China Update (Part II): Ensuring Product Quality and Marketability through Stringent Control

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 7/23/2010 | Article type: Hot Topics

Users' buying behavior is not the only thing that has been changed by the economic downturn. Chinese manufacturers continue to lower their production cost with state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities while improving product quality and marketability through stringent control, increased R&D investments and value-added features. Branding becomes more important as vendors want customers to recognize that made-in-China products are not only affordable but are also of good quality.

More companies are developing IP-based technologies, including wireless alarm systems, 3-G surveillance, hybrid DVRs, NVRs and CCD megapixel cameras. Advances in components and transmission, such as intelligent pan/tilt mechanism in domes, lenses, dome cover optical designs and fiber optics, can also be seen.
The following eight Chinese companies are presented in alphabetical order.

Chuango Electronic
Chuango Electronic's current overseas sales account for roughly 60 percent of the overall revenue. Founded in 2001, the company's main products include wireless alarm monitoring systems and DIY alarm modules for residential installations.
Aside from its OEM sales, 90 percent of its revenue last year was generated from its own brand. Asia, Australia and the U.S. are its major overseas markets, with sales channels ranging from security system distributors and integrators to consumer electronics retailers.

Strategy and Core Competence
Chuango is ISO9001-certified and uses computer-aided surface-mount technology for mass production. High radio frequency is its core technology. “With more than 8 percent of our resources dedicated to R&D, we develop our own software and hardware,” said Ken Li, GM. The company is now focusing on developing 3-G network surveillance accessible via cellular phones. Reliability and ease of use make its products competitive in the residential segment. “Our four-channel wireless intelligent alarm system is SMS/GSM-enabled and complies with the requirements set by the International Mobile Equipment Identity,” Li said. “It can adapt to different countries' different network operations.”

Future Outlook
Smooth integration between video surveillance and intrusion alarm is critical in providing a reliable home solution. “We want to increase our product value and strengthen our brand name,” Li said. Chuango's resources will be allocated to R&D efforts in developing integrated video and alarm systems and market expansion plans.

Dahua Technology
Founded in 2001, Dahua Technology's overseas sales had a 50-percent growth rate in 2009. Currently, the company's overseas sales make up about a quarter of the overall revenue. NVRs, hybrid DVRs and megapixel network cameras are its latest offerings.

About 40 percent of the revenue is generated from its own brand, Dahua. Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe are its fastest growing markets, and public safety, finance, transportation, power plants and communications are its major verticals.

Strategy and Core Competence
R&D is highly valued. “Apart from partnering with reputable software companies, 10 percent of the company's revenue is earmarked for R&D every year,” said Michael Chen, GM for Overseas Business. Video/audio encoding and decoding, image processing, network transmission and control are the company's core competence. “We design our own chipsets and offer value-added products,” Chen said. “Our HDMI DVRs allow users to switch back and forth between regular TV channels and surveillance footage on a regular HDTV display. Remote smart-phone surveillance is also supported.”

Future Outlook
Dahua will continue to strengthen its place in the domestic market and expand its overseas market shares. “We will push forward our technology advancements and add more network capabilities to our portfolio,” Chen said. In China, Dahua's products have been deployed at the Three Gorges Dam, some Olympic venues and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit.

Eversafe Electronics
Eversafe Electronics was founded in 2002 and has been exporting surveillance-grade lenses to more than 20 countries. In 2009, 90 percent of Eversafe's revenue was generated overseas. The U.S. and Europe are its major markets, constituting about 50 percent of its overall sales. EverSafe, the company's own brand, made its debut this year, targeting small domestic residential installations.

Strategy and Core Competence
Megapixel varifocal lenses and IR day/night varifocal board-mount lenses are the company's key offerings in 2010. Every year, at least 30 percent of the revenue is dedicated to R&D. The company also actively collaborates with local universities and research facilities. “Our reputation was earned through our high-quality products and good customer services,” said Allan Cai, GM. “With capable R&D personnel and well-trained employees, our manufacturing process is efficient and yields less defective products.”

Future Outlook
In addition to furthering market penetration in the developed countries, Eversafe will explore more new markets. Increased collaboration with international R&D teams will also take place to increase product competitiveness.

“We want to extend our reach and create brand awareness, especially in the various
domestic markets and developing countries. South America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Africa will be our key regions to watch in 2010,” Cai said.

Fran M&E Technology Development
Fran M&E Technology Development has been manufacturing high-quality dome covers since 1998, one of the earliest Chinese manufacturers of camera housings and optical covers.

The company experienced growth in 2009, through increased exports. Partnerships with well-known international brands have also increased since 2008. “We aim to increase our OEM sales and strengthen our market share in the domestic market,” said Min-Zhong Pan, GM.

Strategy and Core Competence
Quality, product innovation and fast market response are the company's key strengths. With growing numbers of megapixel cameras and speed domes, 36x zoom optical dome covers are in demand. “Our dome covers ensure the best refraction angle for cameras,” Pan said. Covers can be tailor-made to be explosive-proof, pressurized for submarines or rugged for mobile applications such as high-speed trains. “In a fast-changing market, understanding customer needs helps us serve better,” Pan said.

