Axis P3915-R User Manual

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AXIS P3915–R Network Camera

User Manual

About this Document

This manual is intended for administrators and users of the

AXIS P3915–R, and is applicable to firmware 5.55 and later. It includes instructions for using and managing the product on your network. Previous experience of networking will be of use when using this product. Some knowledge of UNIX or Linux-based systems may also be beneficial, for developing shell scripts and applications. Later versions of this document will be posted to the Axis website, as required. See also the product’s online help, available via the web-based interface.

Legal Considerations

Video and audio surveillance can be regulated by laws that vary from country to country. Check the laws in your local region before using this product for surveillance purposes.

This product includes one (1) H.264 decoder license and one (1) AAC decoder license. To purchase further licenses, contact your reseller.

Liability

Every care has been taken in the preparation of this document. Please inform your local Axis office of any inaccuracies or omissions. Axis Communications AB cannot be held responsible for any technical or typographical errors and reserves the right to make changes to the product and manuals without prior notice. Axis Communications AB makes no warranty of any kind with regard to the material contained within this document, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Axis Communications AB shall not be liable nor responsible for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance or use of this material. This product is only to be used for its intended purpose.

Intellectual Property Rights

Axis AB has intellectual property rights relating to technology embodied in the product described in this document. In particular, and without limitation, these intellectual property rights may include one or more of the patents listed at www.axis.com/patent.htm and one or more additional patents or pending patent applications in the US and other countries.

This product contains licensed third-party software. See the menu item “About” in the product’s user interface for more information.

This product contains source code copyright Apple Computer, Inc., under the terms of Apple Public Source License 2.0 (see

www.opensource.apple.com/apsl). The source code is available from https://developer.apple.com/bonjour/

Equipment Modifications

This equipment must be installed and used in strict accordance with the instructions given in the user documentation. This equipment contains no user-serviceable components. Unauthorized equipment changes or modifications will invalidate all applicable regulatory certifications and approvals.

Trademark Acknowledgments

AXIS COMMUNICATIONS, AXIS, ETRAX, ARTPEC and VAPIX are registered trademarks or trademark applications of Axis AB in various jurisdictions. All other company names and products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Apple, Boa, Apache, Bonjour, Ethernet, Internet Explorer, Linux, Microsoft, Mozilla, Real, SMPTE, QuickTime, UNIX, Windows, Windows Vista and WWW are registered trademarks of the respective holders. Java and all Java-based trademarks and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. UPnPTM is a certification mark of the UPnPTM Implementers Corporation.

SD, SDHC and SDXC are trademarks or registered trademarks of SD-3C, LLC in the United States, other countries or both. Also, miniSD, microSD, miniSDHC, microSDHC, microSDXC are all trademarks or registered trademarks of SD-3C, LLC in the United States, other countries or both.

Regulatory Information

Europe

This product complies with the applicable CE marking directives and harmonized standards:

•Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive 2004/108/EC. See

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) on page 2 .

•Low Voltage (LVD) Directive 2006/95/EC. See Safety on page 3 .

•Restrictions of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive 2011/65/EU. See Disposal and Recycling on page 3 .

A copy of the original declaration of conformity may be obtained from Axis Communications AB. See Contact Information on page 3 .

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)

This equipment has been designed and tested to fulfill applicable standards for:

•Radio frequency emission when installed according to the instructions and used in its intended environment.

•Immunity to electrical and electromagnetic phenomena when

installed according to the instructions and used in its intended environment.

USA

Using an unshielded network cable (UTP) – This equipment has been tested using an unshielded network cable (UTP) and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful

interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.

Using a shielded network cable (STP) – This equipment has also been tested using a shielded network cable (STP) and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

•Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

•Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

•Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

•Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. To be used in a residential area or a demanding electrical environment, the product shall be connected using a shielded network cable (STP) that is properly grounded.

Canada

This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003. The product shall be connected using a shielded network cable (STP) that is properly grounded.

Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est confome à la norme NMB-003 du Canada. Le produit doit être connecté à l'aide d'un câble réseau blindé (STP) qui est correctement mis à la terre.

Europe

This digital equipment fulfills the requirements for RF emission according to the Class B limit of EN 55022. The product shall be connected using a shielded network cable (STP) that is properly grounded.

Australia/New Zealand

This digital equipment fulfills the requirements for RF emission according to the Class B limit of AS/NZS CISPR 22. The product shall be connected using a shielded network cable (STP) that is properly grounded.

