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Read info from webcam video

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  Read info from webcam video dandi.box@gmail.com - 2013-06-20 02:35 -0700
    Re: Read info from webcam video "Peter H. Coffin" <hellsop@ninehells.com> - 2013-06-20 07:30 -0500
    Re: Read info from webcam video Jerry Stuckle <jstucklex@attglobal.net> - 2013-06-20 09:14 -0400
      Re: Read info from webcam video Norman Peelman <npeelman@cfl.rr.com> - 2013-06-20 19:08 -0400
        Re: Read info from webcam video Jerry Stuckle <jstucklex@attglobal.net> - 2013-06-20 19:40 -0400
    Re: Read info from webcam video The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2013-06-20 14:23 +0100
      Re: Read info from webcam video Norman Peelman <npeelman@cfl.rr.com> - 2013-06-20 19:14 -0400
        Re: Read info from webcam video Jerry Stuckle <jstucklex@attglobal.net> - 2013-06-20 19:44 -0400
        Re: Read info from webcam video "Peter H. Coffin" <hellsop@ninehells.com> - 2013-06-20 21:31 -0500
          Re: Read info from webcam video Norman Peelman <npeelman@cfl.rr.com> - 2013-06-21 06:14 -0400
            Re: Read info from webcam video "Peter H. Coffin" <hellsop@ninehells.com> - 2013-06-22 12:52 -0500
          Re: Read info from webcam video Jerry Stuckle <jstucklex@attglobal.net> - 2013-06-21 10:53 -0400
      Re: Read info from webcam video Jerry Stuckle <jstucklex@attglobal.net> - 2013-06-20 19:45 -0400
        Re: Read info from webcam video Denis McMahon <denismfmcmahon@gmail.com> - 2013-06-21 11:37 +0000
          Re: Read info from webcam video The Frog <Mr.frog.to.you@googlemail.com> - 2013-06-23 08:55 +1000

#9801 — Read info from webcam video

I've  a video Wi-Fi Cam.

In the room there is a small light that can be flashing.

Is there a way for read image using PHP pages and know is this light is flashing or not?

Thanks

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#9802

On Thu, 20 Jun 2013 02:35:24 -0700 (PDT), dandi.box@gmail.com wrote:

> I've a video Wi-Fi Cam.
>
> In the room there is a small light that can be flashing.
>
> Is there a way for read image using PHP pages and know is this light
> is flashing or not?

Not easily and simply. I'll do the project for US$7500 plus travel
expenses, though.

-- 
8. After I kidnap the beautiful princess, we will be married 
   immediately in a quiet civil ceremony, not a lavish spectacle in 
   three weeks' time during which the final phase of my plan will be 
   carried out.  --Peter Anspach's Evil Overlord list

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#9803

On 6/20/2013 5:35 AM, dandi.box@gmail.com wrote:
> I've  a video Wi-Fi Cam.
>
> In the room there is a small light that can be flashing.
>
> Is there a way for read image using PHP pages and know is this light is flashing or not?
>
> Thanks
>

As Peter said, not easily.  If this is an IP camera, you could connect 
to the camera and read the stream.  Depending on the format of the 
stream (i.e is it H.264?), you may have to decode it.  Then using the gd 
functions, isolate the area containing the light and determine the 
brightness of the pixels.  Repeat for multiple frames and compare the 
results.

As I said - not easy.  It would be much easier to hook into whatever is 
triggering the flashing light and sense that.

-- 
==================
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
jstucklex@attglobal.net
==================

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#9832

On 06/20/2013 09:14 AM, Jerry Stuckle wrote:
> On 6/20/2013 5:35 AM, dandi.box@gmail.com wrote:
>> I've  a video Wi-Fi Cam.
>>
>> In the room there is a small light that can be flashing.
>>
>> Is there a way for read image using PHP pages and know is this light
>> is flashing or not?
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>
> As Peter said, not easily.  If this is an IP camera, you could connect
> to the camera and read the stream.  Depending on the format of the
> stream (i.e is it H.264?), you may have to decode it.  Then using the gd
> functions, isolate the area containing the light and determine the
> brightness of the pixels.  Repeat for multiple frames and compare the
> results.
>
> As I said - not easy.  It would be much easier to hook into whatever is
> triggering the flashing light and sense that.
>

   I kinda thought that most IP type cameras offered this type of 
operation onboard? I know my AXIS does...