Future Outlook
To keep its technology up-to-date, the company is partnering with a local university in Fuzhou. Improved internal management processes will further help the company expand its global market. Target regions include Japan, Korea, Europe and North America, with increased OEM sales. “We want

Hikvision Digital Technology
Established in 2001, Hikvision Digital Technology has moved from manufacturing mainly back-end devices such as DVRs and compression cards to developing network cameras. With R&D personnel taking up more than 43 percent of employee resources, the company's R&D investment over the next three years will exceed US$100 million. Hikvision is part of a 2010 Shanghai World Expo project, opening in May. “It's one of the single largest HD video surveillance installations, where more than 10,000 HD cameras are installed to secure the venues and the streets all around,” said Tony Yang, International Marketing Director. The company's major products help with the migration to IP, and its latest releases include 2-megapixel real-time CCD network cameras and embedded NVRs.

Strategy and Core Competence
Solutions with high system flexibility are often expensive, but Hikvision makes its products cost-effective. To allow for better image quality and accelerated product rollout, the company engineers its own image-processing algorithms and works with major suppliers of DSP chipsets. Global branding and local marketing strategies also make market penetration easier for Hikvision. “It's vital to meet user requirements and create confidence among our customers about our services,” Yang said.

Future Outlook
Banking on its R&D capabilities and advanced technologies, Hikvision is anticipating a higher growth rate in 2010, with the annual revenue expected to reach $400 million.

JEC Electronics Technology
Founded in 1995, JEC Electronics Technology's current overseas sales take up about 50 percent of its overall revenue. OEM and ODM sales are the company's main focus.

The U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Taiwan are JEC's major overseas markets, and city surveillance, traffic monitoring, airports and military installations are its key verticals.

Strategy and Core Competence
“We have 38 patented technologies that are crucial to product development, and each year we make more R&D investments,” said Jun Gao, Overseas Sales Manager. “With our own lab that generates all kinds of application scenarios, we are able to test and ensure product quality and reliability.”

JEC also teams up with a number of technology universities, research facilities and organizations to keep its offerings ahead of its competition. The all-in-one intelligent pan/tilt mechanism is JEC's core. “Our intelligent pan/tilt mechanism can operate under weight as heavy as 50 kilograms and as light as 3 kilograms,” Gao said.

Future Outlook
JEC will continue to advance its product developments and lower its production cost. Tracking with wireless technology for military installations is on the R&D road map. The company will also focus on increasing product compatibitliy between network cameras and 3-G networks.

OB Telecom Electronic Technology
Founded in 2000, OB Telecom Electronic Technology provides large-scale transmission solutions to the security market.Transportation and city surveillance are its major verticals overseas.

Its project references include the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and 2010 Shanghai Expo, and its customer base is growing fast in regions like Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the Americas.

Strategy and Core Competence
Transformed from the Fiber Optic Communication Technology Research Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, OB Telecom has the experience and R&D capabilities to stay competitive.

“To ensure product quality, all the components we use are carefully selected from quality suppliers. Close cooperation with universities and institutions allows us to keep our R&D team up-to-date with the latest technology,” said Jack Xu, Marketing and Sales Director of Overseas Business.

OB Telecom solutions cater to a wide range of user requirements. The company's customized solutions can transfer data signals through fiber optic cables over 120 kilometers. All products are designed to support point-to-point, drop-and-insert and fiber-ring topologies for harsh environments.

Future Outlook
The fiber-optic transmission platform and compressed and uncompressed transmission solutions for HD video are its major products in 2010. The company will continue its overseas market expansion with different approaches in different regions. “By strategically increasing our production quantities and diversifying R&D know-how, we could further satisfy a wider range of users around the world,” Xu said.

Sunell Technology
Founded in 2002, Sunell Technology exports to more than 87 countries. The company's major markets include the U.S. and Europe, and banks, airports and city surveillance as its major verticals. “We work with Sony's sensor division and use CCDs in our megapixel network cameras,” said Ann Wu, VP. The company's main products include box cameras, vandalproof domes, IR domes, noiseless portable reflex cameras and megapixel PTZ cameras. The company mainly sells through its own brand, Sunell.

Strategy and Core Competence
“With a good handle on 3A algorithms, we supply the market with the latest technologies such as low-lux, long-range IR, ultrahigh-resolution and sense-up cameras,” Wu said. With more than 90 professionals on the R&D team, the company practices the rational unified process developed by IBM to ensure product quality. All products are designed and manufactured in-house with carefully chosen CCD and DSP components. “All of our products undergo ISO9001 and ISO14001 quality control, and are compliant with RoHS, CMA, FCC and CE requirements,” Wu said.

Future Outlook
Sunell products are now ONVIF-compliant. “We also want to work with the PSIA so that our network cameras can be integrated with more solutions, Wu said.” The company will allocate more of its resources to software development as well.

