In Part 1 of this series, we discussed IP Notify RAW TCP/IP messaging.
In Part 2, we delve into HTTP messaging by walking you through the workflow and a setup example.
What is IP Notify?
IP Notify function enables a MOBOTIX camera to send messages to itself or any other MOBOTIX or 3rd party device.
The purpose of IP Notify messages is to provide information and/or initiate specific actions or command within any hardware device or software application.
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To get some perspective of how IP Notify can enhance your MOBOTIX installations, check out this diagrammatic overview.
There are three types of IP Notify messages:
• Raw TCP/IP
• HTTP
• MxCC-Alarm
HTTP
In this second of the IP Notify tutorial series, we cover HTTP messaging. The objective of this article is to provide a general overview for new users. We will provide in-depth tutorials in follow up articles.
HTTP messages are very similar to Raw TCP/IP messages, but the data entered is structured according to the HTTP protocol.
HTTP messages can be used to configure a web-server based device (e.g. computer, IP camera) or to send it a command. A typical example is when we use a web browser to configure a MOBOTIX camera. When the “Set” button is clicked, all the parameters within a web page are sent to the camera through the HTTP protocol.
Often the device receiving the message requires the device sender to authenticate before the command gets executed. For this, the user name and the password can be sent along with the command.
How To Setup “HTTP” Messaging
Example 1:
Let’s say you wanted “camera A” to get “camera B” to play an audible sound file.
Launch a web browser and enter the IP address of “camera A”.
Click Admin Menu >> Transfer Profiles >> IP Notify Profiles >> Simple Notify
1. IP Notify Type
Select Custom Configuration
2. Destination Address
Enter the IP address of the recipient device, which in this example is “camera B”.
3. Data Protocol
Select “HTTP/1.0 request” from the drop down
4. CGI Path
Enter “/control/rcontrol”
5. Camera Username and Password
Enter the camera’s login credentials, like this “username:password”. So for example, our tutorial camera is set to the default Admin login, admin and meinsm, so we would enter admin:meinsm. You should enter whatever the username and password is for your camera, separated by a colon (no spaces).
6. Data type
Select Plain text from the dropdown
7. Message
Enter a script command that will perform the required action.
Commands are located in the camera here http://<camera_IP_address>/admin/rcontrol?list
The total of these inputs, creates the following HTTP command:
http://admin:meinsm@192.168.1.200:80/control/rcontrol?action=sound&soundfile=Alarm
Now save the setting
Click Set Close and OK.
Let’s take a close look at the HTTP command script we’ve created and break it down to make sense of it:
http://admin:meinsm@192.168.1.200:80/control/rcontrol?action=sound&soundfile=Alarm
http
Transfer Protocol: HTTP applies in most cases. However, if the receiver camera’s HTTPS Web Server is active, it’s possible to use https:// as well
admin:meinsm
Authentication: camera’s user login credentials on the receiver camera - <user>:<password>
@
Separator: required separator between the login and the target IP address
192.168.1.200:80
The IP address of the device receiving the HTTP command, followed by the port on which the device web server is “listening”.
/control/rcontrol
CGI Path: camera path where the Rcontrol parameter that executes the commands is located. Rcontrol commands are located in the camera here http://<camera_IP_address>/admin/rcontrol?list
?
Separator: required separator between the CGI Path and the Command
action=sound&soundfile=Alarm
Rcontrol Commands: the first value expected by the script is always the name of the action that is to be performed.
&
Depending on the action, you may have to provide additional parameters. Additional parameter are linked with the “&” symbol. So to make the camera action a sound file, we linked “audio=sound” & “soundfile=Alarm” (see below).
You can find the rcontrol commands in the camera, as shown in the above screenshot, here – http://<camera_IP_address>/admin/rcontrol?list
Note
Don’t be disheartened if you find IP Notify challenging at first. It can be a steep learning curve, which is why it’s covered in the MOBOTIX Advanced training. But like anything worthwhile, it just takes a bit of practice. With a little persistence, you will find yourself creating some amazing solutions, that you could never achieve using other IP camera systems.
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