On the platform

More images across network

Bosch has enhanced its DiBos DVR family with new video compression and network features, designed for better performance and ease of use.

Chief among the new features is the step-up from JPEG to MPEG-4 compression technology for better image quality.

Data storage efficiency has also been increased, providing substantial savings in archiving costs. Other new features include the combination of legacy analogue technology with digital networking; as well as a newly designed user interface and improved configuration for easier set-up and operation.

MPEG-4 compression makes optimal use of available bandwidth and storage capacity, allowing a high number of images to be simultaneously transmitted over networks – at least five times more images than JPEG or Wavelet techniques for the same resolution and quality.

Combining MPEG-4 and JPEG data streams, the system can employ both analogue and digital network cameras.

DiBos is designed for fast and convenient installation with 'plug-and-play' set-up, and a structured configuration program is available for complex installations.

Reader Service No 143

Dome resists impact

Vicon’s new Roughneck IP Impact Resistant Dome uses the company’s propriety compression based on MPEG4 to maximise picture quality.

The Roughneck V910 is equipped with a 100 Mbps LAN interface board so can be directly connected to a network switch.

Up to 30 frames per second of DVD quality video can be transmitted across a network. The images can be displayed, recorded or archived via any Kollector Elite DVR or PC work station on the network.

It also supports museum search, motion detection, alarm reporting and configuration and macro operation through the ViconNet software interface.

Impact resistant and equipped with vandal resistant screws, the Roughneck V910 is suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications and is available with the option of either a high resolution colour camera or a day/night camera.

Reader Service No144

Camera has built-in PoE

Axis Communications has launched the AXIS 210A Network Camera with built-in Power over Ethernet (PoE) and bi-directional audio. 

Designed for indoor surveillance and remote monitoring applications, the camera is said to be ideally suited to securing facilities where two-way audio is needed to communicate with visitors or warn off intruders.

Installation is simplified due to its ability to supply video, audio and power through a single Ethernet cable.  The camera also features integrated two-way audio support with a built-in microphone and connections for both an external microphone and speakers.  Powerful real-time image processing hardware and a progressive scan CCD sensor is said to allow the AXIS 210A to provide exceptional image quality even at full frame rate (30 frames per second) and VGA resolution. It uses simultaneous Motion JPEG and advanced MPEG-4 video streams so that systems can be configured to optimise both image quality and bandwidth efficiency.  Additional functions include: video motion detection; pre- and post-alarm buffers; privacy masking; input/output for connecting external devices such as sensors and relays. 

Reader Service No 145

Get your message across

The new Annuncicom IC can send alarm messages, announcements, emergency instructions and music over standard networks to any specific location. It also allows users to remotely open or lock a door by connecting it to an electric door strike, communicate between zones or contact the security office or rescue teams.

Premier Electronics says typical applications include replacing the ancient technology found in emergency call stations on highways and building up state of the art IP audio transmission systems.

“Emergency operators can now have the ability to easily manage these calls over a PC that transmits the caller’s voice as well as the pinpoint geographic location of the call. All this information is automatically archived and available for quick audio playback so the dispatcher can focus on saving lives.”

It is possible to record audio data synchronised with video data via web cameras. With this technique, web camera surveillance systems not only record the audio they have been missing, but also have the ability to get the microphone inches away from the surveillance target.

By adding this system to the existing network of a building it is possible to create on the spot surveillance triggered by someone going through a secured door. When the doors are opened, instant video can be transmitted to the command centres for high priority monitoring.

Reader Service No 146

Compression choice

COE Group Plc’s X-Class MPEG4 codec now supports M-JPEG compression. The company says this provides a seamless upgrade path to its Network Rail approved E-Class M-JPEG codec.

COE X-class IP based video transmission offers real-time analogue equivalent video with a choice of MPEG-4 or M-JPEG compression. The codec can also be configured to act as an encoder (transmitter) or decoder (receiver) which drastically reduces the need for spares holding. It also offers all typical real world interfaces for the CCTV environment, enabling fixed or PTZ cameras and domes to be managed and controlled over wired Ethernet or wireless networks.