Japan

B(STP)

Korea

(B )

,. STP (shielded twisted pair).

Safety

This product complies with IEC/EN/UL 60950-1, Safety of Information Technology Equipment. If its connecting cables are routed outdoors, the product shall be grounded either through a shielded network cable (STP) or other appropriate method.

Disposal and Recycling

When this product has reached the end of its useful life, dispose of it according to local laws and regulations. For information about your nearest designated collection point, contact your local authority responsible for waste disposal. In accordance with local legislation, penalties may be applicable for incorrect disposal of this waste.

Europe

This symbol means that the product shall not be disposed of together with household or commercial waste. Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is applicable in the European Union member states. To prevent potential harm to human health and the environment, the product must be disposed of in an approved and environmentally safe recycling process. For information about your nearest designated collection point, contact your local authority responsible for waste disposal. Businesses should contact the product supplier for information about how to dispose of this product correctly.

This product complies with the requirements of Directive 2011/65/EU on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS).

China

This product complies with the requirements of the legislative act Administration on the Control of Pollution Caused by Electronic Information Products (ACPEIP).

Contact Information

Axis Communications AB Emdalavägen 14

223 69 Lund Sweden

Tel: +46 46 272 18 00 Fax: +46 46 13 61 30

www.axis.com

Support

Should you require any technical assistance, please contact your Axis reseller. If your questions cannot be answered immediately, your reseller will forward your queries through the appropriate channels to ensure a rapid response. If you are connected to the Internet, you can:

•download user documentation and software updates

•find answers to resolved problems in the FAQ database. Search by product, category, or phrase

•report problems to Axis support staff by logging in to your private support area

•chat with Axis support staff (selected countries only)

•visit Axis Support at www.axis.com/techsup/

Learn More!

Visit Axis learning center www.axis.com/academy/ for useful trainings, webinars, tutorials and guides.

AXIS P3915–R Network Camera
Table of Contents
Hardware Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	6
Connectors and Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	6
LED Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	7
Accessing the Product . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	9
Access from a Browser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	9
Access from the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	9
Set the Root Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	9
The Live View Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	10
Media Streams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	13
How to Stream H.264 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	13
MJPEG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	13
AXIS Media Control (AMC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	13
Alternative Methods of Accessing the Video Stream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	14
Setting Up the Product . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	16
Basic Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	16
Video and Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	17
Video Stream . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	17
Stream Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	18
Camera Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	19
View Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	20
Overlay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	21
Privacy Mask . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	23
Audio Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	23
Live View Config . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	25
PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	27
Preset Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	27
Guard Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	27
Advanced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	28
Control Queue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	28
Detectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	29
Camera Tampering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	29
Motion Detection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	29
Audio Detection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	31
Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	32
Application Licenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	32
Install Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	32
Application Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	32
Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	34
Setting Up an Action Rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	35
Recipients . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	36
Schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	37
Recurrences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	37
Recordings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	39
Recording List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	39
Continuous Recording . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	39
Languages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	40
System Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	41
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	41
Date & Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	42
Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	43
Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	48
Ports & Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	49
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	49
Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	50
Advanced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	51
Reset to Factory Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	51
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	53
Checking the Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	53
Upgrading the Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	53
Symptoms, Possible Causes and Remedial Actions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	54
Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	57

AXIS P3915–R Network Camera

Table of Contents

Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	59
Performance Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	60

AXIS P3915–R Network Camera

Hardware Overview

1Optic assembly

2Part number (P/N) & Serial number (S/N)

3LED indicators

4SD card slot (microSD)

5Control button

6I/O connector

7Audio connector

8Network connector M12/RJ45

Connectors and Buttons

For technical specifications, see page 57.

Network Connector

The Axis product is available in two variants with different network connectors:

RJ45 Ethernet connector with Power over Ethernet (PoE).

AXIS P3915–R Network Camera

Hardware Overview

D-coded M12 connector with Power over Ethernet (PoE).

NOTICE

Due to local regulations or the environmental and electrical conditions in which the product is to be used, a shielded network cable (STP) may be appropriate or required. All cables connecting the product to the network and that are routed outdoors or in demanding electrical environments shall be intended for their specific use. Make sure that the network devices

are installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. For information about regulatory requirements, see

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) on page 2 .

