Vivotek Vortex Camera Ultimate Guide - NVR IPCAMERA SECURITY
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Vivotek Vortex Camera Ultimate Guide

How to configure Deep Search function in the Portal

VORTEX Deep Search

Deep Search is a feature in VORTEX that uses AI to enhance searching. Instead of going through videos frame by frame, Deep Search sorts through metadata to quickly find specific scenes or attributes. This means you can easily locate moments with certain objects, like people or vehicles, using functions like Attribute Search, Scene Search, and Re-Search. In essence, it's a smarter, faster way to find exactly what you're looking for in your video recordings.

How to use the Deep Search feature?

Step 1. In the Portal interface, go to the function tab and select “Deep Search”.

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Step 2. By , the Deep Search panel displays recordings from all cameras. If you want to search for people with specific features, select the “People” tab. If you're looking for cars with specific features in your video recordings, choose the “Vehicle” tab.

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Step 3. Select the group of cameras you wish to search by clicking the “Search in” button. This action will pop up a window displaying all the groups configured in your VORTEX account.

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You are free to select multiple groups or individual cameras based on your needs.

Step 4. Configure your search parameters depending on your requirements:

(A) From ~ To: Sets the time range that is going to be used for search. 

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(B) Scene search: A feature that is available when only one camera is selected. It enables you to search based on a specific camera rule.

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This feature allows you to establish video content analysis rules, such as Line Crossing, Loitering Detection, or Intrusion Detection, within the camera's field of view.

(C) Attribute search: This feature allows you to filter depending specific appearances. 

People Attribute Search

Vehicle Attribute Search

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If you want to search for a specific feature only, make sure to deselect the options you don't need. For instance, in Vehicle Search, if you don't wish to look for appearances of trucks, simply deselect the Truck type.

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Similarly, in People Search, you can refine your search results by selecting or deselecting criteria like Gender, Age, Cloth Color, or Accessories.

Note: For people appearances in Deep Search, the search criteria are only applicable to Premium cameras. Choose one or multiple Premium cameras to initiate the search.

Step 5. After setting your search parameters, click “Search” to begin. your search.

Accessing past events using the portal Message center

The Message Center serves as a hub for viewing past events. Only events that are associated with pre-configured triggers will appear in the list.

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How to Filter Events:

In order to filter events you will need to access the Message center interface, to do so click on the bell icon in the VORTEX Portal interface.

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Once inside the Message Center, you'll have the option to apply different filters according to your needs:

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Device: Manually select which devices you want to filter events for.

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Event type: Choose the specific type of events you are interested in reviewing from already recorded videos.

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Time frame: As the name suggests, set a specific time range to narrow down your search results.

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Example Scenario:

Let's say you want to review any intrusions across all devices over the past two days. To do this follow the next steps:

Step 1. Select “All Devices” from the Device filter.

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Step 2. Choose “Intrusion Detection” from the Event Type filter.

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Step 3. Specify a two-day time frame in the Time Frame filter.

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Step 4. Once all settings are configured, click the “Search” button.

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Your list will now display all intrusion events from the past two days across all devices.

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Understanding the LEDs Indicator of a VORTEX device

Question

How to interpret the meaning of LED light indicators on the VORTEX device?

Answer 

In order to verify the LED status of a you will need to remove the casing of your device.

This procedure necessitates the use of unpacking tools to remove the device casing.

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Once the casing is removed, you'll be able to observe the LED indicators on the VORTEX device.

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The table below illustrates the various device-related indicator lights and their associated device statuses.

LEDs status

VORTEX Device Status

All LEDs light => All LEDs unlight => Steady Red =>Steady Red + Blink Green once per sec

System booting

Only Steady Red

Power on; Network fail

Steady Red and Blink Green every 1 sec

Power on; Network works

Steady Red and Blick Green every 0.15 sec

Upgrading Firmware

Blink Red every 0.15 sec

Restore default

Press the reset button util all LEDs blink fast (0.15sec/time)
then free the reset button

Reset button for reset

 If the VORTEX device is functioning correctly (both powered on and network-connected), the LED should display a steady red light with a green light blinking every second.
 If the LED indicators are not displaying as described, please notify the technical support team about the irregular status and seek guidance on the next steps.

