Free Web Watchman (Web Cam Software)

(last Updated 24-Aug-98)
●To the Web Watchman Pro home page Download of the software is possible from here.
●To the Hart computer home page

"Web Watchman Pro" is a system created for WWW which shows a photographic image of what is taken. With an old Macintosh and "Web Watchman pro" a web camera can easily and cheaply be installed. Such things as lamp and buzzer are controlled by the browser so the web camera may be used for observation and warning purposes.
Free Web Watchman is a control software just for Web Watchman Pro and because it's a free software please use it with out hesitation. If free web watchman is to be used as a free software, a link to "Web Watchman somewhere on the screen will be appreciated (this is not an enforcement ). Also if you want a link from Hart computers site please specify URL and introduction notes in English ( under 40 words) and contact

Characteristics of Free Web Watchman

Free Web Watchman may be used with any of these Macintosh WWW servers: Webstar, Mac http, Net presenz, Quid pro quo or the new server of System 8 "web sharing".
According our experiment,we recommend Quid pro quo , because it has a fast response and counter and clickable map functions. It is also a free software. Mac http is not recommended as for its slow response.

Main Function

The image which is taken in is stored in a JPEG, a format, with a high compression rate.
Nominated time period the multiple images chosen can be viewed, such as night time inspection, advertising.
At regular time interval using time as key, you can save an image with index so when an occurrence of unexpected disaster, it may be checked afterwards.
An image consumer "Quick Time" is used so an input of image for AV Mac as well as for Color QCAM of Connectix Company to Apple Interface of Capture Card, wide range can be used.
Time in a chosen color can be installed on a image.
Sounds may be recorded for later use.
By using the dial up router you can transmit FTP.
It is possible to establish camera mounter"web panoramic head"with no control (it is publicized as free software ).

Please view the establishment a dialog.

Instructions

Before starting WWW server must be installed and movement of the server must be checked.

Please prepare a video camera first, then use which comes with a standard Macintosh or a software which is connected to color QCAM such as to check the movement.

Decide 4 folders beforehand.

A store folder: A folder which stores files taken in periodically. The folder must have an access from WWW server. It is best to use the folder with WWW server. The captured file is located in the same folder as the WWW server software. Referred to at

below.

A store folder of HTML/Script/Sound: It stores HTML file and Script file used by Free Web Watchman, file shows results which is mainly used as CGI. It does not matter where the folder is, but for security reasons using a different folder is recommended. Referred to at

below.

Store folder for data of nighttime display: This is to display images taken in before night. It does not matter which folder it is in. However suggestion is to put it in a different folders from WWW server. The type inside the folder is "JPEG" or "JFIF" other wise extension is "JPG or "JPEG" , only these files can be used for display. Extension can be in either upper case or the lower case, Referred to at

below.

A store folder, that stores data which is taken in periodically: The file can be anywhere but to make it as so browser can watch, place it where there is a access to WWW server . To restrict the access so not anybody can view it, place it somewhere else. Recommendation is to make one folder with WWW server and one folder with a password for the reasons above. Referred to at

Diagram below shows the folder that will fulfills the conditions above.

(WWW server requires more files other than the ones above for it to work）

Following that locate ww.acgiin the same folder as WWW server then double click and start. When starting it for the first time it displays the dialog of connection.

Preference

Registration of the folder

Choose the nominated the folder

of the dialog above. To nominate push the button with the name display. Also name the store file of

. This will be the name of the file made in the folder.