I/O Connector

Use with external devices in combination with, for example, tampering alarms, motion detection, event triggering, time lapse recording and alarm notifications. In addition to the 0 V DC reference point and power (DC output), the I/O connector provides the interface to:

•Digital output – For connecting external devices such as relays and LEDs. Connected devices can be activated by the VAPIX® Application Programming Interface, output buttons on the Live View page or by an Action Rule. The output will show as active (shown under System Options > Ports & Devices) if the alarm device is activated.

•Digital input – An alarm input for connecting devices that can toggle between an open and closed circuit, for example: PIRs, door/window contacts, glass break detectors, etc. When a signal is received the state changes and the input becomes active (shown under System Options > Ports & Devices).

Audio Connector

The Axis product has the following audio connectors:

•Audio in (pink) – 3.5 mm input for a mono microphone, or a line-in mono signal (left channel is used from a stereo signal).

SD Card Slot

A microSD card (not included) can be used for local recording with removable storage. For more information, see Technical Specifications on page 57.

NOTICE

To prevent corruption of recordings, the SD card should be unmounted before removal. To unmount, go to Setup > System Options > Storage > SD Card and click Unmount.

Control Button

The control button is used for:

•Resetting the product to factory default settings. See page 51.

•Connecting to an AXIS Video Hosting System service. See page 44. To connect, press and hold the button for about 3 seconds until the Status LED flashes green.

•Connecting to AXIS Internet Dynamic DNS Service. See page 45. To connect, press and hold the button for about 3 seconds.

LED Indicators

LED	Color	Indication

Network	Green	Steady for connection to a 100 Mbit/s network. Flashes for network activity.

	Amber	Steady for connection to a 10 Mbit/s network. Flashes for network activity.

	Unlit	No network connection.

AXIS P3915–R Network Camera

Hardware Overview

Status	Green	Steady green for normal operation.

	Amber	Steady during startup and when restoring settings.

	Red	Slow flash for failed upgrade.

Power	Green	Normal operation.

	Amber	Flashes green/amber during firmware upgrade.

Note

•The Status LED can be configured to be unlit during normal operation. To configure, go to Setup > System Options > Ports & Devices > LED. See the online help for more information.

•The Status LED can be configured to flash while an event is active.

•The Status LED can be configured to flash for identifying the unit. Go to Setup > System Options > Maintenance .

•The Network LED can be disabled so that it does not flash when there is network traffic. To configure, go to Setup > System Options > Ports & Devices > LED. See the online help for more information.

AXIS P3915–R Network Camera

Accessing the Product

To install the Axis product, refer to the Installation Guide supplied with the product.

The product can be used with most operating systems and browsers. The recommended browsers are Internet Explorer with Windows, Safari with Macintosh and Firefox with other operating systems. See Technical Specifications on page 57.

To view streaming video in Internet Explorer, allow installation of AXIS Media Control (AMC) when prompted.

Note

•QuickTimeTM is also supported for viewing H.264 streams and for audio.

•If your computer restricts the use of additional software components, the product can be configured to use a Java applet for viewing Motion JPEG.

Access from a Browser

1.Start a browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari).

2.Enter the IP address or host name of the Axis product in the browser’s Location/Address field. To access the product from a Macintosh computer (Mac OS X), click on the Bonjour tab and select the product from the drop-down list.

If you do not know the IP address, use AXIS IP Utility to locate the product on the network. For information about how to discover and assign an IP address, see the Installation and Management Software CD or the document Assign an IP Address and Access the Video Stream on Axis Support web at www.axis.com/techsup

3.Enter your user name and password. If this is the first time the product is accessed, the root password must first be configured. For instructions, see Set the Root Password on page 9 .

4.The product’s Live View page opens in your browser.

Note

The controls and layout of the Live View page may have been customized to meet specific installation requirements and user preferences. Consequently, some of the examples and functions featured here may differ from those displayed in your own Live View page.

Access from the Internet

Once connected, the Axis product is accessible on your local network (LAN). To access the product from the Internet you must configure your network router to allow incoming data traffic to the product. To do this, enable the NAT-traversal feature, which will attempt to automatically configure the router to allow access to the product. This is enabled from Setup > System Options > Network > TCP/IP Advanced.

For more information, see NAT traversal (port mapping) for IPv4 on page 46. See also AXIS Internet Dynamic DNS Service at www.axiscam.net

For Technical notes on this and other topics, visit the Axis Support web at www.axis.com/techsup

Set the Root Password

To access the Axis product, you must set the password for the default administrator user root. This is done in the Configure Root Password dialog, which opens when the product is accessed for the first time.