Ethernet Expands Existing Infrastructure

Editor / Provider: The Editorial Team | Updated: 7/13/2010 | Article type: Tech Corner

Ethernet is compatible with all transmission data, thus allowing easy integration of separate devices into a single system. It maximizes existing cabling infrastructure to save costs.

Ethernet is picking up speed. “Markets in Asia Pacific and the Middle East are developing at a rapid rate, and the choice of transmission cabling is generally that which is most suited to the site,” said Corin Moorhead, Product Manager, COE. “Ethernet has become appealing for newer sites with existing Ethernet network cores.”

Ethernet can run on any cable used in a system design, said Sara Bullock, International Sales Director, AMG Systems. It can be used for video-only transmission as well as integrated solutions.

Using one transmission method helps regulate the overall system. “When all devices use Ethernet, it allows one server the ability to control and access all the devices,thus allowing for full integration of different systems,” said Ben Chiang, Product Manager, EtherWAN Systems.

Ethernet normally runs on either twisted pair or fiber. “The limitation with twisted pair is that the maximum transmission distance is 100 meters, whereas it is unlimited with fiber cable, depending on the transmission technology used.

Multimode fiber usually can transmit 100 megabits (Mb) up to two kilometers, and 1 gigabit (Gb) up to 550 meters,” Bullock said. Compression of data solves most
bandwidth issues.

Compression and Ethernet
With the advent of IP video, bandwidth has become an important consideration for deciding which wired transmission method to utilize, Moorhead said.

Video signals must be compressed, since Ethernet's maximum bandwidth is 10 Gb. “Because one video signal takes 140 Mb, the capacity is soon exhausted,” Bullock said.

Currently the most bandwidth UTP cables can carry is 1,000 Mb per second (Mbps); a common analog camera has about 10 MHz at most, while an uncompressed HD camera has about 1,300 Mbps, said Darius Lukocius, Sales Manager, EMEA, OT Systems. The quality of the transmission is affected because large files transmitted on limited bandwidth leads to signal compression and loss. “The only way to prevent this is to upgrade to a transmission medium with a higher bandwidth, such as from UTP to fiber optics.”

In terms of speed, Ethernet transfers data at fixed speeds of 10 Mb and 100 Mb, or 1 Gb and 10 Gb. Unless large quantities of video are injected into the cables, Ethernet poses no problems in terms of speed. But once large quantities of video are being transmitted, there will be some latency, and the switching will be delayed, Bullock said.

Ethernet Extenders
One of the biggest concerns when integrating transmission solutions is utilizing the existing infrastructure. This reduces waste, instead of removing the old wiring and replacing it with a new system. “An Ethernet extender can help utilize cables connected to analog devices,” Chiang said. “IP protocols from a network camera can be transformed to DSL, carried 2,400 to 2,600 meters over the existing commercial cable infrastructure and then converted back into Ethernet to be saved to an NVR.”

This technique allows for more flexibility when adding Ethernet to an existing installation. “If the existing cables were fiber cables, it would be extremely costly and time-consuming to extend the system using fiber cables,” Chiang said. “Additional issues come in the from of government limitations concerning placing cables underground, which must be done when installing fiber cable for a large project.”

An example of a large system would be traffic light controls, Chiang said. They rely on Ethernet extenders and emergency phone cables to transmit data, which helps save extra wiring costs.

PoE
PoE uses the same cables for video transmission to power devices, which saves on additional power cabling. “Power can come from a PoE injector or from a switch,” Bullock said.

The PoE market has grown 50 percent  annually since 2008, and is expected to reach 185.6 million PoE ports by 2011, according to an IDC report. The high power (IEEE 802.3at) PoE market has tripled annually since 2008, and is expected to reach a total of 34.3 million PoE ports by 2011, said Mike Liu, Product Director, Korenix Technology.

PoE switches transmit data and power to multiple devices plugged into the same switch. “High Power IEEE 802.3 at PoE standards is the current trend in the PoE market due to its ability to provide up to 30 watts power per port via network cables, along with the highest quality data,” Liu said.

Some points need to be considered when choosing a PoE switch. “Environmental conditions, reliability and available power are some of the key considerations in whether to use an industrial-grade PoE device over a commercial grade device,” Liu said. “There needs to be a wide operating temperature and rugged fanless design, vibration and shock resistance, as well as high-potential isolation protection for performing reliably in industrial environments.”

The voltage required for each application varies. “In a public transportation system, the power supply system is usually 24 V DC, which does not fall in the range of 44 V DC to 57 V DC, as defined by the IEEE802.3af standard,” Liu said.

In these circumstances, additional voltage transformers are needed. However, this may exceed cost and space limitations. “Being able to feed a wider range of power voltages from the power-sourcing equipment (PSE) would be the most direct solution,” Liu said. “This becomes another challenge for the PSE manufacturers to meet the needs of diverse industrial applications.”

