Subscriber Discussion

Daycare Cameras/Multiple Parents Logging In

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Nov 28, 2017

We received a call from a client who is looking to put cameras up in a daycare and wants to be able to have parents have access. 8 classrooms that will range from 12 children to 30 children based on age. This means 100-200 logins, and who knows how many simultaneous users. Usually, we use Dahua for NVR's and I see the specs say 128 users. That cannot be simultaneous users, can it? We could use 2 NVR to get 128x2 so we have enough log ins.

I think we need something other than Dahua here though.

 

Total camera count is expected to be around 14, with 8 being for classrooms and accessible by parents.

 

How do we handle all the simultaneous log ins from a server standpoint? Or internet bandwidth? VLAN the camera network and allow them a specific bandwidth so it does not interfere with internal needs?

 

They are looking at himama.com for their check in software.

 

I was thinking it would be great to get something that integrated with their billing software so when accounts were closed, their camera access was removed. But this may cost them more money than they want to spend.

 

Anyone done this before?

UE
Undisclosed End User #2
Nov 28, 2017

I have not set this up, but I've read on other threads of people streaming their cameras to a web page (or even to you tube live). So that way the parents are not all hitting the camera all at once, you are sending the camera feed to another external page and the parents are all viewing that page.     

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UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #3
Nov 28, 2017

Suggestions:

1. Setup a external streaming server yourself.  Pulling live video feed from cameras and publishing multicast streams using RTSP to allow multi view.

Or

2. Sign up with steaming service providers such as  Angelcam, Ivideon etc.  Subscription based with supports.

 

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MM
Michael Miller
Nov 28, 2017

I would think security would be an important part of this solution.  I don't think you would what to just open the streams up to anyone on the web.  How would you manage the parent access to this cameras?  Each parent would have there own log in so you could track who is viewing the cameras but this will add admin costs to this solution. 

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Avatar
Simon Barnes
Nov 28, 2017

Be careful your streaming images of kids to the net that anyone can view. check the legality in your area and consult with the school. Personally I think its a no streaming to youtube for that purpose if its needed better that it can be controlled via username and passwords.

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UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #4
Nov 28, 2017

A caution...there is great concern over privacy when allowing remote viewing of children.  Be sure the access to the cameras is limited to parents with children enrolled. The daycare must be responsible for maintaining access rights and restrictions.  There is a great potential for liability for an integrator.  We did a design for a corporate daycare several years ago, and their attorneys required two year's of recordings, as they viewed liability as a long term issue.

Also of concern is where the cameras are located, and which cameras are available for remote viewing. 

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UI
Undisclosed Integrator #5
Nov 28, 2017

Simplify your work. Look at cloud solutions like Eagle Eye. They are setup for these types of situations with many remote users and they give the admin complete control over who can access which camera and stream. Streams are encrypted up and down and there is redundancy in the cloud. No need for onsite recorders, updates of software, etc., or the administration of users that goes along with that.  Creating your own that the day care would need to manage will be a difficult project and it will be ignored over time. Check out cloud solutions. 

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Avatar
Hans Kahler
Nov 28, 2017
Eagle Eye Networks

Full disclosure - I work for Eagle Eye

We do have several customers deployed with day care and also doggie day care sites.  From a technical perspective you don't have the connections from the parents hitting the onsite DVR, which saves bandwidth for the site.  In other words, if 20 people are watching the same video, then with Eagle Eye that video is sent to the cloud once - with a DVR all 20 people would be logged into that DVR with each one using the bandwidth.

From a user management perspective you can control exactly who logs in and who sees which cameras.  Each user has their own credentials, so removing one user is no problem.

We work with both analog and IP cameras, so if there are existing cameras there's a good chance you don't need to sell them new cameras. 

Our system was not designed specifically for day care types of applications, but it works pretty well.  Feel free to reach out to us at sales@EagleEyeNetworks.com if you want more information. 

 

(By the way, I think Undisclosed Integrator #5 did a good job of describing our system - I'm glad to know that our marketing and sales teams are being effective.) 

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UI
Undisclosed Integrator #5
Nov 28, 2017

I always do a good job. :) I'm just not an "integrator" anymore.  LOL

U
Undisclosed #6
Nov 29, 2017

Is there a charge for how many users have credentials or is it just based on how many cameras are registered? 

 

Avatar
Adam Sewall
Nov 28, 2017

[Disclosure: I work at Verkada, but wanted to share the following because our technology fits perfectly with this use case.]

Out of the box, Verkada supports this ability to share a link to a camera’s live feed. There are two approaches — both are easy to setup in a matter of minutes.

 

1. Invite users (e.g., parents) to your Verkada account as viewers

In this use case, you could create this link and invite the approved set of users (parents, in this case), who would create their individual usernames and passwords. A second-factor of authentication, or SAML/single-sign on, could be included for added security. And if you ever need to revoke permission for a particular user, that’s easily accomplished within Verkada’s UI (you just need to be an Admin on the account). 

 

2. Create a public link to the live stream (Live Link)

In this use case, within Verkada’s UI you would create a link to your cameras’ live feeds and send it to your users directly via SMS or email. It’s also possible to embed these video streams in a webpage, or any other environment, but that sounds like it may not be as relevant to the use case discussed here.

If you’re curious, there’s an example of a live stream from our HQ in California available on our homepage: https://www.verkada.com/

 

From a technical standpoint, our team took care to make video-sharing work at scale. Noteworthy features:

+The stream is multiplexed server-side, meaning that additional traffic to the page doesn’t swamp the uplink connection of the camera itself and has no limit on maximum number of concurrent viewers.

+Playback is fully encrypted over https (HLS streaming).

+The link can be made to expire at a pre-determined time. Within Verkada’s UI, you can set it to expire in, say, 2 hours — or on March 3, 2018.

+Depending on your use case, you can protect the webpage where the video is embedded via password — and, if necessary, even with a second factor of authentication.

More info on remote access and broadcast mode features are here: https://www.verkada.com/surveillance/remote-access/

Hope this information is helpful!

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UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Nov 29, 2017

Obviously, security is a concern, so we would not just stream to an open web site.

 

Sounds like a cloud solution is the best way to go here. Honestly do not really like it, because the monthly fee is so high. 14 cameras @ $20-$30 a month gets pretty pricey.

Avatar
Carlo Kuijer
Nov 29, 2017

https://www.wowza.com/products/streaming-engine/deployment-options

Simple, secure and cost effective ! 

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VE
Vladimir Eremeev
Aug 17, 2018

You can connect your cameras to Ivideon VSaaS with tariff plan (starts from 5 USD\month per channel) for business and secure share them with unlimited amount of user, with cloud archive and ability to embed camera feeds in websites. Mobile apps, web-interface, desktop apps.

SH
Slava H
Aug 18, 2018

3dEYE cloud provides you with full integrator admin panel, end user web/desctop and mobile apps. Cameras can be connected over p2p or onvif.  Continuous 24/7 recording, analytics and branding available. Pay as you go payment option where you pay per TB of data used available.

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