The first thing I wanted to do after buying and installing my Motorola Homesight system was to gain remote access to the captured images and event logs. It would of course be possible to gain access to the system remotely using something like Terminal Services or VNC, but I wanted a solution that would allow me to access the information using any web browser.
After a little poking about I discovered that the Homesight system uses the Mckoi Database, an open source Java SQL database system published under the terms of the GNU license (although Motorola do not redistribute this license for some reason?). It is relatively easy to find the database username and password by looking at the database files in the data directory. The default on my system was:
user: Xanboo password: 115West30th
I decided to write a small Java app to query the structure of the Homesight database. Here is what I found:
archives
--------
Archive Time
Archive Date
Archive Type
Archive Device Type
Archive Device Name
Archive File Type
Archive File Name
Archive Timestamp
Archive Note
profiles
-------
NotificationType
Address
txtprofiles
----------
NotificationType
Address
The interesting data was stored in the archives table. A simple select on this table produces the following information (example)
13:04:28, 28 Mar 2006, 5, 6, Door-Window Sensor 2B, 1, , 2006-03-28 13:04:28.403, closed
13:04:26, 28 Mar 2006, 2, 12, Camera - Day 2D, 2, c:/progra~1/motoro~1/./data/archive/image32923.jpg, 2006-03-28 13:04:26.684, Triggered by schedule 'Camera - Day 2D660 S34734'
13:04:24, 28 Mar 2006, 2, 12, Camera - Day 2D, 2, c:/progra~1/motoro~1/./data/archive/image32922.jpg, 2006-03-28 13:04:24.793, Triggered by schedule 'Front Door Alert'
As you can see, included in the logs is also a link to any images or videos captured by the system.
Once I gained access to this information, it was a straight-forward task to write a web application allowing access from any browser.
If you would like to learn more, feel free to leave me questions.
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10 comments:
Hello! I have a HMVC3075 camera but I do not have the system center.....Is there any way for me to use this camera or at least maybe get some still shots off of it or something ?? ANYthing? (Or do I need the system center to do anything at all with the camera ?)
Just curious, considering I am gonna sell this camera on ebay if I can't use it without the system center ...
-HS
Please reach me at the following addy as I might not be back to check this blog:
dutchyboyhs54 AT yahoo DOT com
Interesting. I've been having my homesight system e-mail the events to my Linux machine. Then the Linux machine parses the e-mail and creates its own local database of events and saves the file attachments to a directory accessible to the web server. I have a home automation patchwork to control various things around the house all based off of this Linux machine. I use phpnuke with some custom written modules to make it all web accessible. My Homesight system also outputs the current camera to an RF modulator so I can watch the feed on any TV in the house. I'm still trying to figure out a good way to change the current camera remotely though. There doesn't seem to be a lot of hacks or 3rd party innovation for this system out there. Too bad.
Hey GC, sounds pretty cool, have you tried HomesightRemote at all?
can you login to this device any other way? I am thinking of getting one...
Xanboo is the company that makes the hardware... google it...
Pretty cool stuff. Now, if only we can get around this stupid 16 scheduled events limitation.
I have been hoping to use the system without internet control.
Anyone know of a feature to allow me to record events directly to my pc / hd?
Thanks!
--woody
sgtwoodro AT yahoo DOT com
Is there any why to have the java program that you wrote to get access to the homesight data from a web browser?
juan_lopez_iii@yahoo.com
I've managed to access this database when the homesight software is turned off, how do you connect if the software is running?
i would be interested in this as i have a system now abandoned by all the providers.
can you provide any source for me to start with? or additional info since writing this article?
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