5. USB camera

Key Concepts

 Related docs
Type 
Composite attributes 
Device actuation 
 Related docs
FacetScript 
Set ResponseData 
Serving static files 

 

 

Installing V4I4j


Hardware Setup

Hardware setup for USB Camera is as simple as plugging in the Camera to a USB port on the micro controller (Raspberry Pi or other).

Write a ThingFacet, Workflow and Device Logic (Message Transformation)

Write a ThingFacet 

  • To abstract the interactions with the USB Camera Setup in the previous section, we create a USBCameraFacet ThingFacet.
  • Based on /wiki/spaces/TQLDocs/pages/1179871 result we can chose UCAM Protocol Handler for this purpose.

As described in writing ThingFacet section there are two kinds of attributes that must be added to a ThingFacet.

  • Attributes that store Protocol Specific Parameters
  • Attributes that are required to Control a Device (Actuator) OR Receive Data from a Device (Sensor).

For the purpose of this tutorial we have protocol specific parameters structured in the following composite types:

  • ImageSize

ImageSize Custom Composite Type
<Def Name="ImageSize">
  <Number Name="Height" Default="0"/>
  <Number Name="Width" Default="0"/>
</Def>
  • CameraConfig

CameraConfig Custom Composite Type
<Def Name="CameraConfig">
  <Number Name="Channel" Default="0"/>
  <Number Name="Standard" Default="0"/>
  <Number Name="Brightness" Default="0"/>
  <Number Name="Contrast" Default="0"/>
  <Number Name="Gamma" Default="286"/>
  <Number Name="Saturation" Default="65"/>
  <Number Name="Sharpness" Default="6"/>
  <Number Name="Hue" Default="0"/>
  <Number Name="Gain" Default="0"/>
  <Number Name="Quality" Default="80"/>
</Def>

Types define the reusable structures for models. Types can be inherited and combined. Here we create a USBCameraParams type that combines/inherits the previous two types.

  • USBCameraParams

USBCameraParams Custom Composite Type
<Def Name="USBCameraParams">
  <ImageSize Name="Size"/>
  <CameraConfig Name="Configuration"/>
  <String Name="SaveToDisk" Default="true"/>
  <String Name="ImageFormat" Default="jpeg"/>
  <String Name="ImageName" Default="usb_camera.jpeg"/>
</Def>

The only Actuation that can be performed with USB Camera is to take a picture. We will be controlling taking of picture using an actionable attribute:

  • Image

USBCameraParams Custom Composite Type
<String Name="Image"/>

Putting attributes into a USBCameraFacet

USBCameraFacet Attributes
 <ThingFacet Name="USBCameraFacet">
      <String Name="Image"/>
      <USBCameraParams Name="USBCameraParameters"/>
</ThingFacet> 

Write a Action with Workflow

The next step in ThingFacet is writing a Action which contains a workflow responsible for making external protocol specific call and store the output in the appropriate ThingFacet attribute.  An important decision while writing Action is correct protocol selection. See the /wiki/spaces/TQLDocs/pages/1179871 in the Working with Things section. For this serial sensor we need the ucam:// Protocol Handler which is part of the TQLEngine.

1. Write an Action name as SerialReadAction

USBCameraImageAction
<ThingFacet Name="USBCameraFacet">
	...
	 <Action Name="USBCameraImageAction" Documentation="Get the image from USB Camera">
     </Action>
</ThingFacet>

 

2. Create a Workflow within the Action, with one single continuous running Task and waiting for the Event with its ActionArgument.

Workflow
<Action Name="USBCameraImageAction">
	<Workflow Limit="1" Live="1" Timeout="-1">
    	<Task name="Main" while="true">
        	<Event name="Argument" as="ActionArgument"/>
			...
    	</Task>
	</Workflow>
</Action>

Here we used three modifiers for this workflow. Limit = "1" means there can be at most one instance of this workflow waiting. Live = "1" means there can be at most one instance of this workflow running. Timeout ="-1" means this workflow will never be timed out. We used a modifier while = "true" with the Task to make the workflow running in a continuous loop, because it needs to run repeatedly, not just once. For more details, refer to workflow modifiers and the lifecycle of a workflow.

