Kids 'n Vue. Video Streaming Applet. User's Guide

Transcription

1 Kids 'n Vue Video Streaming Applet User's Guide

2 Table of Contents Introduction...3 Loading the applet...3 Running the applet...3 Applet Initialization...3 Applet Startup...4 Camera Authorization...5 Ongoing Security Checks...5 Time Outs...5 Applet Controls...6 Zoom and Pan Controls...6 Camera List...7 Camera Button...7 Traffic Light Button / Status Indicator...8 Control / Information Windows...8 Image Quality...9 Zoom Preview...10 Colors...11 Help / Information...12 Page 2 of 13

3 Introduction The Kids 'n Vue streaming video is controlled by a Java applet. This type of program can run on virtually any browser that has Java support. Some browsers do not provide this support by default, but it can be easily added by installing Java support from various web sites. Please go to for more information. Loading the applet When the web page first loads, you may see a Java logo and a gray block for a moment. This is normal, as the Java applet program is loaded and is started. The screen may look similar to the one below: Running the applet Applet Initialization From there, the applet will go through its own initialization routine. During initialization, various graphics files are downloaded, as well as your saved profile settings. The screen will look like this: Page 3 of 13

4 Applet Startup After initialization is completed, you will see a screen like the one below. In a moment, the selected camera will start automatically (the applet will remember the last camera viewed, and will select that camera the next time). You can also change the selection if you like. Page 4 of 13

5 Camera Authorization When a camera is started, the applet will check back with the server to make sure you are authorized to see that camera at the particular time. You may even notice that it looks like you are receiving images. But the images will not be displayed until the authorization check has been completed successfully. Ongoing Security Checks In addition to checking security when a camera is started, the applet will conduct security checks every 30 seconds while the applet is running. This will not be noticeable, unless a security check fails. Time Outs The applet keeps track of when you click a button or move the mouse within the applet window. While the video stream is running, if there is no activity after 10 minutes, the video stream will be stopped and an error message will be displayed. After another 5 minutes of inactivity, another error message will be displayed, and the applet will become disabled. This will require you to log off and log back in. The following screens are examples: Page 5 of 13

6 Applet Controls Zoom and Pan Controls By using the mouse, you can zoom and pan the video image. Note that this is a 'digital' zoom and pan feature, meaning that just the digital image is being manipulated. The camera does not move or zoom. The applet is simply resizing and repositioning the image it receives. When the mouse cursor is moved inside the image window, the cursor will change into a target 'cross hair'. If you hold down the left mouse button, the image will be zoomed in, to the 4x magnification limit. If you hold down the right mouse button, the image will be zoomed out. Clicking on the left mouse button will immediately change the image to 4x magnification, clicking on the right mouse button will immediately change the image to no magnification. While the image is magnified, you can pan (move) the image. Holding down the center mouse button (or the 'Ctrl' key if you have a 2-button mouse) and moving the mouse will pan the image. Camera List The field just below the streaming window is a drop-down list of available cameras. You can click on the 'pull down' button to the right of the field to show the list. Then click on the desired camera, and it will start. Page 6 of 13

7 Camera Button To the right of the camera list is a button resembling a camera. Clicking this button will also change the camera, sequentially moving from one camera to the next in the list. Clicking the left mouse button will move down in the list, rightclicking will move up. The list will wrap if you reach the end. The newly selected camera will start automatically. Page 7 of 13

8 Traffic Light Button / Status Indicator To the right of the camera button is a button resembling a traffic light. Clicking on this button will start or stop the live video stream. The traffic light is also used as a status indicator. If all lights are flashing, there was an error and live video has been stopped. A yellow light indicates that the applet has been waiting longer than normal for an event to occur, like waiting for the next image to be received or for camera authorization to complete. A green light indicates that live video is running. While running, the green light may momentarily change to white, indicating that a complete image has just been received. When the video stream is running normally, the traffic light will 'blink' green and white. You can get a sense of the speed of the video stream by how fast the green light blinks. Control / Information Windows Underneath this row of controls are two information / control windows. The window on the right will normally display a menu of options. The window on the left will display messages or sub menus. When a menu item is clicked, the appropriate sub menu will be displayed in the left window. Page 8 of 13