How to configure a Network Speaker and trigger an automated broadcast

The AU-001 Network Horn Speaker is a specialized outdoor audio device designed to integrate with security systems. When activated, it broadcasts pre-recorded audio clips to deter intruders. Using this network speaker as a deterrent can help avoid confrontations that might otherwise occur if someone were to intervene physically.

The AU-001 can be integrated into the VORTEX platform and set to perform specific triggers depending on user requirements as long as you have acquired a Network Speaker license.

Device Discovery and Configuration

1. Device Discovery:

Navigate to the page in VORTEX to find the network speaker you wish to add.

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The software will automatically scan for all network speakers on the same Local Area Network (LAN) as the VORTEX camera.

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After all available network speakers are found, you can choose which speaker to add into VORTEX and configure.

2. Authorization:

To authorize your device, enter the default username/password. The default credentials are /1234.

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3. Operational Settings:

After you have associated the network speaker with a camera, you can upload audio clips, adjust the volume, and change the password for added security.

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Alarm Management

If you have successfully configured your network speaker, an “Audio Deterrent” option will appear in the alarm management actions menu. From here, you can select which associated network speaker should sound the alarm in case of an intrusion.

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How to configure camera exposure setting

If you would like to configure exposure settings for each camera. You can find it under image tab.

WDR Pro: This refers to the Wide Dynamic Range function that enables the camera to capture details in a high contrast environment. Use the slide enable to enable and disable the function.

WDR PRO default is on for all vortex camera You can also configure exposure level here, with ranges from -0.7 to +0.7 (dark to bright).

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Please note that FD639/IB639 do not support WDR PRO, and therefore don't have this page.

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How to create Your First Group and Add Your Camera

Invite a User:

1.Log in to the VORTEX web interface (https://portal.vortex.vivotek.com/#/login). Click to select User Management.mceclip0.png
2.Click on Invite User.      mceclip2.png
3.The invited user should receive the following Email, and he/she should create a VORTEX account in order to log in to the VORTEX web console to view camera feeds.

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     4. The invited user should then log in to create a VORTEX account. Click Create account.

         Enter a valid Email address and password.

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5.A message will inform you that an Email has been sent to the invited user.

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      6. The invited user will receive the following Email. He/she should then click to confirm the invitation.

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      7. Click Accept to confirm the invitation.

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Creating a Group

 

1.Click the Device menu. Click Create device group.

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Enter a name for the group.

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2.You can select the existing devices by clicking the device checkbox in front of them and click the Move to button.

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Camera information and firmware upgrade

The Devices panel provides access to all connected cameras.

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To access the Settings page of an individual camera, click on the Settings button at the far-right end of the attributes row. 

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The Information page will prompt. To reboot or restore camera defaults, click on the Advanced button.

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For checking the Firmware update, click on Firmware update.

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Cloud backup settings

Professional license is required to back up your videos to the cloud.

 

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By default, Cloud backup is disabled.

 

Enable the Cloud backup by sliding the toggle button. When enabled, videos will be stored to the cloud storage. Set your desired schedule to backup your video footage to the cloud by dragging the mouse across the screen.

 

Click Save to preserve your setting.

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How to search for archives

Archive

 

The Archive page provides access to the video clips you saved on the View page. The default displays 50 video archives.

 

You can search for a specific archive using the Search function using the came name or footage time frame using the time frame calendar on top.

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If you want to search for archives from specific cameras, click the camera tag on the upper left. The camera selector will appear. Click on Groups to reveal the cameras within the groups, and then click Select.

 

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You can also search for archives using key words by entering a keyword () in the Search pane. 

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With the results displayed on screen, select an archive by selecting the checkbox (mouse over the snapshot) on the upper-left of the snapshot, and click or Delete.

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The download may take a short while during the initialization.

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You can click on the properties button below the snapshot to edit the file name.

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How to modify the video orientation and rotation of the camera in VORTEX Portal

In the VORTEX Portal interface, you can modify the video orientation or rotation of your camera based on your specific needs. You can access these functionalities by selecting your device and then navigating to System > Installation.

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The following will explain in detail each function and its usage:

Video orientation:

 Flip – This function vertically reflects the display of the live video.
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 Mirror – This function horizontally reflects the display of the live video.
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You can select both options if the Network Camera is installed upside-down (e.g., on the ceiling) to correct the image orientation.

