Onvif Protocol Description

Contents
Onvif Protocol Description ................................................................................................................ 1
Introduction: ................................................................................................................................. 2
Profiles Introduction and Functions: ............................................................................................. 2
Profile A: .................................................................................................................................... 2
Profile C: .................................................................................................................................... 2
Profile D:.................................................................................................................................... 3
Profile G:.................................................................................................................................... 3
Profile M:................................................................................................................................... 3
Profile S: .................................................................................................................................... 5
Profile T: .................................................................................................................................... 5
ONVIF Profile Feature Overview: .................................................................................................. 5

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Introduction:
ONVIF profiles make it easy to recognize how ONVIF conformant devices and clients are compatible
with one another. An ONVIF profile has a fixed set of features that must be supported by a
conformant device and client.

It ensures that a client that conforms to Profile S, for example, will work with a device that also
conforms to Profile S. There are also conditional features, which are features that shall be
implemented by an ONVIF device or ONVIF client if it supports that feature in any way, including
any proprietary way.

Clients and devices can support more than one ONVIF profile; for instance, a network camera with
local storage can conform to both Profile S and G.

Conformance to profiles is the only way that ensures compatibility between ONVIF conformant
products; therefore, only registered products with conformance to a profile are considered to be
ONVIF conformant.

Access control systems can make use of Profiles A, C, D, and M. Video systems can make use of D,
G, M, S, and T.

Profiles Introduction and Functions:

Profile A:
For access control configuration:
 Granting/revoking credentials
 Creating schedules
 Assigning access rules
Profile A is for products used in an electronic access control system. A Profile A conformant device
can retrieve information, status and events, and configure entities such as access rules, credentials
and schedules. A Profile A conformant client can provide configurations of access rules, credentials
and schedules. The client can also retrieve and receive standardized access control-related events.
For more info visit: https://www.onvif.org/profiles/profile-a/
For Faster information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgPCFH5GCeo

Profile C:
For door control and event management:
 Site information and configuration
 Event and alarm management
 Door access control
Profile C is for products used in an electronic access control system. Profile C conformant devices
and clients support site information, door access control, and event and alarm management.
For more info visit: https://www.onvif.org/profiles/profile-c/
For Faster information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgPCFH5GCeo

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Profile D:
For access control peripherals
 Transfers input credential identifiers and requests for access
 Performs actions such as locking/unlocking
The Profile D specifies the interfaces for peripheral input devices such as token readers (for cards,
keys, mobile phones or bar codes), biometric readers (for fingerprint recognition), cameras (for iris,
facial or license plate recognition), keypads, sensors (for lock status, door status, temperature or
motion), and output devices such as locks, displays and LEDs.
A Profile D peripheral device captures input credential identifiers and passes them on to a securely
located Profile D client, such as an access control unit or management software. The client, which
stores access rules, schedules and credentials, can then take the access decision and send a
command back to the peripheral device to grant or deny access, display a message or request
additional input such as a PIN code.
The Profile D specification enables a conformant client to configure a conformant device with the
necessary data such as which door and access point the device is responsible for, as well as
configure a list of allowed or blocked credential identifiers in a device that supports this capability.
For more info visit: https://www.onvif.org/profiles/profile-d/
For Faster information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgPCFH5GCeo

Profile G:
For edge storage and retrieval:
 Configure, request and control recording
 Receive audio and metadata stream
Profile G is designed for IP-based video systems. A Profile G device (e.g., an IP network camera or
video encoder) is one that can record video data over an IP network or on the device itself. A Profile
G client (e.g., a video management software) is one that can configure, request, and control
recording of video data over an IP network from a Profile G conformant device. Profile G also
includes support for receiving audio and metadata stream if the client supports those features.
For more info visit: https://www.onvif.org/profiles/profile-g/
For Faster information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wirk9rNCto

Profile M:
Metadata and events for analytics applications:
 Analytics configuration and information query for metadata
 Configuration and streaming of metadata
 Generic object classification support
 Metadata definition for geolocation, vehicle, license plate, human face and body
 Event interfaces for object counter, face and license plate recognition analytics
 Sending events through metadata stream, ONVIF event service or over MQTT
 Rule configuration for events

ONVIF Profile M supports analytics configuration and information query for metadata, as well as
filtering and streaming of metadata. It has interfaces for generic object classification, and specified
metadata for geolocation, vehicle, license plate, human face and human body. If conformant
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 products have native support for features such as media profile management, video streaming,
adding images in metadata streams, event handling or rule configuration, then Profile M interfaces
for those features must also be supported. And if conformant products support analytics for object
counting (e.g. for people, vehicles), license plate recognition or facial recognition, or MQTT
(Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) protocol used by IoT (Internet of Things) systems, then
there should also be Profile M event handling interfaces for those functions.