The task will be activated by the event handler Event called ActionArgument. "ActionArgument" is the event generated whenever the attribute(s) associated with this Action is modified (See Associate Action with a ThingFacet Attribute). ActionArgument carries all the current values of the ThingFacet attributes, which can be used in the task if needed.

 

3. Invoke UCAM call: Method of UCAM is POST. We use Invoke modifier Post for this purpose. The parameters required UCAM are passed as part of <Message> and <Value>. More details of the ucam:// handler are here in the Working with Things Section.

Invoke UCAM Handler
<Invoke name="GetImage" waitFor="ActionArgument" post="ucam://">
  <Message>
    <Value>
      <USBCameraParameters>
        <ImageFormat>
          [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.ImageFormat.Value:%]
        </ImageFormat>
        <SaveToDisk>
          [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.SaveToDisk.Value:%]
        </SaveToDisk>
        <ImageName>
          [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.ImageName.Value:%]
        </ImageName>
        <Size>
          <Height>
            [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Size.Height.Value:%]
          </Height>
          <Width>
            [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Size.Width.Value:%]
          </Width>
        </Size>
        <Configuration>
          <Standard>
            [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Configuration.Standard.Value:%]
          </Standard>
          <Quality>
            [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Configuration.Quality.Value:%]
          </Quality>
          <Channel>
            [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Configuration.Channel.Value:%]
          </Channel>
          <Brightness>
            [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Configuration.Brightness.Value:%]
          </Brightness>
          <Contrast>
            [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Configuration.Contrast.Value:%]
          </Contrast>
          <Gamma>
            [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Configuration.Gamma.Value:%]
          </Gamma>
          <Gain>
            [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Configuration.Gain.Value:%]
          </Gain>
          <Sharpness>
            [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Configuration.Sharpness.Value:%]
          </Sharpness>
          <Saturation>
            [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Configuration.Saturation.Value:%]
          </Saturation>
          <Hue>
            [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Configuration.Hue.Value:%]
          </Hue>
        </Configuration>
      </USBCameraParameters>
    </Value>
  </Message>
</Invoke>

Here Invoke gets the attribute values that the Event ActionArgument (or Argument) carries. It uses them as the parameter values for the UCAM by substitution. For example:

Event Argument Substitution Example
<Hue>[%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Configuration.Hue.Value:%]</Hue>

means replacing the value of Message.Value.Configuraiton.Hue with the value of Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Configuration.Hue.Value

Value substitution (rather than assignment) is very common in TQL, given that it is a declarative language. The notation [%: is part of the /wiki/spaces/TEACH/pages/21170773. More details on /wiki/spaces/TEACH/pages/21170773 can be found in the Developer's Guide.

4. Process the message received from the sensor

Message parsing using TP and XPath
<Log Message="******Invoked USBCamera******"/>
<Output name="Result" as="ActionResult">
  <Value>
    <Image>
      [%:[%:@Output:%]Invoke.GetImage.Message.Value:%]
    </Image>
  </Value>
</Output>

Here we used an XPath statement to pass the message. Alternatively, you can use Javascript. An example of using JavaScript for message processing within an Action can be found in another tutorial here.

We used a TP notation "@" in @Outupt. It means the value should be substituted after the process is completed and not before. More details on /wiki/spaces/TEACH/pages/21170773 can be found in the Developer's Guide.

Associate Action with a ThingFacet Attribute

We will now have to associate a ThingFacet Attribute (Image) with the Action using the KnownBy modifier. When Image is "KnownBy" USBCameraImageAction, any Image value changes will activate the USBCameraImageAction.

Attribute Image
<ThingFacet Name="USBCameraFacet">
      <String Name="Image" KnownBy="USBCameraImageAction"/>
      <USBCameraParams Name="USBCameraParameters"/>
</ThingFacet>

Combining ThingFacet with a ThingModel

Finally, in order to use ThingFacet we have to combine it with a ThingModel. We define ThingModel to contain only a unique system identifier.

ThingModel USBCameraModel
<ThingModel name="USBCameraModel" combines="USBCameraFacet">
  <Sid name="camId"/>
</ThingModel>

 

When USBCameraModel is combined with USBCameraFacet, the USBCameraModel inherits all the attributes of USBCameraFacet. USBCameraModel is be instantiated (Create TQL Query). Note that ThingFacet's can not be instantiated.  The ThingFacet USBCameraFacet hence serves as a reusable component.

