device models, you may perform digital zooming while the video is playing.

1. Click and drag a highlight rectangle over any channel, and the area highlighted will be displayed in the full live video window. In this mode, a picture-in-picture view will show in the lower right of live view window. A red rectangle will mark the currently enlarged view area within the full size video. You may click and drag the red rectangle to see another area.
2. To go back to the original full video view, just right-click on the minimized Picture-in-Picture view.

Explore Fisheye View

You may change to the desired fisheye view mode on Playback screen. Select a fisheye camera channel, right-click to bring up the channel menu→Fisheye Mode→select one view mode.

In a view mode where ePTZ operation is available (e.g. Quad mode), you may explore the region of interest using mouse or PTZ Panel at will. For ePTZ operation instructions, please refer to Navigate a Fisheye Camera Channel on page 42.

Search by Time

If you simply want to skim through the footage record around a certain time, you can start by locating the specific time on the time bar.

1. Double-click on your desired channel or drag it to the display window. The channel view will appear in the window.
2. On Playback Control Bar, click 📄, and specify the target date and time on the calendar window, and then click "Apply".
3. The time bar will immediately locate the target time.

Search by Event Type

If you are clear about (1) When (2) as which event type (3) Where the incident happened, you will not need to drag on time bar all the way to the spot. The event search tool can sort out the video clips that match your criteria.

1. Double-click on your desired channel or drag it to the display window. The channel view will appear in the window.
2. Drag time bar to the target time.
3. On Search Tool panel, two search tools will appear, click

1. Select an event type from dropdown list, and click "+" to create this filter. You can select an unwanted filter and delete it by clicking on the "x" on the right.
2. Select the desired filter and click "Apply" to start searching.

Search by Video Analytics

NVR server is equipped with two useful video analytics that can perform advanced search – Motion and Tamper.

Motion

- Unlike the typical motion detection method, this motion video analytics algorithm can detect a maximum of six regions in a view, including rectangle regions and polygon regions.

Tamper

- A camera that has been tampered with is not able to serve its purpose. To avoid this, NVR offers an algorithm to detect whether any form of tampering has been done to a camera device, whether it be in the form of redirecting the angle of the device, de-focusing the device, covering, or spray-painting the device.

To start,

1. Double-click on your desired channel or drag it to the display window. The channel view will appear in the window.
2. Drag time bar to the target time.
3. On Search Tool panel, two search tools will appear, click

1. Define the time range.
2. Select the video analytics type
3. Click “+” to create this filter. You can select an unwanted filter and delete it by clicking on the “x” on the right.

1. After this filter is created, draw the regions on the channel view. (You can define a total of six regions for a motion filter, while tamper filter will us the whole camera view for analyzing)

If the area you want to mark does not fit to the form of a rectangle, you may also choose to draw a polygon by selecting the icon. To draw the lines for the sides of your polygon, click your cursor to mark the endpoints of each line. Double-click on the final endpoint of the final line to confirm and highlight the polygon in light blue, as shown in the illustration below. Make sure your lines connect (a minimum of three lines) to form a closed shape.

1. Click "Apply" to start searching.

To create a new search, simply double-click on a camera ion Device list, and follow the steps narrated above again.

View Search Results

The search results will then start being generated in thumbnails in Search Result Viewer window. However, it might take a few seconds if a large number of results are found. The thumbnails are listed in sequential order, left-to-right and top-to-bottom. You can drag on the Search Result Viewer to your desired time to find the snapshots of the incidents.

Search Result Tool Bar

Search Result Viewer

For easy exploring the search results, on Search Result Tool Bar, you can

- Adjust the size of the snapshots, the smaller the thumbnail's size is, the more results you can see in the view.

• Select a thumbnail and click ↓ to download its snapshop.
• Select a thumbnail and click ▶ to directly start playing this event.
• Select a thumbnail and click 📋 to view the event card list instead of thumbnail view.

The event card list will be displayed in the Search Tool panel. You can click < to browse through the event list, or duoblie-click on an event card to start playing this event.

To return to thumbnail view, click ↗.

Take a Snapshot of the Playback View

You may take a snapshot of a channel live image on Live screen.

The snapshot will be saved to default folder on your client computer as .jpg format (The system default location is Windows Desktop). You may find the location path on the bottom of NVR window after taking a snapshot.

Snapshot to: C:\Users\Wen.Cheng\Desktop\Channel01_20121024184041_759.jpg

Export the Recordings

NVR playback offers two choices of video format for the exported video. The *.raw file, as the original video file format captured from video source, is able to be played on ACTi Archive Player. You may download the this utility from http://www.acti.com/downloadcenter

The*.AVI file, as The most widely adopted video format on Windows system, can be instantly transferred by NVR server and played directly in Windows Media Player.

Before starting to export the video, please make sure there is enough memory space on the hard drive of your destination computer.

To play the exported *.AVI file in other video players, you must have FFDShow or DivX codec installed in your computer. They can be found over the internet at the following sites:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/ffdshow/

http://www.divx.com/en/software/divx

Define the Section of Exported Video on Time Bar

You may define the video duration on time bar during the playback. In this way, you don't spend extra time and effort on finding the specific date and time information.

1. On time bar, drag to the start point of the video, right-click to bring up quick menu, then select "Mark Export Start".
2. If you have successfully set the start point, the time duration will turn yellow as you drag to another point. Drag to the end, right-click to bring up quick menu, and then select "Mark Export End".

1. As both start point and end are set, you may right-click again the quick menu and find these two options are already gray out. Select "Export Video"

Depending on your scenario, you may first set the ending point, then the start point.

Note

Other than defining the time duration, on time bar, you can rest the time cursor on a desire time and then click 📋 to enter Export Video window. The default time duration will be one minute before this time spot plus one minute after it, at a total length of two minutes.

Set the Export Video Settings

You may export video with or without defining the time duration beforehand since you can configure all the settings on Export Video window. On Search Result Tool bar, click to enter the window.

1. Select the devices. If more than one device are selected, you will get multiple recordings.
2. Set the time duration. The minimum duration is 10 seconds, maximum is 1 hour. (For individual recording, if the total size is over 2 GB, or the video encoder type, frame rate, resolution of this channel's stream once altered during the selected Time Duration, this file will be divided).

3. For Video Settings, you can (1) choose the video format,(2) enable the "Filter no video" function to skip the video gaps, (3) enable "Add Watermark" to embed a unique code in every frame of this exported video footage, (4) if this channel is a fisheye camera, make sure you select the desired fisheye view from right-click menu "Fisheye Mode", and check "Export current fisheye view" here. The exported video will be displayed in the view mode you are seeing now; otherwise, the default fisheye view for exported video is Original View.

4. Set the overlay text if needed. The maximum number of characters for Text is 40.

5. This exported video can be saved to your current client computer. Please choose the location. By default, the files will be saved to Desktop.

6. Click "Apply" to start file converting and exporting. The export process window will appear. In the Device column displays the processed/ total number of video clips of that device. You may also observe the remaining processing time of each device's video files.

There are five types of process status: success, converting, waiting, no data and fail It might happen that there is certain section in a recording that exists no video data; if the status shows "Fail", it may be that your disk drive does not have enough space for video files, please make some space and click again to re-execute this export task.

Note

Once a channel is changed to any of the following fisheye modes: Dewarping, Panorama, Double Panorama, Panorama/Focus or Quad, the resolution of this live stream will become 1920x1080, so will the resolution of exported video clip.

Note

Certain fisheye camera view modes (e.g. Quad mode) display multiple regions in a single channel. When being exported, these regions will still be put together as a single video file.