Redundancy
If part of the transmission network fails, redundant systems automatically reroute signals. “Some Ethernet switches can provide a dual-homing ring technology to ensure that if one video path is compromised, transmission will automatically redirect to avoid the broken link, and ensure video fidelity remains,” Moorhead said. “Also, dual-redundant power supplies, optional dual-redundant fiber and Ethernet ports can help prevent signal loss.”

Signal compensation must be carried out to maintain acceptable amplitude and signal to noise ratio, Lukocius said. “However,for budget-conscious systems, redundancy is not always provided.”

Boosters, Repeaters, Amplifiers
Boosters, repeaters and amplifiers strengthen signals during transmission. “After a certain transmitting distance, signal repeaters need synchronization to regenerate the signals to proper amplitudes and for sending them to the other segments,” said Mark Wilson, VP of Marketing, Infinova.

They reduce noise, correct electrical characteristics and strengthen signals before retransmitting them to the next receiver, Lukocius said. For optical data, they can technically double the transmission distance. However, the actual distance depends on the data rate, cable capacity, connectors and splicing, since they weaken signals.

Generally, these devices do not alter data in any way and only serve to extend the distance of digital transmissions. This is how transmission distances of 40 kilometers and above can be achieved on a single-mode fiber cable. But for analog transmission, repeaters do influence the signal because every time the signal is boosted, noise is introduced into the system. “Hence, distances are limited because the signal-to-noise ratio above a certain distance is degraded so much that the original signal can not be retrieved,” Bullock said.

Challenges
Some of the biggest challenges for installers and integrators are the individual project sites. “The availability of infrastructure to support the type of media — conduits, cable trays, ladders and telecommunication spaces — as well as requirements of active components along the transmission links and time and
cost are all key considerations in choosing the right transmission solution,” said Thong Hsi, Division Manager, Integrated Communication Device, ST Electronics. “The system requirements may dictate the type of transmission media to be used, but the actual installation environment and scenario may otherwise present these challenges to the chosen transmission solution.”

It is crucial to calculate the transmission distance and how much data is to be sent to avoid signal loss. “The addition of repeaters and amplifiers can quickly rack up extra costs,” Chiang said. For mobile installations, flexible network cables are required to prevent them from breaking, said Michael Blottnicki, Business Development Manager, IP Video Systems, Europe, Plustek.

Future Outlook
Advances have been made in twisted pair cabling to ensure better signal. “Multichannel digital receiver hubs are used to fully and automatically equalize video signal loss due to cable attenuation. The result is that of a fiber-like signal being delivered to the recording and encoding equipment,” said Guy Apple, VP of
Marketing and Sales, Network Video Technologies.

As far as fiber optic transmission is concerned, it will be boosted by demand for streaming real-time high-resolution video. “This trend is brought by the increasing popularity of HD cameras,” Lukocius said. “Despite advancing compression technology, bandwidth is still a major restriction. To overcome this, fiber optics will be the best option.”

The move to megapixel and HD cameras require higher bandwidth for transmission. “The debate currently is whether video analytics should be placed at the camera point — the edge of the network — or if video signals should be transmitted uncompressed, thus retaining all the information in the image, back to the control room for analytics to be applied,” Bullock said. Transmission comes to the fore in the latter option, as uncompressed video requires more bandwidth.

Wired transmission continue to play an important role. “Wired and wireless transmissions have their respective places in the system, as well as advantages and disadvantages,” Wilson said. “It is important to match and balance the suitability of each option against the requirements of every project, in order to achieve an optimal solution that is economically viable to the users.”

Wireless Performance by Design

Editor / Provider: Submitted by Firetide | Updated: 6/23/2010 | Article type: Tech Corner

Transmission cabling can be tricky, which makes wireless video deployments attractive. Ksenia Coffman, Senior Marketing Manager for Firetide, discusses wireless mesh projects that deliver wired performance.


Wireless mesh networks are receiving more attention from the security industry. They allow security integrators to deploy network infrastructure where wire — cable or fiber — is either impossible or cost-prohibitive. But how do integrators achieve the performance they've come to expect from the wired networks?


This article provides tips and ideas on how to turn wireless projects into rock-solid deployments delivering wire-like performance for security applications.


Security deployments, especially in mission-critical situations, require high frame rates. Today's wireless networks based on 802.11n radios enable high throughput to support high-definition or megapixel cameras, so users don't have to settle for 5 or 10 fps. While fixed WiMAX systems deliver about 20 to 30 Mbps of capacity for the point-to-multipoint (PtMP) sector, MIMO 802.11n systems can deliver up to 300 Mbps of real-world capacity.


Law enforcement agencies require evidence-grade video for forensic investigations and prosecutions. Areas with fast motion such as intersections require 30 fps video at 4CIF resolution, even in nonlaw enforcement applications.


Unlike data applications which do not suffer from occasional delay and dropped packets, real-time streaming applications are sensitive to latency, jitter and dropped packets. If the wireless network is low performing, the resulting video will be pixelated or frozen, while excessive latency will prevent monitoring staff from operating PTZ cameras in real time. A wireless system must provide low latency, low jitter and end-to-end quality of service to make sure that delay-sensitive transmission receives priority.


