Patent Publication Number: US-2021176416-A1

Title: Camera information and power over ethernet control from video management system

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to a video management system, and specifically to a method and apparatus for identification of cameras within a video management system. 
     Commonly, Industrial Fast Ethernet Switch (IFS) network switches do not have the ability to report what camera or recorder is connected to which port on the IFS network switch. If any service needs to done to a camera it is difficult to know which camera is plugged into to what port or even which IFS switch it is plugged into. If a camera needs to be re-booted, one will need to figure out what port and which camera to re-boot, which is often a difficult and time consuming task. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     According to an embodiment, a method of operating a camera system comprising one or more cameras is provided. The method including: detecting a camera being connected to a network switch; obtaining a model number of the camera, a MAC address of the camera, and an IP address of the camera; obtaining at least one of a name of the camera and a location of the camera; and assigning the model number of the camera, the MAC address of the camera, and the IP address of the camera to at least one of the name and the location of the camera. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the network switch is an Industrial Fast Ethernet Switch (IFS) network switch. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the camera is an open network video interface forum (ONVIF) device. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the at least one of a name of the camera and a location of the camera is obtained through a manual input by a user of a computing device. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: generating a graphical illustration of the network switch on a computing device, the graphical illustration depicting one or more ports of the network switch. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that one of the one or more ports of the network switch identifies at least one of a name of the camera and a location of the camera. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the graphical illustration displays an activity level of each of the one or more ports of the network switch. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the activity level indicates whether each of the one or more ports is active, inactive, or active with power over Ethernet. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include: generating a graphical illustration of a bandwidth of the camera on a computing device. 
     According to another embodiment, a camera system is provided. The camera system including: a processor; and a memory comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations including: detecting a camera being connected to a network switch; obtaining a model number of the camera, a MAC address of the camera, and an IP address of the camera; obtaining at least one of a name of the camera and a location of the camera; and assigning the model number of the camera, the MAC address of the camera, and the IP address of the camera to at least one of the name and the location of the camera. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the network switch is an Industrial Fast Ethernet Switch (IFS) network switch. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the camera is an open network video interface forum (ONVIF) device. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the at least one of a name of the camera and a location of the camera is obtained through a manual input by a user of a computing device. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the operations further include: generating a graphical illustration of the network switch on a computing device, the graphical illustration depicting one or more ports of the network switch. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that one of the one or more ports of the network switch identifies at least one of a name of the camera and a location of the camera. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the graphical illustration displays an activity level of each of the one or more ports of the network switch. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the activity level indicates whether each of the one or more ports is active, inactive, or active with power over Ethernet. 
     In addition to one or more of the features described herein, or as an alternative, further embodiments may include that the operations further include: generating a graphical illustration of a bandwidth of the camera on a computing device. 
     According to another embodiment, a computer program product tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium is provided. The computer program product including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: detecting a camera being connected to a network switch; obtaining a model number of the camera, a MAC address of the camera, and an IP address of the camera; obtaining at least one of a name of the camera and a location of the camera; and assigning the model number of the camera, the MAC address of the camera, and the IP address of the camera to at least one of the name and the location of the camera. 
     Technical effects of embodiments of the present disclosure include a video management system configured to distinguish between different cameras connected to a switch and maintain a physical location of each camera. 
     The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation thereof will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description and drawings are intended to be illustrative and explanatory in nature and non-limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic view of a camera system, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a graphical user interface of a video management system of the camera system of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; and 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart of method of operating a camera system, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a camera system  100 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the camera system  100  is a video camera system. It should be appreciated that, although particular systems are separately defined in the schematic block diagrams, each or any of the systems may be otherwise combined or separated via hardware and/or software. The camera system  100  is organized within a building  102  having a plurality of floors  125   a - 125   k  but it is understood that embodiment disclosure herein may be applicable to camera systems  100  located partially or fully outside of a building  102 . It is also understood that while eleven landings  125   a - 125   k  are utilized for exemplary illustration, embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to buildings  102  having any number of landings. 
