Remote Control Program

Set Up and Operation

SeeMore Wildlife System Inc.

 

 

 

Getting Started

Seemore’s robotic camera system is so simple to install and operate, even biologists can use it!  We want your experience setting up our remote video systems to be as enjoyable as the process of operating the system and collecting data.  As you get started,  please explore and use the system’s capabilities.  Nothing you do at the receive location can damage the remote system, so please feel free to press all the buttons, go through the menus and explore.  Also, please let us know your experience and suggestions so that we can continue to improve our product.

 

This document includes the following information:

1.     Starting the software

2.     Overview of camera control software

3.     Sending the first commands

4.     Connecting via the serial port

5.     Connecting via the Internet

6.     Viewing streaming video

7.     Ports and Firewalls

8.     Turning power on/off for the remote system

9.     Camera control overview

10. Learning to move the camera

11. Additional Functions

a.      Wiping the lens

b.     Squirting the lens

c.     Preset positions

d.     Snapping pictures

e.      Capturing video

12. Automated Tasks

a.      Time Lapse (JPEG and Bitmap)

b.     Auto Wiper

c.     Auto Voltage Monitoring

d.     Auto Moves

e.      Auto Infrared

13. Scheduled camera moves

14. Using the JPEG stills playback feature

15. Adding cameras

16. Using the program as a server

Starting the Camera Control Software:

Turning on the remote cameras is simple.  First, look for the Puffin on the desktop and double click.

 

 

 

The SeeMore Remote Control Program will launch, and you will see the picture shown below.  Note the camera select button, the left/right/up/down buttons and the zoom buttons.  There is also a tab strip near the bottom of the screen with the labels:  Preset, Pictures, Wipers etc.  Also note the connection status display in the lower right corner.

 

 

 

 

Overview of the Camera Control Software:

 

 

Program Overview:   Camera select.    Camera movement by these buttons or by clicking on screen.   Zoom level select.       Connection status.   Preset positions.

 

 

 

 

 

Sending the First Command:

 

Next, click on the Camera button.  If you are connecting to a camera system via the comm. port of your computer (serial connection), then please be sure that you see a green Serial Port Output box in the lower right side of the screen, just above the puffin.  If you are connecting over the Internet, please be sure the box above the puffin is green and reads, “Connection Up”. 

 

If you are confused about which message you should be seeing, please see the “*” below.  If you know which you should be seeing, but the wrong message is showing, please go to the “Changing Outputs: Serial or Internet” section below. 

 

Sending the First Command:   Press the camera command button.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Some people have trouble understanding whether they should be connecting to a system over the internet or through their serial port.  If your computer has a cable plugged into its serial port, and that cable goes to a radio transmitter which is connected to an antenna on your roof, then you are probably wanting to send commands out your serial port.  If, however, you are connecting to a camera system in another city, state, or continent, or if you are connecting to a SeeMore Satellite system, you will want to connect via the Internet.  In this case, please go to Connecting Over the Internet.
Connecting Via the Serial Port:

The Serial Port Output means that the commands you are sending are going to the radio transmitter—which is what you want if you are not connecting to a camera system via the Internet. *

 

Serial Port Output:   When you see this, then you are ready to send commands to the serial port.  Note that the Red dot will remain red.  This is OK.

                

Note:  If you do not see Serial Port output and you are trying to send commands to a local system, please go to “Changing Outputs: Serial or Internet”

 

* Some people have trouble understanding whether they should be connecting to a system over the internet or through their serial port.  This can be confusing, so please don’t feel bad if it doesn’t make clear sense to you.   Here are the questions: 

 

If your computer has a cable plugged into its serial port, and if that cable goes to a radio transmitter which is connected to an antenna on your roof, then you are probably wanting to send commands out your serial port. 

 

If, however, you are connecting to a camera system in another city, state, or continent, or if you are connecting to a SeeMore Satellite system, you will want to connect via the Internet.  In this case, please go to Connecting Via the Internet.

