Release Notes for MOBOTIX Camera Software
Document Info
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Publisher:
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MOBOTIX AG
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Author:
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Bernd Wilhelm
Thilo Schüller
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Date:
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2009-12-09
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Document:
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release-notes_en.html
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Confidentiality:
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public
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Contents
These Release Notes contain a technical description of the most important changes in this software release for the MOBOTIX Q24M/D24M/M24M network cameras.
Software Releases—Overview:
Notes:
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Software Release MX-V4.0.2.23 (Release) – for all Q24M, D24M and M24M Cameras
Creation Date: 2009-12-08
Publishing Date: 2009-12-09
Caution: You can use this software version for all MOBOTIX Q24M and D24M cameras! MOBOTIX Q24M and D24M cameras will not accept software with a lower version than 4.0.1.
Caution: You can use this software version for all MOBOTIX M24M cameras! MOBOTIX M24M cameras will not accept software with a lower version than 4.0.2.
Enhancements and Improvements
Improved Exposure Control
This software version contains a completely redesigned Exposure Control mechanism which has made substantial improvements in the following areas:
- Faster reaction of exposure control to changes in illumination
The exposure control now reacts substantially faster to changes in illumination than the previous version of the software. The camera now delivers an image with optimum exposure quicker than before. This is valid particularly for large changes in illumination, e.g. when turning on a light in a dark scene.
- Improved white balance
An improved white balance now produces images with more realistic colors in scenes that have a large portion of only one color, e.g. a golf range. The improved white balance also eliminates color distortions and false color images which sometimes resulted from strong changes in illumination.
- Improved auto contrast
The auto contrast now automatically adapts to scenes with large differences in illumination (e.g. dark shadows in the lower part of the image with a bright sky above) and substantially improves the contrast of this kind of scenes. In addition to this, auto contrast cannot only be switched off or on as before, but now has three settings: Standard, Extended and Aggressive. As before, you can select the settings in the Setup Menu > Exposure Settings dialog. This dialog also contains an explanation of these three new auto contrast methods.
Image Rotation by 90 and 270 Degrees
The images of non-hemispheric camera models can now also be displayed rotated by 90 or 270 degrees. The setting for the image rotation can be made in the Setup Menu > General Image Settings dialog. This dialog also allows to selectively pivot the 4:3 aspect ratio of the rotated image so that the aspect ratio of the resulting image is either 4:3 or 3:4 as desired. With a 3:4 aspect ratio, the complete image content is visible because of a 1 to 1 width-to-height relationship, but when the aspect ration is not pivoted with the image rotation, the camera only shows a centered section of the rotated image.
Note:
This setting will lead to slightly reduced frame rate and slightly lower image quality compared to the original image since the camera needs to convert the image. The difference between the original image and the converted one is about equal to the image resulting from distortion correction for L11/L22 lenses compared to the original image.
Other Improvements in Image Settings
- JPEG files can now be used for logos
In addition to .BMP and .PNG files, .JPG files can now also be created and used for definition of logos in the camera.
- PTZ positions now available in Image Profiles
The different display modes (Normal, Panorama, etc.) along with pre-defined vPTZ positions can now be used in Image Profiles. Open the Admin Menu > Image Profiles dialog and select one of the vPTZ positions defined before via the Quick Controls from the View selection box.
- Visualization of exposure windows as a clear rectangle in darkened window
When defining exposure windows, the window is displayed as a rectangle with a clear view of the exposure area inside a darkened frame. This does not affect the optional permanent highlighting of exposure windows with a green frame.
- Enhanced Preview API functionality
The http API functions for retrieving a preview image stream or single images from the camera have been enhanced. The 'preview' parameter can now be combined with other parameters to specifically retrieve camera images with smaller resolutions (using the 'size' parameter), lower JPEG quality (using the 'quality' parameter) or reduced image rates (using the 'fps' parameter; only relevant for an image stream). Thus, applications can fetch a substantially reduced data stream from the camera, if you are adding a camera with limited network bandwidth, for example. The extensions are valid for the following cgi programs:
http://<camera ip>/cgi-bin/image.jpg?preview
http://<camera-IP>/cgi-bin/faststream.jpg?preview
http://<camera ip>/control/faststream.jpg?preview
http://<camera ip>/control/event.jpg?preview
Please refer to the camera's online help if you would like more information on this topic.
Improvements to Data Storage
- Recording to Flash Devices Can Also Use Storage Limits
When recording to MxFFS-formatted Flash media, it had not been possible set storage limits for storage size, keep time and number of sequences. The camera always used the complete storage capacity available on the MxFFS device. This software version fully supports the storage limits when storing on MxFFS-formatted Flash media. For example, you can set up continuous recording, but only keep the last 30 minutes of the recording if the workers council has asked to do so.