     The camera system  100  may include one or more cameras  110 . In an example, the cameras  110  may be a Truvision camera or an ONVIF compliant camera. Each of the cameras  110  may be located in one or more rooms  120  of the building  102  on one or more different floors  125   a - 125   k . There may also be multiple cameras  110  per room  120 . The one or more cameras  110  are each hardwired to an Industrial Fast Ethernet Switch (IFS) network switch  130 . The IFS network switch  130  may include one or more ports  132  for each of the cameras  110  to connect to using an Ethernet cable. A single camera  110  may connect to a single port  132  on the IFS network switch  130 . Some ports  132  on the IFS network switch  130  may also be utilized to connect the IFS network switch  130  to other IFS network switch  130  in a daisy chain of IFS network switches  130 . 
     The camera system  100  also includes a video management system (VMS)  150  in communication with the IFS network switch  130  through a hardwired or wireless connection. The VMS  150  may be located local to the building  102 , remote from the building  120 , or may be cloud based. The VMS  150  may be an electronic controller including a processor  154  and an associated memory  152  comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor  154 , cause the processor  154  to perform various operations. The processor  154  may be, but is not limited to, a single-processor or multi-processor system of any of a wide array of possible architectures, including field programmable gate array (FPGA), central processing unit (CPU), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP) or graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware arranged homogenously or heterogeneously. The memory  152  may be but is not limited to a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), or other electronic, optical, magnetic or any other computer readable medium. 
     The VMS  150  may be accessible through software, an internet web page, or an application via a user interface  178  on a computing device  170 . The computing device  170  may be a desktop computer, laptop computer, smart phone, tablet computer, smart watch, or any other computing device known to one of skill in the art. In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the computing device  170  is a tablet computer. The computing device  170  may include a display screen  174  and an input device  176 , such as, example, a mouse, a touch screen, a scroll wheel, a scroll ball, a stylus pen, a microphone, a camera, etc. In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , since the computing device  170  is a tablet computer, then the display screen  174  may also function as an input device  176 . 
     An installer of the camera system  100  may carry or have access to a computing device  170  during the installation of the camera system  100 . The VMS  150  is able to detect when a camera  110  is plugged into a port  132  of the IFS network switch  130  and the VMS  150  obtains the model number of the camera  110 , the MAC address of the camera  110 , and IP address of the camera  110 . For example, if the network switch  130  is added to the VMS  150  after the cameras  110  have been added then the VMS  150  may be able to detect when a camera  110  is plugged into a port  132  of the IFS network switch  130  and obtains the model number of the camera  110 , the MAC address of the camera  110 , and IP address of the camera  110 . However, if the network switch  130  is added to the VMS  150  before the cameras  110  have been added then a refresh of the network switch  130  may need to be done before the VMS  150  is able to detect when a camera  110  is plugged into a port  132  of the IFS network switch  130  and obtains the model number of the camera  110 , the MAC address of the camera  110 , and IP address of the camera  110 . In an embodiment, the camera is an Open Network Video Interface Forum (ONVIF). The VMS  150  is configured to display on the computing device  170  the model number of the camera  110 , the MAC address of the camera  110 , and IP address of the camera  110 . The installer can enter in a location and/or identification name for camera  110  through an input on the computing device  170 . The location and identification name for the camera  110  is then stored in the VMS  150 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2  with continued reference to  FIG. 1 , which illustrates a graphical user interface  178  of VMS  150  on the computing device  170 . A user (e.g., an installer) may interact with the VMS  150  through the graphical user interface  178  by a “click”, “touch”, verbal command or any other input to the user interphase  178 . The user may be able to view the entire camera system  100  through a graphical tree  190 . The graphical tree  190  displays all the IFS network switches  130  of the camera system at  192 . The user could select a specific IFS network switch  130  of the camera system at  192  and view the ports  132  of the IFS Network Switch  130  at  194 . The graphical tree  190  will also display the identification name and location of each camera  110  and each port  132  at  196 . 