Other Registration

is the period that an image is automatically taken in . When this period passes image is automatically consumed. Usually takes about 3 to 10 seconds for an image to be consumed, think this as the standard when setting the period. The period should be longer then 5 seconds, if shorter the image may be incomplete. Maximum interval is 32767 seconds which is 546 minutes = 9.1 hours.

is the color of the time taken when engraved on the image. Click the colored section and choose the color fancied. Tick the check box when satisfied.

stores files in different folders in this interval using the time as the key. This able an observation of the past possible. To use this system tick the check box. File will be made automatically when nominated at the index column, so by checking the list beforehand, a display of the data from nominated time is possible.

is called redilect. It is URL which is displayed after the movement of free Web Watchman is used as CGI ends. It can be other sights of URL. URL will be displayed when check box is clicked . By clicking and selecting "HTML/Script/Sound store folder", it displays the HTML file in that folder (for more information please read the chapter on CGI).

will only except script if ticked. i.e. No direct commands will be excepted (for more information please read the chapter on Script).

makes SSI function available for use. The number in the frame is the access counter. This function will only work if "HTML/Script/Sound store folder" is nominated at

(for more information please read the chapter on SSI).

is the nomination of crackguard. If this is filled in, it enables a user to repeat requesting same image over the nominated number of times, message business will be returned to a users who does. However if there are multiple number of users this function may not be reliable. A user can reconnect after being over the nominated limit.

is the nomination of the later prospect of the consumed image. If "store only" is chosen consumed image will be stored in the folder nominated with the chosen name from

. If an exclusive line is used it would be best to choose "store only.
If "Transfer by FTP" is chosen, image that is taken in will be stored inside a Macintosh and also be sent to nominated destinations by FTP. (for more information please read the chapter on FTP).

That concludes the set up of preference.

Image will be displayed promptly, if only one channel of consumed image exists. But if multiple channels exists when Color QCAM is connected to AV Mac, select a channel or it will not display correctly, so nominate set up of the camera from set up menu then nomination of the right camera from the "source" pop up menu.<

CGI

Free Web Watchman can be used as async CGI(acgi).command is after ? from A to Z are divided into functions. To select multiple number of command, use : (colon) for dividing. Lower case may be used.

●Consuming image
http://www.myname.co.jp/ww.acgi?Z

by utilizing this the consuming will start without waiting the fixed time.

When CGI is carried out it will jump to URL if "redilect" was selected at the preference

If not default.html in the "HTML / Script / Sound store Folder" will be displayed.

In addition if SSI function is valid, name of the image automatically enclose the time consumed then will be sent to disable the effect of cache. For example with HTML if it was imputed as <IMG SRC="snap.jpg"> this file will change to <IMG SRC="snap08124512.jpg"> and will be sent. It becomes a name of a file which includes time without cache from browsers it can accurately convey the data (for more information please read the chapter on SSI).

To indicate besides this file use
http://www.myname.co.jp/ww.acgi$myfile2.html?Z
For this example it indicates myfile2.html and this file must exist in "HTML/script/Sound store Folder"
Describe the file within the script is possible: By doing this information can be hidden (for more information please read the chapter on Script).

●Screendump
http://www.myname.co.jp/ww.acgi?D

By doing this screendump will become a folder that stores files which takes in image at fixed interval with the name of screen.jpg. It is possible to have a look of the screen of Mac from private home so before returning display "About this computer..." from the apple menu, the present memory condition can be checked. However this function cannot be used unless Free Web Watchman memory partation is over 6MB so increase the memory partation before starting. The image that are consumed can be checked by nominating http://www.myname.co.jp/save/screen.jpg

●Async mode
http://www.myname.co.jp/ww.acgi?Z:V

By inserting Vas a command the consuming becomes async. Usually it would not return until the image is consumed, but with this mode it does not wait for the consuming. To view the data which has just been consumed, go back to the previous screen then after a while press reload.
Name of the image would not change with asynch mode. To see the instruction of changing name of the image read the chapter on Script.

●Pause
http://www.myname.co.jp/ww.acgi?W40:Z

With this before consuming it pauses for 40 units, One unit is 1/60th seconds. If number is not nominated it becomes 40/60th of a second(equals to W40)

●Sound
http://www.myname.co.jp/ww.acgi?Umysound.aiff

This plays of sound of (AIFF format）mysound.aiff. In advance record the sound with Sound Edit or Sound radio light ( those are just examples ) and sore it in "HTML / Script / Sound store File".
If Free Web Watchman is used for inspection purposes, a sound of a dog barking or an inspector saying "I'm watching you" can be played.

