Restricting access to videos

Video restrictions (explained)

With the video restrictions functionality, you can limit access to video sequences (video, audio and device metadata) to only operators that are authorized to view restricted videos.

Live streams and recorded videos can both be restricted, and restrictions can be removed by operators authorized to do so when general access to the video material needs to be restored.

Restricted material can still be deleted and if you also want to prevent automatic or manual deletion of the restricted videos, you must apply evidence locks to the sequences as well.

Depending on your user rights, you may be able to create, view, edit, and remove video restrictions.

Video restrictions and Evidence locks

Video restrictions and evidence locks both prevent actions from being performed on video material by unauthorized users but there are significant differences.

Video restrictions prevent video or audio sequences from being viewed by unauthorized operators while evidence locks prevent video or audio sequences from being manually or automatically deleted.

When you create an evidence lock, you can also create a video restriction on the same video sequence as you are applying an evidence lock on by selecting the Create playback video restriction check box.

However, when you create a video restriction, you cannot also create an evidence lock at the same time. Instead. you must manually create the evidence lock on the same video sequence you created a video restriction on.

Once created, evidence locks and video restrictions must be edited, maintained and removed individually. There is no connection between a video sequence that has been restricted and any evidence locks applied to the same video sequence.

Create restrictions on live or recorded video

You can create restrictions on a live stream or recorded footage to prevent the content from being viewed by unauthorized operators. When creating a live restriction, all cameras in the current view will be selected to be included in the restriction by default. You can remove any cameras you do not want to include during restriction creation process but not after the live restriction has been created.

If you are creating a video restriction on recorded footage (playback restriction), you can remove the cameras from the playback restriction by editing the restriction.

When creating live restrictions for multiple cameras, one live restriction will be created per camera. When you create playback restriction for multiple cameras, only one restriction will be created, covering all the selected cameras.

For live video restrictions, the Headline field will contain the camera name and be disabled for user input. The Description and Interval end fields will also be empty and disabled for user input. As long as the live restriction is in effect, recorded footage of the live stream is also covered by the live restriction for the defined time interval. In effect, creating a live video restriction also creates a playback restriction on the same video sequence. When the live restriction is removed, you can select to maintain the playback restriction or you can remove the playback restriction as well.

If you want the playback restricted video to also be evidence locked, you must manually create an evidence lock on the video sequence.

Create a live restriction

1. In Live mode, select the camera view you want to restrict access to and click Video restrictions > Create to open Create live restriction. All cameras in the selected view are added by default to the restriction.
2. In the Create live restriction dialog > Interval start field, set the start time of the restriction. 
   The default value of the restriction start time is 5 minutes back.
3. If necessary, in the right half of the Create live restriction dialog, click Add camera and select additional cameras to add to the restriction. You can also remove any cameras that should not be restricted.
4. Click Create live restriction to open the Create live restriction dialog. When the restriction has been created, click Close to close the dialog.
   You can click Details to get a more detailed overview of the creation process.

Create a playback restriction

Recorded video or audio footage can be restricted to prevent the content from being viewed by unauthorized operators.

You must define a start and end time for the restriction you want to create.

1. In Playback mode, select the cameras you want to restrict access to and in the main timeline, select the start and end time for the interval you want to create a restriction for. You can select Set start and end time on timeline to select start and end times from the timeline tracks or Set start and end time in calendar.
2. In the toolbar, click Video restrictions > Create to open the Create playback restriction dialog.
3. In the Create playback restriction dialog:
   1. In the Headline field, enter a headline for the restriction. A short, unique headline will enable other operators to locate the restriction faster.
   2. In the Description field, enter a description of the restriction.
   3. In the Interval start and Interval end fields, make sure the defined restriction interval is appropriate for the sequence you want to restrict. You can also enter new interval start and end times. If the start and end times are identical, the interval start will automatically be adjusted back by 5 minutes.
   4. In the right half of the Create playback restriction dialog, click Add camera and select additional cameras to add to the restriction.
4. Click the Create restriction button to open the Create playback restriction dialog.
5. In the Create playback restriction dialog, click Create restriction to confirm your choice.
6. When the restriction has been created, click Close to close the dialog.
   You can click Details to get a more detailed overview of the creation process.

