Using Video Push to stream video (explained)

You can set up Video Push so that users can keep others informed about a situation, or record video to investigate it later, by streaming video from their mobile device's camera to your XProtect surveillance system. The video stream may have audio as well.

See also Video Push tab and Requirements for Video Push setup.

Set up Video Push to stream video

To let users stream video from their mobile devices to the XProtect system, set up Video Push on the XProtect Mobile server.

In Management Client, perform these steps in the following order:

  1. On the Video Push tab, select the Video Push check box to enable the feature.
  2. Add a Video Push channel for streaming video.
  3. Add the Video Push Driver as a hardware device on the Recording Server. The driver simulates a camera device so that you can stream video to the Recording Server.
  4. Add the Video Push Driver device to the channel for Video Push.

Add a Video Push channel for streaming video

To add a channel, follow these steps:

  1. In the navigation pane, select Mobile Server, then select the mobile server.
  2. On the Video Push tab, select the Video Push check box.
  3. In the bottom-right corner, click Add to add a video push channel under Channels mapping.
  4. Enter the user name of the user account (added under Roles) that will use the channel. This user account must be allowed to access the XProtect Mobile server and the recording server (on the Overall Security tab).

    To use Video Push, users must log in to XProtect Mobile on their mobile device using the user name and password for this account.

  5. Make a note of the port number. You will need it when you add the Video Push driver as a hardware device on the recording server.
  6. Click OK to close the Video Push Channel dialog box and to save the channel.

Remove a Video Push channel

You can remove channels that you no longer use:

  • Select the channel to remove, then click Remove in the bottom-right corner

Add the Video Push Driver as a hardware device on the Recording Server

  1. In the navigation pane, click Recording Servers.
  2. Right-click the server that you want to stream video to and click Add Hardware to open the Add Hardware wizard.
  3. Select Manual as the hardware detection method and click Next.
  4. Enter login credentials for the camera:
    • For user name, enter the factory defaults or the user name specified on the camera
    • For password: Enter Milestone, and then click Next

    These credentials are for the hardware, not the user. The credentials are not related to the user name for the channel.

  5. In the list of drivers, expand Milestone, select the Video Push Driver check box, and click Next.

    The system generates a MAC address for the Video Push Driver device. We recommend that you use this address. Change it only if you experience problems with the Video Push Driver device or, for example, if you need to add a new address and port number.

  6. In the Address field, enter the IP address of the computer where XProtect Mobile server is installed.
  7. In the Port field, enter the port number for the channel that you created for streaming video. The port number was assigned when you created the channel.
  8. In the Hardware model column, select Video Push Driver, and then click Next.
  9. When the system detects the new hardware, click Next.
  10. In the Hardware name template field, specify whether to display either the model of the hardware and the IP address, or the model only.
  11. Specify whether to enable related devices by selecting the Enabled check box. You can add related devices to the list for Video Push Driver, even though they are not enabled. You can enable them later.

    If you want to use location information when you stream video, you must enable the Metadata port.

    If you want to play audio when you stream video, you must enable the microphone related to the camera that you use for video streaming.

  12. Select the default groups for the related devices on the left or select a specific group in the Add to Group field. Adding devices to a group can make it easier to apply settings to all devices at the same time or replace devices.

Add the Video Push Driver device to the channel for Video Push

To add the Video Push Driver device to the channel for video push, follow these steps:

  1. In the Site navigation pane, click Mobile Servers, and then click the Video Push tab.
  2. Click Find Cameras. If successful, the name of the Video Push Driver camera displays in the Camera Name field.
  3. Save your configuration.

Enable audio for existing video push channel

After you have fulfilled the requirements for enabling audio in video push (see Requirements for Video Push setup), in Management Client:

  1. In the Site Navigation pane, expand the Servers node and click Recording Servers.
  2. In the overview pane, select the relevant recording server folder, then expand the Video Push Driver folder and right-click the video push - related microphone.
  3. Select Enabled to enable the microphone.
  4. In the same folder, select the video push - related camera.
  5. In the Properties pane, click the Client tab (see Client tab (devices)).
  6. On the right-hand side of the Related microphone field, click . The Selected device dialog box opens.
  7. On the Recording servers tab, expand the recording server folder and select the video push related microphone.
  8. Click OK.