If it is connected to a rotating stand it is possible to follow the moving object below.

Rotation of direction wanted
Lights, on & off
Zoom, in & out
Automatic range of rotation
Others

Script

Free Web Watchman has functions that carries out the scripts below.
Make the script using the command below in advance, for with example Simple Text. Inside "HTML/Script/Sound store Folder" prepare a multiple extension as ".scr". Movement begins when extension is checked so it will not start with a file such as README.

From the browser side
http://www.myname.co.jp/ww.acgi?Y1
http://www.myname.co.jp/ww.acgi?Yscript1
are what the set up is going to be.
Top of above is for command 1.scr, the bottom of command is for script1.scr.

If there is a script file named init.scr, when Free Web Watchman is started it will automatically get into action. Use this system something of preference is wanted to be done.

Possible practices of scripts( bold writing can be used without a rotating table).

capture　Consumes images.
file myfile.html　The file displays after CGIs executive becomes myfile.html.
screendump　Takes in screendump（ only when partation is over 6MB）.
secure on　Only allows the actions from the script.
secure off Allows direct command as well.
sync on Goes to synch capture mode.
sync off Goes to asynch capture mode.
pause 30 Pauses for 30 units.
playsound mysound.aiff 　Starts sound file called mysound.aiff.
restart Restarts the system（ put software and hardware to the initial state）.
end　Ends the script（ it would not start an action ）.
limit 160　Limits the angle of rotation to 160 degrees
step 10　Makes the rotation step angle to 10 degrees.
lamp on　Turns on the light ( lamp 1 is also possible ）.
lamp off　Turns off the light ( lamp 0 is also possible ）.
turnto 123　Turns the camera to angle of 123 degrees.
slowto 123　Turns the camera to angle of 123 degrees ( Moves the heavy camera slowly ).
actime 30　Makes the timeout of the light to 30 seconds.
zoom up　It zooms in ( command can be made as min, up, down, also with some order max 0,1,2,3 can be used ).

Due to non-operated relations, if a grammar error appears on the script it would not give a warning and will be ignored.
If there is ; at start of a line it will be used as a comment.

It is possible to give an argument to the script.
http://www.myname.co.jp/ww.acgi?Yrestart+1+10+160
If this is used the description of the script restart.scr will be

limit %2
zoom %0
pause 240
step %1
end

The numbers inserted previously will replace the the numbers after % ( starting from 0 ）.

limit 160
zoom 1
pause 240
step 10
end

it works as above. The maximum number of argument is 10. It starts with %0 up to %9. Argument is only used in numbers.

Following the use of CGI, to indicate the display of HTML file,insert a description.
file myfile.html
in the script writing down http://www.myname.co.jp/ww.acgi$myfile.html?Ymyscript
will be unnecessary to get the file. With the example above myscript.scr was nominated but it was equivalent to the description of file myfile.html. Therefore it is nominated as
http://www.myname.co.jp/ww.acgi?Ymyscript.
It is able to hide information so nominating an incorrect file would be impossible.

Example of myscript.scr description：

file myfile.html
lamp on
turn to 20
pause 60
capture
lamp off
end

( Nominate the return file, turn on the light then rotate the camera, wait for one second then turn the image consuming light off. )

SSI( Server Side Includes )

Free Web Watchman can jump to nominated URL after running CGI or display to indicated HTML file from the users personal site, but with SSI, choose display from "HTML / Script / Sound store Folder " then check the "SSI function", then <INSERT_COUNT> and others with special tags in HTML can be displayed new order in tags.

http://www.myname.co.jp/ww.acgi$myfile2.html?Z
is displayed after CGI executive.

http://www.myname.co.jp/ww.acgi?Z
default.html will be used.

http://www.myname.co.jp/ww.acgi
If Z（ A command to take in the image ） is not inserted SSI function can possibly be used. For this example it does not the file start with $, so default.html is used.

