Limited-hour rules still mark clips 24/7

[nunuvyurbiz]

I setup a rule, that's only supposed to run during limited hours. (People in a defined space, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.) The action is to export to a local folder. But since that prevents viewing the live feed outside those hours, I also setup a rule that runs 24/7 (People in the same space, 24/7, action is to mark to save it to my computer.)

But when I view clips for the daytime rule, triggered clips outside the daytime are also listed. In other words, "export to the local folder" only happens when the rule is in effect (which is good), but the clip list shows 24/7 events (which is weird). When viewing clips, I am selecting the one rule, not all clips for the camera.

For example, right now it's after hours. If I move around, then when viewing clips for the 8-6 rule, the clip is shown in the left side list (which I would not expect), and no clip is exported (which I would expect). It seems weird that clips still get marked outside the specified hours.

Is that how it's supposed to work?

[Semper Vaporo]

Once again... Sighthound records ALL video in a set of files for each day for each camera. It also builds a database of when motion is detected in that video stream. "IF" that motion matches a rule the database also sets a flag that the portion of that video is to be saved.

In the list on the left in the 'Search' view, you see the database entries for ALL the entries. Those entries for video where motion was detected but did not match a rule, will have a line of text below the entry that reads, "Temporary Video (Not saved by a rule)". "IF" the entry in the database is there because the motion did match a rule then there will no text for that entry.

After 48 hours (unless you change that value) ALL the video that did not match a rule is deleted permanently from the mass storage.

So, in your situation, you should see entries in the list during off hours because motion is being detected, but all those entries will have that line of text below it indicating that it is "Temporary video..." and it will go away after 48 hours. After 48 hours, you will only see in the list that video that matches your rule.

Personally, I think there should be a text notice for both "Temporary/NOT saved by rule" and "Saved by rule". Though I do like the easily seen difference between text being present or not present as a quick way to see which clips are which. Though I guess I would prefer it to be the other way around... i.e.: Mark the Rule based clips and not mark the non-rule based clips.

[nunuvyurbiz]

Well, OK, and I understand now, but that's really counter-intuitive because it's inconsistent. The list of clips on the left does NOT always show all video with detections.

First, obviously, if you select one camera, it only shows the clips for that camera.

Second, if you select "people" then it only shows clips with people. Likewise if you select "unknown objects," then it only shows clips with unknown objects in the list.

But if you select one of your rules, then it will show all clips that have the same "look for" in the rule (any, people, unknown objects) regardless of whether or not it meets any other criteria for the rule. Or, maybe it must meet some additional criteria, like minimum size and time in the frame, but doesn't have to meet other criteria, like days and hours? Isn't that inconsistent? When you select a certain rule, shouldn't it just list the clips that meet the rule's criteria (including day/time)?

[Devin]

Hi nunuvyurbiz,

Thanks for your message. Schedules only turn rules on and off and are separate from the rules search criteria. When you select a rule in the clip list it will search all available video (regardless of any schedules you have) for that camera for clips that match the rule.

For example, you have the rule "People in a defined space" which is scheduled to run between 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. When you select "People in a defined space" in the Search View you will see all clips that meet this rules criteria. Because you have a rule running 24/7 you will be able to search using this rule "People in a defined space" across all of the video for the day.

If you wish to see less video that is not saved by a rule I'd recommend lowering the "Temporarily keep all video for: __Hours" setting. (see https://www.sighthound.com/support/managing-your-video)

Regards,

-Devin

[Semper Vaporo]

Interesting. I'd assume the cause of the time not being included in what to list has something to do with the separation of the setup functions... the rule is one setup but the time of operation is a separate setup and maybe the two don't get combined such that the database list does not include the time setup. I don't happen to have any rules defined to only be active at certain times so I cannot test that out now. I may create a new rule and set an active time on it and see what happens. I am sure one of the company reps can jump in here and comment about it and maybe straighten us out.

[nunuvyurbiz]

So basically it's (on a per-camera basis):

If no rule is in effect, then no video will be recorded whatsoever.
If any rule is in effect, then video will be recorded continuously.
Every rule will apply itself to the video being recorded to flag "look for" items, regardless of whether that particular rule is in effect. (I'll have to play with this some more, as I don't think the rules are fully applied - I don't think the actions necessarily get triggered outside the specified hours).

So, limited hours only serve to trigger recording if no other rule is in effect and, if recording is occurring because any rule is in effect, to determine when the actions are applied.

OK. It's not a big deal, but I guess then there is no way to record 24/7 and have video flagged only for events occurring during certain hours. Luckily, flagging video doesn't take up space.