Support for camera snapshot and stream endpoints and for disabling logging on response and event messages

platypush/__init__.py

@@ -143,7 +143,8 @@ class Daemon:
                 LOGGER.info('Received STOP event: {}'.format(msg))
                 self.stop_app()
             elif isinstance(msg, Event):
-                LOGGER.info('Received event: {}'.format(msg))
+                if not msg.disable_logging:
+                    LOGGER.info('Received event: {}'.format(msg))
                 self.event_processor.process_event(msg)
 
         return _f

platypush/backend/http/app/routes/plugins/camera/__init__.py

@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+import json
+import os
+import shutil
+import tempfile
+import time
+
+from flask import abort, jsonify, request, Response, Blueprint, \
+    send_from_directory
+
+from platypush.backend.http.app import template_folder
+from platypush.backend.http.app.utils import logger, get_remote_base_url, \
+    authenticate_user, send_request
+
+camera = Blueprint('camera', __name__, template_folder=template_folder)
+
+# Declare routes list
+__routes__ = [
+    camera,
+]
+
+def get_device_id(device_id=None):
+    if device_id is None:
+        device_id = str(send_request(action='camera.get_default_device_id').output)
+    return device_id
+
+
+def get_frame_file(device_id=None):
+    device_id = get_device_id(device_id)
+    was_recording = True
+    frame_file = None
+    status = send_request(action='camera.status', device_id=device_id).output
+
+    if device_id not in status:
+        was_recording = False
+        response = send_request(action='camera.start_recording',
+                                device_id=device_id)
+
+    while not frame_file:
+        frame_file = send_request(action='camera.status', device_id=device_id). \
+            output.get(device_id, {}).get('image_file')
+
+        if not frame_file:
+            time.sleep(0.1)
+
+    if not was_recording:
+        # stop_recording will delete the temporary frames. Copy the image file
+        # to a temporary file before stopping recording
+        tmp_file = None
+
+        with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(prefix='camera_capture_', suffix='.jpg',
+                                         delete=False) as f:
+            tmp_file = f.name
+
+        shutil.copyfile(frame_file, tmp_file)
+        frame_file = tmp_file
+        send_request(action='camera.stop_recording', device_id=device_id)
+
+    return frame_file
+
+
+def video_feed(device_id=None):
+    device_id = get_device_id(device_id)
+    send_request(action='camera.start_recording', device_id=device_id)
+    last_frame_file = None
+    last_frame = None
+
+    try:
+        while True:
+            frame_file = get_frame_file(device_id)
+            if frame_file == last_frame_file:
+                continue
+
+            with open(frame_file, 'rb') as f:
+                frame = f.read()
+
+            yield (b'--frame\r\n'
+                   b'Content-Type: image/jpeg\r\n\r\n' + frame + b'\r\n')
+
+            last_frame_file = frame_file
+            last_frame = frame
+    finally:
+        send_request(action='camera.stop_recording', device_id=device_id)
+
+
+@camera.route('/camera/<device_id>/frame', methods=['GET'])
+@authenticate_user
+def get_camera_frame(device_id):
+    frame_file = get_frame_file(device_id)
+    return send_from_directory(os.path.dirname(frame_file),
+                               os.path.basename(frame_file))
+
+@camera.route('/camera/frame', methods=['GET'])
+@authenticate_user
+def get_default_camera_frame():
+    frame_file = get_frame_file()
+    return send_from_directory(os.path.dirname(frame_file),
+                               os.path.basename(frame_file))
+
+@camera.route('/camera/stream', methods=['GET'])
+@authenticate_user
+def get_default_stream_feed():
+    return Response(video_feed(),
+                    mimetype='multipart/x-mixed-replace; boundary=frame')
+
+@camera.route('/camera/<device_id>/stream', methods=['GET'])
+@authenticate_user
+def get_stream_feed(device_id):
+    return Response(video_feed(device_id),
+                    mimetype='multipart/x-mixed-replace; boundary=frame')
+
+
+# vim:sw=4:ts=4:et:

platypush/backend/http/app/utils.py

@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ import logging
 import os
 import sys
 
-from flask import Response
+from functools import wraps
+from flask import request, Response
 from redis import Redis
 