Challenging Environments
Point-to-point (PtP) and PtMP systems require tall assets to place the base station in every sector of coverage. These systems will not be the right solution if the tall assets cannot be secured in sufficient quantities, such as rooftops of privately owned buildings. The same challenge applies to industrial facilities. Deploying mesh, with its ability to repeat the signal through a series of nodes, can be an alternative to constructing towers.


In dense urban environments, even with access to rooftops, the topology of urban canyons is such that you cannot achieve line-of-sight (LoS) from the rooftops to all the camera locations, which requires installers to go street level. Cities require street-level coverage with multihop, which can only be delivered by a mesh topology.


Compared to PtP and PtMP systems, mesh extends the reach of the network beyond the first hop. Wireless systems eventually run out of usable spectrum to achieve a clear LoS. At frequencies of 2.4/4.9/5 GHz, they are forced to radiate from at least one high point. This fills the airwaves with a chosen band of frequencies, which are limited.


Mesh avoids this issue by isolating the RF signal. Radios are typically mounted on street poles where the RF can be directed between buildings and trees in a given pathway back to a final destination, through a series of repeater nodes in a multihop configuration. Because the frequencies can be reused along the path, the limitations of PtP and PtMP solutions do not apply.


Cost Savings
Mesh is a superset of the available wireless topologies: PtP and PtMP. The best feature of mesh radios is that they are flexible in their configuration, whether as mesh, PtP, PtP daisy chaining (also called linear mesh) or PtMP. Having one piece of equipment not only simplifies installation and configuration, but is also great for sparing. Both are efficient and cost saving.


In an ironic but true statement, wireless mesh is sometimes not true mesh. The actual deployment topologies in the field vary greatly. Most often the end result is a "partial" mesh: some redundant links, some PtP and PtMP, and some linear mesh. An example of linear mesh would be mesh nodes strung together to reach into a neighborhoods or go alongside a key thoroughfare, which mostly used when the budget does not allow for 100 percent coverage of a given area.


Infrastructure mesh is not "Wi-Fi mesh" that went mainstream during the municipal Wi-Fi boom. With omnidirectional antennas and with an access point (AP) built in for client access, these devices were designed for low-bandwidth data.


The most advanced infrastructure for video is "infrastructure mesh." This features dual-radio IP infrastructure designed from the ground up for real-time high-bandwidth applications: voice, video and data. Trying to fit mesh APs in a video surveillance space is often a recipe for disaster. It requires many more mesh nodes in a given area, expensive wireless or wired backhaul and more complex network design.


Real-Time Mobile Video
Recorded video is fine for investigations after the fact. However, a real-time view into unfolding situations or the ability to know what's ahead is what transit agencies and industrial companies look for. Mobile real-time video is the wave of the future for city-wide public safety, industrial sites, campus environments, mining and transportation.


When applications need the ability to maintain real-time connections between fixed and mobile nodes moving at high speeds — without dropping packets and introducing latency or jitter — only wireless mesh will fit the bill. Wi-Fi access client mobility is enough to support noncritical low-bandwidth data, but is not sufficient to deliver real-time video streaming. Similarly, users cannot implement mobility with PtMP equipment, because the central command-and-control architecture does not allow for roaming. Mesh can support mobility with its distributed architecture and built-in intelligence, even for roaming across multiple meshes.


Considering Wireless?
Wireless can be as robust, secure and reliable as any wired infrastructure. For integrators, they should definitely look into wireless infrastructure or risk being outbid on a project. For end users, a properly implemented wireless system will save expense, time and headaches. The key is "properly implemented," so users should look for experienced integrators and perform due diligence on their technology of choice.

Avigilon HD Surveillance Kept Watch Out at Vancouver Winter Olympics

Editor / Provider: Avigilon | Updated: 6/22/2010 | Article type: Government & Public Services

Avigilon , a provider of HD and megapixel video surveillance systems, announced the City of Vancouver deployed its HD surveillance system during the 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to provide situational awareness to city-emergency-management staff and the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) in their effort to maintain public order and safety at the main pedestrian corridors in the city's downtown core while respecting the privacy of individuals.


Facing an influx of millions of visitors during the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, the City of Vancouver recognized the need for a real-time situational awareness tool that could provide all agencies with an up-to-the-minute view of what was going on in key areas of the city, including Granville Street, Robson Street and Hamilton/Mainland Street in the city's entertainment district.


"The Avigilon HD surveillance system is a powerful, flexible and scalable end-to-end surveillance solution that gave us a bird's-eye view of the downtown core during the Olympic Games, unobtrusively delivering the situational awareness we needed to ensure public order and safety while maintaining privacy rights," said Kevin Wallinger, Director of Emergency Management for the City of Vancouver. "With the Avigilon surveillance solution in place, we gained faster access to critical information that we used to mitigate potentially difficult situations."


