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Photo verification from MotionCam detectors helps users, PROs, and monitoring companies assess the situation at the secured site. With this feature, alarm events include photos that can be displayed as an image or an animated series in Ajax apps.
In addition, photo verification data can be transmitted to a monitoring station alongside alarm events, depending on the integration method and the monitoring software's capabilities.
Photo verification is also available for Ajax video devices, which provide images when triggered by events or scenarios. For third-party monitoring software, the Ajax Photo Mode service enables sending events with photos attached when an Ajax camera or DoorBell detects an object or movement.
How to integrate Ajax video surveillance with monitoring software
This article explains how to send photo verification data to a monitoring station, covering transmission methods, supported types, and configuration requirements.
Operating principle
MotionCam detectors can capture photos when an alarm is triggered. The images are transmitted to the hub via Wings, TurboWings, or Fibra protocols and forwarded to the Ajax Cloud server. Photo verification data can then be sent to monitoring software depending on the selected integration method.
Photos are delivered only via Ajax Cloud. A direct connection between the hub and a monitoring station enables alarm transmission only.
Depending on how the system is integrated with monitoring soft, the following methods are used to transmit or display photo verification data:
- Via Ajax PRO Desktop
- Via Ajax Translator PRO (including Ajax Translator)
- Via Ajax Cloud Signaling
- Via the Ajax Enterprise API integration
Learn more about which monitoring stations support photo verification in this article.
Supported photo verification types
Supported photo verification types depend on the detector model. To check whether a specific type is supported, refer to the detector's technical specifications.
The following types of photo verification data can be transmitted to a monitoring station:
- Photo by alarm
- Photo by scenario
- Photo by schedule
- Photo by arming/disarming
- Photo by tamper alarm
- Photo by masking
Photo on demand transmission is not supported.
Learn more about photo verification types
Via Ajax PRO Desktop
Photo verification is available in Ajax PRO Desktop as part of a monitoring workflow. Images are retrieved from Ajax Cloud and displayed alongside alarm events in the app interface without using monitoring station protocols.
What operator receives:
- Alarm event with photo verification
- Images displayed alongside the event in the interface
What is required:
- Ajax PRO Desktop configured for monitoring
- A stable connection to Ajax Cloud
How to set up photo verification:
- Make sure a MotionCam detector is added to the space.
- Configure the photo verification settings for the MotionCam detector.
When the detector triggers an alarm, a PRO user can open the incident in the Monitoring module in Ajax PRO Desktop and view the photos in the incident processing window or in the Journal module.
Via Ajax Translator PRO
Ajax Translator PRO receives events from Ajax Cloud and transmits them to the monitoring station via supported protocols, such as SIA DC-09. Photo verification data is delivered as additional information, depending on the settings and the monitoring software's capabilities.
What the monitoring station receives:
- Alarm event transmitted via the cloud receiver
- Photo verification data, such as image links (URLs) or Base64-encoded files, depending on the protocol type and the monitoring software's capabilities
What is required:
- Ajax Translator PRO or Ajax Translator configured for connecting an Ajax system to third-party monitoring software
- Connection via a supported protocol, such as SIA DC-09
- Monitoring software that supports processing additional data, such as image URLs
How to set up photo verification:
- Make sure a MotionCam detector is added to the space.
- Configure the photo verification settings for the MotionCam detector.
- In Ajax PRO Desktop, open the CMS connection menu and go to the Ajax Translator tab.
- Select the receiver and open its settings.
- If the SIA DC-09 protocol is used, select how to send photo verification data to the monitoring station: each image in a separate message or all images in a single message.
When the detector triggers an alarm, the corresponding event is transmitted to the monitoring station immediately. Photos are delivered in subsequent messages and displayed to the operator. Depending on the monitoring software, they appear either as files or URLs that open in a web browser.
Via Ajax Cloud Signaling
Ajax Cloud Signaling operates as a cloud receiver using a store-and-forward approach. The feature allows transmitting alarm events to the monitoring station via supported protocols. Photo verification data is delivered as additional information, typically as URLs to images stored in Ajax Cloud, depending on the settings and the monitoring software's capabilities.
What the monitoring station receives:
- Alarm event transmitted via the cloud receiver
- URLs to photo verification data stored in Ajax Cloud, if supported by the monitoring station
What is required:
- Ajax Cloud Signaling configured for connecting an Ajax system to third-party monitoring software
- Connection via a supported protocol, such as SIA DC-09
- Monitoring software that supports processing additional data, such as URLs
How to set up photo verification:
- Make sure a MotionCam detector is added to the space.
- Configure the photo verification settings for the MotionCam detector.
- In Ajax PRO Desktop, open the CMS connection menu and go to the Ajax Translator tab.
- Select the receiver and open its settings.
- Select how to send photo verification data to the monitoring station: each image in a separate message or all images in a single message.
When the detector triggers an alarm, the corresponding event is transmitted to the monitoring station immediately. Photos are delivered in subsequent messages and displayed to the operator. Depending on the monitoring software, they appear either as files or URLs that open in a web browser.
Via the Ajax Enterprise API integration
Using the Enterprise API, integrators can retrieve alarm events and access photo verification data from Ajax Cloud. This method requires custom development on the monitoring station side to request, process, and display images.
What the monitoring station receives:
- Alarm event retrieved from the SQS queue via the API
What is required:
- Custom integration via the Ajax Enterprise API
- Implementation of image retrieval, storage (optionally), and display on the monitoring station side
To get access to the Enterprise API and learn more about the integration, submit a request.
MotionCam detector settings
To enable transmitting photo verification data to monitoring software for a MotionCam detector, configure its settings in Ajax apps.
Photo settings
Ensure photo verification is enabled for the detector:
- Select the number of images per alarm.
- Set the image resolution.
Higher resolution improves image detail but increases delivery time.
Image delivery speed
The time required to transmit images depends on the selected resolution and connection quality.
At a resolution of 320 × 240 px, the first image is delivered in up to 9 seconds under normal conditions.
If you have any questions, contact Ajax Technical Support.