To prevent network eavesdropping, the root password can be set via an encrypted HTTPS connection, which requires an HTTPS certificate. HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol over SSL) is a protocol used to encrypt traffic between web browsers and servers. The HTTPS certificate ensures encrypted exchange of information. See HTTPS on page 41.

The default administrator user name root is permanent and cannot be deleted. If the password for root is lost, the product must be reset to the factory default settings. See Reset to Factory Default Settings on page 51.

AXIS P3915–R Network Camera

Accessing the Product

To set the password via a standard HTTP connection, enter it directly in the dialog.

To set the password via an encrypted HTTPS connection, follow these steps:

1.Click Use HTTPS.

A temporary certificate (valid for one year) is created, enabling encryption of all traffic to and from the product, and the password can now be set securely.

2.Enter a password and then re-enter it to confirm the spelling.

3.Click OK. The password has now been configured.

Set Power Line Frequency

Power line frequency is set the first time the Axis product is accessed and can only be changed from Plain Config (see page 51) or by resetting the product to factory default.

Select the power line frequency (50 Hz or 60 Hz) used at the location of the Axis product. Selecting the wrong frequency may cause image flicker if the product is used in fluorescent light environments.

When using 50 Hz, the maximum frame rate is limited to 25 fps.

Note

Power line frequency varies depending on geographic region. The Americas usually use 60 Hz, whereas most other parts of the world use 50 Hz. Local variations could apply. Always check with the local authorities.

The Live View Page

Controls on the Live View Page

Click View size to scale the image down to 800 pixels wide or to full scale. Only available in MJPEG.

Select a stream profile for the Live View page from the Stream Profile drop-down list. For information about how to configure stream profiles, see page 18.

Click Pulse to activate the product’s output port for a defined period of time. For information about how to enable and configure output buttons, see page 26.

Click the Active/Inactive buttons to manually activate and inactive the product’s output port. For information about how to enable and configure output buttons, see page 26.

AXIS P3915–R Network Camera

Accessing the Product

The Manual Trigger button is used to trigger an action rule from the Live View page. For information about how to configure and enable the button, see Manual Trigger on page 11 .

Click Snapshot to save a snapshot of the video image. This button is primarily intended for use when the AXIS Media Control viewer toolbar is not available. Enable this button from Live View Config > Action Buttons.

Manual Trigger

The Manual Trigger is used to trigger an action rule from the Live View page. The manual trigger can for example be used to validate actions during product installation and configuration.

To configure the manual trigger:

1.Go to Setup > Events.

2.Click Add to add a new action rule.

3.From the Trigger drop-down list, select Input Signal.

4.From the second drop-down list, select Manual Trigger.

5.Select the desired action and configure the other settings as required. For more information about action rules, see Events on page 34.

To show the manual trigger buttons in the Live View page:

1.Go to Setup > Live View Config.

2.Under Action Buttons, select Show manual trigger button.

AXIS Media Control viewer toolbar

The AXIS Media Control viewer toolbar is available in Internet Explorer only. See AXIS Media Control (AMC) on page 13 for more information. The toolbar displays the following buttons:

The Play button connects to the Axis product and starts playing a media stream.

The Stop button stops the media stream.

The Snapshot button takes a snapshot of the video image. The location where the image is saved can be specified in the AMC Control Panel.

Click the View Full Screen button and the video image will fill the entire screen. Press ESC (Escape) on the computer keyboard to cancel full screen view.

The Record button is used to record the current video stream. The location where the recording is saved can be specified in the AMC Control Panel. Enable this button from Live View Config > Viewer Settings.

PTZ Controls

The Live View page also displays Pan/Tilt/Zoom (PTZ) controls. The administrator can enable/disable controls for specified users under

System Options > Security > Users.

AXIS P3915–R Network Camera

Accessing the Product

Note

These controls are available if digital PTZ is enabled in the selected view area, see View Area on page 20.

With the PTZ Control Queue enabled the time each user is in control of the PTZ settings is limited. Click the buttons to request or release control of the PTZ controls. The PTZ Control Queue is set up under PTZ > Control Queue.

Click the Emulate joystick mode button and click in the image to move the camera view in the direction of the mouse pointer.

Click the Center mode button and click in the image to center the camera view on that position. The center mode button could also be used to zoom in on a specific area. Click in the image and drag to draw a rectangle surrounding the area to be magnified. To zoom out, rotate the mouse wheel.