Once the restriction is created, you can add additional cameras by opening the restriction in the Video restrictions list and editing the restriction settings.

View restricted video

Operators assigned permissions to view restricted video or audio, can view the material normally. When displayed, the footage will contain a warning that the material is currently restricted.

Operators not assigned permissions to view restricted video or audio will not be able to view the footage and the camera containing the material will be marked as restricted in the user interface.

Restricted videos can be viewed in the Live or Playback mode by opening the camera view directly and playing the video material.

You can also open a camera view from the Video restrictions list if you are assigned sufficient user permissions to access the list.

View a restricted video from the Video restrictions list.

1. In Live or Playback mode, click Video restrictions > View to open the Video restrictions list dialog.
2. In the Video restrictions list, use the filters and search field to locate the restrictions you want to view.
3. Select the restrictions you want to view and click View.
   Some restrictions may contain multiple cameras and you can only view 100 cameras at the same time.

Edit video restrictions

You can edit existing video restrictions, depending on your user rights, for example changing the restriction start and end times, adding additional cameras, and updating the restriction heading and description.

You can only edit the restriction settings for the restricted video. Any evidence lock settings created on the restricted video must be edited separately.

You can only edit or remove restrictions on cameras located on the site you are currently logged on to.

Edit one or more live restrictions

You can only change the restriction start time for live restrictions.

You can access the Video restrictions list from either Live or Playback mode.

1. In Live or Playback mode, click Video restrictions > View to open the Video restrictions list dialog.
2. In the Video restrictions list, use the filters and search field to locate the restrictions you want to edit.
3. Select the restrictions you want to edit and click Edit to open the Edit live restriction dialog.
4. In the Edit live restriction dialog, update the Interval start field and click Save changes to display the progress of the updates in the Edit live restriction dialog.
5. When the changes have been updated in the Edit live restriction dialog, click Close to close the dialog.
   You can click Details to get a more detailed overview of the update.

Edit one or more playback restrictions

You can update all settings of multiple playback restrictions – changing the headline, description, interval start and end times as well as adding additional cameras to the restrictions.

You can access the Video restrictions list from either Live or Playback mode.

1. In Live or Playback mode, click Video restrictions > View to open the Video restrictions list dialog.
2. In the Video restrictions list, use the filters and search field to locate the restrictions you want to edit.
3. Select the restrictions you want to edit and click Edit to open the Edit playback restriction dialog.
4. In the Edit playback restriction dialog, update any relevant restriction settings and click Save changes to display the progress of the updates in the Edit playback restriction dialog.
5. When the changes have been updated in the Edit playback restriction dialog, click Close to close the dialog.
   You can click Details get a more detailed overview of the update.

Remove video restrictions

When a restriction is removed, the underlying video material (live and recorded) becomes available again for viewing by operators as usual.

You can only edit or remove restrictions on cameras located on the site you are currently logged on to.

Removing a restriction will not change the status of any applied evidence locks on the same video sequence. If a video sequence has been locked, the evidence lock on the video must still be deleted if the video is to be deleted.

Removing playback restrictions

You cannot remove multiple playback restrictions at the same time. You must select and remove one playback restriction at a time.

Remove playback restrictions

1. In Live or Playback mode, click Video restrictions > View to open the Video restrictions list dialog.
2. In the Video restrictions list, use the filters and search field to locate the restrictions you want to remove.
   Live restrictions are displayed at the top of the list and each live restriction is marked with a green LIVE icon.
   Playback restrictions are displayed under the live restrictions.
3. Select the playback restriction you want to remove and click Remove to open the Remove playback restriction dialog. 
   
4. In the Remove playback restriction dialog, click Remove restrictions to remove the selected playback restriction and open the Delete playback restriction dialog.
   
5. In the Delete playback restriction dialog, click Close when the removal process is done.
   Click Details to get a more detailed overview of the removal status.