-- 
Norman
Registered Linux user #461062
-Have you been to www.php.net yet?-

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#9836

On 6/20/2013 7:08 PM, Norman Peelman wrote:
> On 06/20/2013 09:14 AM, Jerry Stuckle wrote:
>> On 6/20/2013 5:35 AM, dandi.box@gmail.com wrote:
>>> I've  a video Wi-Fi Cam.
>>>
>>> In the room there is a small light that can be flashing.
>>>
>>> Is there a way for read image using PHP pages and know is this light
>>> is flashing or not?
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>>
>>
>> As Peter said, not easily.  If this is an IP camera, you could connect
>> to the camera and read the stream.  Depending on the format of the
>> stream (i.e is it H.264?), you may have to decode it.  Then using the gd
>> functions, isolate the area containing the light and determine the
>> brightness of the pixels.  Repeat for multiple frames and compare the
>> results.
>>
>> As I said - not easy.  It would be much easier to hook into whatever is
>> triggering the flashing light and sense that.
>>
>
>    I kinda thought that most IP type cameras offered this type of
> operation onboard? I know my AXIS does...
>

It depends on the camera.  Some do, some don't (more of the professional 
ones like Axis do - consumer grade often do not).  But then you also 
need to know the command interface to the camera (which may or may not 
be public).

-- 
==================
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
jstucklex@attglobal.net
==================

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#9804

On 20/06/13 10:35, dandi.box@gmail.com wrote:
> I've  a video Wi-Fi Cam.
>
> In the room there is a small light that can be flashing.
>
> Is there a way for read image using PHP pages and know is this light is flashing or not?
>
> Thanks
sure,. But an ardinio boards and profram it to sense the voltage across 
te LED by attaching it to the camera, and send the result down a USB 
portto a computer running linux, and then write a daemon on C to monitor 
that and place the state in a temporary file or somewhere where PHP can 
see it.

Though quite why PHP is involved, its hard to say.



-- 
Ineptocracy

(in-ep-toc’-ra-cy) – a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.

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#9833

On 06/20/2013 09:23 AM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> On 20/06/13 10:35, dandi.box@gmail.com wrote:
>> I've  a video Wi-Fi Cam.
>>
>> In the room there is a small light that can be flashing.
>>
>> Is there a way for read image using PHP pages and know is this light
>> is flashing or not?
>>
>> Thanks
> sure,. But an ardinio boards and profram it to sense the voltage across
> te LED by attaching it to the camera, and send the result down a USB
> portto a computer running linux, and then write a daemon on C to monitor
> that and place the state in a temporary file or somewhere where PHP can
> see it.
>


   Ummm, really?!


 > Though quite why PHP is involved, its hard to say.
 >

   As long as he can grab the images from the cam via php (requires that 
the IP camera has an internal server) then it is quite easily done. As 
Jerry's response dictates. Examine the images looking for the tell-tale 
LED.

-- 
Norman
Registered Linux user #461062
-Have you been to www.php.net yet?-

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#9837

On 6/20/2013 7:14 PM, Norman Peelman wrote:
> On 06/20/2013 09:23 AM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>> On 20/06/13 10:35, dandi.box@gmail.com wrote:
>>> I've  a video Wi-Fi Cam.
>>>
>>> In the room there is a small light that can be flashing.
>>>
>>> Is there a way for read image using PHP pages and know is this light
>>> is flashing or not?
>>>
>>> Thanks
>> sure,. But an ardinio boards and profram it to sense the voltage across
>> te LED by attaching it to the camera, and send the result down a USB
>> portto a computer running linux, and then write a daemon on C to monitor
>> that and place the state in a temporary file or somewhere where PHP can
>> see it.
>>
>
>
>    Ummm, really?!
>
>
>  > Though quite why PHP is involved, its hard to say.
>  >
>
>    As long as he can grab the images from the cam via php (requires that
> the IP camera has an internal server) then it is quite easily done. As
> Jerry's response dictates. Examine the images looking for the tell-tale
> LED.
>

Actually it doesn't require a server on the camera - just an IP stream 
he can connect to.  Most IP cameras don't contain a server - they just 
spit out packets.  Of course, PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) cameras also accept 
data from a controller, but again that's typically a stream (of which 
there are several non-compatible formats).

Others can accept commands to do things like detect motion in various 
zones on the camera (again a camera-specific command format) and similar 
functions.

-- 
==================
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
jstucklex@attglobal.net
==================

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#9839

On Thu, 20 Jun 2013 19:14:15 -0400, Norman Peelman wrote:
>    As long as he can grab the images from the cam via php (requires that 
> the IP camera has an internal server) then it is quite easily done. As 
> Jerry's response dictates. Examine the images looking for the tell-tale 
> LED.

And checking against previous images to see if they were off, and
selecting the appropriate image somehow to make the comparison with. And
it'll be especially fun if the camera's not set someplace where the LED
fills the entire sensor area...