 

Connecting Via the Internet:

If you are connecting to a camera via the Internet then the box above the puffin should read either, “Camera Control Link OK”  or “Camera Control Link Down”.  This means that your computer is set up to connect over the Internet.  If you know that you should be connecting via the Internet, and you see the Serial Port message, please go to “Changing Outputs: Serial or Internet”

	Connection over Internet or LAN:   This label message must appear.  If the label is red, you will not be connected and you will not have control.

 

 

If you are trying to connect to a remote camera system via the Internet, then you should understand that when you first click one of the camera buttons, your computer attempts to contact the computer at the IP address specified in the Remote Camera Address form (For more information on this, please see “Adding Cameras” below).  If after you press the camera button the button turns green, then you are connected.  If the button stays red and says “Connection Dn” then there is either a problem with your internet connection or with the remote server machine.  Please see troubleshooting for more on this.

 

Once you are connected to the remote machine, you can begin controlling the cameras. 

 

Getting  Video Over the Internet:

Once your Remote Control is ready to send commands, it is almost ready to receive video.  There are only two additional things you need to do.  You probably already did the first task—which is setting up the IP address for the ViewPort.  You probably did this when you set up the address for the control address.  To check or change this, press

Ctrl + A.  You can also see the section Adding a Camera for more on this.

 

The second thing you will need to do is install a CODEC to match the CODEC used at the server location.  A CODEC is a software program that can compress data and then decompress it.  At the server location, a CODEC is used to compress the video data.  At the client location (your location), the SAME CODEC receives data arriving over the Internet.  The CODEC decodes the data and produces the images you see.  Here’s what you need to do:

 

On your installation CD or at the SeeMore Wildlife Systems Inc. web site, get the most current CODEC.  For example, this might be a file called Xvid.  Launch the program and install it onto your computer.  Once it is installed, you will see nothing different, and you don’t need to do anything else.  The Remote Control program will simply find the CODEC when it needs it, and video will then be delivered.

 

Connecting and viewing video:

When you press a camera button, you are instructing the Remote Control to establish a camera control connection and a video streaming connection.  You will see a progress bar above the camera control status display.  You will also see a small red circle.  The red circle is the Streaming Indicator.  This indicator will flash green each time a new video frame arrives. 

	Connecting to Video Stream:   Video arriving circle (turns green when each new video frame arrives).   Progress bar when connecting to new stream.

 

Ports and Firewalls:

The Remote Control program connects over ports 9001-9010.  If you have a firewall in your facility, you will need open up these ports.  Additionally, these ports will need to be open at the server location.

 

If your machine is being used as a server to stream to the Internet, you will need to open up other ports.  These will be specific to the streaming program you are using (Real, Windows Media, etc.)
Turning On the Remote Camera System (Turning power ON):

 

Turning the system on is simple.  You only need to turn the system on if you do not have a picture on the computer or on the TV.  There are three things that need to happen to turn the system on: 1. Turn on the transmitter.  2.  Turn on the camera.  3. Select a camera for viewing.  All of these can be done with one button, which is shown below.  To get to this button, click on the Power Management tab.

 

Power Management   Select the Power Management.

 

Once you click on Power Management, the form below will be displayed.

To turn the system On, press the System ON button.

 

 

To turn on the system On, press System ON

Turning On the System:   Press System ON   Note that the text box on the left must read 20.

 

Turning Off the System:   Press System OFF.   Note that the text box on the left must read 20.

To turn off the system, press the System OFF button.

 

Controlling the Cameras:

 

To control Camera 1, press the Camera 1 button.

To control  the camera:   Press the Camera 1 button.

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Moving the Cameras:

At this point, you should have a picture on your computer screen and/or television monitor (if not connected over the Internet).  If you do not have a picture, then please proceed to the troubleshooting section.  If you have a picture, then it’s time to begin controlling the camera.

 

You can move the camera two ways:

 

Basic Movements:

You can press the Right/Left/Up/Down buttons to move the camera.  You can then press the zoom position you want.

Moving the camera:   Click on the Up/Down/Left/ Right button with the left mouse button.   Left click on the Zoom level button to zoom in.