Removing a live restriction

You can select and remove multiple live restrictions, but you cannot mix restriction types – that is select both playback and live restrictions for removal at the same time.

When a restriction on a live stream is removed, the recorded footage of the same video sequence can be restricted by default. An operator can choose not to keep restrictions on the recorded footage when removing restrictions on the live video stream.

During the creation process of a playback restriction of a restricted live stream, you will not be able to add additional or remove existing cameras. You can however, edit the playback restriction after the restriction has been created and then remove or add additional cameras.

Remove live restrictions

1. In Live or Playback mode, click Video restrictions > View to open the Video restrictions list dialog.
2. In the Video restrictions list, use the filters and search field to locate the restrictions you want to remove.
   Live restrictions are displayed at the top of the list and each live restriction is marked with a green LIVE icon.
3. Select the live restrictions you want to remove and click Remove to open the Remove live restrictions dialog. 
   
4. In the Remove live restriction dialog, select Create restriction on recorded footage to create a playback restriction on the live restriction you are removing.
   Clear the Create restriction on recorded footage check box if you do not want to create a playback restriction to replace the live restriction you are removing.
5. Click Remove live restriction to remove the selected live restriction and open the Remove live restriction dialog.
   
6. In the Remove live restriction dialog, click Close when the removal process is done. Click Details for a detailed overview of the removal status.

Exporting restricted videos

Only operators that have been assigned viewing rights to restricted footage can access the material and export the footage.

The Video restrictions list

The Video restrictions list displays all existing video restrictions on camera devices across all sites, with live restrictions displayed at the top of the list and then restrictions on recorded footage (playback restrictions).

Only operators assigned permissions to see and manage restrictions can open the Video restrictions list.

You can select one or more restrictions to edit the restriction settings or remove the restrictions but you can only edit or remove restrictions on cameras located on the site you are currently logged on to.

Some actions will not be possible if different restriction types (Live and Playback) have been selected, for example it is not possible to view restriction settings if the selection consists of different restriction types.

Hidden or undisplayed live restrictions

If a video restriction only exists on a non-camera device, (for example on a camera microphone or on camera speakers), the live restriction will exist but will not be displayed in the Video restrictions list because the Video restrictions list only displays existing video restrictions on camera devices.

When a live restriction is applied on a camera, all devices are included in the restriction. When the live restriction is removed, the restriction will be removed for all devices of the hardware (microphones, cameras, speakers, and metadata) but if the live restriction removal is only partially successful, some devices may still contain restrictions. If these devices are microphones or speakers, and/or is metadata, the remaining restriction will not be displayed in the Video restrictions list but the camera itself will still be restricted.

You can force the hidden live restriction to be displayed in the Video restrictions list by creating a new restriction on the camera containing the hidden live restriction. This will update the existing live restriction and display it in the list so it is no longer hidden.

Searching and filtering the list

If there are many restrictions in the list, you can apply filters to the list to reduce the number or restrictions.

You can also locate specific restrictions by using the Search field. The Search field will filter the list by applying the search criteria to all restriction headlines and descriptions.

Search

Search the restriction list by entering a part of the restriction headline or description in the Search field.

Filter

Apply one or more filters to narrow and reduce the number of restrictions displayed in the list. The defined filters are cumulative. The filtered list can also be searched if necessary.

Restriction type:

• All: Displays all (live and playback) restrictions in the list.
• Playback: Displays only playback restrictions in the list.
• Live: Displays only live restrictions in the list.

Interval/Created at:

• Today: Displays all restrictions that have been created today.
• Yesterday: Displays all restrictions that were created yesterday.
• Last 7 days: Displays all restrictions that have been created within past 7 days.
• All: Displays all restrictions with a start interval.
• Custom: Define your own date interval as a filter.

Created by:

• All: Displays all restrictions created by any user, including you.
• Only me: Displays all restrictions created by you.

Cameras:

• All: Displays all restrictions for all cameras.
• Select: Displays restrictions on the selected cameras only.

Video restrictions list settings

Video restriction status messages