More details on the use of "combines" can be found here. Information on Sid cab be found here.

Deploy and test via queries and subscriptions

Export, import and deploy

Once the models are built in a TQLStudio project, you can export the project. URL of the Zip file containing the content of your project will be sent over to your email account. Once you have downloaded the engine – launch the TQLEngine User Interface in the browser and select Import Project. You can copy the URL from Export Project Email and hit import button. Go to ThingSpaces and Deploy the project.

Instantiate Camera and Take Test Picture

Initialize the Camera and take a First Test Picture:

Camera instantiation
<Query>
  <DeleteAll>
    <USBCameraModel>
      <camId ne=""/>
    </USBCameraModel>
  </DeleteAll>
  <Save>
    <USBCameraModel>
      <Image>
        $Null()
      </Image>
      <USBCameraParameters>
        <Size>
          <Height>
            0
          </Height>
          <Width>
            0
          </Width>
        </Size>
        <Configuration>
          <Channel>
            0
          </Channel>
          <Standard>
            0
          </Standard>
          <Brightness>
            0
          </Brightness>
          <Contrast>
            0
          </Contrast>
          <Gamma>
            286
          </Gamma>
          <Saturation>
            65
          </Saturation>
          <Sharpness>
            6
          </Sharpness>
          <Hue>
            0
          </Hue>
          <Gain>
            0
          </Gain>
          <Quality>
          </Quality>
        </Configuration>
        <SaveToDisk>
          true
        </SaveToDisk>
        <ImageFormat>
          jpeg
        </ImageFormat>
        <ImageName>
          ucam_testpic.jpeg
        </ImageName>
      </USBCameraParameters>
    </USBCameraModel>
  </Save>
</Query>

Take a new Picture

Each time we need to take a picture we can set the Image attribute to NULL (Different from Known). We can also modify other parameters if desired. For the sake of simplicity we will be changing only the file name where the image gets stored.

Query to Take a Picture
<Query>
  <Find format="version">
    <USBCameraModel>
      <CamId ne=""/>
    </USBCameraModel>
  </Find>
  <SetResponseData>
    <key>
      Message.Value.Find.Result.USBCameraModel.Image.Value
    </key>
    <value>
      $Null()
    </value>
  </SetResponseData>
  <SetResponseData>
    <key>
      Message.Value.Find.Result.USBCameraModel.USBCameraParameters.ImageName.Value
    </key>
    <value>
      ucam_baseer.jpeg
    </value>
  </SetResponseData>
  <Update>
    <from>
      Result
    </from>
    <Include>
      $Response.Message.Value.Find
    </Include>
  </Update>
</Query>

You will see the result from the RESULT window:

 

