Devices with video cameras...

[RobertPHeller]

Has anyone implemented retrieving images from a device with a video camera?

I have a smart cat feader with a video camera

[
    {
        "name": "Smart Video Feeder",
        "id": "ebc9a7869866efe8ed19jr",
        "key": "J3Gm8bZp>Z-3K`oW",
        "mac": "ea:c1:aa:5a:e5:04",
        "uuid": "gzjkabaceac1aa5ae504",
        "category": "sp",
        "product_name": "Smart Video Feeder",
        "product_id": "bechf0i7fgeswpft",
        "biz_type": 18,
        "model": "",
        "sub": false,
        "icon": "https://images.tuyaus.com/smart/icon/ay1541472742486ZYDmd/2bdec13b4b2a4e3f1ea0021fd5e97232.png",
        "mapping": {
            "101": {
                "code": "basic_indicator",
                "type": "Boolean",
                "values": {}
            },
            "103": {
                "code": "basic_flip",
                "type": "Boolean",
                "values": {}
            },
            "104": {
                "code": "basic_osd",
                "type": "Boolean",
                "values": {}
            },
            "105": {
                "code": "basic_private",
                "type": "Boolean",
                "values": {}
            },
            "106": {
                "code": "motion_sensitivity",
                "type": "Enum",
                "values": {
                    "range": [
                        "0",
                        "1",
                        "2"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "108": {
                "code": "basic_nightvision",
                "type": "Enum",
                "values": {
                    "range": [
                        "0",
                        "1",
                        "2"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "109": {
                "code": "sd_storge",
                "type": "String",
                "values": "{\"maxlen\":255}"
            },
            "110": {
                "code": "sd_status",
                "type": "Integer",
                "values": {
                    "min": 1,
                    "max": 5,
                    "scale": 0,
                    "step": 1
                }
            },
            "111": {
                "code": "sd_format",
                "type": "Boolean",
                "values": {}
            },
            "112": {
                "code": "sd_umount",
                "type": "Boolean",
                "values": {}
            },
            "113": {
                "code": "motion_record",
                "type": "Boolean",
                "values": {}
            },
            "115": {
                "code": "movement_detect_pic",
                "type": "Raw",
                "values": {}
            },
            "117": {
                "code": "sd_format_state",
                "type": "Integer",
                "values": {
                    "min": -20000,
                    "max": 200000,
                    "scale": 0,
                    "step": 1
                }
            },
            "134": {
                "code": "motion_switch",
                "type": "Boolean",
                "values": {}
            },
            "150": {
                "code": "record_switch",
                "type": "Boolean",
                "values": {}
            },
            "151": {
                "code": "record_mode",
                "type": "Enum",
                "values": {
                    "range": [
                        "1",
                        "2"
                    ]
                }
            },
            "160": {
                "code": "basic_device_volume",
                "type": "Integer",
                "values": {
                    "unit": "%",
                    "min": 1,
                    "max": 100,
                    "scale": 0,
                    "step": 1
                }
            },
            "212": {
                "code": "initiative_message",
                "type": "Raw",
                "values": {}
            }
        },
        "ip": "192.168.250.60",
        "version": "3.5"
    }
]

I guessing mapping "115" fetches an image, but I am unsure how to code fetching an image.

[RobertPHeller]

OK, I have "adapted" some code from another question to get some info for my smart feeder:

#*****************************************************************************
#
#  System        : 
#  Module        : 
#  Object Name   : $RCSfile$
#  Revision      : $Revision$
#  Date          : $Date$
#  Author        : $Author$
#  Created By    : Robert Heller
#  Created       : Fri Dec 12 16:46:09 2025
#  Last Modified : <150714.1902>
#
#  Description	
#
#  Notes
#
#  History
#	
#*****************************************************************************
#
#    Copyright (C) 2025  Robert Heller D/B/A Deepwoods Software
#			51 Locke Hill Road
#			Wendell, MA 01379-9728
#
#    This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
#    it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
#    the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
#    (at your option) any later version.
#
#    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
#    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
#    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
#    GNU General Public License for more details.
#
#    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
#    along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
#    Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
#
# 
#
#*****************************************************************************

from tinytuya.core import Device, command_types as CT, header as H
import time
from base64 import b64decode
import json

class SmartVideoFeeder(Device):
    """
    Represents a Tuya based Smart Video Feeder
    """
    __dps_names = {
        "101": "basic_indicator",
        "103": "basic_flip",
        "104": "basic_osd",
        "105": "basic_private",
        "106": "motion_sensitivity",
        "108": "basic_nightvision", 
        "109": "sd_storge",
        "110": "sd_status", 
        "111": "sd_format",
        "112": "sd_umount",
        "113": "motion_record",
        "115": "movement_detect_pic",
        "117": "sd_format_state",
        "134": "motion_switch", 
        "150": "record_switch",
        "151": "record_mode",
        "160": "basic_device_volume",
        "212": "initiative_message"
    }
    def dps_to_name(self,dps):
        if dps in self.__dps_names:
            return(self.__dps_names[dps])
        else:
            return dps
        
    def get_image(self):
        pass


if __name__ == '__main__':
    feeder = SmartVideoFeeder(
            dev_id='ebc9a7869866efe8ed19jr',
            address='192.168.250.60',
            local_key='J3Gm8bZp>Z-3K`oW',
            version=3.5,
            persist=True
            )
    print( 'Found:', feeder )
    print( 'Status:',  feeder.status() )