Video rotation:

Rotation in this context refers to clockwise rotation. Rotation settings can be combined with flip, mirror, and physical lens rotation settings to adapt to various mounting locations.

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Use Cases:

Cameras can be installed on vertical, side-facing, or tilted surfaces to suit the interior or exterior design of a building. For example, the interior of a building may have narrow, rectangular spaces like corridors.

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Traditional HD images, especially those with a 16:9 aspect ratio, may not align well with such settings due to their wide horizontal view.

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By utilizing video rotation, the camera can better cover tall and narrow scenes.

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Video content analysis and rule settings

Video content analysis

provides the following features:

Intrusion detection, Loitering detection and Line Crossing detection.

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The maximum rules setting of Essential type is 5.

The maximum rules setting of Premium type is 10.

 

Video content analysis will detect the height of your camera at the installation site automatically. The video content analysis of fisheye model only supports it on ceiling mount.

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Detection > Tampering detection

Tampering detection:

Please follow the steps below to set up the camera tamper detection function:

1.Click to select the checkbox before tampering conditions: Tampering detection, Image too dark, Image too bright, and Image too blurry. Enter the tamper trigger duration. (10 sec. ~ 10 min.). The duration specifies the set of time before the tampering is considered as a real alarm. This helps avoid false alarms by short-lived changes.

 

The tamper alarm will be triggered only when the tampering factor (the difference between current frame and pre-saved background) exceeds the trigger threshold. Conditions such as image too dark, too bright, or too blurry (defocused) can also be configured as tampering conditions. The Trigger threshold determines how sensitive your is tamper detection setting. Lower the threshold number, easier to trigger.   

 

 Too bright: shining a flash light. The average lighting level of the scene is taken into consideration.
 Too dark: covering the objective or spraying paint.
 Too blurry: blurry scene can be the result of strong interference on the device, such as EMI interference.

 

2.You can configure Tampering Detection as a trigger element to the proactive event configurations in Event -> Event settings -> Trigger. For example, when the camera is tampered with, camera can be configured to send the pre- and post-event video clips to a networked storage device.

Detection > Audio detection

Audio capture serves as a valuable tool in surveillance, enhancing crime detection, protection, and forensic investigation. It provides essential context, alerts security teams to out-of-view activity, and proves valuable in situations where falls short, such as low-light conditions.

 

Audio detection is applicable in the following scenarios:

1.Detection of activities not covered by camera view, e.g., a loud input by gun shots or breaking a door/window.
2.A usually noisy environment, such as a factory, suddenly becomes quiet due to a breakdown of machines.
3.Environment where video surveillance falls short, such as low-light conditions.

 

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How to configure Audio detection:

1.Drag the bar to enable audio detection, and click save
2.After save, the current sound input will be interactively indicated by a fluctuating wave diagram.
3.Use a mouse click to drag the Alarm level tab to a preferred location on the slide bar, and save again

NOTE:

1.Note that the volume numbers (0~100) on the side of wave diagram does not represent decibel (dB). Sound intensity level has already been mapped to values. You can, however, use the real-world inputs at your installation site that are shown on the wave diagram to configure an alarm level.
2.To configure this feature, you must not mute the audio in Audio settings. The default of the camera can be muted due to the lack of an internal microphone. An external microphone is provided by users.https://vivotek.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/22168662587289

Remote Focus settings

Focus here refers to the Remote Focus, applicable to Network Cameras that are equipped with a stepping motor lens. The automated focus adjustment function eliminates the needs to physically adjust camera focus. In an outdoor deployment consisting of a large number of cameras, the auto focus function can be very helpful when these cameras become out of focus after days or weeks of operation. And that can easily result from the effects of natural forces, e.g., shrink and expand due to a wide range of operating temperatures and the vibration caused by wind. 

 

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DI/DO Settings

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Digital input: Select High or Low as the Normal status for the digital input. Connect the digital input pin of the Network Camera to an external device to detect the current connection status.

 

Digital output: Select Grounded or Open to define the normal status for the digital output. Connect the digital output pin of the Network Camera to an external device to determine the current status.

 

Enable the detection and select the time frame of the effective time span if necessary.

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About the author

M.Salih ASLAN

Hello, I live in Salih Turkey. I serve in dvr, nvr, security and surveillance industry. Write to me for any comments and suggestions ..

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