Software setup

Stateless

The Edge Controller is a complex, highly configurable device that can be adapted to many different use cases.

There is no "administration page" or web UI that can be used to configure the Edge Controller. It is a stateless device that syncs it's configuration with our cloud platform.

The reason for this is that in the field devices unfortunately fail for a variety of reasons. If we stored the configuration directly on the Edge Controller and it was then necessary to replace it in the field, all of the configuration would be lost.

With our stateless system, if an Edge Controller is replaced, it's configuration is updated as soon as it comes online after it is linked to the new system.

Device Definitions

Within the Giraffe platform, we have a concept called device definitions that configure how an Edge Controller works. The definition also configures how the Giraffe website and mobile app (such as what buttons are shown and how they are labelled)/

Device definitions are managed by Giraffe support in conjunction with our customers. Please see the device definitions page for more information.

Hierarchy

A CCTV asset within the Giraffe platform starts with a System. A system maps to a physical asset which should never change. Each system has a unique ID which should be permanently marked on the asset. You can also optionally set a chassis number for a system.

An Edge Controller (IFU) is then assigned to a system and inherit's the systems configuration. Most settings required to configure the Edge Controller are stored at the system level rather than the Edge Controller level so as to retain them if the Edge Controller is swapped.

Cameras are also attached to a System. The list of cameras that an Edge Controller must try to discover and connect to is downloaded automatically as a result of the system link.