A Profile M conformant product can be an edge device (such as an IP camera or video-based drone)
or a service (such as a server- or cloud-based app) with analytics capabilities that can use Profile
M interfaces to send metadata over an IP network to a client. A Profile M conformant client can be
a video management software (VMS) program, a network video recorder (NVR), or a server- or
cloud-based service that can make use of Profile M interfaces to configure, request and control the
streaming of metadata over an IP network from a Profile M edge device or service. Profile M
devices or clients with support for MQTT can also communicate with an IoT platform/application
that can then communicate with IoT devices and applications.
Cases for using Profile M event handling interfaces:
 For visitor statistics, crowd control, visitor management or queue management through
people counting analytics
 For access control in a parking lot through license plate recognition apps
 Room temperature control, where a Profile M camera (with MQTT support) detects
humans in a room and sends an ONVIF event over MQTT to an IoT platform/application
that, in turn, triggers a smart thermostat (IoT device) to adjust the room temperature

Profile M – Streaming Metadata & Sending Events:

In addition to standardizing metadata and events for specific analytics applications, Profile M also
specifies the standard interfaces for how data from conformant devices can be communicated to
conformant clients.
Support for the Profile M metadata stream is mandatory for all Profile M conformant products:
 Metadata stream – The interface for the metadata stream (which can carry data such as
analytics metadata, XML events such as motion alarm, and PTZ positions) must be supported in
all Profile M conformant products.
Profile M also specifies two conditional methods for communicating events:
 ONVIF event service – This service is through pull-point subscription over HTTP or HTTPS and is

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 the usual transport method (specified by other ONVIF profiles) for communicating XML-based
ONVIF events (e.g. motion alarm, or change in configuration/profile). With Profile M, this
service is conditional.
 MQTT – MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) is a transport protocol that is often used
by IoT (Internet of Things) applications. Profile M allows you to send JSON (JavaScript Object
Notation) formatted events, such as motion alarm, over the MQTT protocol. This streaming
interface is conditional; that is, if the product supports the MQTT protocol in any (proprietary)
way, then the ONVIF interface for sending events over MQTT needs to be supported. An
example of how this can be used is illustrated in the next slide.
For more info visit: https://www.onvif.org/profiles/profile-m/
For Faster information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXAYMEmiMSI

Profile S:
For basic video streaming
 Video streaming and configuration
Profile S is designed for IP-based video systems. A Profile S device (e.g., an IP network camera or
video encoder) is one that can send video data over an IP network to a Profile S client. A Profile S
client (e.g., a video management software) is one that can configure, request, and control video
streaming over an IP network from a Profile S device. Profile S also covers ONVIF specifications for
PTZ control, audio in, multicasting and relay outputs for conformant devices and clients that
support such features.
For more info visit: https://www.onvif.org/profiles/profile-s/
For Faster information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F55yaFdJyJw

Profile T:
For advanced video streaming:
 H.264 / H.265 video compression
 Imaging settings
 Motion alarm and tampering events
 Metadata streaming
 Bi-directional audio
Profile T is designed for IP-based video systems. Profile T supports video streaming features such
as the use of H.264 and H.265 encoding formats, imaging settings, and alarm events such as motion
and tampering detection. Mandatory features for devices also include onscreen display and
metadata streaming, while mandatory features for clients also include PTZ control. Profile T also
covers ONVIF specifications for HTTPS streaming, PTZ configuration, motion region configuration,
digital inputs and relay outputs, and bidirectional audio for conformant devices and clients that
support such features.
For more info visit: https://www.onvif.org/profiles/profile-T/
For Faster information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKVYSdlFpbk

ONVIF Profile Feature Overview:

https://www.onvif.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/onvif-profile-feature-
overview.pdf?640641&640641
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