9 Image Quality The 'Image Quality' button sets compression for the video stream. What is compression? Compression is a technique used to reduce the size of a file (or video stream, in this case). There are various compression techniques, which attempt to shrink the file without compromising the original data. One technique is to replace repeating characters with a single character and a 'repeat' value. Since an image is made up of many very small dots of various colors, called pixels, image compression attempts to replace neighboring pixels of the same or very similar color with a single pixel and a repeat value. As more compression is done, the area of neighboring pixels that are represented by a single pixel becomes larger and for high compression settings can become very noticeable. Clicking on this button will change the left window to show the various options: Maximum Quality (no compression) High Quality (20% compression) Medium Quality (40% compression) (default) Low Quality (60% compression) Minimum Quality (70% compression) Clicking on one of the options and then clicking on the 'Done' button will change the option setting. The quality button will also indicate the current setting in the lower right corner. The default setting is medium compression. This setting is saved between sessions. Page 9 of 13

10 In general, setting a lower quality will result in faster image retrieval but a poorer image. Setting a higher quality will result in slower image retrieval, but a better image. Choose a setting that is a good balance of speed and quality. Your selection will be retained for future sessions. Zoom Preview The 'Zoom Preview' button changes the behavior of a 'zoom preview' screen that is displayed when an image is being zoomed or panned. The options are: Auto - Zoom preview displayed while zooming or panning. (default) On - Zoom preview displayed while magnified. Off - Zoom preview will not be displayed. Clicking on one of the options and then clicking on the 'Done' button will change the option setting. The zoom preview button will also indicate the current setting in the lower right corner. The default setting is auto. This setting is saved between sessions. In 'Auto' mode, the right side menu will be replaced by a small version of the video streaming window when zooming or panning. This window will always show a non-magnified image. It will also show a rectangle representing the portion of the image that is being displayed in the normal video streaming window. So, as you zoom in, the rectangle will become smaller, representing the smaller portion of the full-size image being displayed. Panning will move the rectangle within the full-size image. When you are done zooming or panning, Page 10 of 13

11 the normal menu window will be re-displayed. In 'On' mode, the zoom preview window will be displayed as long as the image is magnified. In this mode, since the menu screen may not be displayed for long periods of time, you can display the menu by clicking within the zoom preview window. You can then click on a menu option. If you don't select a menu option within a few moments, the window will go back to the zoom preview display. 'Off' mode turns off this feature. This is useful for slower computers, since the applet requires more processing power when this feature is used. You may notice that the zooming and panning run slightly faster when zoom preview is turned off. The following is an example of a zoomed image: Page 11 of 13

12 Colors Clicking on this button will display a grid of color choices. Clicking on one of the color blocks and then clicking on the 'Done' button will change the background and text colors for the applet windows. The default color is dark blue. This setting is saved between sessions. Page 12 of 13

13 Help / Information The 'Help / Info' button allows you to change the type of information that is displayed in the left information window. The options are: Normal Details - Show brief response messages. - Show brief response messages and image retrieval statistics. Help / Tutorial - Show expanded response messages and explanations of display and control areas. Clicking on one of the options and then clicking on the 'Done' button will change the option setting. The default setting is 'Help / Tutorial'. This setting is saved between sessions. In 'Normal' mode, messages are typically one-line messages at the top of the information window. While the video stream is running, the image retrieval rate will be shown. In 'Details' mode, messages are displayed as in normal mode. While the video stream is running, the total images that have been displayed, total bytes, bytes per image, zoom magnification (if applicable), and image retrieval rate are shown. In 'Help / Tutorial' mode, the top of the information window will show the same one-line message as with 'Normal' and 'Details' mode, along with an explanation of the message. When messages are not displayed, explanations of the various applet window areas will be displayed as the cursor moves within those areas. Page 13 of 13