Robson Street, Granville Street, and Hamilton/Mainland Street corridors in downtown Vancouver were monitored 24/7 using the Avigilon HD surveillance system. At the Granville corridor, 14 5-megapixel Avigilon HD cameras, two 11-megapixel cameras, and two 16-megapixel cameras were installed at intersections for maximum situational awareness while PTZ cameras were connected to 11 Avigilon analog video encoders for improved performance. At Robson Street and Hamilton/Mainland Street, a 5-megapixel HD camera along with additional PTZ cameras connected to 20 Avigilon analog video encoders were wirelessly connected to several city-owned facilities where fiber infrastructure was available. The City also installed six 5-megapixel HD dome cameras with integrated IR illumination and nine PTZ cameras connected to three Avigilon analog video encoders at two additional Olympic live entertainment sites. These installations were connected to the network via the City's fiber backbone.


Emergency Operations Centre staff managed the Avigilon HD surveillance system using Avigilon control senter network VMS (NVMS) with HD stream management on five workstations and stored up to 21 days of footage on four servers. Additional workstations were set up at the Vancouver Police Department and the City of Vancouver Transportation Operations Centre for added monitoring.


The Avigilon HD surveillance system delivered full situational awareness to the City of Vancouver and VPD at key sites during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, leading to improved communication between all agencies and the most strategic and effective crowd management possible. With clear access to real-time and archived events, the City was able to respond strategically to incidents and deploy only the necessary resources required, resulting in better public control and cost-savings. Managers also enjoyed faster access to critical information, receiving information at least 30 minutes faster than before to proactively mitigate situations much more effectively than before. Avigilon's flexibility, scalability, and intuitive software met the challenges of a complex and time-sensitive project, and could be easily adjusted to meet new requirements on the fly.

Taiwan Update (Part I): Advancing with Customized Solutions and IP-based Technologies

Editor / Provider: a&s International | Updated: 6/21/2010 | Article type: Hot Topics

Despite the global financial crisis, Taiwanese manufacturers continue to deliver quality IP-based technologies. While each company has a unique approach to R&D and marketing, the emphasis is on solutions. More companies offer customized solutions with easy installation and maintenance.


Video surveillance providers are developing 1.3-, 2- and 3-megapixel network cameras. Stand-alone NVRs and mobile DVRs now support 3-G remote surveillance. Ethernet transmission devices, wireless and RFID technologies enable better communication between security devices, so they work together as an integrated whole.


While more Taiwanese companies emphasize branding, OEM/ODM still plays an important role for many. Tailored solutions, innovative technologies and localized service are essential for their continued success.


The following 10 Taiwanese companies are presented in alphabetical order.


AcutVista Innovation
With a strong background in analog speed domes, AcutVista Innovation is progressing toward IP-based technology. The company completed its IP product line in 2009. This development is expected to yield 50-percent sales growth for 2010.


AcutVista targets the high-end market, serving applications such as public safety, transportation, banks, health care and mobile surveillance. The U.S. and Europe are its main markets for IP-based solutions, along with developing countries.


Strategy and Core Competence
With strong know-how in speed domes, AcutVista is applying its expertise to megapixel network speed domes. "We want to offer our customers total solutions, and we are one of the few manufacturers who can produce network speed domes with megapixel technology," said Ron Hsu, Chairman. Its latest releases are full HD (1920 x 1080) network cameras, 1.3-megapixel network cameras, speed domes with up to 37x optical zoom and stand-alone NVRs. Two-megapixel network cameras will soon be released, while video encoders and embedded NVRs will be ready by 2011.


Future Outlook
Branding will be a focus. "OEM and ODM was our business model in the past," Hsu said. "Starting from 2010, we will focus on branding and only providing OEM service to large companies. Our goal is to sell all products through our own brand by the end of 2011."


To advance its technology developments, 80 percent of the company's staff are dedicated to R&D. "Each year, we will invest 50 to 60 percent into R&D to keep up with the latest technology," Hsu said. "Offering total solutions is our goal."


AVTECH
AVTECH has provided cost-effective video surveillance solutions worldwide since 1996. With its own brand established in 2007, 50 percent of its 2009 sales came from branded products, with the rest from OEM sales. About 90 percent of sales were generated overseas. Southern and Western Europe, Southeast Asia and India, and the Americas are its major markets. Sales were only slightly affected by the global economic downturn in 2009. The company expects 15 to 20 percent growth this year.


Strategy and Core Competence
AVTECH strengthened its analog product line with IVS DVR systems and intelligent 3-G DVRs. It also offers total IP-based solution featuring management software for up to 96 channels, with remote surveillance capabilities.


"We develop our own ASIC, and our SoCs are of good quality. All products are designed in-house with a unique electrical board design," said Andy Lee, CCTV Product Marketing Manager. AVTECH will expand its reach from mid-end markets to higher-end markets, with its network camera line and IVS DVR systems.


Future Outlook
The company adopted a solution and project-based approach in 2010. Software development will be a focus, with the establishment of the Business Unit team. Branding is a long-term goal for AVTECH. "Our goal is to have over 70 percent of sales generated from our own brand," Lee said.


