MOTION(1)

NAME
motion - Detect motion using a video4linux device

SYNOPSIS
motion [ -BCDlmNpQ] [ -a seconds] [ -c changes] [ -d device] [ -E command] [ -F file] [ -f nr] [ -G seconds] [ -g seconds] [ -i input] [ -L noise] [ -M address] [ -n norm] [ -q quality] [ -S nr] [ -s widthxheight] [ -t targed dir]

DESCRIPTION
Motion uses a video4linux device to detect motion. If motion is detected both normal and motion pictures will be taken. Motion can also take actions to notify you if needed. Creation of automated snapshots is also possible.

OPTIONS

-C  Output changes count for every frame, usable for tuning

-D  Deamonize

-a seconds
    time between two automated snapshots, default: 0

-c changes
    threshold for detecting a change, default: 1500

-F file
    ppm image to use as a mask for filtering motion. This file must have the same size as you have set for the video4linux device.

-f nr
    Maximum nr of frames per second, default: none

-G seconds
    Minimum gap between two shots in seconds, default: 0

-L noise
    Noise level, all changes smaller than this level will be considerd noise. Default: 32

-l  Locate and mark motion on output pictures

-m  Output 'motion' images

-N  Don't output normal images

-p  Output ppm images instead of jpeg. This will reduce cpu load but disk io will increase a lot.

-t target-dir
    destination for snapshots.

-Q  Don't sound the warning beep when detecting motion. (This doesn't change anything in deamon mode, there never is a beep there)

-d device
    video4linux capture device, default: /dev/video0

-i input
    input channel to use, default: not set

-n norm
    norm to use (pal/ntsc/secam), default: pal

-q quality
    JPEG image quality, default: 50

-s widthxheight
    Picture size, default: 352x288

-B  Encode all jpg images to mpeg after a event using mpeg_encode

-E command
    Execute 'command' when detecting motion.

-M  Send a mail to 'address' when detecting motion.

-S nr
    Send a SMS to nr using sms_client when detecting motion.

-g seconds
    minimum gap between events, default 300

CONFIG FILE OPTIONS
These are the options that can be used in the config file. They are overridden by the commandline!

always_changes
    Always display the differences between the captured frame and the reference frame. This can come in handy while tuning your setup. Default: no

deamon
    Start motion in deamon mode and release terminal. Default: no

execute
    External command to be executed when detecting motion. Default: none

framerate
    Maximum number of frames that are saved per second. Default: 100 (almost no limit)

gap The minimum gap between two events in seconds Default: 300

height
    The heigth of each frame. Default: 288

input
    Select the input of the video device. Default: 8

locate
    Locate and draw a box around the moving object. Default: no

mail
    Address to send an email to when detecting motion Default: none

mask_file
    PPM file to use as a sensitivity mask. This picture MUST have the same width and height as the frames being captured and be in 24 bit color. (Yes, you can filter out colors with it.

mpeg_encode
    Use the Berkeley mpeg encoder 'mpeg_encode' to make movies of the events Default: no

minimum_gap
    The minimum time between two shots in seconds. Default: 0 (no minimum)

norm
    Select the norm of the video device. Default: 0 (PAL)

output_motion
    Output pictures with only the moving object. Default: no

output_normal
    Output 'normal' pictures. Default: yes

ppm Ouput ppm images instead of jpeg. This uses less cpu time, but causes a LOT of harddisk io, it is generally slower than jpeg. Default: no

quality
    The quality for the jpeg images. Default: 100

quiet
    Be quit, don't output beeps when detecting motion. Default: no

snapshots
    Make automated snapshots every N seconds. Default: 0 (NO snapshots)

sms Number to send an sms to with sms_client. Default: none

target_dir
    Target directory for pictures. Default: current working directory

threshold
    Threshold for declaring motion. Default: 1500

videodevice
    The videodevice to be used for capturing. Default: /dev/video0

width
    The width of each frame. Default: 352

SEE ALSO
mpeg_encode(1), mail(1), sms_client(1)

BUGS
None (I hope....)

AUTHOR
Jeroen Vreeken (pe1rxq@amsat.org)