Click the Ctrl panel button to open the PTZ control panel which provides additional PTZ controls.

User-defined buttons can also appear in the Control panel. See Controls on page 28.

To view a specific view area or preset position, select it from the Source list.

Pan and Tilt bars – Use the arrows to pan and tilt the camera view, or click on a position on the bar to steer the camera view to that position.

The PTZ controls can be disabled under PTZ > Advanced > Controls, see Controls on page 28.

AXIS P3915–R Network Camera

Media Streams

The Axis product provides several audio and video stream formats. Your requirements and the properties of your network will determine the type you use.

The Live View page in the product provides access to H.264 and Motion JPEG video streams, audio streams and to the list of available stream profiles. Other applications and clients can access video and audio streams directly, without going via the Live View page.

How to Stream H.264

H.264 can, without compromising image quality, reduce the size of a digital video file by more than 80% compared with the Motion JPEG format and as much as 50% more than the MPEG-4 standard. This means that much less network bandwidth and storage space are required for a video file. Or seen another way, much higher video quality can be achieved for a given bit rate.

Deciding which combination of protocols and methods to use depends on your viewing requirements, and on the properties of your network. The available options in AXIS Media Control are:

Unicast RTP	This unicast method (RTP over UDP) is used
	for live unicast video, especially when it is
	important to always have an up-to-date video
	stream, even if some frames are dropped.	Unicasting is used for video-on-demand
		transmission so that there is no video traffic
RTP over RTSP	This unicast method (RTP tunneled over RTSP)	transmission so that there is no video traffic
RTP over RTSP	This unicast method (RTP tunneled over RTSP)	on the network until a client connects and
	is useful as it is relatively simple to configure	on the network until a client connects and
	is useful as it is relatively simple to configure	requests the stream.
	firewalls to allow RTSP traffic.	requests the stream.
	firewalls to allow RTSP traffic.	Note that there are a maximum of 20
		Note that there are a maximum of 20
RTP over RTSP over HTTP	This unicast method can be used to traverse	simultaneous unicast connections.
	firewalls. Firewalls are commonly configured to
	allow the HTTP protocol, thus allowing RTP to
	be tunneled.

Multicast RTP	This method (RTP over UDP) should be used for live multicast video. The video stream is always
	up-to-date, even if some frames are dropped.
	Multicasting provides the most efficient usage of bandwidth when there are large numbers of
	clients viewing simultaneously. A multicast cannot however, pass a network router unless the
	router is configured to allow this. It is not possible to multicast over the Internet, for example.
	Note also that all multicast viewers count as one unicast viewer in the maximum total of 20
	simultaneous connections.

AXIS Media Control negotiates with the Axis product to determine the transport protocol to use. The order of priority, listed in the AMC Control Panel, can be changed and the options disabled, to suit specific requirements.

Note

H.264 is licensed technology. The Axis product includes one H.264 viewing client license. Installing additional unlicensed copies of the client is prohibited. To purchase additional licenses, contact your Axis reseller.

MJPEG

This format uses standard JPEG still images for the video stream. These images are then displayed and updated at a rate sufficient to create a stream that shows constantly updated motion.

The Motion JPEG stream uses considerable amounts of bandwidth, but provides excellent image quality and access to every image contained in the stream. The recommended method of accessing Motion JPEG live video from the Axis product is to use the AXIS Media Control in Internet Explorer in Windows.

AXIS Media Control (AMC)

AXIS Media Control (AMC) in Internet Explorer in Windows is the recommended method of accessing live video from the Axis product.

AXIS P3915–R Network Camera

Media Streams

The AMC Control Panel can be used to configure various video and audio settings. Please see the AXIS Media Control User’s Manual for more information.

The AMC Control Panel is automatically installed on first use, after which it can be configured. Open the AMC Control Panel from:

•Windows Control Panel (from the Start menu)

•Alternatively, right-click the video image in Internet Explorer and click Settings.

Alternative Methods of Accessing the Video Stream

You can also access video and images from the Axis product in the following ways:

•Motion JPEG server push (if supported by the client, Firefox, for example). This option maintains an open HTTP connection to the browser and sends data as and when required, for as long as required.