BrainChild Electronic
Founded in 1977, BrainChild Electronic has focused on the production of industrial instruments for more than 30 years. The company entered the security market in 2009 and remains true to its philosophy of high-quality products.


Targeting the high-end market, its 2-megapixel network camera with real-time streaming will be ready this month. The camera is suited for factories, office buildings and homes.


Strategy and Core Competence
With a strong focus on R&D, BrainChild has dedicated more than 30 percent of its staff to R&D. Both software and hardware are developed in-house.


Software development is its R&D strength. "We are good at developing video surveillance total solutions. Our SDKs and APIs are well-documented and ready for customers to integrate with existing systems," said Vic Liao, Sales Manager.


Future Outlook
The company plans to complete its video product line with low-light and WDR cameras, along with high-resolution cameras. "Video servers and NVRs will be released," Liao said. "Intelligent features such as LPR and behavior detection will also be added."


The U.S., Europe and China will be its target markets for 2010. "We will go through our existing channels and explore more businesses," Liao said.


Brickcom
Founded in 2009, Brickcom started its export business right away.
The company's overseas sales currently make up about 95 percent of its revenue. All sales are from branded products, with orders from the U.S., Europe, Africa and Asia. Brickcom's product portfolio includes both wired and wireless network cameras, video servers, NVRs, and networking and camera accessories. Residential, commercial and industrial environments are its targets. The company offers 1.3-megapixel network cameras and 2-, 3- and 5-megapixel network cameras will be released by the end of 2010.


Strategy and Core Competence
High- to mid-end markets are the company's targets. System design is the company's core technology, with both hardware and software developed in-house.


"We want to make our products with the best quality. Coming from a strong networking background, our parent company OEMs to large international network communication companies," said Ebony Huang, President and CEO. "Now, we are making our surveillance products with the same philosophy and satisfying different user needs with a wide range of products."


Future Outlook
Brickcom emphasized solutions and services for its 2010 goals. It will expand its product line with more megapixel cameras. To improve system performance, it plans to use better CPUs with more processing power. "We will continue to establish our brand recognition worldwide," Huang said. "To make this happen, services will be a key strength. Our goal is to be one of the top five video surveillance companies in the world."


Climax Technology
Climax Technology has a long tradition of international business since 1985. With Northern America and Europe as its largest overseas markets, the company sells solely through its OEM business. Climax offers customized solutions for specific customers and market needs. The company provides video verification, which enables real-time remote monitoring. For health care, the company makes professional wireless medical alarm systems with two-way voice communication quality, showing its commitment to integration. Climax enjoyed 6-percent sales growth in 2009 and expects 15-percent growth this year.


Strategy and Core Competence
Climax's core competence is in wireless technologies, such as RF, ZigBee and Z-Wave. The R&D team makes up about one-third of its staff. "Climax fully supports the growth and advancement of its R&D team by expansion and continuous training," said Michael Chang, CEO. The company has shipped products with IP-based and GSM technologies for more than two years, serving home security needs. Targeting the high-end market, Climax will develop more value-added features. "We are focused on product quality much more than just price competition," Chang said. "We offer total solutions with advanced value-added features. All of our products are made by standard production procedures."


Future Outlook
Climax will focus on technology integration, such as home automation systems integrated with power meter reading. Energy efficient solutions will be a growing trend. "We will continue to strengthen our existing partnerships in North America and Europe, while actively expanding our markets worldwide," Chang said.


DynaColor
DynaColor started out in high-end automatic optical inspection systems in 1991. Based on its technical know-how, its surveillance business was launched in 2000. About 85 to 90 percent of its current sales are from OEM contracts. In 2009, the company maintained steady growth. This year, the company expects more than 20-percent growth. The U.S. is its major export market, along with Europe and the Asia Pacific region.


Strategy and Core Competence
Banking on its solid R&D capabilities, DynaColor continues to develop advanced video surveillance solutions. Its main products for 2010 included 3-megapixel cameras, analog and network high speed dome cameras, D1 real-time recording and playback DVRs with 1080p display output. "Our goal is to develop cost-effective products. We have more than 40 percent of the company's staff dedicated to R&D," said Caroline Kuan, Marketing Specialist. "Each year, DynaColor invests more than 10 percent of our revenue for R&D."


Future Outlook
In the future, DynaColor will develop DVRs to reach full HD resolution, compliant with the HDMI 1080p standard. Its DVRs will stream real-time footage at 30 fps with D1 resolution. "We will develop WDR and noise reduction into full range of network cameras," Kuan said. "We will also develop 5- and 10- megapixel network cameras with storage for large-scale installations." The company has global aspirations. China, India,


South America, South Africa and the Middle East will be its target markets for 2010.


EtherWAN Systems
EtherWAN Systems has a global outlook, with headquarters in both the U.S. and Taiwan. Founded in 1996, the company has been successful in intelligent transportation systems. EtherWAN provides complete solutions for IP-security networks, from luxury rooms to unshielded harsh environments. The company is involved in renewable energy, smart grid, oil and mining, fiber-to-the-home and factory automation.


