Introduction
This documentation is designed to walk you through installing VideoVault, configuring the necessary security measures, adding users to the system, and assigning devices to those users.
For more complex procedures, please consult the VideoVault user guide.
Installation
The latest version of VideoVault can be obtained from our Download Center.
These steps should be completed on the PC VideoVault is being installed on.
Run the VideoVault installer. The installation process will be displayed. Click Next.
The user will be given the option to change where VideoVault is downloaded on their PC - once the destination has been chosen, click Install. VideoVault will be installed.
Click Finish.
Multiple installers will open to install the necessary driver files. Click through each one by selecting Next and Finish.
The VideoVault web interface will be launched. Note that this may take a few seconds to load while the system starts for the first time. On the installation PC, the VideoVault web interface can be accessed from a web browser by going to http://localhost:9070
Click Set Up.
Read the licence agreement and select Accept.
A VideoVault administrator account must be set up. Enter a username and password to use as the administrator login. Then click confirm to save.
Click OK.
The administrator will be prompted to configure initial storage settings: (these can be changed later)
Encrypt Footage. If this is set to on, then all recordings stored on disk will be automatically encrypted.
Storage Location. Enter the path to the footage folder. This will contain all recordings that have been downloaded from cameras.
Click confirm.
The user can now log in to VideoVault for the first time and start using the system.
Updating VideoVault
If an existing version of VideoVault is being updated to a new version, then the process is similar to installation:
Run the VideoVault installer. The installation process will be displayed. The user will be asked to uninstall the old version of VideoVault. This will not delete the system database or any stored recordings if this is an upgrade to a newer version. Click uninstall.
The installation process will be displayed. Click Next.
The user will be given the option to change where VideoVault is downloaded on their PC - once the destination has been chosen, click Install. VideoVault will be installed.
Click Finish.
Multiple installers will open to install the necessary driver files. Click through each one by selecting Next and Finish.
Launch the VideoVault web interface and login as normal. Note that this may take a few seconds to load while the system starts again.
Initial configuration
The following steps should be completed before finalising installation of VideoVault:
Configure the Web Server. This is necessary to allow VideoVault to be accessible on the office network and to allow Dock Controllers to connect to it.
Create an access control key. This ensures that only specific cameras can connect to VideoVault and that those cameras cannot be read by any other instance of VideoVault.
Configure storage settings. This dictates how footage is stored in VideoVault.
Configure a deletion policy. This dictates how old footage is automatically deleted.
Configure automatic backups. This dictates the policy for automatic database backups. Note that this does not backup footage folders.
Licence VideoVault. This is necessary to connect and manage cameras.
Configure the web server
The VideoVault PC should be connected to an active network connection before completing these steps.
From the VideoVault web interface, navigate to the Admin tab.
Select the System pane:
Select the Web Server section:
Enter the following information:
Server Listen Address: The address which users should enter to access VideoVault. This should be the local IP address of the PC running VideoVault. Click Guess Public Address if the user does not know the address. If this is a standalone VideoVault system that will only be accessed directly from the same PC, then this field can be left blank.
Port: The port that VideoVault will be accessible on. By default, this is set to 9070.
Public Address: The address which users should enter to access VideoVault if they are not on the same network as the server.
Port: The port that VideoVault will be accessible on from the public address. By default, this is set to 9070.
SSL can be used to encrypt connections to VideoVault. This can either use an SSL certificate that is uploaded to VideoVault or SSL can be enabled to use the certificate installed on the network gateway (if the network supports it).
To configure SSL directly in VideoVault:
An SSL certificate is required in PKCS#12 format. Obtain this from your network administrator.
Under the server listen address settings, toggle Use SSL to On.
Select the Configure button. Upload the SSL certificate to the server. If the SSL certificate is protected with a passphrase then this must be entered when prompted.
Confirm the certificate details are correct, then press OK.
To configure VideoVault to use the SSL certificates from the public network gateway:
Under the public address settings, toggle Use SSL to On.
Once SSL settings have been updated:
Press Save Settings. The user will be prompted to confirm that the web service will be restarted. Tick the “I Understand” box then press Yes to continue.
VideoVault will now be accessible using https instead of http. For example, to access VideoVault on the IP address 192.168.10.10 the user would go to https://19.168.10.10:9070 (assuming the port is still set to 9070). Note that, if the SSL certificate is not valid for the address or domain then a browser error message may be displayed.
Manage access control key
Access control keys are the mechanism that VideoVault uses to encrypt videos. They also prevent cameras from communicating with unauthorised instances of VideoVault. This is done from the Access Control Key Management section of the Devices pane, in the Admin tab. A demonstration key is added to VideoVault by default. Setting a new access control key on a demonstration system is therefore not compulsory. The demonstration key does not add any security and does not prevent cameras being used on another system with a demo key. It is recommended that a unique access control key for the system is generated.
To create an access control key:
Navigate to the admin tab
Select the Devices pane:
Select the Access Control Key Management section:
Select the Create key button:
Enter a description for the access control key.
Click Create key.
The active, default, access control key is marked with a star:
The default key can be changed by selecting the star button next to the required key.