•Still JPEG images in a browser. Enter the path http://<ip>/axis-cgi/jpg/image.cgi

•Windows Media Player. This requires AXIS Media Control and the H.264 decoder to be installed. The following paths can be used:

-Unicast via RTP: axrtpu://<ip>/axis-media/media.amp

-Unicast via RTSP: axrtsp://<ip>/axis-media/media.amp

-Unicast via RTSP, tunneled via HTTP: axrtsphttp://<ip>/axis-media/media.amp

-Multicast: axrtpm://<ip>/axis-media/media.amp

•QuickTimeTM. The following paths can be used:

-rtsp://<ip>/axis-media/media.amp

-rtsp://<ip>/axis-media/media.3gp

AXIS P3915–R Network Camera

Media Streams

Note

•<ip>= IP addess

•The Axis product supports QuickTime 6.5.1 and later.

•QuickTime adds latency to the video stream.

•It may be possible to use other players to view the H.264 stream using the paths above, although Axis does not guarantee this.

AXIS P3915–R Network Camera

Setting Up the Product

The Axis product can be configured by users with administrator or operator rights. To open the product’s Setup pages, click Setup in the top right-hand corner of the Live View page.

•Administrators have unrestricted access to all settings.

•Operators have access to all settings except System Options

See also the online help .

Basic Setup

Basic Setup provides shortcuts to the settings that should be made before using the Axis product:

1.Users. See page 41.

2.TCP/IP. See page 43.

3.Date & Time. See page 42.

4.Video Stream. See page 17.

5.Audio Settings. See page 23.

The Basic Setup menu can be disabled from System Options > Security > Users.

AXIS P3915–R Network Camera

Video and Audio

The video and audio settings can be used to optimize video and audio quality. You can configure the following:

•Video stream settings. See page 17.

•Stream profiles. See page 18.

•Camera settings. See page 19.

•View areas. See page 20.

•Overlay image. See page 21.

•Privacy mask. See page 23.

•Audio settings. See page 23.

Video Stream

You can define the following video stream settings from Video & Audio > Video Stream:

•Image. See page 17.

•Audio. See page 23.

•H.264. See page 18.

•MJPEG. See page 18.

Pixel Counter

The pixel counter shows the number of pixels in an area of the image. The pixel counter is useful in situations where there is a requirement that the image is a certain size, for example in face recognition.

The pixel counter can be accessed from:

•Video & Audio > Video Stream. Under Preview, click Open and select the Show pixel counter option to enable the rectangle in the image. Use the mouse to move and resize the rectangle, or enter the number of pixels in the Width and Height fields and click Apply.

•The Live View page in Internet Explorer with AXIS Media Control (AMC) in Windows. Right-click in the image and select Pixel counter. Use the mouse to move and resize the rectangle.

Image

The default image settings can be configured under Video & Audio > Video Stream. Select the Image tab.

The following settings are available:

•Resolution. Select the default resolution.

•Compression. The compression level affects the image quality, bandwidth and file size of saved images; the lower the compression, the higher the image quality with higher bandwidth requirements and larger file sizes.

•Rotate image. If required, the image can be rotated.

•Mirror. If required, the image can be mirrored.

AXIS P3915–R Network Camera

Video and Audio

•Maximum frame rate. To avoid bandwidth problems, the frame rate allowed to each viewer can be Limited to a fixed amount. Alternatively, the frame rate can be set as Unlimited, which means the Axis product always delivers the highest frame rate possible under the current conditions.

•Overlay settings. See Overlay on page 21.

Click Save to apply the new settings.

H.264

H.264, also known as MPEG-4 Part 10/AVC, is a video compression standard that provides high quality video streams at low bit rates. An H.264 video stream consists of different types of frames such as I-frames and P-frames. An I-frame is a complete image whereas P-frames only contain the differences from previous frames.

The GOV length is the number of frames between two consecutive I-frames. Increasing the GOV length may save considerably on bandwidth requirements in some cases, but may also have an adverse affect on image quality.

The Axis product supports two H.264 profiles. The Main profile provides higher compression than the Baseline profile with the same video quality, but requires more processing power to decode.

The bit rate can be set as Variable bit rate (VBR) or Constant bit rate (CBR). VBR adjusts the bit rate according to the image complexity, using up more bandwidth for increased activity in the image, and less for lower image activity. When the activity in the scene increases, the bit rate would usually increase as well. If there is a surplus in bandwidth, this may not be an issue and selecting Variable bit rate (VBR) will be sufficient. But if bandwidth is limited, it is recommended to control the bit rate by selecting Constant bit rate (CBR). When the activity in the scene increases, VBR adjusts the bit rate according to the complexity, using up more bandwidth for increased activity in the scene, and less for lower scene activity. CBR allows you to set a target bit rate that limits the bandwidth consumption.

