Meraki MV Camera API

Introduction

With a powerful onboard processor and a unique cutting-edge architecture, Meraki Smart Cameras run object detection, classification, and tracking directly on the edge. Through the API endpoints of MV Camera Intelligence, this machine learning/computer vision data becomes available for you to use in your applications, providing high-value data and business insights without the high-cost compute infrastructure that is typical in computer vision and video analytics. MV Camera Intelligence is designed to allow you to truly integrate the edge-computing capabilities of Meraki MV Smart Cameras into business solutions while keeping in-line with Meraki simplicity.

Through both REST and MQTT API endpoints, request or subscribe to historical, current, or real-time data generated in the camera to feed into your application and start using your camera for more than just security.

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MV Camera Intelligence Data Types

MV Camera Intelligence has a number of endpoints which provide aggregate data on the following:

  • People Detection*
  • Vehicle Detection (cars, bikes, trucks)*
  • Light Level Readings

* The detection metadata can be viewed on supported cameras by selecting a camera, viewing it’s historical video, and clicking Show Objects in the top left corner above the video stream. Vehicle detection data is only enabled on outdoor rated cameras. More information on MV Object Detection can be found here: https://documentation.meraki.com/MV/Video_Analytics/MV_Object_Detection.

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REST vs MQTT APIs

Two different types of API endpoints are available in the MV Camera Intelligence collection of API endpoints; REST-based and MQTT-based.

REST-based protocols offer an on-demand between the client and the server so a connection will be made only when data is requested. The server must wait for the clients to connect, leading to a slight delay in data delivery when sending requests to your camera. Using the Camera Intelligence REST APIs will enable you to gain historical or near real time object detection data from your camera.

MQTT-based protocols use a publish-subscribe connection between the client and server. In the case of MV Sense, the server is continuously pushing messages to the MV smart cameras so the device can respond instantly. This leads to a real-time feed of data coming from your camera. Using the MV Sense MQTT APIs will enable you to gain a real-time feed of object detection and their locations. Light level readings can also be obtained.

What does/doesn't need an MV Sense license?

What needs the MV Sense license?

  • ALL MQTT Features
  • Custom CV model deployment
  • Custom CV APIs
  • Audio Detection (Gen 2 only)

What doesn't need the MV Sense License?

  • Presence Analytics
  • People Counting
  • Line Crossing
  • APIs for Presence Analytics
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