 # NOTE: The HTTP service will *only* work on top of a Redis bus. The default
@@ -82,11 +83,21 @@ def send_message(msg):
 
     if isinstance(msg, Request):
         response = get_message_response(msg)
-        logger().info('Processing response on the HTTP backend: {}'.
-                      format(response))
+        logger().debug('Processing response on the HTTP backend: {}'.
+                       format(response))
 
         return response
 
+def send_request(action, **kwargs):
+    msg = {
+        'type': 'request',
+        'action': action
+    }
+
+    if kwargs:
+        msg['args'] = kwargs
+
+    return send_message(msg)
 
 def authenticate():
     return Response('Authentication required', 401,
@@ -123,13 +134,19 @@ def get_routes():
     routes_dir = os.path.join(
         os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)), 'routes')
     routes = []
+    base_module = '.'.join(__name__.split('.')[:-1])
 
     for path, dirs, files in os.walk(routes_dir):
         for f in files:
             if f.endswith('.py'):
-                sys.path.insert(0, path)
+                mod_name = '.'.join(
+                    (base_module + '.' + os.path.join(path, f).replace(
+                        os.path.dirname(__file__), '')[1:] \
+                        .replace(os.sep, '.')).split('.') \
+                    [:(-2 if f == '__init__.py' else -1)])
+
                 try:
-                    mod = importlib.import_module('.'.join(f.split('.')[:-1]))
+                    mod = importlib.import_module(mod_name)
                     if hasattr(mod, '__routes__'):
                         routes.extend(mod.__routes__)
                 except Exception as e:
@@ -152,4 +169,12 @@ def get_remote_base_url():
         host=get_ip_or_hostname(), port=get_http_port())
 
 
+def authenticate_user(route):
+    @wraps(route)
+    def authenticated_route(*args, **kwargs):
+        if not authentication_ok(request): return authenticate()
+        return route(*args, **kwargs)
+    return authenticated_route
+
+
 # vim:sw=4:ts=4:et:

platypush/message/event/__init__.py

@@ -14,7 +14,14 @@ from platypush.utils import get_event_class_by_type
 class Event(Message):
     """ Event message class """
 
-    def __init__(self, target=None, origin=None, id=None, timestamp=None, **kwargs):
+    # If this class property is set to false then the logging of these events
+    # will be disabled. Logging is usually disabled for events with a very
+    # high frequency that would otherwise pollute the logs e.g. camera capture
+    # events
+    disable_logging = False
+
+    def __init__(self, target=None, origin=None, id=None, timestamp=None,
+                 disable_logging=disable_logging, **kwargs):
         """
         Params:
             target  -- Target node [String]
@@ -30,6 +37,7 @@ class Event(Message):
         self.type = '{}.{}'.format(self.__class__.__module__,
                                    self.__class__.__name__)
         self.args = kwargs
+        self.disable_logging = disable_logging
 
     @classmethod
     def build(cls, msg):

platypush/message/event/camera.py

@@ -44,4 +44,18 @@ class CameraPictureTakenEvent(CameraEvent):
         super().__init__(*args, filename=filename, **kwargs)
 
 
+class CameraFrameCapturedEvent(CameraEvent):
+    """
+    Event triggered when a camera frame has been captured
+    """
+
+    disable_logging = True
+
+    def __init__(self, filename=None, *args, **kwargs):
+        super().__init__(*args, filename=filename,
+                         disable_logging=kwargs.pop('disable_logging')
+                         if 'disable_logging' in kwargs else self.disable_logging,
+                         **kwargs)
+
+
 # vim:sw=4:ts=4:et:

platypush/message/request/__init__.py

@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ class Request(Message):
                     logger.warning(('Response processed with errors from ' +
                                     'action {}: {}').format(
                                         self.action, str(response)))
-                else:
+                elif not response.disable_logging:
                     logger.info('Processed response from action {}: {}'.
                                 format(self.action, str(response)))
             except Exception as e:

platypush/message/response/__init__.py

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ class Response(Message):
     """ Response message class """
 
     def __init__(self, target=None, origin=None, id=None, output=None, errors=[],
-                 timestamp=None):
+                 timestamp=None, disable_logging=False):
         """
         Params:
             target -- Target [String]
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ class Response(Message):
         self.errors = self._parse_msg(errors)
         self.origin = origin
         self.id = id
+        self.disable_logging = disable_logging
 
     def is_error(self):
         """ Returns True if the respopnse has errors """
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@ class Response(Message):
         }
 
         args['timestamp'] = msg['_timestamp'] if '_timestamp' in msg else time.time()
+        args['disable_logging'] = msg.get('_disable_logging', False)
         if 'id' in msg: args['id'] = msg['id']
         if 'origin' in msg: args['origin'] = msg['origin']
         return cls(**args)
@@ -67,11 +69,12 @@ class Response(Message):
             'target'     : self.target if hasattr(self, 'target') else None,
             'origin'     : self.origin if hasattr(self, 'origin') else None,
             '_timestamp' : self.timestamp,
+            '_disable_logging' : self.disable_logging,
             'response'   : {
                 'output' : self.output,
                 'errors' : self.errors,
             },
         })
 