The CBR target bit rate works like the ceiling of a tent. It limits the bit rate, while maintaining some flexibility. The bit rate may bounce up and down within the set target but when it nears the set target value, the limitation kicks in. However, because CBR will always prioritize a continuous video stream, it allows temporary overshoots from the target bit rate. Because setting a target value prevents the bit rate from increasing, frame rate and image quality are affected negatively. To partly compensate for this, select which variable shall be prioritized, frame rate or image quality. Not setting a priority means that frame rate and image quality are equally affected.

The current bit rate can be set to appear as text overlay. Under Overlay Settings, select Include text and enter the modifier #b in the field.

To apply the settings, click Save.

MJPEG

Sometimes the image size is large due to low light or complex scenery. Adjusting the maximum frame size helps to control the bandwidth and storage used by the Motion JPEG video stream in these situations. Setting the frame size to the Default setting provides consistently good image quality at the expense of increased bandwidth and storage usage in low light. Limiting the frame size optimizes bandwidth and storage usage, but may give poor image quality. To prevent increased bandwidth and storage usage, the maximum frame size should be set to an optimal value.

Stream Profiles

A stream profile is a set of predefined stream settings including resolution, compression, frame rate and overlay settings. Stream profiles can be used:

•When setting up recording using action rules. See Events on page 34.

•When setting up continuous recording. See Continuous Recording on page 39.

•In the Live View page – select the stream profile from the Stream profile drop-down list.

For quick setup, use one of the predefined stream profiles. Each predefined profile has a descriptive name, indicating its purpose. If required, the predefined stream profiles can be modified and new customized stream profiles can be created.

To create a new profile or modify an existing profile, go to Setup > Video & Audio > Stream Profiles.

AXIS P3915–R Network Camera

Video and Audio

To select a default stream profile for the Live View page, go to Setup > Live View Config.

Camera Settings

The Video & Audio > Camera Settings page provides access to advanced image settings for the Axis product.

Image Appearance

Increasing the Color level increases the color saturation. The value 100 gives maximum color saturation. The value 0 gives a black and white image.

The image Brightness can be adjusted in the range 0–100, where a higher value produces a brighter image.

Increasing the Sharpness can increase bandwidth usage. A sharper image might increase image noise especially in low light conditions. A lower setting reduces image noise, but the whole image will appear less sharp.

The Contrast changes the relative difference between light and dark. It can be adjusted using the slidebar.

White Balance

White balance is used to make colors in the image appear the same regardless of the color temperature of the light source. The Axis product can be set to automatically identify the light source and compensate for its color. Alternatively, select the type of light

source from the drop-down list. For a description of each available setting, see the online help.

The white balance window is enabled for the Automatic and Automatic outdoor options that appear in the White balance drop-down list. Select one of the options from the drop-down list to set the white balance window properties. Select Automatic to use the default settings for the Automatic and Automatic outdoor options (in the White balance drop-down list). Select Custom to manually set a reference window for white balance in the view area.

Wide Dynamic Range

Wide dynamic range (Dynamic Contrast) can improve the exposure when there is a considerable contrast between light and dark areas in the image. Enable WDR in intense backlight conditions. Disable WDR in low light conditions for optimal exposure.

Note

This setting is only possible when using automatic exposure control.

Traffic Light mode

This mode will decrease the exposure, so that traffic lights and other bright light sources will not saturate when in view at night. In this mode, it is possible to distinguish the color of the traffic lights at any surrounding light level. This mode is also favorable for license plate recognition.

Note

The decrease in exposure will make the whole image darker, during conditions above.

This setting will disable the Exposure Settings for best results.

Exposure Settings

Configure the exposure settings to suit the image quality requirements in relation to lighting, frame rate and bandwidth considerations.

Exposure value - Click in the bar to fine-tune the exposure.

Exposure control - This setting is used to adapt to the amount of light used. Automatic is the default setting and can be used in most situations. The shutter speed is automatically set to produce optimum image quality. Flicker-free 50 or 60 Hz is used to remove flicker which can be caused by fluorescent and other light sources. The Hold current option locks the current exposure settings.

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