It is recommended that all access control keys are exported upon creation and kept in a separate secure location. In the event of a system failure, this will ensure that the system can be rebuilt, and existing footage and devices can still be accessed. The access control key can be exported using the export button:
If a camera is being moved to another instance of VideoVault, then the access control key must be imported using the import button into the other instance of VideoVault:
Otherwise, the camera will appear as locked and it will not be possible to manage the device or access any recordings from it.
Configure storage settings
VideoVault organises file resources into file spaces. These can either reside in file systems (e.g., network file storage, local file storage on a PC, or storage area networks), or they can be organised through file containers (e.g., Amazon S3 Object Storage). The user can configure file spaces for backups, exports, reports, and footage.
Over time, it may become necessary to increase the size of file spaces or add new ones. This is done from the Storage section of the System pane, in the Admin tab.
Create, edit and delete file spaces
File spaces determine where information from VideoVault is stored - this could be on the user's PC, NAS storage, or Amazon S3 Object Storage (requires an additional licence). It is possible to have multiple file spaces for each category:
Footage: Recorded video and audio footage captured and uploaded from connected cameras.
Exports: Exported incident report files that are available to download.
Report auto copy: Automatically copy reports from the Reports file space to another file space.
Backups: The location used to store automatic database backups.
Resources: Files required by the VideoVault system.
It is recommended that critical file spaces, such as footage and backups, are stored on a network location with a backup system.
When choosing a size for the file space, ensure that the size is sufficient to store the required volume of files. The footage folder will generally be the largest file space. The maximum size for this folder must be enough to allow it to store recordings from the number of cameras on the system. This folder will continue to fill up over time if a deletion policy is not in place. If the folder becomes full then it will no longer be possible to offload recordings from cameras into VideoVault. An error will be reported until this is resolved, either by increasing the max size of the file space, adding another footage file space, or setting up a suitable deletion policy to manage the amount of footage being stored.
To create a file space:
Navigate to the Admin tab.
Select the System pane:
Click the Storage section:
Click Create File Space:
The create file space options will be displayed.
Enter the path for the new file space.
From the category drop down box, select a category for the file space.
Enter the maximum disk quota that the file space can use in the Max Size field. It is recommended that the maximum size is not set to the absolute upper limit of the physical disk drive.
Choose a unit in which the data will be counted. For example, Gigabytes.
From the State drop down, select a state for the file space. In most cases this will be Online:
Obsolete: This is useful if users wish to keep a file space on VideoVault but do not want new footage to be stored in it.
Offline: this is useful if the network database or local storage is down for maintenance. However, if the file space is marked as Offline, all information that was in the file space will be unavailable until it comes back online again.
Evacuate: this will automatically move all data in the file space to the other file space(s) of the same type. This is useful if an old file space should be deleted, but the data within it should be kept. The process of moving the data can take from minutes to several hours depending on the volume of files to be moved. If another user on the system is viewing, editing, or exporting the data in a file space which is being evacuated, the evacuation will be forced to wait until the other actions have finished.
From the Encryption drop down, if file space encryption is required then select an encryption type. Options are None (not encrypted), AES-128, AES-192, and AES-256 (strongest encryption). If an encryption mode is chosen, the key must be downloaded after creation. The key should be stored in a separate, secure location. In the event of a system failure the key will be required to be able to recover data. To download the key:
Click the Go to File Space arrow for the required file space:
Click Download Key:
The Preferred option is used to select the file space(s) that will be used as primary file spaces until they are full. If multiple file spaces are used and have the preferred option enabled, then VideoVault will store files equally between them. If no file spaces have the preferred option enabled, then VideoVault will store files equally between all file spaces.
Select the Confirm button to save the changes.
Editing a file space:
Once file spaces have been created, their paths can be changed. This may be necessary if the path used to access the data has changed on the disk or database. There are two ways to do this: either by changing the original file space's path, or by creating a new file space with the correct path and moving the old file space data using the evacuate state.
To change the size of the file space because it is becoming full, the steps they must take are as follows:
Navigate to the Admin tab.
Select the System pane.
Select the Storage section.
Click Go to File Space next to the file space whose size should be changed
In the Max Size field, make the relevant changes. If the size is being reduced, then the size must be greater than the amount of data already stored in the file space.
Select Confirm.
To change a file space path or to delete a file space, the steps you must take are as follows:
The files in the old file space must be evacuated to another file space in the same category. If no other file space with the same category exists, then follow the instructions above to create a new file space.
Click Go to File Space:
on the old file space whose path must be changed.
From the state drop down, select Evacuate.
Press Confirm. The data in the old file space will be evacuated to the file space with the new path. The Storage page will show the current progress during this process. When complete, the old file space can be deleted by selecting Delete File Space:
File Space Warnings:
Warning messages can be configured on the system to indicate if there is a problem with the file space storage, such as a file space near its capacity. It is recommended that these settings are enabled. These will show a warning banner at the top of the VideoVault interface when the capacity of the file spaces is above the threshold percentage.
Warn when footage is above threshold: Threshold warning for the footage file spaces.