-# vim:sw=4:ts=4:et:
 
+# vim:sw=4:ts=4:et:

platypush/plugins/__init__.py

@@ -14,22 +14,24 @@ from platypush.utils import get_decorators
 def action(f):
     @wraps(f)
     def _execute_action(*args, **kwargs):
-        output = None
-        errors = []
+        response = Response()
+        result = f(*args, **kwargs)
 
-        output = f(*args, **kwargs)
-        if output and isinstance(output, Response):
-            errors = output.errors \
-                if isinstance(output.errors, list) else [output.errors]
-            output = output.output
-        elif isinstance(output, tuple) and len(output) == 2:
-            errors = output[1] \
-                if isinstance(output[1], list) else [output[1]]
+        if result and isinstance(result, Response):
+            result.errors = result.errors \
+                if isinstance(result.errors, list) else [result.errors]
+            response = result
+        elif isinstance(result, tuple) and len(result) == 2:
+            response.errors = result[1] \
+                if isinstance(result[1], list) else [result[1]]
 
-            if len(errors) == 1 and errors[0] is None: errors = []
-            output = output[0]
+            if len(response.errors) == 1 and response.errors[0] is None:
+                response.errors = []
+            response.output = result[0]
+        else:
+            response = Response(output=result, errors=[])
 
-        return Response(output=output, errors=errors)
+        return response
 
     # Propagate the docstring
     _execute_action.__doc__ = f.__doc__

platypush/plugins/camera/__init__.py

@@ -9,9 +9,10 @@ import cv2
 from datetime import datetime
 
 from platypush.config import Config
+from platypush.message.response import Response
 from platypush.message.event.camera import CameraRecordingStartedEvent, \
     CameraRecordingStoppedEvent, CameraVideoRenderedEvent, \
-    CameraPictureTakenEvent, CameraEvent
+    CameraPictureTakenEvent, CameraFrameCapturedEvent, CameraEvent
 
 from platypush.plugins import Plugin, action
 
@@ -44,12 +45,15 @@ class CameraPlugin(Plugin):
     _default_color_transform = 'COLOR_BGR2BGRA'
 
     _max_stored_frames = 100
+    _frame_filename_regex = re.compile('(\d+)-(\d+)-(\d+)_(\d+)-(\d+)-(\d+)-(\d+).jpe?g$')
 
     def __init__(self, device_id=0, frames_dir=_default_frames_dir,
                  warmup_frames=_default_warmup_frames, video_type=0,
                  sleep_between_frames=_default_sleep_between_frames,
                  max_stored_frames=_max_stored_frames,
-                 color_transform=_default_color_transform, *args, **kwargs):
+                 color_transform=_default_color_transform,
+                 scale_x=None, scale_y=None, rotate=None, flip=None,
+                 *args, **kwargs):
         """
         :param device_id: Index of the default video device to be used for
             capturing (default: 0)
@@ -88,6 +92,27 @@ class CameraPlugin(Plugin):
             for a full list of supported color transformations.
             (default: "``COLOR_BGR2BGRA``")
         :type color_transform: str
+
+        :param scale_x: If set, the images will be scaled along the x axis by the
+            specified factor
+        :type scale_x: float
+
+        :param scale_y: If set, the images will be scaled along the y axis by the
+            specified factor
+        :type scale_y: float
+
+        :param rotate: If set, the images will be rotated by the specified
+            number of degrees
+        :type rotate: float
+
+        :param flip: If set, the images will be flipped around the specified
+            axis. Possible values::
+
+                - ``0`` - flip along the x axis
+                - ``1`` - flip along the y axis
+                - ``-1`` - flip along both the axis
+
+        :type flip: int
         """
 
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
@@ -101,12 +126,18 @@ class CameraPlugin(Plugin):
         self.sleep_between_frames = sleep_between_frames
         self.max_stored_frames = max_stored_frames
         self.color_transform = color_transform
+        self.scale_x = scale_x
+        self.scale_y = scale_y
+        self.rotate = rotate
+        self.flip = flip
+
         self._is_recording = {}   # device_id => Event map
         self._devices = {}   # device_id => VideoCapture map
         self._recording_threads = {}    # device_id => Thread map
+        self._recording_info = {}   # device_id => recording info map
 