     The user may be able to view a graphical illustration  182  of the IFS Network Switch  130  through the graphical user interface  178  of the VMS  150 . The graphical illustration  182  of the IFS network switch  130  will display each port  132  of the IFS network switch  130  and whether the activity level of the port  132 , such as for example whether, a camera  110  is connected to the port  132 . For example, the graphical illustration  182  of the IFS network switch  130  may display an activity level of each port  132  indicating whether each port  132  is active, inactive or active with power over Ethernet (PoE). A user may also be able to cycle the power of each camera  110  through the graphical user interphase  178  of the VMS  150  and/or check the current bandwidth  186 . The graphical user interphase  178  is configured to display a graphical illustration of the bandwidth  186  from an individual port  132  on the computing device  170 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Advantageously, a user utilizing a computing device  170  will be able to identify an identification name and location of a camera  60  to quickly troubleshoot problems with the camera  60 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , with continued reference  FIGS. 1-2 .  FIG. 3  shows a flow chart of method  400  of operating camera system  100  comprising one or more cameras  110 , in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. In an embodiment, the method  400  may be performed by the video management system  150 . At block  404 , a camera  110  being connected to a network switch is detected. In an embodiment the network switch is an IFS network switch  130 . In an embodiment, the camera  110  is an ONVIF device. At block  406 , a model number of the camera  110 , a MAC address of the camera  110 , and an IP address of the camera  110  is obtained. The model number of the camera  110 , the MAC address of the camera  110 , and the IP address of the camera  110  may be obtained automatically by the VMS  150  communicating with the camera  110  or through a manual input by a user of a computing device  170 . 
     At block  408 , at least one of a name of the camera  110  and a location of the camera  110  is obtained. In an embodiment, the at least one of a name of the camera  110  and a location of the camera  110  may be obtained through a manual input by a user of a computing device  170 . In an embodiment, the location is obtained manually from the user and added to the name of the camera  110 . At block  410 , the model number of the camera  110 , the MAC address of the camera  110 , and the IP address of the camera  110  is assigned to at least one of the name and the location of the camera  110 . The assignment may be made in the memory  152  of the VMS  150 , so that the camera  110  may be identified. 
     The method  400  may further comprise: generating a graphical illustration  182  of the network switch  130  on a computing device  170 . The graphical illustration  182  depicting one or more ports  132  of the network switch  130 . One of the one or more ports  130  of the network switch  130  identifies at least one of a name of the camera  110  and a location of the camera  110 . As described above, the graphical illustration  182  may also display an activity level of each of the one or more ports  132  of the network switch  130  such as, for example, whether each of the one or more ports  132  is active, inactive, or active with power over Ethernet. The method  400  may also comprise: generating a graphical illustration of a bandwidth of the camera  110  on a computing device  170 , as shown at  192 . 
     While the above description has described the flow process of  FIG. 3  in a particular order, it should be appreciated that unless otherwise specifically required in the attached claims that the ordering of the steps may be varied. 
     As described above, embodiments can be in the form of processor-implemented processes and devices for practicing those processes, such as processor. Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code containing instructions embodied in tangible media, such as network cloud storage, SD cards, flash drives, floppy diskettes, CD ROMs, hard drives, or any other computer-readable storage medium, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into and executed by a computer, the computer becomes a device for practicing the embodiments. Embodiments can also be in the form of computer program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, loaded into and/or executed by a computer, or transmitted over some transmission medium, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the computer program code is loaded into an executed by a computer, the computer becomes a device for practicing the embodiments. When implemented on a general-purpose microprocessor, the computer program code segments configure the microprocessor to create specific logic circuits. 
     The term “about” is intended to include the degree of error associated with measurement of the particular quantity and/or manufacturing tolerances based upon the equipment available at the time of filing the application. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or groups thereof. 
     Those of skill in the art will appreciate that various example embodiments are shown and described herein, each having certain features in the particular embodiments, but the present disclosure is not thus limited. Rather, the present disclosure can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions, combinations, sub-combinations, or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, while various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the present disclosure may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.