Warn when export storage is above threshold: Threshold warning for the export file spaces.
Warn when backup storage is above threshold: Threshold warning for the database backup file space.
Configure a deletion policy
Deletion Policies are used to control the way in which videos may or may not be automatically deleted from the system to free storage space. Without a deletion policy, all data stored on the system will be retained indefinitely, or until it is manually deleted. This can mean an ever-growing data storage requirement. The deletion policy is managed from the Deletion Policy section of the Policies pane, in the Admin tab.
Footage in VideoVault falls into 2 categories:
Evidential footage: Footage that has been added to an incident report.
Non-evidential footage: Other footage on the system that has not been added to any incident report.
Evidential footage is not automatically deleted as part of the standard deletion policy and will be held on the system indefinitely unless one of the following applies:
The footage is removed from any incident reports, or the incident reports are deleted. The footage is then subject to the standard deletion policy again which may mean it is deleted instantly.
A forced footage deletion policy is enabled; or
An incidents deletion policy is enabled.
To manage the deletion policy:
Navigate to the Admin tab.
Select the Policies pane:
Select the Deletion Policy section:
Footage deletion policy: This section controls the deletion policy for footage stored by VideoVault. If Automatically delete old footage is enabled, then old footage will be automatically deleted when it has been stored for the number of days defined by the following settings:
Keep footage for at least x days after it is recorded: Footage is stored for the time, in days, starting from the time the footage was recorded by the camera. After this number of days, the footage will be automatically deleted from the system.
Keep footage for at least x days after it is downloaded from the camera: Footage is stored for the time, in days, starting from the time the footage was downloaded into VideoVault. After this number of days, the footage will be automatically deleted from the system. This setting is useful in cases where footage is not always downloaded into VideoVault on the same day that it was recorded, and time needs to be allowed to review the footage.
Keep footage until auto file export complete: the deletion policy will be suspended for individual videos until they have been exported. Once a video has been exported, the original video will be subjected to the deletion policy as normal.
Keep all recording footage: if enabled, if an incident report contains part of a recording, then all footage within the recording will be retained. If disabled, then a video may be deleted even if another video in the same recording is part of an incident.
Bookmarked footage policy: Footage can be bookmarked on the camera by pressing the bookmark button at the time of recording. A special deletion policy may apply to bookmarked footage:
Keep for same period as non-bookmarked footage - if this option is selected, the deletion policy will treat bookmarked and non-bookmarked footage identically.
No automatic deletion - if this option is selected, bookmarked footage will be entirely exempt from the deletion policy.
Keep for specified amount of time - if this option is selected, users will have the option to configure for how long bookmarked footage is kept. The default is 90 days.
Forced footage deletion: If this is enabled, it will delete stored footage after the defined number of days regardless of whether it is marked as evidential footage, due to being protected by an incident report, or not.
Export deletion policy: If this setting is enabled, incident exports held on the system will be automatically deleted after the specified number of days.
Incidents deletion policy: If this setting is enabled, incidents can be automatically deleted if they match a corresponding deletion rule. This option is covered in more detail in the VideoVault Administrators Guide.
Once any changes have been made to the deletion policy, select Save Settings.
Configure backups
VideoVault offers a backup database service to help prevent the loss of crucial files in the event of an IT failure. A backup contains database metadata, such as the audit log, custom configurations, descriptions of videos, incidents, and exports. These backups can be used to restore a user's instance of VideoVault. The backup function only backs up the system state. It does not back up the contents of the footage, exports, or reports file spaces. Backups should be regularly transferred to a secure location off site. Database backups will be stored in the backups file space.
Backups are configured from the Backup Databases section of the System pane, in the Admin tab.
To enable automatic database backups:
Navigate to the Admin tab.
Select the System pane:
Select the Backup Databases section.
Set the Enable automatic backups option to On. This will enable the user to configure more settings in relation to automatic backups.
Enter the number of most recent daily and hourly backups that will be retained. A daily backup is the last hourly backup within a 24-hour window. It is recommended to configure both settings.
If Avoid busy times is set to On, backups will only occur when there is little or no activity occurring on VideoVault, to minimise system load.
Licence VideoVault
A licence is required for VideoVault version 14. This must be requested from Digital Barriers.
The steps to obtain a licence are as follows:
Send a licence request to Digital Barriers at licences@digitalbarriers.com. The request should state:
The request is for a VideoVault licence.
The number of cameras that will connect to the VideoVault system. The licence will only allow this number of cameras.
The original purchase order reference number for the cameras.
Any additional details for the licence, such as the date that the licence should be activated.
Digital Barriers will generate the licence file and send it to you by email response. The licence will also include a password to unlock it.
To upload a new licence to VideoVault:
When a new licence file has been received from Digital Barriers, it must be uploaded into your VideoVault system. Navigate to the Admin tab.
Select the System pane:
Select the Licences section:
Press the Import Licence button:
Upload the licence file received from Digital Barriers to the server. A screen will be displayed showing details of the licence and the number of cameras. Check this matches with the request that was made.
You will be prompted to enter the password to unlock the licence. This is the password that was received from Digital Barriers along with the licence file. If the password has been entered correctly then the licence will be activated.
