Video Encoders

Synectics commences the roll-out of Synergy 3 2019, the latest release of its command and control platform for demanding surveillance and security environments. Introducing enhanced customisable mapping, camera management, and third-party integration capabilities, the feature-rich platform is the most customer-centric iteration of the software to date and aims to make the Synergy 3 experience more user-friendly. The new release will be available across Synectics’ key markets, spanning transportation, infrastructure, oil and gas, high security, public space, and gaming. Automatic camera plotting Speaking about the latest developments, Martyn Rowe, Head of Product Management at Synectics, said: “We wanted this release of Synergy 3 to offer practical innovations that customers will truly benefit from in terms of how they work and their security challenges.” We wanted this release of Synergy 3 to offer practical innovations that customers will truly benefit from" “For example, to complement existing GIS mapping capabilities, we’ve introduced advanced CAD mapping that enables customers to upload and seamlessly navigate their own maps of property and asset layouts. Functionalities such as automatic camera plotting in Synergy 3 ensure that any layout changes (for example, to gaming tables or slot machines) don’t require lengthy re-programming of cameras. This has a positive impact for the customer’s on-premise resources, particularly where sites have hundreds or even thousands of cameras.” Monitoring live footage Camera-related developments in the 2019 release also enable footage to be viewed in more intuitive ways. The de-warping functionality within Synergy 3 has been enhanced to provide an undistorted view of fisheye cameras, offering the ability to monitor live footage from multiple angles of the same camera for wide-area situational awareness. Furthermore, Synergy 3 now supports H.265 compression for all IP cameras compliant with ONVIF Profile S. Martyn continued: “Synectics has a strong reputation for offering end-to-end solutions tailored to specific needs. We can’t make that claim if we don’t give our customers the freedom to choose and use systems and devices that meet their unique requirements. Developments such as H.265 compression, new third-party system integrations, and a Software Development Kit (SDK) to help technology partners write integrations to Synergy 3, reflect this and our commitment to future-proofing our solutions.” Facilitating situational awareness Other capabilities strongly associated with Synergy 3 since it first launched in 2014 are its incident management and response features. Synergy 3 2019 builds on these proven capabilities, with further improvements to facilitate situational awareness and incident management under pressure. Clip mode ensures that any footage viewed is automatically imported to a clip basket Two notable developments in this respect are the introduction of quad view automation and the new clip mode functionality. The former refers to tailorable alerts that, if specific criteria are met, trigger quad layouts ‒ allowing the simultaneous tracking of live action and investigation of recorded footage. Clip mode ensures that any footage viewed is automatically imported to a clip basket, for quick and easy transfer to the incident locker if verified as pertinent. Intelligently automate processes Martyn added: “At Synectics, we place great importance on being able to intelligently automate processes for those in charge of securing and operating facilities in the demanding sectors we serve. Whether it’s to improve conditions for keeping on top of incidents, help users get the most out of the powerful capabilities at their disposal, or simply save busy surveillance teams precious time, we are always looking at how we can better support our customers.” “While these developments in Synergy 3 2019 differ in function, they share a common thread. They have all been undertaken with an understanding of the pressures our customers face – one fostered through close working partnerships and real-world sector experience.”

Matrox Graphics Inc. is pleased to announce a series of major updates to its award-winning Matrox Maevex 6100 Series of multi-channel 4K enterprise encoders. Supporting all of today’s most widely-used streaming protocols, the Maevex 6100 Series enterprise encoder appliances and cards now include built-in HLS support that allows enterprises to deliver multiple, dynamically-optimised streams to a broad range of devices over the internet. Maevex 6100 encoders now also support IPv6 addressing that is essential for enterprises migrating to this new Internet Protocol (IP) standard. In addition, fMP4 file format support equips administrators with multi-recording redundancy functionality to reliably preserve all recordings, while the popular MOV format is ideal for video playback and video management applications. Cloud-service transcoding Matrox Maevex 6120 and Maevex 6150 dual- and quad-4K enterprise encoders will be in action at InfoComm 2019 Matrox Maevex 6120 and Maevex 6150 dual- and quad-4K enterprise encoders will be in action at InfoComm 2019, in Matrox booth 3055. In addition to multiple-protocol support for LAN, WAN, and internet streaming—including RTSP, RTP, MPEG2.TS, RTMP, and SRT—Maevex 6100 Series encoders now support on-device, multi-channel HLS stream delivery. Using adaptive bitrate streaming supported by HLS, Maevex 6100 Series encoders enable small and medium-sized enterprises to stream to multiple remote devices over the internet, adapting instantly to each device’s unique circumstances to ensure the best quality stream possible. The ability to dynamically serve optimised streams directly from Maevex encoders also allows organisations to save on cloud-service transcoding and/or additional software licensing costs. Network infrastructures Supporting the next-generation Internet Protocol standard, IPv6 offers an enormous leap to 340-undecillion unique-address-spaces to succeed the 4.3 billion addresses used in IPv4. The transition to IPv6 addressing is significant as Maevex 6100 Series encoders can now integrate seamlessly with network infrastructures and devices leveraging updated IP addressing. Maevex 6100 encoders support fMP4 file recording to both network and local USB locations simultaneously fMP4 file format support allows recordings from Maevex 6100 Series encoders to be more resilient to network and power failures and allows files to be easily recoverable when recordings are interrupted by these types of unpredictable events. Maevex 6100 encoders support fMP4 file recording to both network and local USB locations simultaneously, allowing administrators to have significant redundancy safeguards built directly into the encoder. The MOV digital multimedia format developed by Apple® meanwhile, is widely adopted for high-quality video playback or video editing and management applications. Lowest possible cost “Matrox Maevex 6100 Series encoders continue to make video capture, streaming, and recording easier and more effective for enterprises of all sizes,” says Ron Berty, business development manager, Matrox Graphics Inc. “Organisations are placing a tremendous amount of value on building, sharing, and storing data and content. With these latest updates, Maevex encoders ensure that highly-produced rich-media content is being delivered worldwide—at the lowest possible cost, at the industry’s very best quality, latency, bitrate utilisation, and reliability possible.” The new HLS, IPv6, fMP4, and MOV updates will be available as a free Maevex firmware download from the Matrox website in early Q3 2019.