●Access Counter

<H2>You are the <INSERT_COUNT>th visitor </H2><BR>

If a tag like above exists.
in reality <INSERT_COUNT> will change to letters and will be displayed like,

You are the 2451st visitor

●Display of the Date
<H2> It is <INSERT_DATE> today </H2>
the date actually changes every day and below is an example

It is 18th of August 1997

These format can be chosen at the "date" section of Macintosh control panel.

●Display of the Time
<H2> It is <INSERT_TIME> o'clock </H2>
This is displayed as

It is 11:27:34 O'clock

These format can be chosen at the "date" section of Macintosh control panel.

●Display of the Name of Host
<H2> You are connecting from <INSERT_DOMAIN></H2>
This will be swapped with the host who is connecting and will be displayed as

You are connecting from ppp12-43.so-net.or.jp

●Changing the name of an image
If consuming an image is done in Z command of CGI, image has a temporary name change. This only happens in Z command. For example the name in the preference was

( dialog )
The name automatically includes the time to cancel the cache effect. So if the name of a file was <IMG SRC="snap.jpg"> with HTML, it will be sent by the name of <IMG SRC="snap08124512.jpg">. The time becomes part of the name so designation of files become unique, in the browser of users the file is not cache, and can display the image data in certainty.

To judge which is the same as the letter that was nominated, is to see if there is a string which is exactly same as the one in < Starts from >.
If <IMG SRC="snap.jpg"ALIGN=LEFT> has an extra ALIGN=LEFT it will correct the name to <IMG SRC="snap08124512.jpg" ALIGN=LEFT>
To judge it upper case and lower case will be divided so if change is not wanted, alternate it from the nominated in dialog to <IMG SRC="SNAP.JPG"> as such（ Mac handles Upper cases and lower cases in the same file ）.

Clickablemap

Clickable map is a function with activate URL that was chosen in advance when an image is clicked. Free Web Watchman itself does not contain this function, so use ones that are built in to WWW server or other soft wares.
Quid Pro Quo has clickablemap function with form of plug in, it is very useful. Scale of angles might make things easier if used with Web Watchman Pro, so if an angle was clicked the camera will swing around to that angle. Zooming in and out can be done from this sale of angles also.

Transfer FTP

Movement of Free Web Watchman is also checked by dial router. Connect up MN128SOHO and other dial up router with Mac ( Which is running this Free Web Watchman ) through ethernet, sending a stabilized image to a distant place is possible with ISDT circuit. No need to use an OCN or an exclusive line

If "Transfer by FTP..." is chosen, every time image is consumed, it is sent to other servers by FTP.

If "Transfer by FTP..." is chosen a dialog similar to above will appear so put down name of the server, name, password and nominate a directory if necessary. Usually these argument are displayed by the provider made by the user.

If it is a "remote server" of Hart Computer, usually it is performed like this. Now browser may view it as http://www.my-name.com/snap.jpg.

If transferred by a dial up router, a while after the transfer has completed the phone will automatically be cut off, please check the instruction of the personal dial up router. The conditions of our experiment from was MN128SOHO and the cut off is 60 seconds it is sent to the USA in less than 3 minutes. Every transfer costs 10 yen. Transfer interval can be short as 120 seconds it would be no problem. To view the condition click here
( The experiment was done in Japan ).
However the method using PPP is unstable and not recommended. Please use exclusive line or dial up router.

Daily Operation

If the program is correctly set up, data will automatically take in the nominated "Store folder" and renew it in regular interval. So it can be viewed by the browser.
For example if an IP address a Mac is 124.23.45.123, the folder that consumes the image is at the very place as WWW server and images are at same place as "snap.jpg", by nominating http://124.23.45.123/snap.jpg The latest image can be viewed by the browser.