 
-    def _init_device(self, device_id):
+    def _init_device(self, device_id, frames_dir=None, **info):
         self._release_device(device_id)
 
         if device_id not in self._devices:
@@ -115,6 +146,12 @@ class CameraPlugin(Plugin):
         if device_id not in self._is_recording:
             self._is_recording[device_id] = threading.Event()
 
+        self._recording_info[device_id] = info
+
+        if frames_dir:
+            os.makedirs(frames_dir, exist_ok=True)
+            self._recording_info[device_id]['frames_dir'] = frames_dir
+
         return self._devices[device_id]
 
 
@@ -133,12 +170,14 @@ class CameraPlugin(Plugin):
             del self._devices[device_id]
             self.fire_event(CameraRecordingStoppedEvent(device_id=device_id))
 
+        if device_id in self._recording_info:
+            del self._recording_info[device_id]
+
 
     def _store_frame_to_file(self, frame, frames_dir, image_file):
         if image_file:
             filepath = image_file
         else:
-            os.makedirs(frames_dir, exist_ok=True)
             filepath = os.path.join(
                 frames_dir, datetime.now().strftime('%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S-%f.jpg'))
 
@@ -147,21 +186,22 @@ class CameraPlugin(Plugin):
 
 
     def _get_stored_frames_files(self, frames_dir):
-        return sorted([
+        ret = sorted([
             os.path.join(frames_dir, f) for f in os.listdir(frames_dir)
-            if os.path.isfile(os.path.join(frames_dir, f)) and f.endswith('.jpg')
+            if os.path.isfile(os.path.join(frames_dir, f)) and
+            re.search(self._frame_filename_regex, f)
         ])
+        return ret
 
 
     def _get_avg_fps(self, frames_dir):
         files = self._get_stored_frames_files(frames_dir)
-        regex = re.compile('(\d+)-(\d+)-(\d+)_(\d+)-(\d+)-(\d+)-(\d+).jpe?g$')
         frame_time_diff = 0.0
         n_frames = 0
 
         for i in range(1, len(files)):
-            m1 = re.search(regex, files[i-1])
-            m2 = re.search(regex, files[i])
+            m1 = re.search(self._frame_filename_regex, files[i-1])
+            m2 = re.search(self._frame_filename_regex, files[i])
 
             if not m1 or not m2:
                 continue
@@ -176,7 +216,7 @@ class CameraPlugin(Plugin):
 
     def _remove_expired_frames(self, frames_dir, max_stored_frames):
         files = self._get_stored_frames_files(frames_dir)
-        for f in files[max_stored_frames+1:len(files)]:
+        for f in files[:len(files)-max_stored_frames]:
             os.unlink(f)
 
 
@@ -199,13 +239,15 @@ class CameraPlugin(Plugin):
         shutil.rmtree(frames_dir, ignore_errors=True)
 
 
-    def _recording_thread(self, duration, video_file, image_file, device_id,
-                          frames_dir, n_frames, sleep_between_frames,
-                          max_stored_frames, color_transform, video_type):
-        device = self._devices[device_id]
-        color_transform = getattr(cv2, self.color_transform)
+    def _recording_thread(self):
+        def thread(duration, video_file, image_file, device_id,
+                   frames_dir, n_frames, sleep_between_frames,
+                   max_stored_frames, color_transform, video_type,
+                   scale_x, scale_y, rotate, flip):
 
-        def thread():
+            device = self._devices[device_id]
+            color_transform = getattr(cv2, self.color_transform)
+            rotation_matrix = None
             self._is_recording[device_id].wait()
             self.logger.info('Starting recording from video device {}'.
                              format(device_id))
@@ -234,9 +276,28 @@ class CameraPlugin(Plugin):
                     continue
 
                 frame = cv2.cvtColor(frame, color_transform)
+
+                if rotate:
+                    if not rotation_matrix:
+                        rows, cols = frame.shape
+                        rotation_matrix = cv2.getRotationMatrix2D(
+                            (cols/2, rows/2), rotate, 1)
+
+                    frame = cv2.warpAffine(frame, rotation_matrix, (cols, rows))
+
+                if flip is not None:
+                    frame = cv2.flip(frame, flip)
+
+                if scale_x or scale_y:
+                    scale_x = scale_x or 1
+                    scale_y = scale_y or 1
+                    frame = cv2.resize(frame, None, fx=scale_x, fy=scale_y,
+                                       interpolation = cv.INTER_CUBIC)
+
                 self._store_frame_to_file(frame=frame, frames_dir=frames_dir,
                                           image_file=image_file)
                 captured_frames += 1
+                self.fire_event(CameraFrameCapturedEvent(filename=image_file))
 