Device profile setup
Device profiles allow the behaviour of the cameras to be defined. A device profile must be imported into VideoVault before cameras can be used. The device profile to be applied to a camera can be selected at the time of camera assignment. Alternatively, a device profile can be associated with a specific user Role. This is useful if touch assign is being used to assign a camera by tapping the user’s ID card against the RFID card reader instead of through the VideoVault web interface.
A device profile includes functions such as:
EdgeVis Server settings: connection details to the EdgeVis Server to enable live streaming on the camera.
Recording settings: The resolution and frame rate settings used for recordings as well as other recording settings such as pre- and post-record durations and recording encryption.
Button configuration: Each button on the camera can be configured to a particular function, such as recording, bookmarking, or triggering an alert.
LED behaviour: The lights on the camera can be set up to show a red light when recording, a green light while streaming, and so on.
Sounds and vibration: The camera can emit a sound and vibrate (if supported) notification on certain functions, such as recording.
GPS location setting: To enable the use of GPS track recording.
Wi-Fi settings: to allow the camera to connect to named Wi-Fi access points to enable live streaming over Wi-Fi.
Cellular settings: to allow the camera to connect to a mobile network to enable live streaming (SIM card required).
Bluetooth settings (if supported): to allow the camera to connect to Bluetooth sensor devices. These can be used to trigger alerts and automatically start recording on the camera.
A default device profile should be used as a starting point for a new device profile. A default profile for BW600 and BW500 cameras is available from the Video Vault Downloads Page.
This profile is configured as follows:
EdgeVis Server settings | None. |
Recording settings | 720p resolution, 30 fps frame rate. Audio enabled. No pre-recording. No encryption. |
Button settings | Device default. Refer to the camera specific user guide for information. |
LED behaviour | Red LED when recording. Green LED when streaming. Flashing green on alert. |
Sounds and vibration | Sound notification on recording, bookmark and when live streaming.
Sound and vibrate on alert. |
GPS location setting | GPS enabled. Location updates every 30 seconds. |
Wi-Fi settings: | None |
Cellular settings: | None. |
Bluetooth settings: | Disabled. |
To view the current list of device profiles in VideoVault:
Navigate to the Admin tab.
Select the Devices pane:
Select the Device Profiles section:
In the Filter by Family drop down box, select BodyWorn. If this option is not available, then there are currently no device profiles.
To import a new device profile into VideoVault:
1) Navigate to the Admin tab.
Select the Devices pane:
Select the Device Profiles section:
Select the Import Profile button:
Upload the default profile file, then press the Import button.
Enter a name for the profile. For example, Standard Profile.
Press the Save Settings button.
Editing a device profile:
Navigate to the Admin tab.
Select the Devices pane:
Select the Device Profiles section:
In the Filter by Family drop down box, select BodyWorn.
Select the Go to Profile button for the required profile:
Under Advanced Controls, the contents of the structured settings override box contain the device profile information. Select this box, then press CTRL+A on the keyboard to select all content in the box. Then press CTRL+C to copy the contents to the clipboard.
Go to the following configuration file generator that matches your camera model:
BW600: BW600 Configuration File Generator
BW500: BW500 Configuration File Generator
If you have a mixed fleet of BW500 and BW600 cameras and are using the same profile for both models, then you may need to contact Digital Barriers for support with editing your device profile.
From the drop-down list, select the application version that is installed on the cameras. Check the screen on the camera if required to get the version information. Ideally this should always be the most up to date version. The configuration file generator page will now be displayed.
Select the box containing the text “Paste config here”. Then press CTRL+V to paste the contents of the clipboard into the box. The settings on the configuration generator page will update.
Change the necessary settings on the configuration generator page. More information on each of the settings is available in this document: Body Worn Configuration
Once the modifications are complete, go back to the top of the page and select the Generate & Copy to Clipboard button. This will copy the new settings to the clipboard.
Go back to the VideoVault web interface. Repeat steps 1 to 5 to access the device profile again if required.
Delete the existing contents of the Structured settings override box.
Select the structured settings override box then press CTRL+V to paste the new settings into the box.
Press Save settings to complete the change.
Connecting a Dock Controller
A DC-200 Dock Controller is the device through which camera docking stations can be connected to VideoVault. Up to 6 docking stations can be connected to one DC-200.
A Dock Controller must be configured to connect to VideoVault by one of the following 2 methods:
Configure a Dock Controller over a network. This is the preferred option for simple installations when the dock controller is on the same network as the VideoVault PC.
Configure a Dock Controller over USB. This is necessary if the Dock Controller is located on a different network to the VideoVault PC.
Configuring the Dock Controller over a network
If the user does not have physical access to their Dock Controller, they can configure it over the network. This requires that the dock controller be connected to the same network as the VideoVault PC so that it can be automatically discovered.
Plug one end of the Dock Controller's power cable into its power socket, and the other end into mains power.
Plug the Ethernet cable into the Dock Controller's Ethernet port.
Turn the power on at the mains.
In VideoVault, navigate to the Devices tab.