 

 

 

 

Faster image select:

You can also click on the picture and the camera will center on the place you select.  If you click on the picture and then hold the left mouse button down and drag the mouse, you can draw a square around the area you want to view.  The camera will move to this position.  If you “Right Click” once, the camera will zoom out one level.  If you “Double Right Click”, the camera will zoom out all the way.

 

Click and Drag:   Left-Click on the screen and drag a square around the area you want to view.  Let up on the mouse and the camera will move.    Right-click to zoom out to the next wider level.   Double-right click to zoom out all the way.

 

 

 

 

 

Getting Familiar:

Now that you have control of the camera, begin exploring the camera’s world.  Within a few hours, you will completely master the operation of the system.  Please feel free to write to us with any questions or suggestions about this document or our system.

 

Additional Functions:

 

Cleaning the Lens:

If rain or sea-spray dots the lens, you can easily clean it by sending a Wipe Lens command.  Simply click on the Wiper tab, and then select Full Lens Wipe.

 

Click on the Wiper and Squirt tab:   This will open the wiper and squirt menu.

 

Wiper Menu Options:   Full Lens Wipe Half Lens Wipe Squirt

 

Full Lens Wipe:  Press this button and the wiper will cycle right-left-right and then it will park on the right side.

 

Half Lens Wipe:  Press this button and the wiper will cycle right to left only.  It will then park on the left side.  This can be a useful function if the Full Lens Wipe function leaves a streak across the lens.

 

Squirt:  If the spots on your lens are from rain, you probably will not ever need the squirt button.  If, however, your spots are from salt spray, then use the squirt button.  Press it once and water will begin running down the lens.  Follow this with a Full Lens Wipe to clean the lens. 

 

Two notes on the squirt: 1. You must add water to the camera for the squirt to function.

2. If the squirt reservoir is over-filled then water will drip out the squirt tube and onto the lens until the water level is lowered.

 

Setting Presets: You can store up to 40 preset positions.  Storing and then retrieving the positions is just about the simplest thing you can imagine.  Simply move the camera to an interesting position (pan/tilt/zoom to a desired location), and then Right-Click on any of the preset buttons.  A dialog box will ask if you want to store the current position.  Select “Yes”, and you are finished.  To go to a position, simply Left-Click on any of the preset buttons.

 

Presets: Right Click to save.   Left Click to go to.

 

To access positions 21-40, simply press on the 21-40 button.  Getting back to the originals is the same process… simply press the button again. 

 

You may also vary the speed at which the camera will go to the next preset position.  The default is high speed, but you can also click the “Slow Moves” button to greatly slow things down.

 

Presets:   Slow/Fast moves.   Select Position 21-40.

 

 Snapping pictures:

 

To snap a picture simply left click the Snap Picture button. 

Snapping Pictures:   Left click the Snap Picture Button.

 

All pictures are placed in the C:/SWS/Still_Pictures/Today’s date folder.  Each day a new folder is automatically created.  The still pictures will be assigned a file name similar to: 

 

          Round_Island_1_15_03@ 11_42_18 AM_0_.jpg

Location Name       Date             Time          Zoom/Preset level

 

 

 

Note:  The final number will be either the zoom level or Preset position.  If the system is snapping pictures during an Auto Cycle, then the file name includes the position number to help researchers review multiple locations.  If the camera was positioned by the user, then this number reflects the current zoom position.

 

Image Capture Options:

You can select JPEG or Bitmap.  You can also select Noise-Free image capture. 

 

Selecting JPEG or Bitmap:

To select JPEG or Bitmap, select Interface Options/Interface Set Up/Program Set Up.  You can also select Ctrl + P.

 

 

Select Image Capture:

Select Image Capture:   Left click the Image Capture Tab

 

Select JPEG or Bitmap option. 

Image Capture Select:     Left click JPEG or Bitmap   Noise Free Still

 

 

Selecting Noise Free Image Capture:

Noise Free Image Capture provides a method by which still images can be captured with transmission-related noise reduced or eliminated.  If this is selected, the camera will freeze for up to 10 seconds when a still image is snapped, and the computer will create a still image file during this time.