-- 
31. All naive, busty tavern wenches in my realm will be replaced with 
   surly, world-weary waitresses who will provide no unexpected 
   reinforcement and/or romantic subplot for the hero or his sidekick.
        --Peter Anspach's list of things to do as an Evil Overlord

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#9845

On 06/20/2013 10:31 PM, Peter H. Coffin wrote:
> On Thu, 20 Jun 2013 19:14:15 -0400, Norman Peelman wrote:
>>     As long as he can grab the images from the cam via php (requires that
>> the IP camera has an internal server) then it is quite easily done. As
>> Jerry's response dictates. Examine the images looking for the tell-tale
>> LED.
>
> And checking against previous images to see if they were off, and
> selecting the appropriate image somehow to make the comparison with. And
> it'll be especially fun if the camera's not set someplace where the LED
> fills the entire sensor area...
>

   Well, since the op said it would be flashing, I imagine you only need 
to find it 'on' at least once.

-- 
Norman
Registered Linux user #461062
-Have you been to www.php.net yet?-

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#9865

On Fri, 21 Jun 2013 06:14:25 -0400, Norman Peelman wrote:
> On 06/20/2013 10:31 PM, Peter H. Coffin wrote:
>> On Thu, 20 Jun 2013 19:14:15 -0400, Norman Peelman wrote:
>>>     As long as he can grab the images from the cam via php (requires that
>>> the IP camera has an internal server) then it is quite easily done. As
>>> Jerry's response dictates. Examine the images looking for the tell-tale
>>> LED.
>>
>> And checking against previous images to see if they were off, and
>> selecting the appropriate image somehow to make the comparison with. And
>> it'll be especially fun if the camera's not set someplace where the LED
>> fills the entire sensor area...
>>
>
>    Well, since the op said it would be flashing, I imagine you only need 
> to find it 'on' at least once.

OP said "flashing" not "on". And I know plenty of things that use a
flashing power indicator to indicate an error condition, which is not
just plain "on" or "off".

-- 
67. No matter how many shorts we have in the system, my guards will be 
    instructed to treat every surveillance camera malfunction as a 
    full-scale emergency.
	--Peter Anspach's list of things to do as an Evil Overlord

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#9850

On 6/20/2013 10:31 PM, Peter H. Coffin wrote:
> On Thu, 20 Jun 2013 19:14:15 -0400, Norman Peelman wrote:
>>     As long as he can grab the images from the cam via php (requires that
>> the IP camera has an internal server) then it is quite easily done. As
>> Jerry's response dictates. Examine the images looking for the tell-tale
>> LED.
>
> And checking against previous images to see if they were off, and
> selecting the appropriate image somehow to make the comparison with. And
> it'll be especially fun if the camera's not set someplace where the LED
> fills the entire sensor area...
>

Of course.  Any time you're looking for a change in any data, you must 
compare old data against new.  But if you know where in the frame the 
LED is located, testing is easy.  It does not need to fill the entire 
frame - just a few pixels (theoretically 1 pixel would be enough, but I 
suspect that would be more susceptible to falsing).

-- 
==================
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
jstucklex@attglobal.net
==================

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#9838

On 6/20/2013 9:23 AM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> On 20/06/13 10:35, dandi.box@gmail.com wrote:
>> I've  a video Wi-Fi Cam.
>>
>> In the room there is a small light that can be flashing.
>>
>> Is there a way for read image using PHP pages and know is this light
>> is flashing or not?
>>
>> Thanks
> sure,. But an ardinio boards and profram it to sense the voltage across
> te LED by attaching it to the camera, and send the result down a USB
> portto a computer running linux, and then write a daemon on C to monitor
> that and place the state in a temporary file or somewhere where PHP can
> see it.
>
> Though quite why PHP is involved, its hard to say.
>
>
>

Talk about using a sledge hammer to kill a gnat - this is more like a 
steam roller!

-- 
==================
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
jstucklex@attglobal.net
==================

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#9849

On Thu, 20 Jun 2013 19:45:38 -0400, Jerry Stuckle wrote:

> On 6/20/2013 9:23 AM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>> On 20/06/13 10:35, dandi.box@gmail.com wrote:
>>> I've  a video Wi-Fi Cam.

>>> In the room there is a small light that can be flashing.

>>> Is there a way for read image using PHP pages and know is this light
>>> is flashing or not?

>> sure,. [Buy an arduino] .....

> Talk about using a sledge hammer to kill a gnat - this is more like a
> steam roller!

Yeah, just remove the flashing light and hook those contacts (suitably 
buffered) on the other device to inputs on the Arduino / Pi / whatever. ;)

-- 
Denis McMahon, denismfmcmahon@gmail.com

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#9866

Just a passing thought, but some cameras have their own motion 
detection built-in. Setting up the area of interest directly over the 
flashing light, and adjusting the sensitivity threshold 
appropriately, the camera may be able to generate a signal of sorts 
such as SNMP or an email or even a structured data packet that you 
could use. It might be worth investigating your cameras capabilities 
or even investing in one that has such abilities.

Just a thought.

-- 
Cheers

The Frog

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