Select the Dock Controllers pane.
The Dock Controller should appear in the pane, and its status should read as Open & Connected. The Dock Controller will be listed by its device ID, which is a digit ID printed on the bottom of the device. If the Dock Controller is not listed, then check that it is connected to the same network as the VideoVault PC. It is not possible to auto discover a Dock Controller from a separate network, such as over a public network connection. If this is the case, then follow the steps to configure the Dock Controller using USB.
Click View details.
Click Advanced in the top right-hand corner.
In the Device Name field, enter the name by which this Dock Controller will be known on VideoVault.
The Host field should be pre-populated with the VideoVault webserver address.
If SSL is set to On, all footage passed through this Dock Controller will have an extra layer of encryption.
If Use static IP is set to On, the user must enter an IP address for the Dock-Controller.
From the Security drop down, select whether the Dock Controller will be protected with WPA2-PEAP-MSCHAPV2 or not.
Click Configure. The Dock Controller will be configured and will restart. If configured correctly, it will appear in the list as Configured & Connected and 3 green lights should be displayed on the top of the device.
Configuring the Dock Controller over USB
If a user has physical access to their Dock Controller, they can configure it using a USB drive.
Plug one end of the Dock Controller’s power cable into its power socket, and the other end into mains power.
Turn the power on at the mains.
In VideoVault, navigate to the Devices tab.
Select the Dock Controllers pane.
Click Advanced in the top right-hand corner.
Click Generate Dock Controller Config.
In the Serial field, enter the Dock Controller's unique serial number. This can be found on the bottom of the Dock Controller.
In the Device Name field, enter the name by which this Dock Controller will be known in VideoVault.
The Host field should be pre-populated with the VideoVault webserver address.
If SSL is set to On, all footage passed through this Dock Controller will have an extra layer of encryption.
If Use static IP is set to On, the user must enter an IP address for the Dock-Controller.
From the Security drop down, select what kind of whether the Dock Controller will be protected with WPA2-PEAP-MSCHAPV2 or not.
Click Generate.
The file will be saved to the PC's default downloads location.
Connect a USB stick drive to the PC. The USB drive must b FAT32 formatted.
Drag and drop the downloaded configuration file onto the USB drive.
Safely eject the USB drive.
Plug the USB drive into any one of the two USB ports on the Dock Controller next to the function button. Do not plug the USB drive into one of the six USB ports on the other side of the device.
After a few seconds, the lights on the Dock Controller should go off, indicating that it has been configured. Remove the USB drive from the Dock Controller. The Dock Controller will restart.
If configured correctly, the Dock Controller will appear in the VideoVault list as Configured & Connected and 3 green lights should be displayed on the top of the device.
Connecting Docking Stations and cameras
To connect a Docking Station to a Dock Controller:
Up to 3 Docking Stations can be connected to one Dock Controller.
Plug one end of the Docking Station USB cable into its USB port, and the other end into one of the six USB ports on the back side of the Dock Controller.
Plug one end of the Docking Station power cable into its power port, and the other end into mains power.
Turn the power on at the mains. The Docking Station power LED will go green. This indicates that the dock is receiving power.
Cameras can now be docked into the Docking Station. This will connect the cameras with VideoVault.
To check that the cameras have been connected to VideoVault:
In VideoVault, navigate to the Devices tab.
Select the Dock Controllers pane.
The Dock Controller should appear in the pane, and its status should read as Configured & Connected.
Click View details:
In the Connected Devices section, users can see how many devices are connected to the Dock Controller in question. The user can also view:
• Device: the device's serial number.
• Status: the device's status (e.g., charging, assigned, etc.)
Create users and roles
Every worker who will be utilising VideoVault must have a corresponding user. This will enable them to log in, operate devices, and perform other actions.
To create a user:
Navigate to the Admin tab.
Select the People pane:
Click the Users section:
Click Create User:
Enter the following information for the new user:
UserName: enter a name for this user. No two users can have the same name on one VideoVault system. This cannot be changed later.
Password: enter a password for the user.
Once a value is entered here, the User must change password toggle will automatically switch to On.
Confirm Password: enter the password again to confirm it.
DisplayName: enter a display name for this user. This can be changed later.
Set Enabled to On.
Click Create User.
Roles are associated with users. They affect what actions a user can perform and what functions they can see. Roles are separate from users. One role can be associated with multiple users. The following default Roles exist on the system:
System Administrator: Full administrator access (default account)
Device operator: Can be assigned a camera but does not have permission to access VideoVault.
System manager: Can view all footage on the system.
System supervisor: Can view their own footage and footage uploaded by operator users within their team.
System user: A basic VideoVault user account that can only view their own footage and footage that another user has shared with them.
More information on creating and editing Roles is available in the VideoVault Administrator Guide.
Camera and Dock Controller software updates
Digital Barriers may occasionally release new software updates for body worn Cameras and Dock Controllers. These may include new features, improvements, and security updates. Software updates can be obtained by contacting your Digital Barriers account manager. The software update package can be imported into VideoVault and applied to cameras that are docked. It is also possible to set up VideoVault to automatically update connected devices to the latest software version.
