Camera Rules

Beginning in version 25.12, Orchid Hybrid VMS supports camera tag rules. This allows Administrators to define conditions under which the system will automatically assign camera tags. Once rules are established, any time a new camera is added to the system, all of the applicable rules and tags will be applied automatically.

Each time a rule is created, it will be added to the Recorder Directives. The directives ensure that all of the rules are distributed to all of the Recorder servers.

1. To access the Camera Rules screen, go to the Camera Tags screen and click the Rules tab.

The screen above shows that one camera rule has been created so far.

2. To enter a new rule, click the Add Camera Rule button. The Add Camera Rule screen will appear.

3. If you want to add a tag, first click into the Tag Name field. A list of existing tags, if any, will appear.
4. If you want to use an existing tag, click on a tag in the list. (Please note: If you do this, the existing tag will be overwritten.)
5. To add a new tag, type the new tag name into the Tag Name field, then click on it to select it.
6. Enter a description for the new tag in the Tag Description field.

Now you can begin defining the conditions under which the tag will be assigned to a camera.

7. Using the Camera Attribute drop-down list, select the attribute that will be the focus for the rule. Available attributes include the following:
   1. Camera Analytics Stream Resolution
   2. Camera Default View Stream Resolution
   3. Camera IP Address
   4. Camera Manufacturer
   5. Camera Max Active Frame Rate
   6. Camera Max Active Resolution
   7. Camera Max Supported Frame Rate
   8. Camera Max Supported Resolution
   9. Camera Model
   10. Camera Name
   11. Camera Supported Audio Codec
   12. Camera Supported Video Codec
   13. Camera Tag Key
   14. Camera Timezone

Most of these choices are self-explanatory, but the Camera Tag Key is a little different. With this attribute, the conditions will focus on existing camera tags.

8. After you select an attribute, use the Operator drop-down list to begin defining which attributes you are looking for. (In example pictured above, you will begin defining which camera manufacturers you will be looking for.) Available operators include the following:
   1. Contains
   2. Does Not Contain
   3. Does Not End With
   4. Does Not Equal
   5. Does Not Start With
   6. Ends With
   7. Equals
   8. Regex (a regular expression)
   9. Starts With
9. In the Value field, enter a value to complete the condition.

Take another look at the example above. With the first condition, we instruct the system to look for camera manufacturers that contain axis. If the system detects one, it will assign our new tag (axis_av1) to that camera. This particular tag needs to be more specific, so let’s add another condition. (Your situation may not require additional conditions.)

10. Click the Add Condition button. Once again, select an attribute, an operator, and a value.
11. Now, since we have more than one condition, we need to define the relationship between the conditions. (Ask this question: Do we need both of the conditions to be true in order to assign the tag, or just one of the conditions?)
    1. Click the AND button if both of the conditions must be true in order to assign the tag to a camera.
    2. Click the OR button if just one of the conditions is required to assign the tag.
12. Continue adding conditions, as needed.
13. Expand the Advanced Configuration field if you need to review or revise the relationships between all of the conditions.

The system displays the Conditional Expression that results from the conditions you entered. However, you might need to modify the overall relationship. The Advanced Configuration field provides an example that illustrates how you might modify the expression. Let’s say you have added 3 conditions, with the OR expression between all of them. This would mean that the system will assign the tag to a camera that meets any one of those conditions. If, instead, you need a camera to meet the first condition plus one of the other two, you would modify the Conditional Expression as follows: (1 AND (2 OR 3)).

14. Click the Edit button if you need to make changes.
15. When your settings are complete, click the Next button. This screen will give you a chance to review your rule settings.

16. If you need to make changes, click the Back button and make those changes.
17. When all of your settings are complete, click the Save button.

18. The last step is to apply the rule that you have just created.
    1. Click the Apply button to finalize the rule.
    2. Click the Abandon button to eliminate the new rule.