 

Recording video:

 

You have two ways to record video.  You can either capture video by pressing BackCapture or by pressing Capture Video.  Press BackCapture to record events that happened in the previous 10 to 60 seconds.  Press Capture Video to begin recording and then press the button again to stop recording.  All video clips are placed in the C:/SWS/Video_Clips/Today’s date. 

 

You can change the quality of the videos recorded.  The higher the quality, the larger the files.  Change the video quality by selecting: Interface Options/Interface Set Up/Program Set Up.  You can also select Cntr + P.

 

 

 

Select the number of Frames Per Second (FPS), and change the number of seconds for BackCapture.

Video Capture Settings:   Select the Frames Per Second for video recording   Input the number of seconds for BackCapture.

 

Auto Tasks:

 

There are several functions that can be triggered automatically by the program.  These functions can occur during specific hours of the day to help customize data collections. 

 

Press Cntr + P to display the Program Set Up window.  Then select Auto Functions.

 

Auto Functions:   Start time:   Stop time:   Time Lapse Auto Wipe Voltage Check Auto Moves Auto Picture Capture   Auto Infrared

 

Time Lapse Enable:

Select this option and the program will capture an image (JPEG or Bitmap) every X seconds during the Start/Stop time. 

 

Auto Wipe Enable:

Select this option to command the camera to wipe the lens every X minutes.  This is useful during rainy days/weeks.  The Auto Wipe will occur during the Stop/Stop time.

 

Check Voltage:

This is a useful function for monitoring power at one location.  We recommend checking the voltage every 60 minutes.  The data collected is placed in the SWS folder.

 

Enable Auto Moves and Auto Picture Snap:

Both of these commands can be accessed in the Schedule form accessed on the main screen.  These are described in Scheduling Auto Moves.

 

Auto Infrared:

The camera may be commanded to switch from visible light to infrared at a specified hour and then be switched back to visible light at another hour.  Note that the Enable Aux Power option will send commands to the camera to enable a 12 vdc switch on the camera.  This switch can be used to power an infrared illuminator on a desired schedule.

Scheduling Auto Camera Moves:

 

You may want to program several preset positions and then create a schedule for the camera to move through these.  To begin the process, please become familiar with the Schedule manager below. 

 

Enable Auto Moves:  With this selected, Auto Moves will operate.

 

a.       Enable Auto Pictures:  With this selected, a still image will be captured with each preset camera move.  Use this feature if you want to survey a large area and then record data of each target area.  This is an ideal function if you need to survey  or cover a large are a for population counts.  When pictures are automatically captured, their filename includes the preset position number.  See Using the JPEG Stills Playback Feature

for more information on sorting and viewing these files.

 

Enable Auto Resume:  This function allows you to interrupt the auto move sequence at any point.  The program will wait for the number of minutes entered in the text-box, and then the schedule will resume from its last location.  For example, if the camera is scanning an area for a seal, and at some point a researcher sees an animal in the camera, then the researcher may instantly interrupt the auto scan.  The researcher may move the camera, zoom in/zoom out as desired.  When these moves are completed, the auto scan will resume automatically without the researcher doing anything. 

 

This function can also be very useful if the program is used in an interpretive environment.  Here, a visitor may move the camera and then walk away—leaving the camera pointed at something interesting or not-so-interesting.  Regardless, the program will automatically reenter its auto loop and provide quality images to a viewing audience.

 

Loop Start Hr: While the series of camera moves that you program in the Schedule form can be started manually, it is far more useful to have it engage automatically.  To do this, you simply set the start hour in this box.  At this hour and at minute 00, the loop schedule will begin.

 

Loop Stop Hr:  The scheduled camera moves will continue until the hour entered into this box.

 

Restart Every (x) Hours:  This is a great feature, but it is a little complicated.  If you do not check this box, then the auto schedule will start at the Loop Start Hour, and it will keep recycling until the Loop Stop Hr.  If this box is checked, then the auto schedule will start at the Loop Start Hour, and it will stop after if completes a single loop.  The auto schedule will remain idle until the number of hours have passed since the last auto schedule.  For example, if the Loop Start Hour is 8AM and the Restart Every (x) Hours is set to 2, then this will happen: 

            At 8AM the Auto Schedule will cycle once and then become idle.