Configuring VideoVault for Automatic Updates
To set up VideoVault to automatically update connected devices when a new software release is added:
Navigate to the Admin tab.
Select the Firmware pane:
Click the Firmware settings:
Enable the Auto-upgrade devices option. This will enable cameras to be automatically updated.
Enable the Auto-upgrade Dock Controllers option to allow Dock Controllers to be automatically updated. A time range can be specified for upgrading Dock Controllers. Cameras will disconnect from VideoVault when the Dock Controller is being upgraded. The time range allows the upgrade process to happen when maintenance will cause less operational impact.
The Auto-upgrade Edge Controllers option is not currently supported.
The Use latest firmware as default option should be set to Off. When a new software version is added to VideoVault, it must be manually set to the default. It is not possible to auto-upgrade cameras with this setting set to On.
Press Save Settings.
Adding a new Camera software update package to VideoVault
To add a new Camera software update package to VideoVault:
Navigate to the Admin tab.
Select the Firmware pane:
Select Device Images:
Click the Import image button:
Click the Choose file button and import the new software package.
If the software update is valid, then the details will be shown on screen. The name will default to the file name of the software update package. It is recommended to change this to a more meaningful name, such as the version number of the update.
Set the Default image option to Yes. This will change the default camera version to the new version. If automatic updates have been enabled (see section above) then docked cameras will be able to upgrade automatically.
Press the Ok button to store the new software update in VideoVault. If automatic updates are enabled, then docked cameras will start to be upgraded.
Adding a new Dock Controller software update package to VideoVault
To add a new Camera software update package to VideoVault:
Navigate to the Admin tab.
Select the Firmware pane:
Select Dock Controller Images:
Click the Import image button:
Click the Choose file button and import the new software package.
If the software update is valid, then the details will be shown on screen. The name will default to the file name of the software update package. It is recommended to change this to a more meaningful name, such as the version number of the update.
Set the Default image option to Yes. This will change the default Dock Controller version to the new version. If automatic updates have been enabled (see section above) then Docking Stations will be able to upgrade automatically.
Press the Ok button to store the new software update in VideoVault. If automatic updates are enabled, then Dock Controllers will start to be upgraded either immediately, or when the specified time has been reached if a time was defined for automatic updates under the Firmware Settings.
Manually software updating an individual Camera or Dock Controller
If automatic software updates have not been enabled, then devices can still be automatically updated. Only cameras that are currently connected to VideoVault can be upgraded. Cameras not currently connected must first be connected before a manual upgrade can be started. Note that it is not possible to downgrade a device to an older software version once it has been updated.
To manually update an individual Camera or Dock Controller:
Navigate to the Admin tab.
Select the Devices pane:
If the device to be upgraded is a Dock Controller, then click the Dock Controllers tab and skip to step 5.
Click the Find Devices button.
Click the View details button for the required device, which must be currently connected to VideoVault:
Cameras must be in an Unassigned or Ready state.
Dock Controllers must be in a Configured & connected state.
The current device software version will be shown under device details.
Press the Upgrade button:
Select the software version to update the device to from the list. The default software version should be automatically selected.
Press Upgrade device to start the upgrade process. The upgrade may take a few minutes to complete, during which the device will display its status as Busy. When the upgrade is complete, the device will restart and connect again to VideoVault.
Confirm that the device has been updated to the new software version from the Device details page.
Bulk manual software updating Cameras or Dock Controllers
It is also possible to software update devices in bulk rather than individually.
To bulk update Cameras or Dock Controllers:
Navigate to the Admin tab.
Select the Devices pane:
If the devices to be upgraded are Dock Controllers, then click the Dock Controllers tab and skip to step 5.
Click the Find Devices button.
Click the Bulk edit button to display the bulk edit functions:
Tick the boxes at the left side of the screen next to each device to be upgraded or tick the topmost box to select all. Devices must be currently connected to VideoVault to be updated.
Cameras must be in an Unassigned or Ready state.
Dock Controllers must be in a Configured & connected state.
Press the Upgrade button:
Select the software version to update the device to from the list. The default software version should be automatically selected.
Press Upgrade device to start the upgrade process. The upgrade may take a few minutes to complete, during which the device will display its status as Busy. If several devices have been selected, then the upgrade process may take longer, and the devices may not all start upgrading at the same time. When the upgrade is complete, the device will restart and connect again to VideoVault.
The best way to confirm that all devices have been updated to the new software version is to change the list view to the detailed view by selecting the detailed view button:
This will show the current software version for each device.
How to assign a camera
The body worn camera can be assigned to an operator by:
Tapping the operator’s ID card on an RFID reader; or
By assigning the camera from VideoVault
Cameras must be placed in a docking station, must be connected to VideoVault and available for assignment. A camera is available for assignment if:
It has completed uploading all recordings from any previous usage.
Battery has been charged for the minimum time-period (this is a configurable setting in VideoVault)
The camera is in an unassigned state.
RFID Camera Assignment
Tap the ID card against the card reader. Note that the ID card must have already been registered and associated with the Operator’s account in VideoVault.