- "Reserve Storage" to prevent load peaks on external file servers
The Storage on External File Server / Flash Device dialog now contains a Reserve Storage field, which is visible after clicking on the More button at the bottom of the dialog. If the camera detects a possible overload on the file server used for recording (storage times are too high), it will add the reserve storage space to the maximum storage space that is used for recording. Since the camera uses the storage space like a ring buffer, it will stop all delete operations, because there is enough space available. File deletion will only start if the defined reserve storage has been filled up or the file server storage times have dropped to normal levels. Since deleting many files at once can overload a file server, this strategy can improve the storage behavior of the camera in many cases.
- Recording symbol is disabled by default
The dot (or ball) recording symbol used to display the current recording status in the upper right corner of the camera image is now disabled by default. Open the Setup Menu > Recording dialog and activate the Recording Status Symbol option to display the symbol again.
Extended Hemispheric Functionality
The functionality of Hemispheric camera models, i.e. cameras equipped with an L11 lens (Fisheye), has been changed and extended as follows:
- New default settings
Hemispheric camera models are now factory-preset for wall mounting together with the Panorama display mode.
- Floor mount
Certain application situations require a mounting type other than Ceiling or Wall and therefore a Floor mounting type has been implemented. The same display modes are available as when using the Ceiling mounting type. Using this mode for cameras mounted on their back pointing upwards, results in an image that is natural and not turned upside-down. In addition, you can use the joystick as usual.
- Horizon correction
If a Q24M camera has been mounted on a wall, the delivers a Panorama image that is slanted, i.e. the "horizon" of the image is not parallel to the scene. The new horizon correction of the camera allows correcting such a slanted image. To correct the image, open the interactive OnScreen Control for Panorama correction. The OnScreen Control has been expanded by an additional horizontal control bar at the lower border. Clicking into this bar will tilt the image left or right until the image horizon is level again. This control allows correcting images that are slanted up to 30 degrees in either direction.
Improved Connections to ExtIOs
Extended LED Signaling
The signaling of the camera LEDs had been expanded to include two new settings for the Main Switch in the Admin Menu > LED Setup dialog:
- Standard Configuration
The camera uses a permanently lit LED 0 to signal that it is running. In case of an error, this LED will blink. LED 1 signals the different recording modes. All other LEDs are off. This is the new factory default setting.
- Transparency
In this mode, LED 0 flashes twice every three seconds. In addition to the recording status, LED 1 is signaling live image access. This mode is special as it is easy to recognize by looking at the blinking pattern, if the camera allows live access and to check the recording status of the camera.
New MxPEG ActiveX Control V1.6.2.3
- Changed signing method
Since the signing method has been changed for the ActiveX control, it is easier installed in Internet Explorer.
- New
Proxy="auto" property
Setting this property will force the ActiveX control to use the proxy settings of Internet Explorer for its own network connections.
- New
LoginPrompt property
This property controls how often you can enter wrong login credentials before the control locks up. The property takes values equal to or larger than 0 (zero).
Other Enhancements and Improvements
- All password field now masked
The password fields in all configuration web pages are now masking the entered characters. Clicking on the lock icon next to the field will show the password in regular text again.
- Maximum number of users and user groups increased
Up to 25 different user groups and a maximum of 100 users can now be created and administered.
- Quick Controls now show the current values
The Quick Controls have been changed to show the current settings. Before, some Quick Controls had shown Select instead of the current value.
- VoIP connections with H.263+
SIP video connections are now using the newer codec H.263+ since it delivers better quality (was H.263 before).
- System messages after a reboot
Up until this release, a camera reboot deleted all system messages, which meant that you did not see the old messages any more when opening the Admin Menu > System Messages dialog. The camera now stores existing messages before a reboot so it can display the messages again in the System Messages dialog.
- Additional IL2 event
The illumination of the camera's surrounding can now be used as an additional event trigger Illumination (IL2), which can be combined a second trigger condition. Thus, it is now possible to configure an event trigger based upon a minimum threshold in combination with a maximum threshold using both IL and IL2.
- Display of the Stop icon upon detection of possible hardware defects
If the camera detects a possible hardware defect, it displays the Stop icon in the upper left corner of the live image. For more information on the meaning of this icon and how to hide it, see the Online help of the camera on the Live Screen page (http://<camera ip>/help/help?page-live).
- Report.dmp for Dual cameras
The report.dmp camera report now contains a current dual image on dual lens models.
- Documentation of the HTTP API completed
Among other enhancements, the API documentation now also contains the remoteconfig.cgi API function, which allows reading and writing sections of the camera configuration file.