                 if max_stored_frames and not video_file:
                     self._remove_expired_frames(
@@ -269,7 +330,8 @@ class CameraPlugin(Plugin):
     def start_recording(self, duration=None, video_file=None, video_type=None,
                         device_id=None, frames_dir=None,
                         sleep_between_frames=None, max_stored_frames=None,
-                        color_transform=None):
+                        color_transform=None, scale_x=None, scale_y=None,
+                        rotate=None, flip=None):
         """
         Start recording
 
@@ -284,15 +346,22 @@ class CameraPlugin(Plugin):
         :param video_type: Overrides the default configured ``video_type``
         :type video_file: str
 
-        :param device_id, frames_dir, sleep_between_frames, max_stored_frames: Set
+        :param device_id, frames_dir, sleep_between_frames, max_stored_frames,
+            color_transform, scale_x, scale_y, rotate, flip: Set
             these parameters if you want to override the default configured ones.
         """
 
+        device_id = device_id if device_id is not None else self.default_device_id
+        if device_id in self._is_recording and \
+                self._is_recording[device_id].is_set():
+            self.logger.info('A recording on device {} is already in progress'.
+                             format(device_id))
+            return self.status(device_id=device_id)
+
         recording_started = threading.Event()
         def on_recording_started(event):
             recording_started.set()
 
-        device_id = device_id if device_id is not None else self.default_device_id
         frames_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(frames_dir)) \
             if frames_dir is not None else self.frames_dir
         sleep_between_frames = sleep_between_frames if sleep_between_frames \
@@ -301,6 +370,10 @@ class CameraPlugin(Plugin):
             is not None else self.max_stored_frames
         color_transform = color_transform if color_transform \
             is not None else self.color_transform
+        scale_x = scale_x if scale_x is not None else self.scale_x
+        scale_y = scale_y if scale_y is not None else self.scale_y
+        rotate = rotate if rotate is not None else self.rotate
+        flip = flip if flip is not None else self.flip
 
         if video_type is not None:
             video_type = cv2.VideoWriter_fourcc(*video_type.upper()) \
@@ -308,31 +381,42 @@ class CameraPlugin(Plugin):
         else:
             video_type = self.video_type
 
-        self._init_device(device_id)
-        self.register_handler(CameraRecordingStartedEvent, on_recording_started)
-
         frames_dir = os.path.join(frames_dir, str(device_id))
         if video_file:
             video_file = os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(video_file))
             frames_dir = os.path.join(frames_dir, 'recording_{}'.format(
                 datetime.now().strftime('%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S-%f')))
 
+        self._init_device(device_id, video_file=video_file,
+                          video_type=video_type,
+                          frames_dir=frames_dir,
+                          sleep_between_frames=sleep_between_frames,
+                          max_stored_frames=max_stored_frames,
+                          color_transform=color_transform, scale_x=scale_x,
+                          scale_y=scale_y, rotate=rotate, flip=flip)
+
+        self.register_handler(CameraRecordingStartedEvent, on_recording_started)
+
         self._recording_threads[device_id] = threading.Thread(
-            target=self._recording_thread(duration=duration,
-                                          video_file=video_file,
-                                          video_type=video_type,
-                                          image_file=None, device_id=device_id,
-                                          frames_dir=frames_dir, n_frames=None,
-                                          sleep_between_frames=sleep_between_frames,
-                                          max_stored_frames=max_stored_frames,
-                                          color_transform=color_transform))
+            target=self._recording_thread(), kwargs = {
+                'duration':duration,
+                'video_file':video_file,
+                'video_type':video_type,
+                'image_file':None, 'device_id':device_id,
+                'frames_dir':frames_dir, 'n_frames':None,
+                'sleep_between_frames':sleep_between_frames,
+                'max_stored_frames':max_stored_frames,
+                'color_transform':color_transform,
+                'scale_x':scale_x, 'scale_y':scale_y,
+                'rotate':rotate, 'flip':flip
+            })
 
         self._recording_threads[device_id].start()
         self._is_recording[device_id].set()
 
         recording_started.wait()
         self.unregister_handler(CameraRecordingStartedEvent, on_recording_started)
-        return { 'path': video_file if video_file else frames_dir }
+        return self.status(device_id=device_id)
 