• 2 beep sounds indicate that a camera has been assigned.
• 3 beep sounds from the card reader indicate that the card has been read successfully but there is no account associated with it.
The assigned camera will show a flashing white light so it can be easily identified. The camera selected for assignment will be based on the current state of cameras in the pool. The same camera will not be assigned every time.
Remove the assigned camera from the docking station tray by pulling it upwards.
The screen on the camera will update and show the camera view to indicate that it is in operational mode.
VideoVault Camera Assignment
Login to the VideoVault web interface using a valid user account. This may be a different account from the Operator account to be assigned to the camera.
Go to the Devices tab, then select Find Devices. A list of cameras and their current state will be shown.
Identify a suitable camera with a status of “Unassigned”. Select the Assign Device button:
Enter the name of the Operator account to assign the camera to then press Return.
The assignment mode options are:
Single issue: The camera is to be assigned to this operator on a temporary basis (for example, for the Operator’s shift). When the camera is docked, charged, and has completed uploading all recordings it will be available for assignment again.
Permanent issue: The camera is assigned permanently to this operator, or until it is manually returned to the unassigned pool. In this mode the camera will not be available for assignment to other operators while it is docked. Once assigned, the camera can be removed from the docking station at any point and it will retain the existing operator assignment.
Permanent allocation: This option is similar permanent issue with an additional authentication step. The operator that has been permanently assigned the camera must tap their ID card against the RFID card reader before the camera can be taken into the field.
The Device Profile setting defines the settings to be applied to the camera. The settings will have been defined by the System Administrator.
Press the Assign Camera button. The assigned camera will show a flashing white light to assist with locating it.
Remove the assigned camera from the docking station by pulling it upwards.
The screen on the camera will update and show the camera viewpoint to indicate that it is in operational mode.
Live stream setup
Live streaming directly from the body worn cameras is possible over Wi-Fi or cellular connections. This provides remote viewers with the ability to view the live video, audio, and GPS location. It also allows live alerts to be sent to the remote monitoring location. Setting up live streaming requires the following steps:
Install and set up EdgeVis Server
Add EdgeVis Server connection details to VideoVault device profile
Set up streaming accounts in EdgeVis Server and VideoVault
EdgeVis Server setup
To enable live streaming, the body worn camera must have a connection to an EdgeVis Server. This is a separate service from VideoVault. To set up an EdgeVis Server please refer to the EdgeVis Server Setup Guide which is located here: EdgeVis Server Installation, Setup & Upgrade Guides
Add EdgeVis Server details to VideoVault device profile
The EdgeVis Server details must be added to the device profile that is applied to body worn cameras when they are assigned. Once an EdgeVis Server is available, the settings must be added to the Device Profile in VideoVault.
To add the EdgeVis Server details to the VideoVault device profile:
Navigate to the Admin tab.
Select the Devices pane:
Select the Device Profiles section:
In the Filter by Family drop down box, select BodyWorn.
Select the Go to Profile button for the required profile:
Under Advanced Controls, the contents of the structured settings override box contain the device profile information. Select this box, then press CTRL+A on the keyboard to select all content in the box. Then press CTRL+C to copy the contents to the clipboard.
Go to the following configuration generator site applicable to your camera model:
BW600: BW600 Configuration File Generator
BW500: BW500 Configuration File Generator
From the drop-down list, select the application version that is installed on the cameras. Check the screen on the camera if required to get the version information. Ideally this should always be the most up to date version. The configuration file generator page will now be displayed.
Select the box containing the text “Paste config here”. Then press CTRL+V to paste the contents of the clipboard into the box. The settings on the configuration generator page will update.
The EdgeVis Server details are at the top of the form. Enter the following details:
Server address: The IP address or domain name that hosts the EdgeVis Server. This must be the publicly accessible address for the server to ensure that it can be accessed from a mobile network.
Allow secure connections: If this setting is enabled, the connection from the body worn camera to EdgeVis Server will be AES-256 bit encrypted. Enabling this setting will show some additional options. This setting is optional but is recommended.
Encryption pack: Encrypting the connection requires downloading the encryption pack file from the EdgeVis Server (refer to the EdgeVis Server Setup Guide for details on how to obtain the encryption pack download). The encryption pack uniquely identifies the EdgeVis Server to ensure that it is trusted when the body worn camera is connecting. Upload the EdgeVis Server encryption pack to the form. The Server ID and Crypto Key settings will be populated.
Next, set the preferred streaming approach using the Use device name as encoder name setting.
Setting the preferred approach to streaming:
There are two scenarios to live streaming that can be used on body worn cameras. The Use device name as encoder name setting is used to define the preferred streaming scenario.
Camera Operators have their own streaming account: This means that the camera will use a different streaming account depending on who the camera was assigned to. This is useful where it is important to be able to identify who is using the camera and therefore who the live stream and alerts are coming from. The downside of this approach is that streaming accounts must be managed for every camera operator. It may be necessary to purchase additional EdgeVis Mobile licences from Digital Barriers to accommodate all streaming accounts.
• For this scenario, the Use device name as encoder name setting should be blank.
