Quick Start Guide: Triggers / Alerts

Nov 2020
Housekeeping
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● We will be recording this webinar. And it will be available for playback on our
YouTube channel, Blue Iris Support.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDkejni_hONfMPfI7l2u64g
● This presentation will also be available in the YouTube video notes for
download.
 Software: Installation & Suggested Hardware
Download software / 15-day Trial
Blue Iris Support Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDkejni_hONfMPfI7l2u64g
Cajoling Technologies – Blue Iris Tutorials
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnL59ZzaR6iJpZXRedTjEmrwWIxj1VIcp
○ Install & Camera Setup
○ Clips & Archiving
○ Motion Zones, Triggers and Alerts
○ Scheduling & Profiles
○ Port forwarding vs VPN
Home Tech Video – Blue Iris Tutorials
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPIbTc8JRuU&list=PLwwZSA4tzwhOlkPaKIfgaA2Ajp7ZH8CWB
Agenda
● Introductions
● Software: Installation & Suggested Hardware
● Triggers / Alerts
● Q&A
Triggers → Alerts
Phone call
Motion Alerts
Push Notification
(mobile)
Windows Popup
Toast
Camera (ONVIF) SMS

FTP Upload

Digital I/O Email

Blue Iris
Change shield /
schedule / profile
Digital I/O
Audio
DO Command
Run a program or
script
Watchdog
Wait
Web Request or
MQTT
External sources Cameras (Group
triggers)
Triggers → Alerts
Phone call
Motion Alerts
Push Notification
(mobile)
Windows Popup
Toast
Camera (ONVIF) SMS

FTP Upload

Digital I/O Email

Blue Iris
Change shield /
schedule / profile
Digital I/O
Audio
DO Command
Run a program or
script
Watchdog
Wait
Web Request or
MQTT
External sources Cameras (Group
triggers)
Motion Sensor – Basic
● Min. object size: Helps remove false alerts
from squirrels
● Min. contrast: Reduce camera sensitivity to
light changes
● Min. duration: Reduces false alerts from
flies

Min. contrast Min. object Min. duration

(Sense) size (Motion) (Trigger)

Did the pixel change? How many pixels How long did pixels
changed? remain changed?
Motion Sensor – Basic
References
HomeTech Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPIbTc8JRuU&li
st=PLwwZSA4tzwhOlkPaKIfgaA2Ajp7ZH8CWB
Video: Blue Iris - Triggers: Basics of Motion
Detection

Min. contrast

Min. object size - large

Motion Sensor – Advanced – Object Detection
● Object travels (pixels): Helps remove false
alerts from trees or bushes.
● Object size exceeds: Helps remove false
alerts from scene changes such as turning
light on/off or PTZ camera is moving.

Min. contrast Min. object Min. duration

(Sense) size (Motion) (Trigger)

Did the pixel change? How many pixels How long did pixels
changed? remain changed?

Object size
Object travels
exceeds

Pixels aggregated Aggregate thresholds.

into a group.
Motion Sensor – Advanced – Object Detection
References
HomeTech Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPIbTc8JRuU&li
st=PLwwZSA4tzwhOlkPaKIfgaA2Ajp7ZH8CWB
Video: Blue Iris: Triggers - Object Detection
Motion Sensor – Advanced – Zones
Zone A: Define areas of interest
● Use case: Parking lot but not the perimeter
● Use case: Block out street or across the
street (neighbors house) for garage or front
door camera.
A
Min. contrast Min. object Min. duration
(Sense) size (Motion) (Trigger)

Object size
Object travels Zones
exceeds
Motion Sensor – Advanced – Zones
References
HomeTech Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPIbTc8JRuU&li
st=PLwwZSA4tzwhOlkPaKIfgaA2Ajp7ZH8CWB
Video: Blue Iris: Zones and Hotspots

A
Motion Sensor – Advanced – Zone Crossings
Zone B-G :
● Use case: Reduce false alerts
● Use case: By defining different zones, you B
can send unique alerts, e.g. Push notification
when someone walking on property
A
C
Min. contrast Min. object Min. duration
(Sense) size (Motion) (Trigger)

Object size
Object travels Zones
exceeds
Motion Sensor – Advanced – Zones
References
HomeTech Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPIbTc8JRuU&li
B
st=PLwwZSA4tzwhOlkPaKIfgaA2Ajp7ZH8CWB
Video: Blue Iris: Zone Crossing
A
C
Motion Sensor – Advanced – Hotspots
Hotspots: Define areas of interest
● Use case: Secure locations. Best with
indoor cameras.
● Museum or Art Gallery

x
Min. contrast
(Sense)
x
Min. object
size (Motion)
x
Min. duration
(Trigger)

x
Object travels
x
Object size
exceeds x Zones
Motion Sensor – Fine Tuning
● Test run video through motion
detector
● Send short BVR clip to Blue Iris
support
Alert

Pre-trigger buffer

End trigger
MAKEtime
20s 1s 10s
 Triggers → Alerts
Use case:
(1) I want to capture very
accurately how many cars
drive through complex.
(2) Send mobile alert to security
Motion Triggers - Summary
Triggers → Alerts
Phone call
Motion Alerts
Push Notification
(mobile)
Windows Popup
Toast
Camera (ONVIF) SMS

FTP Upload

Digital I/O Blue Iris Email

(record) Change shield /

schedule / profile
Digital I/O
Audio
DO Command
Run a program or
script
Watchdog
Wait
Web Request or
MQTT
External sources Cameras (Group
triggers)
Triggers → Alerts
Triggers → Alerts
 Triggers → Alerts
Use case:
(1) I want to capture very
accurately how many cars drive
through complex.
(2) Send mobile alert to
security

Easily test if Alerts

sent correctly
Push notifications (mobile app) - Setup
Push
Mobile Devices Notification per
Camera

Confirm Push
is enabled.

Devices auto-populated by Remote

Access Wizard.
For more information see Remote
Access Webinar.
Mobile Alerts - Tags
Use case:
○ Business owner gets employee open (6 – 7:30 am) / close alerts (6 – 7 pm)
○ Security receives all alerts during off-hours
○ Shipping receives alerts on iPad when packages arrive
Email Alerts
Need to Setup Email Server
SMS Alerts

Email to SMS Text service

Service is dependent on your
mobile carrier’s service

Possible issues:
○ Carrier may have size
restrictions (effectively not
allowing images)
Webinars coming next
Quick Start Guide
● ✓ Remote Access (UI3, mobile phones)
● ✓ Storage: Clips & Archiving
● ✓ Triggers / Alerts
● Profiles & Schedules
● Advanced Remote Access (Geo-fencing,
Push notifications, https/Stunnel)
Advanced Tuning Topics
Why is my computer so slow?
● Performance tuning
● CPU
● RAM
● Stream loss / reconnects
Advanced Networking Topics
● RTSP Streams: Basic / Digest
Authentication
● Cameras: Static vs Dynamic IP addresses
● Router Client Table
● Packet sniffer
● Advanced Port Scanner
Other topics
● Hardware recommendations
● 2-way audio
Self Help Resources
● YouTube Channel: Blue Iris Support
https://youtube.com/channel/UCDkejni_hONfMPfI7l2u64g
● Blue Iris User Forum
https://blueirissoftware.com/forum/index.php
● FAQs (in forum)
https://blueirissoftware.com/forum/app.php/help/faq
Quick Start Guide: Triggers / Alerts
Nov 2020