Our service is simply a private "naming" system that allows the customer to choose a simple, easy to remember name for their DVR. This private service is called DVR Name Service or DVRNS for short. The "naming" system allows the registration of the "name" with both the DVR and our server, meaning you only have to remember a descriptive name of your DVR, not a twelve-digit static IP address. Since the Internet connection is dynamic - meaning "changing", the actual dynamic Internet address can change periodically throughout the day. The "naming" service enables the dynamic address of the DVR to be sent to the "naming server" and the server links the customer's personal computer to the correct dynamic address each time the change occurs and enables the direct connection from the personal computer to the DVR.

For example, if you log on to your home computer and go the Internet to search for area restaurants, you have connected to the Internet using a dynamic address assigned to you by your Internet Service Provider at the time of login. If you log off the Internet and later in the day wish to check the movie theater schedule, your Internet Service Provider will reassign a new dynamic address at login and chances are it will be different than when you first checked for restaurant locations. The Internet Service Provider "time-shares" the available addresses with different Internet users and as a result each time you connect to the Internet your address may change.

Now, if you want to view the cameras connected to your DVR you need to go to a specific location (or address) on the Internet. Static Internet addresses prevent the address from changing but are costly. An alternative to the static Internet address is a dynamic address. It is the same low cost solution used to find the restaurant or movie schedule, but with the addition of tying the changing dynamic address to a fixed name, i.e. your DVR name. This DVR name and the DVRNS server information is entered into the DVR programming menus during installation of the DVR.

The customer registers the DVR name and checks that it is available on the website. Next the DVR is programed with the DVR name previously registered and the network at the DVR location is setup to allow the DVR Internet access. Then the remote software included with the DVR is loaded and setup on the remote computer and the DVR name is entered. The customer then has the ability to connect with and see their cameras.

The name of the DVR is now tied to the changing DVR Internet address. Even if the DVR Internet address changes, the name service enables a direct connection between the DVR and the client remote software - at a cost less than a static Internet connection!

System Configuration - How it works

Step 1 (DVR to Server): After the Internet connection is established to the DVR, the DVR name is registered with the Server using the DVRNS setup in the DVR. The DVR's IP address will be automatically updated periodically on the Server.

NOTE: Refer to the DVR manual for the details on the DVRNS setup. 

Step 2 (Remote Software to Server): The Remote Software, supplied with your DVR, will request the current IP address of the DVR using your registered DVR name.

Step 3 (Server to Remote Software): The Server notifies the Remote Software of the requested DVR's current IP address.

Step 4 (Remote Software to DVR): The Remote Software automatically connects to your DVR using the current IP address that was returned from the Server.