If the movement was nominated as CGI Image will be taken in immediately, such as
http://www.myname.co.jp/ww.acgi?Z

Security

In the folder which was nominated as diagram above, important data has been installed for security reasons such as record of 24 hours and screendump, such things as an access to it for the public is not recommended. With WWW server software password may be made for specific folder, this is one of the ways to limit and choose the viewers.
If there are no functions as such available remove the folder to a location can't be seen from WWW, or give troublesome name and change it frequently.

As it is explained in the maintenance chapter below, it may be a good idea to analyze the log to see if anybody have accessed for no purpose other than annoyance. If it happens repeatedly use function such as:

to make a limit.

If this is ticked direct command cannot be used . This is a huge merit for the security.

Maintenance

●Inspection of the Memory
Activate the monitor of a Mac which is running the WWW server and check the memory at leased once a day. To check the state of the memory, enter finder then from apple menu nominate "about the computer". Some of the WWW server eats up the memory then hangs up. If the space for the memory was running out, close the WWW server then restart it and the space will go back to what it used to be.

●Examine the Data of records
When it has been set up to consume data in regular interval, "Divided into month and days and folder" will be made in bottom of the nominated file, index file will be made as well. The ways to check the data of records are, to drop the index file in the browser or if the folder can be accessed from WWW connect up to WWW server and indicate the page. These files are made each day, so erase memory from the old to save disks.

●Examine the Log Data
Access log ww.access.txt and error log ww.error.txt will be made in the same folder as the record data, please make sure those are there. However form of this access log is same as making servers of NCSA & Apache, so having many analysis using log analysis software is possible.

When examining take the tick away from "add log" of the set up menu and stop the movement of the log for a while. So there will be no scramble with the file if there is an access during it.

●When set up is changed
The option of "indicate image taken in advance" the file only memorize this when starting. To be able to use the new data made after this is to choose "save surroundings" from the "set up" menu and save the image. Files which can be indicated is up to 200.

If the rotation table was connected up subsequently the rotating angle and rotation step have not been reported, so as above nominate "save surroundings" from the "set up" menu.

Free Web Watchman can be finished then reset upped.

●Trash file
If the software is stopped forcefully, consuming file may be left as snap08124512.jpg for example. The speed of the transfer and the timing of Free Web Watchman was thought out, the files nominated at CGI Web Watchman only deletes up to 4 files and the rest will be deleted from the old. If the system crashes, deleting mechanism will not work and ends up being left out. If this occurs put the file in the trash. However when it is working in ordinary manner, there is no need to place the files in the trash.

Trouble shooting

Images do not appear if operated in an unusual style
Free Web Watchman has memorized the set up of the image so it uses the set up when restored. The option key may be used when starting Free Web Watchman, if so reset the channel for images from the set up menu as the set up will be ignored so.

Quid Pro Quo is used as a WWW server but it seems as so it is slowly using up the memory.
Viewing version 1.0.2 this seems to be true. Today ( sep 97 ) it is still in Bata state, but 2.0 is released and it does not use up the memories, if memories are getting used up restart it every 3 days or so.
Free Web Watchman is made for serial operation so this should not happen.

Sending FTP was nominated but it has not been sent.
It is most likely that it is not logged in properly. Check the error file of ww.error.txt for the cause of the problem. Has the user name, password and such been set up correctly?

History of the Software

●Version 1.0.6(98-8-24)
Fix periodical save.

●Version 1.0.4(97-9-17)
Fix QuickCAM.

●Version 1.0.3(97-9-10)
Support MN128SOHO.

●Version 1.0.2(97-9-9)
Add FTP.

●Version 1.0.1
The sound function attached.

●Version 0.9(97-8-6)　 Opened for the public.
●Bug
Error check of the preference is laying down on the job.

Free Web Watchman is a free software. If the camera mounter "Web Panoramic head" is set up as not controllable by the browser, it can be used as a high function Web Camera software. Of course if it is used as a combination with "Web panoramic head" it would make higher high function Web Camera software.
There are no user support on the free software version of Free Web Watchman, but opinions and reports would be welcomed.
The price is 20,000 yen (+tax).