Take Picture Query Result
<Find Status="Success" Format="version">
  <Result>
    <USBCameraModel>
      <camId>KM7IOSMVAAAH6AABAGZOYDTQ</camId>
      <USBCameraParameters>
        <Size>
          <Width Value="500.0000000000" Version="1"/>
          <Height Value="500.0000000000" Version="1"/>
        </Size>
        <Configuration>
          <Gamma Value="286.0000000000" Version="1"/>
          <Standard Value="0E-10" Version="1"/>
          <Sharpness Value="6.0000000000" Version="1"/>
          <Brightness Value="0E-10" Version="1"/>
          <Channel Value="0E-10" Version="1"/>
          <Quality Value="" Version="1"/>
          <Hue Value="0E-10" Version="1"/>
          <Contrast Value="0E-10" Version="1"/>
          <Saturation Value="65.0000000000" Version="1"/>
          <Gain Value="0E-10" Version="1"/>
        </Configuration>
        <ImageName Version="1" Value="ucam_baseer.jpeg"/>
        <ImageFormat Value="jpeg" Version="1"/>
        <SaveToDisk Value="true" Version="1"/>
      </USBCameraParameters>
      <Image Version="1" Value=""/>
    </USBCameraModel>
  </Result>
</Find>
<Update Status="Success" Format="version">
  <USBCameraModel>
    <camId>KM7IOSMVAAAH6AABAGZOYDTQ</camId>
    <Image Status="Success=Updated:2:1457042986908;" Value="" Version="2"/>
    <USBCameraParameters>
      <Size>
        <Height Status="Success_NoAction:1:1457042966954;" Value="500.0000000000" Version="1"/>
        <Width Status="Success_NoAction:1:1457042966999;" Value="500.0000000000" Version="1"/>
      </Size>
      <Configuration>
        <Channel Status="Success_NoAction:1:1457042967016;" Value="0E-10" Version="1"/>
        <Standard Status="Success_NoAction:1:1457042967045;" Value="0E-10" Version="1"/>
        <Brightness Status="Success_NoAction:1:1457042967071;" Value="0E-10" Version="1"/>
        <Contrast Status="Success_NoAction:1:1457042967099;" Value="0E-10" Version="1"/>
        <Gamma Status="Success_NoAction:1:1457042967121;" Value="286.0000000000" Version="1"/>
        <Saturation Status="Success_NoAction:1:1457042967139;" Value="65.0000000000" Version="1"/>
        <Sharpness Status="Success_NoAction:1:1457042967170;" Value="6.0000000000" Version="1"/>
        <Hue Status="Success_NoAction:1:1457042967192;" Value="0E-10" Version="1"/>
        <Gain Status="Success_NoAction:1:1457042967212;" Value="0E-10" Version="1"/>
        <Quality Status="Success=Updated:2:1457042986958;" Value="" Version="2"/>
      </Configuration>
      <SaveToDisk Status="Success_NoAction:1:1457042967256;" Value="true" Version="1"/>
      <ImageFormat Status="Success_NoAction:1:1457042967284;" Value="jpeg" Version="1"/>
      <ImageName Status="Success=Updated:2:1457042986976;" Value="ucam_baseer.jpeg" Version="2"/>
    </USBCameraParameters>
  </USBCameraModel>
</Update>
 Queries

In TQL, a query is any operations on the model instance data (or model data), which includes filtering, joining, and manipulations. Model instances are incarnations of the Models (or model definitions) through instantiation. The A-Stack stores the latest version of the model instance data, which is accessible to TQL Queries. See data storage for more details.

There is a special type of query which allows you to show or list the model definitions themselves. See /wiki/spaces/TQLDocs/pages/1179668 for details.

Like conventional queries, TQL queries perform CRUD operations on data. but unlike conventional database queries, TQL queries are:

(1) Current. The A-Stack maintains the latest versions of any attribute values and attribute known values based on the model definitions. For example, the latest reading of a temperature sensor value. TQL queries always return those latest versions.

(2) Model-driven. Since the model definitions define the structure of the model data, the A-Stack constructs the database queries based on the model definition to retrieve requested data or perform other CRUD operations. The model definition is NOT the data schema. Model instance data are saved in schemaless key value pairs.

(3) Actionable. Modifications of model data via TQL queries, if involving actionable attributes, can result in activation of actions, some of which may subsequently execute device actuations.

Each model attribute has both a value and a known value. Although you can "FIND" both values and known values of model attributes, you can only set values but not known values from queries. This is because the known values are reserved to be updated only by the result of Actions, which comes from external systems or external things.

TQL queries have the following standard structures:

FIND          CREATE          SAVE          UPDATE          DELETE          DELETEALL

In addition,  you can use other operations such as conditions/constraints, response modifications, iterations, etc. within the queries.

Go to page

Serving Static Files :

There are two ways in which you can serve static files in TQLEngine.

a) Attaching an Application from the ThingSpace of TQLSudio

For Example:

Assume that want to serve image stored in current folder by UCAM Facet.

  • App URL - imageview (any name can be given)
  • BasePath - . (Current folder)
  • Resource and TailPath is empty.

