node-vapix

node-vapix is a Node.js implementation of VAPIX®, an HTTP-based API to interface with Axis cameras.

What is VAPIX?

VAPIX® is Axis’ own open API (Application Programming Interface). It makes Axis network video solutions costefficient, flexible, scalable, future-proof and easy to integrate with other systems.

All Axis network cameras and video servers have an HTTP-based application programming interface. VAPIX® provides functionality for requesting images, controlling network camera functions (PTZ, relays etc.) and setting/retrieving internal parameter values. The purpose of the API is to make it easier for developers to build applications that support Axis video products.

For more details, and the source of the above quote, see Axis' page on the API.

http://www.axis.com/techsup/cam_servers/dev/cam_http_api_index.php

Install and usage

Install from npm:

$ npm install vapix

And to use...

var vapix = require('vapix');

Methods

camera.createVideoSream(options)

Returns a video stream. Each data event is a full frame. Parameters to be set as an object in options are outlined in the VAPIX® Video Streaming API document.

var options = {
	resolution: '640x480',
	compression: 25,
	duration: 10,
	fps: 30
}

var mjpg = camera.createVideoStream(options);

mjpg.on('data', function(data) {
	// do something with the frame here
});

mjpg.on('end', function() {
	console.log('Finished.');
});

camera.requestImage([options], callback)

Grab an image. Parameters to be set as an object in options are outlined in the VAPIX® Video Streaming API document.

var fs = require('fs');

var options = {
	resolution: '640x480',
	compression: 30,
	rotation: 0
}

camera.requestImage(options, function(err, data) {
	if (err) throw err;

	fs.writeFile("out.jpg", data, function(err) {
		if (err) throw err;
	});
});

camera.getImageResolution()

Returns an object containing the width and height of the camera's image resolution setting.

camera.getImageResolution(function(err, data) {
	if (err) throw err;

	console.log(data); // { width: '640', height: '480' }
});

License

node-vapix is written under the MIT License

Status

0.7.1

• Updated mjpeg-consumer dependency

0.7

• Reimplemented using request from npm

0.6

• Provide createCamera utility method.
• Remove ability to directly create new camera object (API change)

0.4

• More API documentation
• requestImage() now supports optional options argument
• Private method request() now takes 1 path string instead of as an object

0.3

• Added createVideoStream()
• Created method for generating HTTP GET queries

0.2

• Added getImageResolution()
• Reworked two request methods to use a common request template

0.1

2-22-13: requestImage() now complete. Correctly throws error.
1-22-13: Basic image download refined, no longer need to concatenate chunks on frontend. Moving from alpha status to beta.
1-21-13: Only a basic image download works.