Bugfixes
- Problems using file server recording in combination with an ExtIO
When using an ExtIO, the camera was unable to properly initialize file servers. In this case, the camera was unable to use the file server for recording purposes.
- Camera display in browser - cache problem
When updating an older Q24M camera to this version, you had to empty the browser cache before you were able to see the camera in the browser. Otherwise, the Quick Controls above the live image sometimes stayed empty and the live image stopped.
- Problems with recordings using CIFS or NFS on file servers with large volumes
Recording sometimes failed on CIFS or NFS file servers with large volumes of more than 2 billion blocks. These applied to volumes that had at least 2 TB size and a block size of only 1 kB.
- ActiveX control and mouse pointer on Internet Explorer
On some combinations of Windows operating systems and the Internet Explorer, the mouse pointer sometimes retained the crosshairs look even though the pointer had been moved away from the camera image (i.e. the ActiveX control). If this was the case, the pointer could not be used to operate the other page elements. This problem could be fixed by displaying the context menu (right-click), which had reset the mouse pointer.
- Pumping from exposure control
In very infrequent instances, the autocorrection function would cause a "pumping" of the image if it required changes in exposure times. The camera then kept changing back and forth between a longer and a shorter exposure time and the image looked brighter and darker in rapid succession.
- Symbol display hidden on continuous recording without activated events
When starting a continuous recording without having activated any events, the camera did not show any symbols at the bottom border of the image.
Known Limitations
- Rotation of 90 and 270 degrees cannot be combined with Full Image storage mode
If the camera image is rotated by 90 or 270 degrees, the camera automatically deactivates Full Image storage and the camera records the live image. To alert the user of this, the camera will display an error message in the image.
- Problems with Windows 2008 servers when using CIFS NTLMv2
When using CIFS with the NTLMv2 option on Windows 2008 servers, the cameras are sometimes unable to connect to the server.
- ActiveX PTZ and Proxy
When accessing the camera via a proxy server, the joystick control does not work in combination with the ActiveX control.
- Translations
Some translations are missing on all language versions other than English and German.
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Software Release MX-V4.0.1.15 (Release) – for all Q24M and D24M Cameras
Creation Date: 2009-07-20
Publishing Date: 2009-07-23
Caution: You can use this software version for all MOBOTIX Q24M and D24M cameras! These camera models will not accept software with a lower version than 4.0.1.
Important Notes
- First published software for P3 models
This is the first software release that is published for the camera models with the new PXA320 "XScale" microprocessor platform, the so-called P3 models.
- Identical user interface
The software of the cameras with the new hardware platform is mostly identical to the software of predecessor cameras M12/D12/V12/M22M/D22M/Q22M - the so-called P2 models with respect its handling, its features and the menu structure.
- Higher performance
Thanks to the higher performance of the P3 system platform, it also brings new platform-specific features, which would not have been possible on the P2 platform (note, that MOBOTIX will continue to support this platform). The Q24M and D24M camera models in particular are reaching twice the frame rate of their predecessors Q22M and D22M, thus achieving the maximum frame rates of 25/30 frames per second (depending on the frequency of the power network) in considerably more application scenarios when applying the corresponding settings. Generally speaking, the improved performance results in quicker responses in all aspects of using the camera.
- Support of existing configurations
You can load existing camera configuration files of the corresponding P2 camera models without any problems. This is important when exchanging a camera or when integrating new cameras into existing systems.
The following list describes the new features, enhancements, improvements and bugfixes as compared to the software release V3.4.5.10 of the MOBOTIX M12/D12/V12/M22M/D22M/Q22M cameras based on the P2 platform.
Enhancements and Improvements
Twice the frame rates
The P3 models achieve about twice the frame rate as compared to the P2 models (with a maximum of 25/30 fps, depending on the frequency of the power network). There are no relevant changes regarding the settings required to achieve these frame rates. The improved frame rates result in more efficient applications that are using Full Image Recording and thus allow using this mode in more application scenarios. This storage mode also means that the camera has a higher processor load, which in turn may reduce the live image rates. The higher performance, on the other hand, attenuate this effect to a certain degree.
Recording on the Factory-Installed 4 GB microSD Card
The two Q24M-Sec and D24M-Sec models are delivered with a factory-installed 4 GB microSD card. The storage card has been formatted and has been set as the active recording target in the Admin Menu > Storage on External File Server / Flash Device dialog. To activate the SD card recording, simply set the Recording > Recording on Quick Control. Next, the camera immediately starts recording events using the pre-defined video motion window in the center of the live image
Q24M – Panorama Mode with OnScreen Control (OSC) for Flexible Adjustment
You can now flexibly adjust the Panorama view mode of the Q24M models to the specific scenario. To do so, select the Panorama view mode and click on the lock icon in the Quick Control bar to unlock the view mode. The camera displays a small icon in the upper left corner; click on this icon to display the so-called "OnScreen Control" (OSC) in the live image. Simply click on the different areas of the OnScreen Control to adjust the Panorama view mode. This control also allows zooming, panning and tilting the image as desired.