The URL Generated will be:

http://<host/ip of your engine>:<port of your engine>/fid-<App URI Name give>/<Resource if any>/

In the case of UCAM the files can be served as:

http://10.0.1.52:8080/fid-imageview/ucam_baseer.jpg

Assuming Engine is at 10.0.1.52, 8080 (IP / Port combo).

b) Using NewFacetInstance as part of your Package File (**.mpq.xml)

Find TempSensor query
<<NewFacetInstance fid="tsm" name="file" type="SffHttpStaticFileFacet">
  <OnActivate>
    <Process>
      <BasePath>[:AppBase:]</BasePath>
      <TailPath>index.html</TailPath>
      <Resource>res</Resource>
    </Process>
  </OnActivate>
</NewFacetInstance>

Source Code

Import into TQLStudio

ProjectNameImport Link
USB Camera ModelUSBCamera

 

 

Complete Source Code

Complete USBCamera Model
<Namespace Name="Atomiton">
  <Domain Name="Cameras">
    <Def Name="ImageSize">
      <Number Name="Height" Default="0"/>
      <Number Name="Width" Default="0"/>
    </Def>
    <Def Name="CameraConfig">
      <Number Name="Channel" Default="0"/>
      <Number Name="Standard" Default="0"/>
      <Number Name="Brightness" Default="0"/>
      <Number Name="Contrast" Default="0"/>
      <Number Name="Gamma" Default="286"/>
      <Number Name="Saturation" Default="65"/>
      <Number Name="Sharpness" Default="6"/>
      <Number Name="Hue" Default="0"/>
      <Number Name="Gain" Default="0"/>
      <Number Name="Quality" Default="80"/>
    </Def>
    <Def Name="USBCameraParams">
      <ImageSize Name="Size"/>
      <CameraConfig Name="Configuration"/>
      <String Name="SaveToDisk" Default="true"/>
      <String Name="ImageFormat" Default="jpeg"/>
      <String Name="ImageName" Default="usb_camera.jpeg"/>
    </Def>
    <ThingFacet Name="USBCameraFacet">
      <String Name="Image" KnownBy="USBCameraImageAction"/>
      <USBCameraParams Name="USBCameraParameters"/>
      <Action Name="USBCameraImageAction" Documentation="Get the image from USB Camera">
        <Workflow Limit="1" Live="1" Timeout="-1">
          <Task name="Main" while="true">
            <Event name="Argument" as="ActionArgument"/>
            <Invoke name="GetImage" waitFor="ActionArgument" post="ucam://">
              <Message>
                <Value>
                  <USBCameraParameters>
                    <ImageFormat>
                      [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.ImageFormat.Value:%]
                    </ImageFormat>
                    <SaveToDisk>
                      [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.SaveToDisk.Value:%]
                    </SaveToDisk>
                    <ImageName>
                      [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.ImageName.Value:%]
                    </ImageName>
                    <Size>
                      <Height>
                        [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Size.Height.Value:%]
                      </Height>
                      <Width>
                        [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Size.Width.Value:%]
                      </Width>
                    </Size>
                    <Configuration>
                      <Standard>
                        [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Configuration.Standard.Value:%]
                      </Standard>
                      <Quality>
                        [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Configuration.Quality.Value:%]
                      </Quality>
                      <Channel>
                        [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Configuration.Channel.Value:%]
                      </Channel>
                      <Brightness>
                        [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Configuration.Brightness.Value:%]
                      </Brightness>
                      <Contrast>
                        [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Configuration.Contrast.Value:%]
                      </Contrast>
                      <Gamma>
                        [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Configuration.Gamma.Value:%]
                      </Gamma>
                      <Gain>
                        [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Configuration.Gain.Value:%]
                      </Gain>
                      <Sharpness>
                        [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Configuration.Sharpness.Value:%]
                      </Sharpness>
                      <Saturation>
                        [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Configuration.Saturation.Value:%]
                      </Saturation>
                      <Hue>
                        [%:Event.Argument.USBCameraParameters.Configuration.Hue.Value:%]
                      </Hue>
                    </Configuration>
                  </USBCameraParameters>
                </Value>
              </Message>
            </Invoke>
            <Log Message="******Invoked USBCamera******"/>
            <Output name="Result" as="ActionResult">
              <Value>
                <Image>
                  [%:[%:@Output:%]Invoke.GetImage.Message.Value:%]
                </Image>
              </Value>
            </Output>
          </Task>
        </Workflow>
      </Action>
    </ThingFacet>
    <ThingModel name="USBCameraModel" combines="USBCameraFacet">
      <Sid name="camId"/>
    </ThingModel>
  </Domain>
</Namespace>