Arecont Vision has expanded its MegaIP and ConteraIP video surveillance cameras with two new Omni models: the SurroundVideo SX and the ConteraIP RS. The Omni SX camera is based on the success of the Omni G2, offering improved image quality and increased product reliability. Both 12 and 20 MP models will feature True Day/Night capabilities for indoor/outdoor use, Advanced Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) for different lighting conditions and NightView for solid performance in low light. It also has SNAPstream technology that reduces bandwidth without sacrificing image quality. The Omni SX series of 4 sensors configurable by the user presents the option of remote focussing lenses ranging from 2.1 16 mm. Motorised sensor with varifocal lens The preset selections offer viewing angles of 360, 270 or 180 degrees, and the user can configure and save custom viewsThe ConteraIP Omni RS camera joins the Panoramic Dome, recently launched, as a new option for multiple sensors. It includes many of the advanced features of the new SurroundVideo Omni SX and includes additional enhancements. Each motorised 'gimbal' sensor is equipped with a varifocal lens for a hands-free configuration that saves time. The preset selections offer viewing angles of 360, 270 or 180 degrees, and the user can configure and save custom views. Ls Omni RS is available in 8 or 20 MP configurations, capable of transmitting video up to 30 fps. Advanced Video Analytics Arecont Vision has also unveiled two single-sensor cameras: the MegaDome EX dome and the MegaView EX bullet format. These are the first models of the company that include Advanced Video Analytics. Each EX model will be available in 1080p or 5MP and will include True Day/Night capabilities with integrated IR illuminators for indoor or outdoor use. They also include a motorised varifocal lens, for quick focus during setup, and offer the full set of unique sensor camera capabilities. They have an SDXC card slot for internal storage, advanced WDR, H.265/H.264/MJPEG encoder and advanced SNAPstream+ technology.

VuWall, the provider of video wall management and AV distribution solutions, will display its new CoScape multidisplay collaboration and presentation system and the next generation of the industry-trusted TRx 2.0 AV network management solution, in addition to a live demonstration of the complete family of interoperable solutions available within the VuWall ecosystem, in booth 2281 at InfoComm 2019. “This year marks our 10-year anniversary of simplifying the lives of AV/IT integrators and video wall operators in the most demanding control rooms around the world,” said Paul Vander Plaetse, founder and CEO of VuWall. Turnkey display solution “As we move into the next decade, VuWall is focused on further streamlining the evolving and complex world of technology. We are committed to delivering solutions that enable easy configuration and deployment, interoperability between brands, and future-proof implementation through open architecture.” CoScape allows presenters to display all sources on one or multiple touch surfaces “At InfoComm, attendees will see our latest advancements within the VuWall ecosystem and how we integrate with other solutions to create a superior viewing experience that goes far beyond simple control of video walls, and where multiroom and multisite solutions can be integrated with simplicity.” At InfoComm 2019, VuWall will demonstrate the full capabilities of its CoScape multidisplay collaboration and presentation system. CoScape allows presenters to display all sources on one or multiple touch surfaces, creating a true high-resolution, interactive turnkey display solution for easy visual collaboration. Network management solution It's perfectly suited for collaboration rooms, allowing sources to be shared on a touch video wall or projection screen. It features an open platform to ensure full support of standard corporate applications and a high-end performance workstation driven by powerful NVIDIA graphics cards for 3D acceleration graphics. In addition, it works with third-party collaboration programs, allowing users to interface directly and seamlessly with the chosen program from the CoScape controller and eliminate complex steps from the presentation process. Also at the booth will be VuWall's TRx 2.0 AV network management solution that provides distribution of audio and video signals over standard IP networks. User management capabilities Designed for presentation rooms, control rooms, and content distribution across multiple locations throughout a campus Designed for presentation rooms, control rooms, and content distribution across multiple locations throughout a campus, TRx supports multiple formats of video streaming up to 4K resolution and offers simple management of an unlimited number of sources and display surfaces. The latest version offers a new, intuitive control panel designer allowing integrators to create custom control panels that can be run on any HTML-enabled device for easy control from anywhere on the network. TRx also supports a broadened range of devices and user management capabilities as well as the ability to stitch together multiple decoders, allowing for a virtually infinite number of displays to be brought together as a single video wall with limitless resolution. Live presentations The system consists of a centralised TRx server for easy deployment of a large number of devices and a series of encoders, decoders, and IP video wall processors that support H.264 4K/UHD, SRT, and SDVoE. Attendees at the show will also benefit from live presentations of the entire VuWall ecosystem, which includes TRx and CoScape along with VuScape video wall controllers and VuStation visualisation and control workstations. Furthering the value of the system, VuWall has partnered with the most innovative and trusted technology leaders in the industry, including IHSE, SVDoE, Matrox (SRT), AMX SVSI, Datapath, NVIDIA, AMD, Genetec, and Milestone. Now featuring integration with Genetec, Milestone, Verint, and ISS solutions, VuWall is helping customers meet increasing visualisation requirements in security and surveillance markets.

At InfoComm 2019 (booth 3055), Matrox will be showcasing its complete range of award-winning, IP-based products including quad 4K enterprise encoders, remote recorder appliances, 4K capture/encode/decode and multiviewer cards, 4K IP KVM extenders, lecture capture appliances, and 4K/multi-HD webcasting encoders. Be amongst the first to discover new products and features from Matrox. Matrox will be launching a major addition to its world-class portfolio, unveiling a revolutionary new line of video wall products. Not only will Matrox be revealing this new product alongside a show-stopping demonstration, Matrox will also be holding a raffle, where one lucky guest will take home this innovative new product. Increases operational efficiency Matrox Maevex 6100 Series enterprise encoders are also now supporting IPv6 Matrox Extio 3 high-performance IP KVM extenders will also be showcasing a brand new feature that brings IP extension and switching flexibility to the next level. A live demonstration will show how this feature drastically increases operational efficiency for users working on multiple source systems simultaneously. Matrox Maevex 6100 Series enterprise encoders are also now supporting IPv6, HLS streaming, and MOV recording. These rugged, quiet, and rack-friendly appliances are now equipped with every feature needed for the simplest and most complex encoding made easy—all without sacrificing on quality! Matrox Monarch EDGE will be making its InfoComm debut. Featuring next-generation 3G/12G-SDI and 25 GbE SMPTE ST 2110 connectivity, as well as versatile multi-protocol support—including RTMP, SRT, MPEG2. TS, and RTSP—this 4K/multi-HD webcasting and remote production (REMI) encoder delivers H.264 streams with resolutions up to 3840x2160p60 or quad 1920x1080p60 and profiles up to High 4:2:2. Real-world benefits The AIMS Pro AV Group will be on hand at InfoComm in booth 375 The AIMS Pro AV Group will be on hand at InfoComm in booth 375, showcasing the real-world benefits of open standard approaches for the professional AV and installed systems market. Via a series of theatre presentations, as well as a multi-vendor interoperability demonstration featuring the SMPTE ST 2110 standard, show attendees will discover the benefits of truly flexible, scalable, and interoperable AV-over-IP infrastructures. At the show, AIMS will also be hosting a panel session titled 'Audio and Video Streaming Using Established IP Standards' on Tuesday, June 11 at 1-3 p.m in Room W304E. Featured products Matrox Maevex 6100 Series enterprise encoders - Matrox Maevex 6120 and Matrox Maevex 6150 dual and quad 4K enterprise encoders allow for the simultaneous capture, streaming, and recording of multiple 4K inputs. These powerful all-in-one appliances can feed cloud-based servers to reach internet viewers—including new simplified webcasting to multiple cloud-based and social media sites—push many streams over LAN for audiences on-premises, and record to local or network storage for later editing and viewing, all concurrently. Maevex PowerStream Plus software and APIs ensure easy operation, and are included with all Maevex 6100 Series appliances. Matrox Maevex 6020 Remote Recorder - The Panopto-certified Matrox Maevex 6020 Remote Recorder supports best-of-breed live streaming and recording to the Panopto video platform for education and business with easy 1-2-3 connection to your Panopto account. Users will benefit from simultaneous dual live streaming video and multiple on-device recordings of different qualities per input for the fastest VOD availability. It also boasts one-touch recording controls and whisper-quiet operation, on a rack-friendly, single-purpose appliance. Matrox Mura IPX video wall and multiviewer cards - Matrox Mura IPX video wall and multiviewer cards will exhibit the most advanced capture, encoding, decoding, and/or display capabilities from a single card by streaming and recording desktops, entire video walls, and selected regions of interest—with pixel-for-pixel or scaled-down representation of the display wall—over LAN and internet. Matrox Extio 3 IP KVM extenders will deliver exceptional 4Kp60 4:4:4, dual 4Kp30 4:4:4, and 2Kp60 4:4:4 performanceMatrox Extio 3 IP KVM extenders - Matrox Extio 3 IP KVM extenders will deliver exceptional 4Kp60 4:4:4, dual 4Kp30 4:4:4, and 2Kp60 4:4:4 performance over a standard 1 GbE network—at unprecedentedly low bitrates. Extio 3 will also demonstrate a brand new feature designed to drastically increase operational efficiency for users working on multiple source systems simultaneously. Extio 3 cards and appliances work with COTS network switches, illustrating a scalable and cost-effective KVM matrix over IP to securely route any system to any remote location on the network. Matrox Monarch EDGE 4K/multi-HD webcasting and remote production encoder - The Matrox Monarch EDGE 4K/multi-HD encoder will demonstrate several webcasting workflows, including streaming 4Kp60 content that ensures high-quality viewing experiences on any size device. Attendees will also learn how to leverage Monarch EDGE with multi-channel online video platforms (OVPs) like YouTube, to capture and stream up to four cameras, allowing the viewer to select and/or switch to their preferred camera views. Matrox Monarch LCS lecture capture appliance - The Matrox Monarch LCS multi-source streaming and recording appliance will exhibit how IT administrators can readily integrate these encoders into today’s most popular open video and learning management systems, and how operators can in turn, easily define profiles for live streamed and recorded lectures by mixing camera and presentation material.