One speciality in this scenario is the "Panorama correction", which allows straightening tilted vertical lines. This will be important if the camera has been mounted to a wall with a downwards inclination or the image center has been tilted downwards or afterwards using the vPTZ features. Once you have adjusted the image, you should lock the view by clicking on the lock icon to prevent inadvertent changes to the Panorama view. For additional information on the OnScreen Control, see section 3.3.2, Special Q24M Configuration in the Browser, in the Q24M Camera Manual.
Variable PoE Classes
The upper area of the Admin Menu > Ethernet Interface dialog contains the new Power Supply section. Click on the Change link to change the PoE class of the camera's power supply. If you do not need accessories such as a USB stick or audio output, you can select PoE class 1 (up to 3.84 W). This means that you can attach more cameras to the same switch as if these cameras would be using the factory default PoE class 2 (up to 6.49 W). For additional information on this topic, see section 2.11.2, PoE Variables, in the Q24M Camera Manual.
Audio Codec with Echo Cancellation
The P3 models feature a new audio codec with integrated echo cancellation. The camera now supports VoIP connections in full duplex mode, which means the camera will not deactivate the microphone as soon as the camera sends sound over the speaker. This results in true bi-directional communication. Note that you can also disable this feature in the Admin Menu > Loudspeaker and Microphone dialog for special requirements.
IMPORTANT:
This echo cancellation is only available on camera models with integrated speaker and microphone, such as the Q24M. When using the external audio devices of an ExtIO, echo cancellation will be disabled.
Improved Support of Windows File Servers
This area has been enhanced and improved in the following ways:
- New CIFS file system
When storing on Windows file servers, the camera now only proposes the new CIFS protocol. This protocol usually also supports older storage devices that are using the older SMB protocol instead of the newer CIFS. As a consequence, corresponding option in the Admin Menu > Storage on External File Server / Flash Device dialog has been renamed to SMB/CIFS File Server.
- Compatibility to SMB configuration
If you are loading an existing camera configuration with SMB defined as storage protocol, the camera will continue to use the old SMB protocol; this option is also visible in the Admin Menu > Storage on External File Server / Flash Device dialog.
- NTLMv2 support
When using CIFS file servers, the camera now also supports the NTLMv2 authentication mode. This is the default option on newer Windows server systems, such as Windows 2008 Server. To activate this feature, select the corresponding option in the Admin Menu > Storage on External File Server / Flash Device dialog.
All Languages in One Package
Instead of several language-dependent software packages, you can only download one MX*.mpl software package, which contains all supported languages. This means that all languages are stored in the camera and that you can select any language at run-time.
Other Improvements
- Improved Quick Controls
When selecting the Display Mode, Installation, Recording and Exposure Control Quick Controls, they will show the actual values instead of the unspecific Select ....
- Camera-specific certificates
Every camera now has its own certificate, which is used e.g. for establishing https/SSL connections and for digitally signing the recordings.
Known Issues
- Camera display in browser - cache problem
When updating an older Q24M camera to this version, you have to empty the browser cache before you can see the camera in the browser. Otherwise, the Quick Controls above the live image may stay empty and the live image may stop!
- Problems with recordings using CIFS or NFS on file servers with large volumes
Recording will fail on CIFS or NFS file servers with large volumes of more than 2 billion blocks. These are volumes that have at least 2 TB size and a block size of only 1 kB.
Workarounds:
- If you are setting up the server, you can format the volume using a larger block size (e.g. 4 kB), resulting in a block size that is lower than the 2 billion limit.
- If you cannot reformat the volume, you can remedy the error by using the older SMB protocol. Make sure that the configuration file contains the
FS_TYPE=WIN entry in the SECTION fileserver. Note that the older SMB protocol is now again available in the dialog.
- ActiveX PTZ and Proxy
When accessing the camera via a proxy server, the joystick control does not work in combination with the ActiveX control.
- ActiveX control and mouse pointer on Internet Explorer
On some combinations of Windows operating systems and the Internet Explorer, the mouse pointer sometimes retained the crosshairs look even though the pointer had been moved away from the camera image (i.e. the ActiveX control). If this was the case, the pointer could not be used to operate the other page elements. This problem can be fixed by displaying the context menu (right-click), which resets the mouse pointer.
- Translations
Some translations are missing on all language versions other than English and German.
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