In conjunction with COE's SEE-net Graphical User Interface, X-class provides the backbone and interfaces for a complete IP based CCTV management system.

Reader Service No 147

Smallest camera

Axis Communications has launched the AXIS 207W Network Camera, a “true bandwidth-efficient” MPEG-4 camera. The company says the 207W, designed for indoor surveillance and remote monitoring applications, is the world’s smallest wireless MPEG-4 network camera and is suitable for securing small businesses, homes and home offices.

 It uses the IEEE 802.11g wireless standard, which provides significantly higher transmission speeds than IEEE 802.11b. The product joins the AXIS 207 family of CMOS sensor-based network cameras, which provides “excellent” image quality in lighting conditions as low as one lux. The AXIS 207 family also features one-way audio, video motion detection and input/output connections for external devices.

 It comes with ethernet and wireless network interfaces and contains a built-in web server that allows it to function independently of a PC.

The camera generates full-motion video up to 30 frames a second in VGA resolution using simultaneous MPEG-4 compression and Motion JPEG streaming.

Reader Service No 148

Security images to mobiles

CCTVMobile Ltd is providing the latest technology from Casts S.R.L, to offer viewing of security cameras as a streaming video on mobile devices.

The company says a “second to none” image quality is provided and, with digital zoom/pan capabilities, cameras can be easily selected by pressing the numeric keys on the mobile devices or via their pre set names from the list within the application that is installed on the mobile.

Says the company: “We can supply products that can enable viewing of security cameras to mobile devices over the GSM/3G network from fixed cameras or from cameras mounted on moving vehicles such as police, ambulances, fire brigade, disaster recovery units and military along with solutions for security monitoring companies”.

Products and solutions cover markets ranging from consumer to enterprises and small to large businesses, along with up to 8MB broadband services.

The technology is already being used to view streaming video with digital zoom/pan to mobile phones from 50 traffic cameras along the motorway between Napoli and Salerno, Italy.

Images can be viewed on devices from companies such as Nokia, Sony Ericsson, LG, Motorola, Siemens, Blackberry handsets as well as pocket PCs (PDAs).

Reader Service No 149

Networks extend to EMEA regions

Massachucetts-based S2 Security Corporation has opened an international sales office outside of London to service the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) markets.

S2 Security’s NetBox is a third generation (3G) security management system – “A complete, integrated system built with network appliance architecture that securely connects users and devices over any IP network – even the public Internet..”  

The S2 NetBox supports access control, alarm monitoring, temperature monitoring, video and intercom, from a single system.

Designed to be used and maintained from anywhere, its self-configuration is said to take the guesswork out of networking, making it cost less to own and operate.  The new UK operation is led by Phil Mailes, a security industry veteran experienced in the sale and installation of integrated systems.  He most recently operated a sales office in the UK for the Lenel Systems unit of United Technologies.

The company says the UK office is the first of a series of expansions, both within the U.S. and globally, planned for the next eighteen months in order to capitalise on the growth potential of the S2 NetBox and its derivative products.

Reader Service No150

Making installation easier

Axis Communications has introduced a tool to make the installation and management of Axis network video products easier and more productive. 

Axis Camera Management allows users to perform sequential or simultaneous firmware upgrades for multiple network video products and can be scaled to handle hundreds of Axis network cameras and video servers. 

Users can locate products on the network, set IP addresses, show whether devices are reachable and sequentially or simultaneously perform multiple firmware upgrades. 

Dominic Bruning, MD in the UK said it was “an ideal installation and management tool” and would simplify the process of installation, upgrading and management of IP-surveillance systems.

It can be downloaded from www.axis.com

Reader Service No 151

Access and CCTV integrated

LookC have launched the first integrated access control and CCTV system which uses ethernet network technology in order to link door controllers with the tag database stored in the LookC system.

