Uniview NVR

TC Uniview NVR Driver

Bring Uniview NVR events, recorded video, and intelligent detection history directly into Control4.

The TC Uniview NVR Driver integrates a Uniview Network Video Recorder with Control4, providing recorded-event history, snapshots, clip playback, notifications, and programmable events for cameras connected through the NVR.

Designed as the recorded-video companion to the TC Uniview Camera Driver, the NVR driver automatically discovers NVR channels and allows each channel to be mapped to its corresponding Control4 camera. When the NVR detects an event such as motion, a person, or a vehicle, the driver can create a Control4 History entry containing a snapshot and a direct link to the associated recorded video clip.

The driver can work alongside camera-level event detection or serve as the primary event source for cameras whose intelligent detection events are available only through the NVR.

Key Features

Control4 History Integration

Automatically add supported NVR detection events to the Control4 History Agent.

Each event can include:

• Camera name and event type
• Live snapshot thumbnail captured from the NVR
• Direct playback link to the associated recorded video
• Configurable video lead-in and tail time before and after the detected event

History entries are associated with the mapped Control4 camera, keeping recorded events organized under the camera where they occurred.

Automatic NVR Channel Discovery

The driver automatically discovers available NVR channels and channel names, simplifying systems with multiple cameras.

Supports up to 64 channels, with independent configuration available for each camera.

A manual channel-count override is also available when required.

Flexible Camera Mapping

Each NVR channel can be mapped to the appropriate Control4 camera driver.

The driver automatically identifies compatible camera drivers within the Control4 project and makes them available for channel assignment.

When paired with the TC Uniview Camera Driver, NVR events can also be forwarded directly to the camera driver for additional integration and programming options.

Per-Camera Event Filtering

Choose exactly which events should appear in Control4 History for each NVR channel.

Supported event categories include:

• Motion
• Person
• Vehicle
• Non-Motor Vehicle
• Auto Tracking
• Audio Detection

History events and programmable trigger events use separate filters, allowing an event to trigger Control4 programming without necessarily being added to History—or vice versa.

Recorded Clip Playback

When an event occurs, the driver automatically identifies the corresponding NVR recording and attaches it to the Control4 History event.

Configurable Clip Lead-In and Clip Tail settings allow the playback window to include additional footage before and after the detected event.

Built-in retry handling helps ensure recorded clips are attached even when the NVR requires additional time to make a new recording available.

Control4 Push Notifications

Send Control4 push notifications when selected camera events occur.

Notification options can be configured independently for each channel and include:

• Event notifications by camera
• Optional snapshot image
• Independent notification cooldown periods

This allows notifications to be tuned separately from History recording behavior.

Control4 Programming Events

Each NVR channel provides programmable start and end events for use within Control4 Composer programming.

This makes it possible to trigger automations based on camera activity, such as:

• Turning on exterior lighting
• Sending custom notifications
• Activating announcements
• Triggering security-related programming
• Controlling other devices based on camera detection events

An adjustable auto-close timer is available for NVR events that do not provide a separate end signal.

Intelligent Event Forwarding

NVR detection events can be forwarded to the mapped camera driver through Control4.

This allows the camera driver to recognize the NVR Driver as an event source and provides a unified event path when cameras support both direct detection and NVR-based detection.

Configurable debounce controls help prevent duplicate History entries when the NVR reports the same event multiple times.

Connection & System Monitoring

The driver continuously monitors important NVR services and provides clear status information within Composer.

Monitoring includes:

• NVR connection and configuration status
• HTTP/API communication health
• NVR outage detection and recovery reporting
• Independent RTSP port monitoring
• Channel discovery status

RTSP monitoring is performed separately from the NVR's normal API connection, helping identify situations where the recorder is reachable but its video-streaming service is unavailable.

Detection Capability Reporting

The driver can identify detection capabilities reported by the NVR and displays them within Composer.

Features are categorized according to whether they are:

• Fully supported by the driver
• Reported for informational purposes
• Not currently handled

This provides installers with an accurate view of the capabilities available from a particular NVR.

Built-In Testing & Diagnostics

Several installer tools are included to simplify commissioning and troubleshooting.

Force Test Event

Generate a complete test event without waiting for actual camera activity.

The test exercises the same workflow used by a real event, including:

• Control4 History entry
• Live snapshot retrieval
• Camera mapping
• Recorded clip processing

A specific channel can be selected, or the driver can automatically use the first configured camera.

Refresh Channels

Re-scan the NVR for channel information and update the driver's channel configuration without reinstalling the driver.

Logging & Diagnostics

Configurable logging provides multiple levels of diagnostic detail for installation and troubleshooting.

Available options include:

• INFO
• DEBUG
• TRACE
• Print-only logging
• Print and file logging
• Sanitized diagnostic reports
• Remote diagnostic support

Updates & Licensing

The TC Uniview NVR Driver includes built-in license management and update support.

Updates can be handled automatically or initiated manually from Composer, allowing the NVR driver to be maintained independently from other drivers in the system.

Configurable Settings

Installer-configurable options include:

• NVR IP address or hostname
• HTTP port
• RTSP port
• Username and password
• Automatic or manual channel count
• Per-channel Control4 camera mapping
• Per-channel History event filters
• Per-channel programming event filters
• History event debounce
• Notification cooldown
• Relay auto-close timeout
• Recorded clip lead-in time
• Recorded clip tail time
• Logging and diagnostic options

Recommended Pairing

For the most complete Uniview integration, pair the TC Uniview NVR Driver with the TC Uniview Camera Driver.

TC Uniview Camera Driver Provides live camera functionality, PTZ control, and real-time camera events.

TC Uniview NVR Driver Provides NVR-based event detection, Control4 History integration, snapshots, recorded clips, notifications, and channel-level event management.

Together, the two drivers provide both the live and recorded sides of a Uniview surveillance system within Control4.