Matrox Graphics Inc. has announced that the Matrox Mura IPX 12G-SDI capture and IP encode/decode cards are now shipping. These new video wall cards feature four SDI captures alongside a dedicated onboard network interface controller (NIC), offering unprecedented multi-channel SDI capture, encode, stream, record, and decode capabilities from a single-slot card. OEMs and system integrators can now select from a world-class portfolio of 12G-SDI, 4K DisplayPort 1.2, and 4K HDMI capture card options to build premium, best-of-breed video wall controller solutions. Matrox Mura IPX SDI cards The Mura IPX 12G-SDI cards are available in passive and active cooling options Featuring unrivaled SDI support from a single card, the Matrox Mura IPX SDI cards feature two 12G-SDI and two 3G-SDI connectors to capture a wide range of SDI sources. These cards also include a dedicated NIC for high-density encoding and decoding of up to two 4Kp60, four 4Kp30, eight 1080p60, sixteen 1080p30, or exponentially more SD streams. The Mura IPX 12G-SDI cards are available in passive and active cooling options. The new Matrox Mura IPX capture cards include a complete range of video wall software, APIs, and libraries. These software toolkits allow OEMs and developers to deploy intuitive, ready-to-use software and build custom interfaces and applications. Mura IPX DisplayPort “The latest additions to Matrox’s award-winning video wall portfolio allows customers to seamlessly incorporate SDI sources, while simultaneously providing the industry’s best multi-channel input, encode, and decode support,” says Fadhl Al-Bayaty, business development manager, Matrox Graphics Inc. “Combined with the similarly architected Mura IPX DisplayPort and HDMI capture boards, this ever-expanding portfolio now boasts the most powerful, flexible, and scalable building blocks essential for today’s video walls.” Visit Matrox at InfoComm 2019 (Orlando, Florida, booth 3055) to see the complete range of Matrox Mura IPX capture, video wall, and multi-viewer cards in action.

The role of storage in video surveillance systems has  evolved, from a means of preserving evidence to an evidence search tool, and soon as the main data repository for predictive analytics. Old analogue systems are now being replaced with massive multi-camera IT systems. Necessary storage volumes keep growing as video resolutions increase. 1K, 4K, and 8K megapixel cameras require such gigantic storage space that network video recorders (NVRs) can hardly handle more than a handful of them simultaneously. This Quantum white paper explains how you can efficiently circumvent this situation, showing a progressive migration path from current state-of-the-art IP video solutions, up to tomorrow’s storage-centric architectures. What's Inside? Typical VMS architectures Issues with NVRs Uses of video analytics and its impact on storage The benefits of multi-tier storage The future of video recording   Click Here to Download the White Paper Now!

Gaps in video from dropped video frames are a common problem. A web search on the phrase “dropped video frames” turns up links oriented towards gamers, YouTube videographers and even the world of video surveillance, discussing why frame drops happen and providing advice for coping with them. On Windows computers, video frame drops are a fact of life. Much of the advice can help reduce the number of frame drops, though never completely eliminate them. If you are an amateur filmmaker, and you drop key video frames, you can always do another “take.” Not so in the 24/7 world of security surveillance. You never know which few seconds of video might be critical in determining what really happened, who was really there and who could be held liable.General use IT products like a Windows computer are architected to be event-driven and time-shared Causes of video frame drops in surveillance systems To begin to address this problem, it’s important to have a better understanding of the major causes of video frame drops in a video surveillance system. Many video surveillance systems stream the output from the video cameras over a network to an off-the-shelf computer such as a Windows machine, which acts as the video server and runs your Video Management Software (VMS). The video server stores all the video files to racks of disk drives (disk drives being an affordable choice for the large amount of storage needed in a multi-camera system). Let’s focus on these major sources of video frame drops: Video servers dropping incoming video frames when various system tasks compete for resources Disk heads in your disk drives that can’t write the incoming video files fast enough to keep up with the continuous stream of data Many integrators who use off-the-shelf Windows computers will ensure the computer is dedicated to being the video server Video processing overload General IT products like a Windows computer are architected to be event-driven and time-shared. They strive for fairness and are designed to share the processing capacity so that no single task is starved. Instead, all tasks get a smaller proportion of processing capacity. This means new events, like a keystroke or automatic start of a common “background” task or system service, can interrupt and delay ongoing tasks like the handling of your incoming video streams. In the networked world, that is usually a good choice, since the network protocols will recover by resending the data and the latency that adds is not a problem. This does not work with video. Your cameras are continuing to send new video, so even if you could resend, this would simply bog down the computer still further and cause even more frames to drop. If the CPU, memory or disk handling required by both the new event and your ongoing video processing exceeds the capacity of the computer, its default way of dealing with the overload is to drop data coming in over its network connections. Disk drives are optimised for reading and writing data quickly, generally in a variety of block sizes depending on what is being stored Dropped video frame testing Recently, we started monitoring and testing for dropped video frames on off-the-shelf Windows video servers. In our tests, just clicking on a Windows disk management command resulted in almost 4,000 frames being dropped, an 8-second gap in the video record – and as we all know, a lot can happen in 8 seconds. Even we were surprised by how often and how consistently frames were dropped, coinciding with various demands on the servers from things like background tasks. Almost always, these drops happened as a cluster, multiple seconds of contiguous video simply gone, a much more serious issue than dropping a few random frames here or there.The best solution is to use a machine and operating system that are optimised to be part of a video surveillance system Many integrators who use off-the-shelf Windows computers will ensure the computer is dedicated to being the video server, and they will try to tweak the Windows operating system to reduce the number of background tasks, like removing any third-party antivirus programs or performance programs. This reduces the number of video frame drops but does not come close to eliminating all of them. Video surveillance system solution The best solution is to use a machine and operating system that are optimised to be part of a video surveillance system, designed to funnel resources as needed to handling the incoming video streams versus attempting to share resources evenly across all tasks or dropping incoming video data when the system is overloaded. By giving priority to the incoming video data and being sized correctly for the number and type of cameras, these systems are much more robust and less prone to dropping frames. Optimising storage for surveillance The previous sections looked at how video frames get dropped before your VMS even sees them. However, frames can go missing on the other side of the system when the storage system cannot keep up with the incoming video data. Most systems use some form of disk storage; because to store all the video from multiple cameras running 24/7 can require a massive amount of storage – frequently into the terabytes – and disk storage is still affordable on this scale. Disk drives are optimised for reading and writing data quickly, generally in a variety of block sizes depending on what is being stored. If you think about a database, various data records are written once, read many times as people look up data and modified (written again). Storing the video output from multiple cameras breaks this model in several ways: The block sizes for video data are larger than typical data files The blocks are written once and very seldom read, so it is very write-intensive New files from multiple cameras are continuously coming in to be writtenWhen you need high performance and reliability from a system that faces heavy demands, off-the-shelf may simply not be good enough Avoid missing key video All these factors keep the disk head extremely busy and lead to longer seek times. Essentially, the disk head cannot write fast enough and cannot keep up with the incoming stream of video data to be stored. The result is that some video frames get dropped. By using disk systems that are optimised for video storage, you can improve your odds. Solutions that improve head seek time, consolidate multiple video files into one file to reduce the number of writes needed and find other ways for the disk head to work more efficiently can greatly reduce the chances that frames might be dropped. The off-the-shelf components that are frequently used for video surveillance systems are general purpose machines that do a decent job of supporting a small system with a minimal number of cameras. However, even in a small system with only 3 to 4 cameras, our testing has shown that video frame drop is a given, due partly to Windows’ bias to share resources among tasks and default to dropping incoming data/video streams when busy, and partly to off-the-shelf disk drives that cannot keep up with the write-intensive nature of storing video feeds. These issues are due to the size and nature of video files, but are not unique to surveillance systems. In the film industry, they too use custom machines as their video servers to handle incoming streams from their digital cameras and store those streams to custom storage hardware. When you need high performance and reliability from a system that faces heavy demands, off-the-shelf – though less expensive initially – may simply not be good enough. Only you can determine how much tolerance you have to the risk of missing key video sequences, and whether your potential liability and the risk of lawsuits is increased beyond an acceptable measure by a surveillance system that captures less than 100% of the action.

Over the last year, we have continued to see the rise of manufacturers from China in the mid- to low-end market for video surveillance - a trend that currently shows no signs of tapering. Additionally, the shift from analogue to IP systems has remained consistent, with end users increasingly looking to network-enabled devices to mitigate risk from both a physical and cyber perspective. Complex network attacks in 2016 demonstrated the need for increased network security for network-connected devices such as IP cameras and network video recorders. More and more manufacturers are considering the potential for such attacks when designing updates for existing hardware and software technology, strengthening password requirements, incorporating robust data encryption, and educating integrators and end users on how to put protocols in place to protect the valuable information being collected. Increased security collaborations Today’s surveillance technology - and the new innovations right around the corner - incorporates more IT protocols in response to high-profile cyber incidents. As a result, IT standards will finally start being adopted by security system manufacturers over the course of the next few years. At the same time, we'll see increased collaboration between IT and security leaders within enterprises. Intelligent, big data analysis Video technologies such as panoramic 360-degree cameras with advanced dewarping capabilities are being rapidly adopted, along with video analytics software that enables the extraction of data for business intelligence, apart from just security video. The future includes more widespread availability of cloud technologies and services. In 2017, we can look forward to the more widespread adoption of intelligent analytics and big data analysis, which has the potential to streamline processes and optimise sales operations for organisations to drive new levels of business intelligence. See the full coverage of 2016/2017 Review and Forecast articles here Save

Arecont Vision is a company in transition to say the least. With its balance sheet burdened with debt, the company is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and simultaneously being acquired by a private equity firm. The ‘new’ Arecont Vision that will emerge after several months when the process is complete will have a new owner, a clean balance sheet, and be poised to succeed in the competitive world of video surveillance, says Raul Calderon, Arecont Vision CEO and General Manager.Good companies go through restructuring, and the company will be better off after doing it. We will be able to lead” Ensuring business continuity An asset purchase agreement announced this week with an affiliate of Turnspire Capital Partners LLC involves the private equity firm acquiring Arecont Vision’s assets. To eliminate the debt, the company has initiated proceedings under Chapter 11 of the United State Bankruptcy Code in the District of Delaware. “We want the industry to know that we are restructuring our business and our financing,” says Calderon. “We are not going out of business. It is a financial restructuring more than anything.” Business will continue uninterrupted during the bankruptcy, he says, with debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing provided by Arecont Vision’s current secured lenders. Turnspire, as the ‘stalking-horse bidder’, sets the low-end bidding bar and guarantees the company will have new ownership at the conclusion of the process “Good companies go through restructuring, and the company will be better off after doing it,” Calderon adds. “We will be able to lead and innovate, to be stronger, better and faster once we finish.” For perspective, it is interesting to note that, in the broader business world, some well-known companies have emerged from Chapter 11 even stronger, such as Delta and American Airlines and General Motors. Investment in product development Previously Arecont Vision has been burdened by the costs of $80 million in debt the owners took on in 2014. The burden of that debt has limited the company’s flexibility to react to the more competitive industry landscape, and to implement strategies to reverse softening sales numbers in the last couple of years. “We couldn’t use the money in the company because we were servicing the debt,” says Calderon. “In order to be compliant with the enormous debt service, we made decisions to reduce head count and expenses.” “[The bankruptcy] will free up that money to invest in the organisation,” he adds. “We will be able to make decisions for our future rather than the past, including investments in product development.” Focus and investment will be on key functions such as engineering, product development and sales Although there is an asset purchase agreement in place with Turnspire, there will also be an auction that could result in a higher bidder. Turnspire, as the ‘stalking-horse bidder’, sets the low-end bidding bar and guarantees the company will have new ownership at the conclusion of the process, either Turnspire or a company that outbids their offer. [UPDATE: An additional bid received from Costar Technologies and Costar Video Systems ensures that an auction will be held on July 9, 2018.] Calderon says Turnspire “shares our vision and will ensure an exciting future for the company.” The transaction is expected to move fast and close within a couple of months.Arecont Vision expects to continue to compete based on technology differentiation in the market, rather than on price Maintaining technology differentiation-based competition Turnspire Capital Partners is a private equity investor that is a ‘turnaround specialist’. Their website describes their role as targeting “high-quality businesses that have reached strategic, operational or financial inflection points and stand to benefit from [a] hands-on, operationally focused approach.” Calderon says Arecont Vision’s investment banker, Imperial Capital, was instrumental in bringing Turnspire to the table. The Turnspire purchase agreement proposes that the new owner retain the majority of employees, and the overall function and motivation of the company will remain. New levels of outsourcing, new software tools, or other strategies may be implemented to increase efficiency of operations. Focus (and investment) are likely to centre on key functions such as engineering, product development and sales. After the acquisition and bankruptcy are completed – in the next several months – Arecont Vision expects to continue to compete based on technology differentiation in the market, rather than on price, says Calderon. Business as usual Customers and partners see it as a positive step, and they understand that getting rid of the debt burden can only be positive” Calderon declined to be more specific about future plans for the company under the new ownership, who will ultimately decide what those plans are. He did reiterate Arecont Vision’s past successes and expected continuing role in the market. “We are looking to provide the leadership and the type of solution we are known for providing,” he says. “We have come out with some innovative things historically, from megapixel cameras to the first H.264 cameras to the first omni-directional cameras. We have not stopped our innovation, and our intent is to lead the market again with innovative solutions. Another key is to do right by our customers today and in the future, improving customer service, providing better offerings to our customers – that’s what we will be looking to do.” “I’ve had a lot of conversations with customers and partners in the last couple of days,” Calderon says. “I can say the conversations have been encouraging. They see it as a positive step, and they understand that getting rid of the debt burden can only be positive. Customers and partners have offered help, and we’re still closing deals. It’s business as usual.” He noted the company is seeking transparency throughout the process and wants to ‘get in front of’ the information flow, rather than allowing others to drive the narrative.

In a significant move for the video security market, BCDVideo has announced that it is set to become Dell EMC’s OEM partner in the video surveillance space. For nearly a decade, the Chicago-based company has been known as a key OEM partner of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), providing storage and networking technology to security integrators on a global scale. This latest partnership will allow BCDVideo to take their offerings to the next level. BCDVideo Vice President Tom Larson spoke to SourceSecurity.com to discuss the reasoning behind the deal, and how the programme will benefit partners, integrators, and end-users alike. Expanding BCDVideo's product offering For BCDVideo, the HPE OEM programme has been widely acknowledged as a success, allowing the company to leverage a globally recognised brand and provide high-quality, reliable solutions across video networking and access control. Nevertheless, explains Larson, HPE server solutions are primarily suited to large-scale enterprise projects, and are therefore unable to accommodate for the growth in small- and medium-sized surveillance applications. The global collaboration with Dell EMC will allow BCDVideo to open up a broader product offering, building on success in the larger enterprise market to offer tailored solutions to SMEs. Our aim is to look at all best of breed technology to serve the video surveillance marketplace, and that means multiple partnerships” Support for integrators By leveraging Dell EMC’s sophisticated digital storage platforms, BCDVideo will now be able to offer a more cost-effective solution to integrators, without sacrificing the resilience and IT-level service that BCDVideo is known for. With access to Dell EMC’s expansive global sales and technical teams, the company hopes to expand its reach, all-the-while providing partners with around-the-clock technical support and a five-year on-site warranty. Customers should be reassured that BCDVideo will continue to offer HPE platforms, service, and support. “Our aim is to look at all best-of-breed technology to serve the video surveillance marketplace, and that means multiple partnerships,” says Larson.  “The addition of Dell EMC to our portfolio is a major win for BCDVideo, for Dell EMC, and for our integrators.” The global collaboration with Dell EMC will allow BCDVideo to open up a broader product offering Meeting surveillance market demands At the technology level, assures Larson, Dell EMC’s server offering is well suited to handle the increasing video resolution and growing camera count demanded by the surveillance industry. At the larger end of the spectrum, the company’s Isilon Scale-Out NAS solution can handle tens of petabytes of data, making it ideal for large-scale security applications such as city-wide surveillance and airport security. Dell EMC storage solutions are already proving successful at major international airports including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, each with a camera count in the 1000s.Dell EMC and BCDVideo together are ensuring our customers get the right solutions designed for the surveillance market” For Dell EMC, the new partnership means the ability to expand on this success in the enterprise market, leveraging BCDVideo’s surveillance expertise and high-level customer service to offer tailored solutions for lower-volume applications. Since its inception, BCDVideo has differentiated itself in the security space by providing a high level of IT service to integrators making the transition to IP systems. By combining resources, the partners will be able to service VMS and analytics companies, software vendors, and access control providers, as well as traditional business integrators. Ken Mills, General Manager Dell EMC Surveillance, explains: “Surveillance storage is not just about capacity, it is also about performance and reliability. Dell EMC and BCDVideo together are ensuring our customers get the right solutions designed for the surveillance market.” Accomodating for growth BCDVideo is well placed to accommodate this anticipated growth. Last year, the company opened a new 51,000-square-foot global headquarters in Illinois, home to 90 separate stations within their Innovation Center where each system is customised according to integrator needs. The new facility allows for expanding business with new and existing partners in the security market.

Axis Communications, the global provider of intelligent surveillance technology, yesterday held the official launch of the new Axis Experience Centre in Luton. The event was a chance for Axis’ partners to meet with the senior management team and explore how the new centre operates, all the while celebrating the company’s 20th anniversary over a glass of champagne. The centre was officially opened by Axis Communications co-founder Martin Gren, along with Bodil Sonesson, the company’s VP of Global Sales. The toast was led by Atul Rajput, Regional Director, Northern Europe. As one of Axis’ first ever employees, Rajput was particularly well placed to thank partners for their collaboration over the last twenty years. As celebrations continued, SourceSecurity.com was lucky enough to join Axis’ partners in a tour of the new facility. Exploring the Axis Experience Centre What immediately became apparent was that this was no ordinary showroom. In contrast to open-space demonstration rooms traditionally favoured by the security industry, the Experience Centre takes end users on a flowing tour where they can experience Axis solutions in a variety of environments simulating real-world problems. The tour typically takes two hours, and is designed for small groups of people to allow in-depth discussion of the difficulties end users are facing. Atul Rajput (Regional Director, Northern Europe), Bodil Sonesson (VP, Global Sales) & Axis Communications co-founder Martin Gren officially open the Experience Centre Axis open platform solutions One highlight of the experience is the AXIS Camera Application Platform (ACAP), which allows partners to solve specific customer problems by downloading third-party applications to Axis IP cameras and encoders. Typical end user problems highlighted by the tour include queue management, people counting and intrusion detection. The solutions are all fully interactive – on passing through a gateway, an audio alert notifies participants that they are trespassing, while three participants standing in a given space can trigger air conditioning and ambient audio. The most immersive part of the experience is the ‘dark room’, which simulates all kinds of challenging lighting conditions including the intense backlight that may be experienced at a building entrance or window. On leaving the room, participants are shown how Axis’ WDR cameras capture extremely detailed images despite the challenging illumination. Other highlights include the networking centre, which demonstrates Axis hardware and third-party switches, and the VMS control room, which features a new user interface and can be integrated with intercoms, speakers, and access control systems. Smart solutions for businesses and cities The overriding theme of all areas of the tour is the emphasis on applications, not products. Rather than being directed to a particular product to suit a given vertical market, end users and installers are encouraged to discuss the real-world challenges they face, and explore how Axis solutions could work for them. In this way, enterprises, small-to-medium businesses and Smart City providers can all be catered for. The concept is already proving successful – over the last month, the facility has been in use every day!

Since renovation began in the 1990s, the Custard Factory in central Birmingham has grown into an important centre for the creative and digital industries, as well as a destination for leisure, retail and cultural activities. The 15-acre site, which in Victorian days was a pioneering centre for food and ingredients production, has been transformed into a thriving working community for hundreds of small businesses, benefiting from several phases of development. The Custard Factory now comprises multiple buildings in a vibrant city centre location, so the risks of petty crime must be planned for and the safety of users ensured. Upgrading to IP and wireless technology An ageing analogue video system at the Custard Factory was proving expensive to maintain and, without enough cameras, it was giving only limited coverage. An upgrade was needed but installation work had to take place without disruption to the many businesses at the site, so specialist integrator Unison Integrated Technology was asked to find the most suitable solution. Latest video tech from IDIS was selected because it provided the best image quality The latest video tech from IDIS was selected because it provided the best image quality, unrivalled usability and trouble-free installation with the ability to mix and match equipment. It also allowed existing infrastructure such as coax cabling to be incorporated, and by combining HD-TVI with the latest IP and wireless technology it enabled real-time monitoring in the control room without the need for complex and expensive civil works. IDIS IP cameras More than 60 new high-performance cameras have now been integrated into a leading-edge solution giving complete coverage of this diverse estate made up of the main Custard Factory Buildings, an open-air carpark, neighbouring external areas and the Fazeley studios. To protect the carpark and external areas, including historic archways, a mix of cameras has been used, including dome cameras with IR LED and wide dynamic range giving coverage in all lighting conditions. All IDIS IP cameras also benefit from IDIS Smart Failover technology which ensures continued video capture in the event of network instability or failure. DR-6316 H.265 NVR Video is streamed to the control room via a SilverNet wireless link, yet crucially there is no latency or lag on the images. These cameras are connected to a DR-6316 H.265 NVR, supporting 16 channels that utilises IDIS Intelligent Codec to minimise bandwidth and storage requirements. Thanks to IDIS true plug-and-play technology, Unison Integrated Technology installed new cameras without disruption At the Fazeley studios, which includes both indoor and outdoor facilities, a combination of IP and analogue bullet cameras, PTZs and domes are used.  And at the Custard Factory main buildings, four PTZ cameras, two fixed domes and 25 bullet cameras are connected to IDIS’s powerful DR-8364D recorder, which supports up to 64 channels with a super-fast 900Mps throughput. IDIS true plug-and-play technology Thanks to IDIS true plug-and-play technology, Unison Integrated Technology installed the new cameras without disruption or any need to stop trading during the work, which included working around operational restaurants and shops. At the purpose-built security control, room operators now have a complete view of the site, allowing them to replace inefficient patrols on foot with more frequent video tours. And the free IDIS Center video management system (VMS) makes it easy to operate the new, enhanced system incorporating third-party cameras, the HD-TVI analogue devices and the latest IDIS IP tech. High-resolution video surveillance With the new surveillance system and improved lighting in place visitors feel safer, particularly walking to and from the car park after evening events. The ability of the security team to monitor events real-time and respond to health & safety incidents is appreciated by event organisers using the Fazely venue. And police have been able to tackle petty theft more effectively thanks to the high-resolution video evidence which is now easily and quickly retrieved in order to tackle crime. The IDIS technology fully delivered on our requirements for an affordable, high-quality surveillance solution" The solution is flexible and scalable, with more cameras easily added as the Digbeth estate continues to evolve and expand. Custard Factory estate manager Simon Dunn says the upgrade has far exceeded expectations. IDIS video security system Simon says, “The IDIS technology fully delivered on our requirements for an affordable, high-quality surveillance solution covering our complete estate. The Unison engineering team delivered the project to the highest standard and they were considerate and respectful of our busy, live environment. I am very pleased with the result, both in terms of the quality of the images and the operation of the system, which is simple and effective.”

An upgraded public area CCTV solution using robust video capture technology from IDIS, Korea’s global surveillance technology provider, is safeguarding Leybourne in Kent against anti-social behaviour. The new system, designed and installed by iC2 CCTV, has allowed the parish council to work within a limited budget to deliver extended coverage, improved image quality and no data loss. Leybourne is a village with a strong community feel and an attractive rural character however, with good transport links to the nearby M20, residents were concerned about the risk of crime coming in from outside the area. Budget constraints also meant that data-streaming had to be capped and as a result video evidence was only being recorded part time Devise a solution Prior to the upgrade the village had limited public area surveillance based on outdated analogue technology, but it was proving costly to maintain and difficult to adapt to changing needs. Budget constraints also meant that data-streaming had to be capped and as a result video evidence was only being recorded part time. London-based integrator iC2 CCTV was consulted and asked to devise a solution that would work within the funds available. To achieve the lowest total cost of ownership, iC2 CCTV recommended installing the latest IDIS technology on a 5GHz point-to-point wireless infrastructure. At the heart of the new system is a powerful 64-channel, full HD NVR recorder – model DR-8364D – which offers the important advantage of flexible H.265/H.264 dual codec performance. This feature allows recording in high-definition H.265 but viewing on a variety of older screens using H.2264, so it means existing display equipment can be retained. Significantly improved protection A combination of 3-megapixel and 5-megapixel IDIS domes and bullet cameras mounted on lamp-posts in key locations gives significantly improved coverage and image detail. And IDIS Smart Failover provides the best guarantee against data loss: if Leybourne’s network connection is compromised for any reason, all recordings continue to be stored on SD cards within the cameras and are then automatically downloaded as soon as the connection is re-established. The IDIS technology together with the wireless network, installed over five weeks by iC2 CCTV without disrupting the village, gives Leybourne significantly improved protection without high ongoing costs. Unlike the old analogue system, recordings are now easily searchable with time/date stamped footage and the high definition image quality is ideal for use in investigations and as evidence. IDIS Smart Failover ensures that uninterrupted evidence is always retained in the event of transmission failures Excellent quality data IDIS Smart Failover ensures that uninterrupted evidence is always retained in the event of transmission failures, without the need for time-consuming manual data downloads from individual cameras. “This robust, new video system is proving very popular with Leybourne Parish Council and the community and enables us to provide excellent quality data and images for Kent Police and the local authorities,” stated the chairman of the Parish Council Bob Ulph. “It has already deterred a lot of the anti-social behaviour that councillors and residents were concerned about and is providing reassurance that any crime in the future will be dealt with.” More cameras can now be easily added, or the location of cameras changed as the need arises, says James Min, Managing Director, IDIS Europe, and the system is protected by the IDIS Ultimate seven-year warranty and the assurance that the technology will be forward-flexible to meet future needs.

Videotec has extended its range of cameras that include the new DELUX imaging and encoding technology. It can now be found in models designed for surveillance in the Marine and Oil & Gas sectors, and significantly improves the day and night vision and competitiveness of these products.  DELUX imaging and encoding technology After recently being integrated into the ULISSE COMPACT PTZ, DELUX technology is now available across the IP, PTZ and fixed cameras of the ex-proof and Marine lines, namely the MAXIMUS MPX, MVX AND NXPTZ. These models are well regarded on the market for their high-performance levels and operational efficiency in extreme environments and where there is a risk of explosion. DELUX technology brings increased light sensitivity, which means the cameras deliver very high-quality vision during the day or night, with clear high-definition images and incredibly well-defined colours – even in very low light conditions. The improved precision and image clarity provides immediate added value to outdoor surveillance applications Day/Night surveillance The improved precision and image clarity provides immediate added value to outdoor surveillance applications, especially in sensitive areas where the need to identify people, objects, moving vehicles and other events, day or night, is crucial. In addition to improved colour rendering and greater noise reduction, DELUX technology has brought new advanced PTZ performance, namely in the control of speed proportional to zoom and the management of Privacy Masking. High-performance solutions The DELUX technology has been developed end-to-end by Videotec’s R&D team and this has led to considerable reductions to the costs of these new camera models. Videotec’s DELUX products are therefore extremely competitive, and are complete high-performance solutions, reinforcing their prominent position in an increasingly demanding and selective international security market.

Total Ghana, a leading oil and gas company with over 200 service stations in Ghana, is one such business that needs around-the-clock security not only for its premises based in Accra but also for its many service stations. Total is dedicated to delivering quality petroleum products and serving its customers in innovative ways. This means Total’s consumer operations involve a concentration of vehicle and pedestrian activity with people fueling vehicles and moving between the retail outlets. This leads to complex security and safety challenges and keeping track of it all is not possible without an effective security system. Facilities and workers’ security With the continuing growth of its business, Total needed a solution that would strengthen security of its premises and new service stations being opened across the country. The safety of Total’s workers is paramount and, in addition to securing its premises and stations, the company wanted to automate the monitoring of its operations to ensure compliance with safety procedures. Total turned to Steehold, a security solutions provider in Ghana renowned for protecting companies across industries including financial services, mining, petrochemicals, and telecommunications. Steehold was tasked with not only installing a new security system but also ongoing security monitoring and management across Total’s operations in Ghana. Steehold’s video security system From the moment we engaged with Steehold, we knew they understood the security challenges facing our business" “From the moment we engaged with Steehold, we knew they understood the security challenges facing our business. For example, petrol stations operate day and night so video cameras need to provide excellent imagery in variable lighting conditions and we need to monitor areas both inside and outside. If cameras lack certain features, then the images they record may be insufficient for analysis, or for use as evidence, should it be required. Steehold knew how to combat these issues while also providing an effective monitoring tool for operational efficiency and worker safety,” explained Total executive. Steehold needed a video surveillance system that would cover Total’s premises and service stations from all directions and it knew exactly which solution would meet Total’s needs. IP video surveillance solution “We choose Hikvision as we knew its video cameras were grounded in innovation and quality, providing the best video footage in the widest range of conditions to help Total’s business,” said Samuel Tawiah, executive director, Steehold. Following extensive consultation with Total staff, the final design of the surveillance solution at the facility and new services stations consisted of 120 Hikvision IP cameras to enable high quality 24/7 surveillance across the Total’s premises and its new service stations in Ghana. Hikvision Easy IP 3.0 cameras and NVRs Hikvision Easy IP 3.0 cameras feature a wealth of innovative technologies to combat low-light, bright-light, and extreme weather conditions The Hikvision Easy IP 3.0 cameras feature a wealth of innovative technologies to combat low-light, bright-light, and extreme weather conditions, while still providing superlative image quality. The cameras also include capabilities such as object tracking, line crossing, intrusion detection, and motion detection, with the ability to trigger alerts and make security staff immediately aware of any suspicious behaviour. At the heart of the solution lies Hikvision’s NVRs, which store up to 12 terabytes of recorded footage from all cameras. IP cameras, PoE and video encoders While Total wanted to upgrade to an IP system, it had already invested heavily in CCTV cameras and wanted to retain the cameras that were functioning well. Steehold installed Hikvision’s video encoders which convert the existing cameras’ analog signals into digital. These encoders are connected to the NVR, and the system treats them like the other IP cameras. Steehold installed the IP cameras itself as the cameras are PoE (Power over Ethernet) which means that power and data is supplied over a single Ethernet cable, making installation much easier because they don't have to be located next to a plug socket. Hikvision remote video surveillance system Total is already reaping the benefits from the newly installed Hikvision video surveillance system Total is already reaping the benefits from the newly installed Hikvision video surveillance system. It provides the ability for Steehold to monitor Total’s entire facility and new services stations in real-time remotely from its control center located in Accra. “The deployment of Hikvision’s innovative technology into our surveillance solution for Total has proven essential for our security operators to detect intrusion, theft, and damage across Total’s operations. With crystal clear images day and night as well as advanced features that alert security operators of any suspicious behaviour, we are confident we can help Total respond quickly to any breaches,” said Mr. Tawiah. Watchful IP eyes for operational safety Hikvision’s video surveillance system also helps Steehold operators to remotely monitor processes across Total’s premises, enabling supervisors to enhance processes to improve workflow and ensure the safety of workers. “At Total, the safety of employees is of utmost importance. Data from Steehold generated by Hikvision’s video surveillance system plays an integral role in helping us keep our employees safe and our operations compliant with safety policies. It provides a definitive way to ensure safety policies are being followed and that there are no hazards presenting a harmful threat to our employees,” said Total executive. Intrusion detection Hikvision’s security cameras deliver a live and recorded view of the facility which is accessible 24/7 and has helped ensure safety protocols are followed By deploying Steehold’s security solution based on Hikvision’s video surveillance system, Total’s heightened security has kept its facilities and service stations protected against trespassers, theft, and vandalism, and in particular has minimised losses caused by theft in its service stations. In addition, Hikvision’s security cameras deliver a live and recorded view of the facility which is accessible 24/7 and has helped ensure safety protocols are followed. For example, it has significantly increased employee compliance with PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) rules at Total’s sites resulting in a direct and immediate improvement in safety. Easy, seamless integration Easy installation and integration with Total’s existing CCTV-enabled Steehold to deliver a cost effective, efficient, high-end video surveillance solution. Steehold is now planning to use Hikvision’s cutting-edge video monitoring systems as part of its security and emergency response solutions for its other customers, helping them minimise security threats and maximise operational safety and efficiency.

The historic village of Leybourne in Kent is situated closed to the M20 and benefits from easy access to London, the channel ports and the motorway network. It’s a village with a strong community feel and an attractive rural character, however good transport links can bring problems. Leybourne Parish Council was particularly concerned by the risk of crime coming in from outside the area and to protect the community from vandalism and anti-social behaviour and wanted a video surveillance system capable of deterring wrong-doers. IDIS HD IP video surveillance solution Leybourne already had limited public area surveillance, but the system used outdated analogue technology that was proving costly to maintain and difficult to adapt to changing needs. Budget constraints also meant that data-streaming had to be capped and as a result video evidence was only being recorded part time. London-based integrator iC2 CCTV was consulted and asked to devise a solution that would extend coverage, improve image quality and guarantee no data loss – and all that had to be achieved within the parish council’s limited budget. A combination of 3-megapixel and 5-megapixel IDIS domes and bullet cameras gives significantly improved coverage and image detail For significantly upgraded coverage, but with the lowest total cost of ownership, iC2 CCTV recommended installing the latest IDIS technology on a 5GHz point-to-point wireless infrastructure. At the heart of the new system is a powerful 64-channel, full HD NVR recorder – model DR-8364D – which offers the important advantage of flexible H.265/H.264 dual codec performance. This feature allows recording in high-definition H.265 but viewing on a variety of older screens using H.2264, so it means existing display equipment can be retained. A combination of 3-megapixel and 5-megapixel IDIS domes and bullet cameras mounted on lamp-posts in key locations gives significantly improved coverage and image detail. IDIS Smart Failover and H.265 technology Furthermore, IDIS Smart Failover provides the best guarantee against data loss: if Leybourne’s network connection is compromised for any reason, all recordings continue to be stored on SD cards within the cameras and are then automatically downloaded as soon as the connection is re-established. The IDIS technology together with the wireless network, installed over five weeks by iC2 CCTV without disrupting the village, gives Leybourne significantly improved protection without high ongoing costs. Unlike the old analogue system, recordings are now easily searchable with time/date stamped footage and the high definition image quality is ideal for use in investigations and as evidence. IDIS Smart Failover ensures that uninterrupted evidence is always retained in the event of transmission failures, without the need for time-consuming manual data downloads from individual cameras. More cameras can now be easily added, or the location of cameras changed, as the need arises.

AwardWallet LLC provides a free service that helps consumers manage and track loyalty programs, including air, hotel, car rental, and credit cards. AwardWallet also helps people keep track of award-program balances by accessing program balance information, aggregating data from the various loyalty programs, and then making the information easy to use for the card user. The company’s robust system tracks 432 loyalty programs, roughly four times more than any competitor. More than 82,000 active members depend on AwardWallet to manage over 15 billion miles/points representing $304 million in value. By notifying members when their balances change and before their points expire, members can stay on top of their travel assets with minimal effort. OneCard solution AwardWallet’s solution is the OneCard, a credit card-sized plastic card that lists up to 30 different loyalty program accounts on a single card The average AwardWallet member belongs to approximately 10 loyalty programs. Some belong to as many as 60. Before AwardWallet, carrying around cards and keeping track of the information for every loyalty program was burdensome and ineffective. AwardWallet’s solution is the OneCard, a credit card-sized plastic card that lists up to 30 different loyalty program accounts on a single card. The OneCard also has a magnetic strip that enables users to check in for flights at airport kiosks without using their ID or credit card. With the introduction of the OneCard and the rapidly growing user base, AwardWallet needed a way to print and encode these cards cost effectively and efficiently. FARGO Direct-to-Card printer/encoder AwardWallet found that with the DTC4500 printer, they could produce professional-quality, full-color ID cards with security encoding – all in one print transaction AwardWallet’s executives evaluated four printers, including HID Global’s FARGO Direct-to-Card (DTC) printer/encoder; the FARGO DTC4500 was recommended by AwardWallet’s security systems integrator, IDESCO Corp. AwardWallet found that with the DTC4500 printer, they could produce professional-quality, full-color ID cards with security encoding – all in one print transaction. In one pass, the device can print, encode, fluorescent print, and laminate security cards, single- or dual-sided, in less than half a minute per card. They also found the printer easy to use, and it integrates seamlessly with existing IT networks and databases. AwardWallet selected the FARGO DTC4500 printer for the following reasons: Ease of integration with existing system at AwardWallet. The DTC4500 printer’s software gives programmers control over all the features that the company would use, including setting controls for card printing and encoding, diagnostics, upgrades, audits and enabling printer security. Simple to use. AwardWallet provides its services to members with a staff of fewer than 15 people. Therefore, it was imperative that the printer be easy to use. The FARGO DTC4500 required only a few quick, simple steps. Low cost per print and fast print speed. When compared to the other three printers, the FARGO DTC4500 featured the best cost per print and was the most efficient, which was a critical factor for AwardWallet and their ability to meet the growing demand for OneCards. Ability to print on both sides of the card. Many members have so many loyalty programs that a one-sided card does not hold all their information. Dual-side printing was a must to serve AwardWallet’s clientele. Card printing Because AwardWallet is anticipating printing upwards of 10,000 cards per year, the best solution out there is the DTC4500 FARGO printer" “Because AwardWallet is anticipating printing upwards of 10,000 cards per year, the best solution out there is the DTC4500 FARGO printer,” said Andy Schonzeit, IDESCO Corp. “It’s a robust printer that can handle a large volume of card printing while still maintaining the highest quality.” “We’re growing rapidly and expect to hit 100,000 users by early 2012,” said Alexi Verschaga, co-founder at AwardWallet. “Our supply is quickly depleting, so we just ordered ten thousand more OneCards for our growing demand.” FARGO DTC4500 printer With the HID Global FARGO DTC4500 printer, AwardWallet can produce the new OneCard for their growing customer base, some of whom order two or three OneCards for the entire family. The FARGO printer can keep up with the demand for the OneCards at a low per-card cost, which also enables AwardWallet to continue offering the OneCard as a free value-added service, even as the company expands and keeps track of over 15 billion miles and points for its members. “Every time I use the printer, it blows my mind at how easy it is to produce the cards,” commented AwardWallet’s Alexi Vereschaga. “I quickly and easily print cards that not only look very professional but also contain the data that enables our clientele to manage their many loyalty programs.”

The ability to treat patients in a secure environment is a base requirement of hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Whether facilities are large or small, security challenges abound, including perimeter security, access control of sensitive areas, video surveillance, and even a long list of cyber-risks. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the security challenges of hospitals and the healthcare industry?