Every time a tag holder uses the tag this creates an entry in the CCTV's system's database and the Viditag software extensions in the LookC system allow managers to have a visual audit log of tag use.

As with all LookC systems the Viditag software can be used locally on the LookC server or remotely through a secure, encrypted web page.

The Viditag system is aimed at installations where biometric systems are resisted by employees or they are found to be too unreliable in harsh environments.

A suite of time and attendance software is planned for release in November 2005, also Windows based application software will be available so that the Viditag door controllers can be used in a stand-alone fashion.

Reader Service No 152

Intelligent imaging

March Networks, a provider of IP-based digital video surveillance, has launched two products: the R5 TM Visual Intelligence Suite and the 4000 C Series networked video recorders.

The R5 Visual Intelligence allows businesses to increase their efficiency, address risk, and manage assets with an integrated set of video-based intelligence tools.

Integrated video analytics build on surveillance, investigation and case management tools addressing the needs of enterprise business customers for sophisticated video and network management applications.

The new 4000 C Series NVRs supports both IP and analogue camera integration and network storage. The 4000 C Series also combines Video Transcoding and Adaptive Compression Technology to ensure the high quality video and optimum bandwidth . The C Series features a complete family of NVRs including the new 4516 C NVR – a high performance 480 NTSC frames per second model.

The products were launched at ASIS International 2005 in Florida.

Reader Service No 153

Camera/server by demand

Vicon has launched the VN-7551P IP camera /server in response to the growing demand for video over IP solutions.

The VN-755IP is a ‘state of the art’ IP camera with an integral video server that is equipped with a 100Mbps LAN interface board for direct connection to a network. With four video channels the VN-7551P provides for images from up to three additional analogue cameras to be remotely monitored and recorded.

When used as a single channel IP camera the VN-7551P delivers up to 30 frames per second of DVD quality video across the network for remote viewing and recording. With the additional external analogue cameras connected, the VN- 7551P is able to transmit at 15 frames per second. The IP camera supports museum search, motion detection, alarm reporting and configuration and macro operation through the ViconNet software interface. Vicon’s proprietary compression based on MPEG4 is said to maximise picture quality at all times.

Reader Service No154

Hot swappable storage

A “hot swappable” removable hard disk drive that can be replaced without interrupting recording, is a feature of the NVR1.5 from Indigovision.

Any number of disks can be swapped out to provide storage capacity and the operation takes only 20 seconds. Typically a single disk will provide four months of continuous full frame rate high quality digital video.

Disks can also be moved between any NVR1.5 on the network. This allows, for example, remote recording but with with archiving and retrieval at a central location. Recordings can be mirrored to multiple NVRs around the network..

Reader Service No 155

Sony commits to networking

Sony has reinforced its commitment to CCTV and Network Video Monitoring (NVM) through the creation of a strengthened new team of dedicated specialists. Combining its broad expertise in the professional broadcast and consumer electronics markets, Sony’s range of network video monitoring products take advantage of opportunities that arise from the convergence of IT/AV and telecoms.

Marketed under the IPELA sub brand, products include network cameras and recording devices to deliver high quality, intelligent, easy to use integrated systems. These provide an instantaneous real-time view of what’s happening in any working environment – either the factory floor, the hospital care ward or retail outlet. Sony Professional Solutions also offers products which easily drop into existing systems.

“ We can bring value while delivering flexible new monitoring possibilities, with the back-up and peace of mind you can expect from Sony” said Paul Hennessy, Director UK and Ireland Operations.

Seminar looks to future

Gardiner Security, 3Com, and DSP Design joined forces to deliver a technical seminar to an education and health audience in Cornwall organised by new Gardiner Security NVIP member Perkins Communications.

The two-day technical discussion centred on wireless, Power over Ethernet, and security technologies, with design and product advice.

Delegates heard how a wireless network can be highly secure and centrally managed. The many security protocols to choose from and their dependencies were also discussed.

Power over Ethernet as a means of powering wireless access points, cameras, VoIP telephones and other devices also had several advantages, delegates heard .