     @action
     def stop_recording(self, device_id=None):
@@ -341,41 +425,72 @@ class CameraPlugin(Plugin):
         """
 
         device_id = device_id if device_id is not None else self.default_device_id
+        frames_dir = self._recording_info.get(device_id, {}).get('frames_dir')
         self._release_device(device_id)
+        shutil.rmtree(frames_dir, ignore_errors=True)
 
     @action
     def take_picture(self, image_file, device_id=None, warmup_frames=None,
-                     color_transform=None):
+                     color_transform=None, scale_x=None, scale_y=None,
+                     rotate=None, flip=None):
         """
         Take a picture.
 
         :param image_file: Path where the output image will be stored.
         :type image_file: str
 
-        :param device_id, warmup_frames, color_transform: Overrides the configured default parameters
+        :param device_id, warmup_frames, color_transform, scale_x, scale_y,
+            rotate, flip: Overrides the configured default parameters
         """
 
+        device_id = device_id if device_id is not None else self.default_device_id
+        image_file = os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(image_file))
         picture_taken = threading.Event()
+
         def on_picture_taken(event):
             picture_taken.set()
 
-        image_file = os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(image_file))
-        device_id = device_id if device_id is not None else self.default_device_id
+        if device_id in self._is_recording and \
+                self._is_recording[device_id].is_set():
+            self.logger.info('A recording on device {} is already in progress'.
+                             format(device_id))
+
+            status = self.status(device_id=device_id).output.get(device_id)
+            if 'image_file' in status:
+                shutil.copyfile(status['image_file'], image_file)
+                return { 'path': image_file }
+
+            raise RuntimeError('Recording already in progress and no images ' +
+                               'have been captured yet')
+
         warmup_frames = warmup_frames if warmup_frames is not None else \
             self.warmup_frames
         color_transform = color_transform if color_transform \
             is not None else self.color_transform
+        scale_x = scale_x if scale_x is not None else self.scale_x
+        scale_y = scale_y if scale_y is not None else self.scale_y
+        rotate = rotate if rotate is not None else self.rotate
+        flip = flip if flip is not None else self.flip
+
+        self._init_device(device_id, image_file=image_file,
+                          warmup_frames=warmup_frames,
+                          color_transform=color_transform,
+                          scale_x=scale_x, scale_y=scale_y, rotate=rotate,
+                          flip=flip)
 
-        self._init_device(device_id)
         self.register_handler(CameraPictureTakenEvent, on_picture_taken)
         self._recording_threads[device_id] = threading.Thread(
-            target=self._recording_thread(duration=None, video_file=None,
-                                          image_file=image_file, video_type=None,
-                                          device_id=device_id, frames_dir=None,
-                                          n_frames=warmup_frames,
-                                          sleep_between_frames=None,
-                                          max_stored_frames=None,
-                                          color_transform=color_transform))
+            target=self._recording_thread(), kwargs = {
+                'duration':None, 'video_file':None,
+                'image_file':image_file, 'video_type':None,
+                'device_id':device_id, 'frames_dir':None,
+                'n_frames':warmup_frames,
+                'sleep_between_frames':None,
+                'max_stored_frames':None,
+                'color_transform':color_transform,
+                'scale_x':scale_x, 'scale_y':scale_y,
+                'rotate':rotate, 'flip':flip
+            })
 
         self._recording_threads[device_id].start()
         self._is_recording[device_id].set()
@@ -384,5 +499,30 @@ class CameraPlugin(Plugin):
         self.unregister_handler(CameraPictureTakenEvent, on_picture_taken)
         return { 'path': image_file }
 
+    @action
+    def status(self, device_id=None):
+        """
+        Returns the status of the specified device_id or all the device in a
+        ``{ device_id => device_info }`` map format. Device info includes
+        ``video_file``, ``image_file``, ``frames_dir`` and additional video info
+        """
+
+        resp = Response(output={
+            id: {
+                'image_file': self._get_stored_frames_files(info['frames_dir'])[-2]
+                if 'frames_dir' in info
+                and len(self._get_stored_frames_files(info['frames_dir'])) > 1
+                and 'image_file' not in info else info.get('image_file'), **info
+            }
+            for id, info in self._recording_info.items()
+            if device_id is None or id == device_id
+        }, disable_logging=True)
+        return resp
+
+
+    @action
+    def get_default_device_id(self):
+        return self.default_device_id
+
 
 # vim:sw=4:ts=4:et: