Method and system for managing video devices

Abstract

Hot deployable video management modules maintain a video device management platform by integrating independently developed support for new or updated video devices at runtime. A video device module loader builds a management interface for the new or updated video device associated with the management module based on attributes and operations of the video device defined by an XML descriptor and based on access instructions. The management interface is used to create a video device instance in the management platform for each video device under management. The management platform manages a variety of different types of video devices with a video device management module added as a given video device is added to the management platform or an already managed video device is updated.

1 . A system for managing video devices through a network, the system comprising:
 a video device management platform having plural video device instances, the video device instances operable to communicate through the network with video devices under management;   a video device management module having a video device description and device specific access information; and   a video device module loader interfaced with the video device management module and operable to detect the addition of a video device to the network and to generate a video device instance for the added video device from the video device description and device specific access information.