Supplement to the Operating Instructions PRemote V 1.2.x 1 DK 180.000.000 GB / Rev. 1.2.3 / 030416
PRemote V 1.2.x Copyright All rights reserved. This document may not be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated, transferred to an electronic medium or put into a machine-readable form, either in part or in full, without prior written authorization from. Subject to change without notice Cranachweg 1 D 93051 Regensburg www.dallmeier-electronic.com info@dallmeier-electronic.com 2
Contents CONTENTS... 3 PREMOTE... 4 Downloading PRemote... 5 Copying and unpacking the programme onto PC... 5 Settings on DMS/DLS... 6 Entry in Router field... 6 Settings in the Sequenzer Menu... 6 Starting PRemote starten... 7 Changing picture size... 8 Video Settings... 9 Manual transmission settings... 10 Automatic transmission optimisation... 11 Camera Switchover Live Picture... 12 Camera Switchover II... 12 Freeze Frame from Live Picture... 13 Playback Menu... 14 Saving pictures... 21 Relay Control...22 Changing Relay Names... 22 Access to DMS/DLS menus... 23 Communication via serial interface... 24 Steering a camera... 26 Changing the language...27 Detaching Pull Down Menus...28 Closing PRemote...29 Internal Session Manager... 29 3
PRemote V 1.2.x PRemote PRemote provides a simple means of gaining access to pictures from your DMS/DLS and the connected cameras via network or ISDN. The transmission is based on the H 261/263 standard used for video conferences (visual telephone). To be able to use PRemote the splitter board MCD 20/25 must be installed or alternatively you can order a special PRemote board. The PRemote board is installed in place of the splitter board MCD 20/28 in the DMS/DLS. The PRemote board is not required if you already have the splitter board MCD 20/25. If you are using the PRemote board, the output M2 of the DMS/DLS must be connected to the AV2 input of the PRemote board using the BNC cable with BNC-Cinch-Adapter supplied with the board. PRemote board Connect output M2 with input AV2 of the PRemote board The PRemote programme is already on your DMS/DLS (software version V 4.6). If you are using the splitter board MCD 20/25 you will need to request the access code for PRemote from your dealer. If you have ordered the PRemote board you will receive the access code together with the board. PRemote is a single user application. This means that simultaneous access to one DMS/DLS by several users is not possible. 4
Downloading PRemote Insert a blank, formatted diskette in the DMS/DLS floppy disk drive. Click the Extras button in the Main Menu. Click the Download PRemote button in the selection menu. The Download PRemote button is not active until PRemote has been activated. The programme is saved on the diskette. Do not remove the diskette until the operating lamp of the disk drive has extinguished. Copying and unpacking the programme onto PC Create a new folder on your PC with the name PRemote for example and copy the exe-file from the diskette onto the PC. Now double click the copied exe-file. The file will unpack automatically. Amongst other files you will now be able to see the exe-file of the PRemote programme. You can also install a link for this programme on your desktop to provide direct access to PRemote. 5
PRemote V 1.2.x Settings on DMS/DLS Before connecting to a recording system via PRemote several settings on the recording system must be checked. Entry in Router field To achieve the correct connection between PRemote and your recorder, you must take appropriate care with the entry in the router field in the recorder menu Ethernet/ Tokenring. Here it is important that the first three groups of digits are the same. Right: Wrong: IP address: 192.168.2.230 IP address: 192.168.2.230 Router: 192.168.2.1 Router: 192.168.1.1 If the Router address is incorrect, the following error message will appear after dialling: Video transmission is not possible. Check your network settings (Routing / Gateway) or contact your Network Administrator. Settings in the Sequenzer Menu For video pictures to be displayed in PRemote after connection, the entry Monitor 2 as Monitor 1 (1) must be activated in the Sequencer Menu. To be able to access recording system menus via PRemote, the item Menus on Monitor 2 active must also be activated (2). 6
Starting PRemote starten Start the program by double-clicking the PRemote icon. Enter in the Recorder field the IP address of the recorder you wish to access. The password to be entered is the password you were given for the recorder. To find out how to enter the password please refer to the DMS/DLS operating instructions. Then click OK. After connection has been made a menu with a small window (preview picture) will appear. This picture is identical to the video signal on output M2 of the selected DMS/DLS. It is therefore important to take note of the settings for Monitor 2 in the Sequencer Menu. 2 1 It is not necessary to re-enter the IPaddress the next time you access a system. Instead click the selection button (1). A list of the previously selected and correctly connected IP-addresses will appear. Next click the required IP-address (2). Your selection will be accepted in the Recorder field. 7
PRemote V 1.2.x The IP-address of the selected DMS/DLS and the compression standard are displayed next to the picture. Information on the transmission rate (f/s = fields per second) and the data rate (kb/s = kilobit per second) is also displayed. The percentage figure refers to the capacity utilisation for the connection. The check box next to color offers the choice between color and b/w pictures. If 24bit color display is not possible on your PC, a capacity consuming color conversion must be completed before the video picture can be displayed. To save this switch to b/w display. Changing picture size Clicking the size button opens a selection of 3 possible sizes. The abbreviation CIF stands for Common Intermediate Format. QCIF = 176 x 144 pixels CIF = 352 x 288 pixels SCIF = 704 x 576 pixels For improved legibility of the menus on your recording system the setting CIF is preferable to QCIF. The setting SCIF enlarges the picture but does not greatly improve legibility. 8
Video Settings Transmission values and picture settings may be modified to optimise video transmission. Click Options in the preview menu followed by Video in the selection menu. Click the button for your connection type (Ethernet, 2xISDN, ISDN or PSTN). In the Video Settings menu the settings for contrast, brightness and colour can be adjusted. All changes can be observed directly on the video picture. Click Reset to undo your settings. 9
PRemote V 1.2.x Manual transmission settings The values for bandwidth, picture rate and picture quality are defined automatically with the selection of the transmission type (PSTN, ISDN, 2xISDN or Ethernet). The manual settings described below should only be made if transmission with the standard values is either impossible or impaired. In most cases manual settings are not required. Click the Ethernet button to extend the menu. Click this button again to mask the adjusting buttons. Bandwidth Picture rate Picture quality Together the 3 settings affect the capacity utilisation for the connection. The quality can be set between 1 = best quality and 30 = poorest quality. Setting of picture characteristics according to subjective impression. Clicking Reset will restore the original values. 10
Click the relevant button in the upper bar for your connection type (Ethernet, ISDN etc.). Default settings for bandwidth, picture rate and picture quality for the corresponding transmission distance will be loaded. For a connection via ISDN you should take into account the number of ISDN B channels when setting the bandwidth. If just one channel is used (max. 64 KBit) the bandwidth should be set to less than 64 KBit (e.g. 58 KBit). If two channels are used (max. 128 KBit) the bandwidth should be set to less than 128 KBit (e.g. 119 KBit). Automatic transmission optimisation Since the transmission distance does not always produce optimal results with the default or manually adjusted values, an automatic regulator compensates for this. The percentage value in brackets shows the error frequency during the transmission. If errors occur, the values for bandwidth, picture rate and picture quality are automatically adjusted to minimise the error frequency. Simultaneously the regulator tries to restore the values defined by you. Automatic adjustments can be identified by movements to the relevant adjusting buttons. 11
PRemote V 1.2.x Camera Switchover Live Picture A convenient way of switching between the cameras is provided by clicking the Camera button. A pull down menu with details of the available cameras opens. Click the relevant camera to display the required picture. Camera Switchover II Inside the window click the right mouse button. An insert with a list of connected cameras will appear. By moving the mouse the cursor can be positioned on a specific camera. To select the camera click the left mouse button. The function is as described in the DMS/DLS Operating Manual. N.B.: Checkback signal time means that cursor movement is slower than with direct operation on the DMS/ DLS. The split-modes in the list are of no relevance for PRemote, since there is no split display on Monitor Output 2. The split modes are only listed where the MCD 20/25 (splitter board) is installed in the DMS/DLS. These details are missing where the PRemote board is implemented. 12
Freeze Frame from Live Picture In a live transmission it is possible to freeze a picture and consequently specific situation as and where required. First of all select a camera for the live transmission. If a picture is to be frozen (freeze frame) click the check box next to freeze in the selection menu. The frozen picture can be saved on diskette or hard disk. For further information refer to the section Saving pictures. Click the check box a second time to return to live transmission. The freeze function is also available during the continuous playback of recorded pictures. However it is important to note that playback is not interrupted for freeze. During playback of recorded pictures the function Freeze Frame / Pause should be activated in the playback menu. 13
PRemote V 1.2.x Playback Menu Click the Player button to gain direct access to the Playback Menu. The functions are the same as with direct operation on the DMS/DLS. Since playback involves pictures which have already been recorded, a picture is not displayed on the monitor until a track has been selected (see following menu). Selection of a track for picture playback. 14
1 Clicking Camera Filter displays the pull down menu 2 Selection of a track for picture playback 3 Position control button for fast picture search within the selected track 4 Pitch control button for playback speed 5 Playback function keys 6 Function bars in playback picture masked / displayed 7 Fast picture search forwards and backwards with jump from event to event 8 Setting of date and time for picture search within the selected track 9 Confirmation of inserts in playback picture (e.g. track end) 10 Zoom function Cancel = will close the Playback Menu and return to live picture transmission. 15
PRemote V 1.2.x Activate Camera Filter By clicking the relevant camera number you can authorise or suppress picture playback. The selection of cameras is only possible on tracks 1, 2 and 3. On the Standard Track each camera is assigned a separate track. Track Selection The name -1, -2 etc. identifies the standard track to which the relevant camera (1, 2 etc.) has been allocated. Saved tracks are listed together with the date and time they were saved. 16
Fast picture search with position control button With the position control button a specific position on the recording track can be found very quickly. Date and time of the current position are displayed in the playback menu. Setting playback speed With the pitch control button the playback speed is infinitely variable. Function keys for playback The playback functions are identical to those described in the DMS/DLS Operating Manual. 17
PRemote V 1.2.x Mask playback function bars U L The function bars in the Playback Menu can be masked by clicking the symbol next to them. Click a second time to display them again. The upper function bar can be masked by clicking the left symbol (U = upper). The lower function bar can be masked by clicking the right symbol (L = lower). The function bars are also masked by clicking the pause key (freeze frame) twice. A further click to the pause key will display the function bars again. 18
Picture search by event One alternative for fast picture search is a search by event. Click the event forwards or event backwards button. The picture of the next event will be displayed. Picture search by date and time To search for a specific picture or to find the beginning of a picture sequence by date and time, select the required date and time using the + or keys. Time Date Return Click the Return button to start the picture search. If there is no recording available at the selected time, the last picture recorded before the specified time will be displayed. 19
PRemote V 1.2.x Closing messages Messages displayed in the video picture can be closed by clicking OK. Zoom Function Click the Zoom button to mark a picture segment within a window. Use the cursor keys (next to the Zoom button) to adjust the position of the picture segment. Click the Zoom button again to enlarge the selected picture segment. To return to the normal picture, click the Zoom button one more time. 20
Saving pictures To save a picture on hard disk or diskette, click the Picture button. Then click Save in the selection menu. Next select the drive and directory in which the selected picture should be saved. The default file name is made up of the IP-address of the recording system on which the picture was recorded, together with the date and time of the recording. IP address date time It is of course possible for you to name the files according to your own requirements. 21
PRemote V 1.2.x Relay Control Click Relay to check the current relay status. A mark in the check box means the relay is switched. Changing Relay Names Click Options Relay to open the window containing the existing relay names. Mark the name you wish to change and enter the new relay name. After completing your entry click OK to return to the picture. 22
Access to DMS/DLS menus Position the cursor in the picture area of the window and click the left mouse button. Just as with direct operation on the DMS/DLS a password request appears. The passwords are the same as those for access authorisation on the DMS/DLS. Once you have entered the correct password and confirmed with OK you will find yourself in the Main Menu of the DMS/DLS. All further operation is as described in the relevant DMS/DLS Operating Manuals. 23
PRemote V 1.2.x Communication via serial interface The settings in the Communications Parameter menu refer to the use of PRemote with transparent serial interface. To configure this menu, click Options in the preview menu followed by Communication in the selection menu. The entries depend on the installed hardware. Follow the manufacturer s instructions. The entry refers to the interface on the DMS/DLS used to control the installed hardware. 24
For example controlling a pan-tilt head. Pan-Tilt Head RS 232 Control Unit Pan-Tilt Head Serial PC interface RS 422 Converter RS 232 PC with PRemote DMS/DLS Ethernet / ISDN serial DMS/DLS interface In a situation where a pan-tilt head is to be controlled from your PC, the pan-tilt head control unit is connected to a free serial interface on your PC. PRemote acts as a mediator between serial interface and network. The pan-tilt head is connected to a free serial interface on the DMS/DLS via a converter. The top settings (LOCAL, this computer) in the Communications Parameter menu refer to the values defined by the pan-tilt head control unit manufacturer. For the correct settings it is important to follow the manufacturer s instructions. In the bottom settings (Remote Recorder) you will need to define the serial interface of the DMS/DLS to which the converter / pan-tilt head is connected. 25
PRemote V 1.2.x Steering a camera In situations where a camera with pan-tilt head is installed, the camera can be steered via PRemote. Click the Steer button. Click the relevant arrows to pan, tilt, zoom and focus the camera. Using the position keys predefined camera positions can be accessed directly. With the aid of the control keys for contacts it is possible to switch on lights or control recording on the recording system for example (please refer to the Operating Manual DMS/ DLS). At the present time steering of the pan-tilt head Platon AF TVI-Lederer only is implemented. 26
Changing the language Under the menu item Options Language you can choose between German and English. After you have selected your language and clicked Open to activate, your connection to the recording system will be broken. Your language selection will be accepted when PRemote is restarted. 27
PRemote V 1.2.x Detaching Pull Down Menus In some of the pull down menus you will find a dotted line at the top. For example in the Camera Switchover menu. When this line is clicked the pull down menu will be displayed as a separate menu on your desktop. This menu can be dragged to the desired location on your desktop in the usual manner. To ensure your settings are restored the next time PRemote is started, quit PRemote without closing the window by clicking the X button in the preview menu (see section below). 28
Closing PRemote PRemote can be closed very simply by clicking the X button in the preview menu. Any menus which are open do not need to be closed first (see Session Manager ). Internal Session Manager All settings, including any open menus, are protocolled by an internal Session Manager. This function runs in the background and cannot be influenced by the user. When the user closes PRemote, all settings made up to that point are saved. When PRemote is restarted the settings are restored automatically. The settings are saved with reference to the IP-address last used. This means that for each IP-address the settings are saved separately. The Session Manager is particularly useful when you do not want to have to open specific menus with every connection. 29