HTTP upload to other Xeoma

One of the most important features of modern video surveillance is flexibility. The user should be able to “bend” the software so that it fulfills exactly the kind of role needed under the circumstances. To this end, every remote software worth its mettle strives to give the user options aimed at solving an increasingly large number of problems. Consider this example:

we have a computer with a USB-camera with a built-in microphone
we need access to both video and audio from this camera on another computer
the archive needs to be stored on the second machine (audio included)

A USB-camera means no usable IP address, which complicates the idea of allowing the software remote archive storage. While the situation is not particularly sophisticated, most products on the video surveillance software market are unable to provide a decent solution for it. Xeoma, however, has an answer for that as well. The module “HTTP upload to other Xeoma” does exactly that.

The module’s functions are simple: send the image received over the chain of modules to the module “HTTP Receiver” wherever it is over http protocol. The settings for it look like this:

The Address is [receiver’s IP]/[module’s unique name]. It can look like this: 192.168.0.54/myreceiver or 192.168.1.12/officecamera.
The Port can be anything that is currently not occupied by some other process. By default it’s 10090.
Username and Password can be set to make sure that no one else can view that stream. However, it won’t be possible without using Xeoma and knowing both the IP and the module’s unique name, so those are optional.
What makes this particular pair of modules stand out is the ability to relay more than just the image – the sound is transferred as well. “HTTP upload to other Xeoma” looks for the machine with the designated IP, checks if it has the “HTTP Receiver” with the same unique name (and username/password if any) and sends the stream to it. This creates a secure transmission of both video and audio between 2 machines.
Among others, it is used in Xeoma’s new version (17.3.30) to enable the 1-click Cloud mode: modules “HTTP upload to other Xeoma” connect to all your local cameras while Xeoma Cloud creates “HTTP Receivers” with all the necessary information already inside.
It is possible to transfer streams from one Xeoma’s server to another using other methods. One of them is FTP. Connect “FTP Upload” to the camera and create a chain with “FTP Receiver” on the second machine. This won’t work as a solution for this situation, however, as the result will be only the visuals, no audio. FTP is capable of transferring sound only when the stream’s format is H.264, which is native to IP cameras only.
Another option is transfer through the web. Connect the “Web Server” to the camera, while using “Another Xeoma” on the second machine. This won’t fit our specific needs either for the same reason – plenty of video, no audio.

However, these examples work only within the same local network. And what if the two computers are in different blocks or even cities? In that case, the first computer requires an external static IP address. Then you can put the second computer’s public IP in the “HTTP upload to other Xeoma”.

Another part of our example was secrecy: Xeoma’s work on the main computer should be hidden from the operator. This is easily accomplished by Xeoma’s Hidden mode – one of the installation modes. It will keep Xeoma working on that machine in foreground without alerting the operator while still sending video and audio from the camera on the other computer. The principles of remote software are followed fully.

To sum up, the solution looks like this:

Launch Xeoma on the first computer and add “HTTP upload to other Xeoma” to the chain for the USB-camera.

Access its settings and indicate the second computer’s IP along with the name for the module and username/password if necessary.

This concludes the work on that computer, we can close Xeoma’s window here. Now launch Xeoma on the second computer and make a chain with the “HTTP Receiver”.

Access its settings and indicate the unique name and username/password.

All done! Now our remote software allows this computer to view the USB-camera live or its archive at any time.

May, 2 2017