Each camera device has its own unique streaming account: Each camera has a unique device name, which is displayed on the camera screen when it is in an unassigned state. By default, this name will be in the format BWC-12345. This can be changed in VideoVault. In this approach the streaming account will use the device name rather than the details associated with the camera operator’s account. This is useful since each camera will always use the same streaming account name, making it easier to manage accounts. It is also useful if the camera live stream is being added into a separate Video Management System, which expects camera names to be fixed. The downside of this approach is that the live stream does not have an association with the camera operator.
• For this scenario, the Use device name as encoder name setting should be used to set the password to use for all streaming accounts. The streaming account name will become the name of the camera device.
Completing the Device profile changes:
Once the modifications are complete, go back to the top of the page and select the Generate & Copy to Clipboard button. This will copy the new settings to the clipboard.
Go back to the VideoVault web interface. Repeat steps 1 to 5 to access the device profile again if required.
Delete the existing contents of the Structured settings override box.
Select the structured settings override box then press CTRL+V to paste the new settings into the box.
Press Save settings to complete the change.
Setting up streaming accounts
Encoder accounts must be created on the EdgeVis Server to allow cameras to connect to it. The encoder account details must match the details stored in VideoVault. How this is set up will depend on the streaming scenario that has been chosen above.
Scenario 1: Camera Operators have their own streaming account
In this scenario every user account in VideoVault that can be assigned a camera with live streaming capability must have a matching Encoder account on EdgeVis Server. Encoder account details must be added to the user account in VideoVault.
Scenario 2: Each camera device has its own unique streaming account
In this scenario, each camera must have a matching Encoder account in EdgeVis Server.
To add Encoder account details to a VideoVault User account (scenario 1):
In VideoVault, navigate to the Admin tab.
Select the People pane:
Click the Users section:
Click the Go to User button for the required User account:
At the bottom right of the page, find the section titled EdgeVis Streaming Account Credentials.
Add the Encoder account name that will be associated with this user account in the Username field and password in the Password field. The Encoder account name and password must match with an Encoder account created and licenced on the EdgeVis Server. These settings should be left blank for user accounts if using the scenario where the camera name is used for the Encoder account.
Press Save User to complete the changes.
To edit the Camera name to use as the Encoder account (scenario 2):
The default camera name can be used, or the camera name can be changed to something more suitable. The camera name must match with an Encoder account created and licenced on the EdgeVis Server. The Encoder account password must be set in the VideoVault device profile under the Use device name as encoder name setting (described in the Add EdgeVis Server Details to VideoVault Device Profile section above).
To change a Camera device name:
In VideoVault, navigate to the Devices tab.
Select Find Devices. A list of cameras and their current state will be shown. Note that a camera in any state can have its device name changed. However, the name change will only take effect once the camera has been docked and unassigned.
Click View device info for the required camera:
Click the Edit device properties button:
Enter the new camera name in the Device name field.
Press Save changes.
To create a body worn Encoder account on EdgeVis Server:
Access the EdgeVis Server web interface and log in as an administrator user.
Go to the required Domain.
Select ENCODERS
Select Create one encoder. If the Camera name is being used for the encoder name (scenario 2 above), then all Encoder account passwords will be the same, defined in the Use device name as encoder name setting in the VideoVault device profile. In that scenario, the Create multiple encoders option may be easier to use since it will allow multiple Encoder accounts to all be created at the same time with the same password. Take care to ensure that all Encoder accounts are correctly licenced afterwards.
Enter the name of the Encoder account. This must be a unique name. The Encoder account name will be displayed in viewing clients and will be used by the camera to connect to the EdgeVis Server.
Enter a password for the Encoder account.
Optionally enter a description for the account.
Press Submit. The Device status page will be displayed.
Select Licence:
The licence screen will be displayed.
Set the licence type to EdgeVis Mobile. One EdgeVis Mobile licence is provided with each body worn camera. If there are no licences available, then a new licence must be requested from Digital Barriers. Refer to the EdgeVis Server Setup Guide for information about licensing the server.
Enable the following licence extensions:
Edge Recording: This extension must be enabled to allow the body worn camera to record. One edge recording extension is provided with each body worn camera.
External Camera: This extension must be enabled to allow external cameras to be connected to the body worn camera (if supported). This licence extension may require an additional licence.
Press Submit. The Encoder account has now been created.
Testing the connection to EdgeVis Server
To confirm that streaming and accounts have been correctly set up, the best way is to assign a camera and check that it connects to EdgeVis Server.
In VideoVault, assign a camera to an Operator. If operator accounts all have their own streaming account details, then the operator account must have a matching Encoder account on the EdgeVis Server.
Ensure that the camera has a Wi-Fi or mobile network connection (SIM card and data plan required).
The camera screen will show the connection status at the top right of the display.
Offline: The camera is not connected to EdgeVis Server
Online: The camera is connected to EdgeVis Server. The EdgeVis Server web interface will show the Encoder account with a green status. The camera is available for live streaming.
More information about the EdgeVis Server connection can be shown on screen by tapping on the Information button at the bottom right of the display:
This screen will provide more information in the event of a connection problem.
