Introduction
Users with encoders running v9.1 and above can utilise alarm events and triggers generated by ONVIF Profile S/T compliant cameras. These events will appear within the alarm rule builder automatically (for events supported by your camera) and allow you to build a rule that triggers when the encoder receives the appropriate event from your camera:
Supported ONVIF alarm events
ONVIF defines many alarm triggers (also known as topics in ONVIF terminology) as standard, and topics cover everything from video analytics, power issues, temperature, camera health, recording status, tampering, audio detection, and other camera life-cycle events.
Additionally, many third-party cameras/companies have defined their own topics to cater for additional functionality.
EdgeVis uses a white-list to limit the list to common triggers that centre around:
Video motion detection, video analytics, and object detection
Audio noise detection
Image quality issues and camera tampering
Trigger relays
The full list of supported topics in v9.1 is:
tns1:AcapOnvifEvent/AXISPerimeterDefender/ALL_SCENARIOS
tns1:AudioAnalytics/Audio/DetectedSound
tns1:AudioSource/AudioDetection
tns1:Device/Trigger/DigitalInput
tns1:Device/Trigger/Relay
tns1:IVA/MotionInField/Detect_any_motion
tns1:RuleEngine/CellMotionDetector/Intrusion
tns1:RuleEngine/CellMotionDetector/LineCross
tns1:RuleEngine/CellMotionDetector/Motion
tns1:RuleEngine/CellMotionDetector/People
tns1:RuleEngine/CellMotionDetector/Tamper
tns1:RuleEngine/CellMotionDetector/TpSmartEvent
tns1:RuleEngine/DirectionDetector/Moved
tns1:RuleEngine/FieldDetector/ObjectsInside
tns1:RuleEngine/IntrusionDetector/Intrusion
tns1:RuleEngine/LineCrossDetector/LineCross
tns1:RuleEngine/LineDetector/Crossed
tns1:RuleEngine/LoiteringDetector/ObjectsIsLoitering
tns1:RuleEngine/MotionRegionDetector/Motion
tns1:RuleEngine/PeopleDetector/People
tns1:RuleEngine/TamperDetector/Tamper
tns1:RuleEngine/TPSmartEventDetector/TPSmartEvent
tns1:VideoAnalytics/MotionDetection
tns1:VideoAnalytics/VideoAnalytics
tns1:VideoSource/FaceDetection
tns1:VideoSource/FogDetection
tns1:VideoSource/GlobalSceneChange/AnalyticsService
tns1:VideoSource/GlobalSceneChange/ImagingService
tns1:VideoSource/ImageTooBright
tns1:VideoSource/ImageTooDark
tns1:VideoSource/MotionAlarm
tns1:VideoSource/SignalLoss
tns1:VideoSource/Tampering
tns1:VideoSource/TamperingDetection
tns1:VideoSource/tnsaxis:Tampering
tnsaxis:CameraApplicationPlatform/AXISPerimeterDefender/ALL_SCENARIOS
tnsaxis:CameraApplicationPlatform/ObjectAnalytics/Device1ScenarioANY
tnsaxis:CameraApplicationPlatform/VMD/Camera1ProfileANY
How do I know what events my camera supports?
Unfortunately, unless a camera manufacturer publishes detailed specifications, it can be difficult to tell in advance. We have tested cameras from manufacturers such as Axis, Canon, Bosch, Hanwha, Hikvision, and i-PRO and all use a topic from the above list for their video analytics.
A further complication is that many manufacturers support installable apps, which will often use custom topics to support alarming. For example, we also support the topics from the following apps:
Axis Object Analytics v4.5+
Axis Video Motion Detection v4+
Axis Permiter Defender v3.7+
i-PRO AI-VMD v3.2+
However, other manufacturers (especially more consumer-oriented brands) will likely use their own topics that we do not currently support (How can we support them?).
The simplest way to tell which ONVIF topics are supported is to:
Go to your encoder's configuration page on EdgeVis Server (or use the Configure encoder menu options when viewing the encoder in EdgeVis Client)
Select Alarm rules
Click the Create alarm rule button
Click the Add alarm trigger link
You will see a list of support trigger types - click ONVIF events
This will display a list of your encoder's cameras, click on your camera
The resultant list will show which of the supported ONVIF topics that we support are available:
Common issues
I'm not sure if my camera is generating the event when I'm expecting it to, and my alarm rule isn't firing
If you've set up a rule using the appropriate ONVIF topic, there are two tests you can perform to determine where the issue lies:
Use Local Viewer to see the raw white-listed events that your camera has sent to the encoder.
If necessary, enable Local Viewing using your encoder's local web config interface.
Connect to your encoder using Local Viewer
Go to the Notifications tab - this will list all the white-listed events that your encoder has received, regardless of any alarm rules set.
Perform the necessary action to generate the ONVIF event
If you see your event listed, then the encoder is receiving the ONVIF event, and you should review your alarm rules for issues (e.g. sending it to the wrong recipient)
Use ODM (formerly ONVIF Device Manager) to view a live stream of all ONVIF events sent out by a camera.
Open ODM and connect to your camera
From the top section select the Events link - this will open the events panel which will list all the events being transmitted by your camera:
This list is not white-listed and you will find many events that are related to the every day operation of the camera.
Perform the necessary action to generate the ONVIF event
Observe the list for events that could be related to your desired functionality
If you do not see any that could be relevant, it is possible your camera does not support the transmission of this type of alert using ONVIF events.
If you see a relevant entry, but it is not on our white-list then you will need to contact us.
My alarm event has extra metadata - can I trigger on the content of that?
No, you can only trigger when the encoder receives any event that matches your selected ONVIF event.
My camera's analytic/trigger isn't supported - what can I do?
Support for new ONVIF topics can be added in future software releases. Please contact support, who will supply instructions on how we can identify the new topics that would be required.