    print(" > Begin Monitor Loop <")
    pingtime = time.time() + 9


    decoder = json.JSONDecoder()
    
    while(True):
        if( pingtime <= time.time() ):
            payload = feeder.generate_payload(CT.HEART_BEAT)
            #print(time.time(), "PING")
            data = feeder.send(payload)
            pingtime = time.time() + 9
            if data:
                #print( time.time(), data )
                if 'data' in data:
                    dat = data['data']
                    #print(time.time(), dat)
                    dps = dat['dps']
                    #print(time.time(), dps)
                    for k in dps.keys():
                        v = dps[k]
                        if k == "115":
                            print(time.time(),feeder.dps_to_name(k),v,' is ',b64decode(v+'='))
                        elif k == "212":
                            obj = decoder.decode(b64decode(v).decode('ascii'))
                            print(time.time(),feeder.dps_to_name(k),v,' is ',obj)
                        else:
                            print(time.time(),feeder.dps_to_name(k),v)

        data = feeder.receive() 
        if data: 
            #print( time.time(), data ) 
            if 'data' in data:
                dat = data['data'] 
                #print(time.time(), dat)
                dps = dat['dps'] 
                #print(time.time(), dps)
                for k in dps.keys():
                    v = dps[k]
                    if k == "115":
                        print(time.time(), feeder.dps_to_name(k),v,' is ',b64decode(v+'='))
                    elif k == "212":
                        obj = decoder.decode(b64decode(v).decode('ascii'))
                        print(time.time(),feeder.dps_to_name(k),v,' is ',obj)
                    else:
                        print(time.time(), feeder.dps_to_name(k),v)

And with the motion sensor turned on and then triggeriing it I get:

marchhare% bin/python3 Contrib/SmartVideoFeeder.py
Found: SmartVideoFeeder( 'ebc9a7869866efe8ed19jr', address='192.168.250.60', local_key='J3Gm8bZp>Z-3K`oW', dev_type='default', connection_timeout=5, version=3.5, persist=True, cid=None, parent=None, children={} )
Status: {'dps': {'101': True, '103': False, '104': True, '105': False, '106': '2', '108': '0', '109': '768|132|636', '110': 5, '117': 100, '134': True, '150': True, '151': '2', '160': 80, '201': 1, '202': 10, '206': 65792, '207': '7f17000510000007f06000510000007f12000310000007f20000400000007f1400031000000'}}
 > Begin Monitor Loop <
1765672432.3869805 initiative_message eyJ2IjoiNS4wIiwiY29zdF90aW1lIjoiNjQwIiwiY21kIjoiaXBjX21vdGlvbiIsInR5cGUiOiJpbWFnZSIsIndpdGgiOiJyZXNvdXJjZSIsImFsYXJtIjp0cnVlLCJ0aW1lIjoxNzY1NjcyNDM1LCJmaWxlcyI6W1sidHktdXMtc3RvcmFnZTMwIiwiLzE4NzkwMi0yNzE5MDE5NTItZ3pqa2FiYWNlYWMxYWE1YWU1MDQvdW5pZnkvMTc2NTY3MjQzNS5qcGVnIiwiYmM2NjlmNmI3Njc5NGE1MCIsIjE3NjgyNjQ0MzUiXV19  is  {'v': '5.0', 'cost_time': '640', 'cmd': 'ipc_motion', 'type': 'image', 'with': 'resource', 'alarm': True, 'time': 1765672435, 'files': [['ty-us-storage30', '/187902-271901952-gzjkabaceac1aa5ae504/unify/1765672435.jpeg', 'bc669f6b76794a50', '1768264435']]}

I and wondering two things:

Appearently the value returned from the dps at 212 is base64 encoding of a json dictionary. And in that json object is a references to a jpeg file stored on the interal storage of the feeder (a uSD card or internal flash or SSD?). I am wondering how I might retreive this file.

[jasonacox]

Great question @RobertPHeller and thanks for posting your code.

I suspect the device is designed to only serve those via the cloud (these are cloud first devices). However, there may be a local access method (if we are lucky). My suggestion would be to install something ike Charles Proxy to monitor the URLs that the SmartLIfe app uses to display those media files. Charles Proxy will show URLs and payloads. If it is always going to a public cloud endpoint that may mean it doesn't have a local method to download direct from the device.

[RobertPHeller]

I have not purchased a cloud account, but I am able to view video on my smart phone, so that *must* mean that the data is coming locally over my LAN, right? Or is something else going on? There are DPSes for "sd", which I am assiming is an internal uSD device or something like that, right? Or is that something else? At Sun, 14 Dec 2025 18:44:04 -0800 jasonacox/tinytuya ***@***.***> wrote:

…

Great question @RobertPHeller and thanks for posting your code. I suspect the device is designed to only serve those via the cloud (these are cloud first devices). However, there may be a local access method (if we are lucky). My suggestion would be to install something ike Charles Proxy to monitor the URLs that the SmartLIfe app uses to display those media files. Charles Proxy will show URLs and payloads. If it is always going to a public cloud endpoint that may mean it doesn't have a local method to download direct from the device.

-- Robert Heller -- Cell: 413-658-7953 GV: 978-633-5364 Deepwoods Software -- Custom Software Services http://www.deepsoft.com/ -- Linux Administration Services ***@***.*** -- Webhosting Services

[RobertPHeller]

I managed to install Charles Proxy on my Linux machine. I am running the Smart Life app on a iPhone, so how do I get things to go through charles Proxy?

[jasonacox]

You need to use the IOS version. At least that is what I did and it worked for me.