            At 10 AM the Auto Schedule will cycle again.

            Every 2 hours the Auto Schedule will cycle again.

 

Setting the Auto Schedule Function:

Set Up Schedule:   Press the Show Schedule button to display the schedule form.

Press the Schedule options to open the schedule form. 

 

For a basic set up, duplicate the following.  Feel free to alter these setting once you succeed in operating the Auto Schedule.

 

 

Change Cam:  At the start of the loop, select the camera.  The Camera # should be the camera you wish to switch to.  Enter 5 seconds in the Wait time to allow the camera to turn on and stabilize before moving to the next position.  The Location number is the number assigned to the mother board.  In most single-link systems this is Location 20.  In more complex systems (which include repeaters) this can be 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 or greater.

 

Go Through All:  This command signals the program to look at both the Number and Camera column.  The program will send the camera from the Number to Camera.  In the example above, the camera will be moved to all positions from  position #1 through position # 25.  The Speed indicates the speed at which the camera will move to each position, and the Wait Time indicates how long the camera will wait at each location before moving to the next position. 

 

Note:  If the Restart Loop every X hours is NOT checked, then the loop will repeat once the last command is executed.  If the Restart Loop is checked, then the last command will be executed, and then the loop will be idle for until the specified hour is reached.

	Restart of Loop:   Check/uncheck

 

Goto Position:  This command simply tells the camera to go to this position.  In the example above, the camera is sent to position 26.  With this command, the Camera box is ignored.

Using the JPEG Stills Playback Feature:

Images captured using the Scheduled Auto Moves can be automatically sorted by camera position and then viewed through the JPEG still player.  This feature is designed to help researchers quickly review data collected over extended periods of time. 

 

To use this feature, select JPEG Still Playback in the Remote Menu folder.  Then select the location of your image folder.  Then simply select sort.  All of your pictures will be sorted by preset position number.  You can now play the images from each position.

 

Adding Cameras:

To add cameras, switch the name of a camera or change a camera’s address, do the following:

 

Press Cntr+A or select .  Interface Options/Interface Set Up/Remote Site Address Set Up.

 

Camera Address:   Select Remote Site Address Set Up

 

Once you select Remote Site Address Set Up the following screen.  Please review the basic sections:

 

Location   Camera #  Camera Name   Control IP   ViewPort IP        Version

 

 

 

 

 

Location:  This is the ID number of the motherboard.  In most cases the location is 20.  Systems that include repeaters may have other numbers including 30, 40, 50, etc.

 

Camera #:  Each motherboard has four camera slots.  To address a camera in slot 1, the camera # should read 1.  To address camera slot #2, set the camera number to 2.

 

Camera Name: This is the label that will appear on the main screen for this camera button.  Use the name Camera 1, 2 , 3 or 4.  Or use the location name of the camera—like North East Camera, Upper Island Camera, or Puffin Camera.  This is also the name that will appear on the Still image file names.  Because of this, please do not add the following characters in the camera name:  “/”, “.”

 

Control IP:  Use this only if you are connecting to a camera system via the Internet.  If this is how you are using the program, simply type in the IP address of the server machine.  As you type, the Viewport IP address will automatically be filled out.  Note that if you are connecting through a firewall, you will want to open ports 9001-9010.

 

ViewPort IP: If you are trying to control a camera via the Internet, then you will also want to view it.  Type the IP address of the server here.  In most cases, this will be the same address as the Control IP.

 

Version:  If you are using a SeeMore 2003 camera enter NEW here.  If you are using a different camera, (For example NU700 (Cannon).  The program will alter the type of commands it sends depending on what is entered here, so make sure this is correct.

 

User Name:  Enter your name or the location of your computer here.  For example,

Bob @ NMFS Seattle.  If you are connecting over the Internet, this is the name that will appear to all other users who are connected to the same system.  It is very helpful to others to know who else is on-line and possibly sharing control of the camera.

 

Changing the Address of a camera:

Changing a camera address:   To address a camera in slot #2 instead of slot #1, simply change this from 1 to 2.  The select File/Save.

Each camera is connected to one of the motherboard’s four camera slots.  If a camera is being moved from slot #1 to slot #2, you simply need to change the Camera # from 1 to 2.  See picture below:

 

Adding a new camera:

Your system may have started with only one camera, and now you may be adding a second or third camera to the system.  To do this, simply press the Add Camera button.  When you do this, all of the data from the most recent camera addition will be copied and placed into the new camera that you just added. 

 

Adding a camera:   Click on the Add Camera button.  A new camera will appear below the most recent camera.

 

Once you add a new camera, be sure the following information is accurate:

1.      Location:  This will likely be the same location number as the previous camera.  Usually this is location 20.  Since each motherboard has a unique location number, this is the number that tells the motherboard that a radio command is intended for it to process.

2.      Camera Number:  This number must be between 1 and 4.  It corresponds directly to the slot that the camera is plugged into on the motherboard.  Enter the correct number here.  If the wrong number is entered, then when you try to switch to this camera, the screen will go blank because you will be selecting a camera that does not exist.

3.      Camera Name:  Type in the name you want to give to the new camera.  You may call it “Camera 2” or “Upper Island Camera” or “Cool View 2”.  It is totally up to you.  The only thing to remember is that the name can not contain a “.”, “/” or other non-letters.  This is because the name you give the camera will be the same name that the snapshots are given, and these non-letters cause trouble in finding the correct directory for the image file.

4.      Control IP and ViewPort IP:  Add the IP number of the remote computer if you are connecting to cameras over the Internet.  If you are connecting to a local camera (which means that a transmitter is connected to your computer and you are sending commands out the comm. port), then you do not need to fill these out. 

5.      Version:  Enter “NEW” for SeeMore cameras released after 2002.  Enter “NU700” if you are connecting to a Cannon camera system, or “PELCO” if you are connecting to a Pelco camera. 

6.      Finally, click File/Save and Exit, and select your new camera button.

 

Saving camera data:

When you finish making any changes to your camera set-up, select File/Save and Exit.  All of your data will be save.  The file you created is now in the C:/SWS/Settings/Cameras.CSV folder.  This file can be opened in Microsoft Excel and altered.

 

Changing Outputs: Serial or Internet”

When you click on a camera or press the Up/Down/Left/Right button, the Remote Control program attempts to send a command to one of two places.  The program will send a command either to your computer’s serial port, or to another computer via your local area network (LAN) or the Internet.  Where do you want your commands going?  Here’s how to decide:

1. If your computer is connected directly to a data transmitter, then you want to send commands to the serial port.  Some other clues to help you decide are:  Is there an antenna on the roof of your building?  Will you be viewing the images on your television?  If you are answering yes to either question, then you probably want to connect through your serial port.  You will want to check the Serial Output option.
2. If you plan to connect to a camera system that is in a distant location, then you will probably connect via the Internet.  You could also be connecting to a server in your facility over your LAN.  In either of these cases, you will want to connect via the Internet.  To the program, this simply means that you will want to NOT check the Serial Output option.  That is all you need to do.

 

Selecting Output:   Select User/Output.   For Serial output, check this box.   For Internet connection, uncheck this box.

 

Getting to this screen:

To get to the screen above, simply press Cntr + P.  Then select the User/Output tab.  You can also get to this menu by selecting:

 

Getting to the Program Set Up Menu:

Using the Program as a Server:

The Remote Control program includes all of the software needed to function as a client and as server machine.  To function as a server, the machine should have a video card installed and it must be outputting to the serial port.  In some cases, it may be desireable to use a single computer as a server that only sends commands.  In this case, no video card is necessary. 

 

Other than directing commands to go to the serial port, there is no special set up required for using the machine as a server.  In fact, many users use one computer to allow the public to control the system while remote researchers connect to the very same machine.  In some cases, the same machine even streams video to the Internet.

 

To monitor the server function, select:  Remote Server/Server Connection Manager.  This will show you who is connected to the server over port 9003.