The company enjoyed 20-percent growth in 2009 and expects 25- to 30-percent growth this year. Africa, Australia and the Asia Pacific region are its fastest growing markets.


Strategy and Core Competence
Customization is key. "To make products suitable for a wide range of installations, we developed application-specific functions," said Laurence Lin, Executive VP. "For example, users require PoE and DC-to-DC converters for rolling-stock installations." About 30 to 35 percent of its staff is devoted to R&D.


The company emphasizes flexibility with its all-in-one switch. It integrates PoE with an Ethernet extender to allow transmission over fiber optics, phone lines and coaxial cables.


Future Outlook
EtherWAN is developing its own brand, expecting to generate 40 percent of sales from branded solutions. "Critical infrastructure installations in the EMEA regions will be our focus," Lin said. "Compact devices designed for mobile surveillance will be a trend."


An application lab was established this year to perform product tests for specific verticals. "Value-added products are increasingly needed in surveillance installations. To satisfy this requirement, we make tailor-made products for specific installations," Lin said.


EverFocus Electronics
With 15 years of experience in video surveillance technology, EverFocus Electronics continues to grow. The company is migrating toward IP-based technology from its strong background in analog solutions. The U.S. is its biggest worldwide market. "We are considered as one of the top eight companies in the U.S., with DVRs generating the most revenue," said Andy Chen, Director, Brand Global Business Development. Russia, Japan, Africa and the Middle East are also major overseas markets. In the first quarter of 2010, the company already enjoyed 20 to 30 percent growth.


Strategy and Core Competence
Brand recognition is important for EverFocus. "Branding helps distributors know where to place our products in a competitive market," said Chen. "Currently we are serving mainly the mid-end customers, and our goal is to serve the higher-end market."


Its 2010 product releases include HDcctv-compliant analog solutions, with HD cameras and H.264 mobile DVRs. For network solutions, it also produced network cameras, CMS and NVRs that comply with ONVIF and PSIA interoperability standards.


Future Outlook
EverFocus will consider ODM in the future, along with its own-brand sales. Mobile cameras that are explosion-proof with GPS and Wi-Fi functions are in development.


Taiwan Batag
Taiwan Batag, with more than 10 years of professional RFID experience, was founded from established barcode and telecom companies. Despite the global economic downturn, the company enjoyed slight growth in 2009 and expects the same for this year. Europe and the U.S. are its largest markets.


Providing fast service is a goal for Taiwan Batag. The company has local sales and support agents in the U.K. and US distribution channels to quickly respond to its OEM customers.


Strategy and Core Competence
Taiwan Batag carefully studies the latest technology trends to develop the best solution, such as its most recently launched UHF tags. Antennas in readers and RFID tag packaging are its core competence. "To produce innovative products, we participate in seminars and continue to look for new materials," said Windy Wang, Overseas Sales Manager.


Price and quality are managed well. "Other than narrowing margins and keeping system quality, we try to simplify production process and look for quality materials with lower costs," Wang said.


Future Outlook
Taiwan Batag will develop advanced technology to increase its market share. "We are developing UHF tags used on metal tools for long-range detection," Wang said. "Solutions designed for the textile industry will need slim and laundry-washable UHF tags. Anti-fraud tags are also on their way."


Yuan High-Tech
Yuan High-Tech, established in 1990, has an extensive track record. It designs, develops and manufactures high-quality DVR and TV tuner cards, along with MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 encoders and decoders. Targeting the worldwide markets, Yuan is experience in OEM and ODM sales. "We do not sell through our own brand because our goal is to fully support our clients and be the best partner for surveillance manufacturers," said Wendy Lin, Sales Director, Surveillance Business Unit.


Strategy and Core Competence
Yuan's R&D focus is image quality. All of its hardware, software and firmware are developed in-house with well-documented APIs for easy integration. "With a solid background in TV technology, we offer high-quality image capture and process at an affordable price," Lin said.


Yuan will advance its DVR capture card technology for its product line up in 2010. "Our 3-D DVR capture cards enable to improve image quality with lower power consumption," Lin said. "The WDR correction and advanced algorithms reduce noise and save storage space up to 30 percent."


Future Outlook
Yuan plans to increase production of PC-based DVR boards for industrial applications. The company will continue developing its image technology. "Other than surveillance related developments, TV tuner cards and AOI technology will also be our R&D focus spots," Lin said.

Southeast Asia Embarks Upon IP

Editor / Provider: Submitted by Ademco and Prisma Bytes | Updated: 5/19/2010 | Article type: Hot Topics

Singapore and Malaysia, two of the leading economies of Southeast Asia, are rapidly embracing IP. Demands for security are increasing, and hybrid systems have become more popular in the last year. IP-based products are now widely available and increasingly affordable.


Singapore
According to financial reports, Singapore's GDP is expected to grow 5 to 6 percent this year. However, most companies seem to be recovering from a sharp drop in business, rather than experience any actual growth.


Security tends to be more resilient, or at least less turbulent, than other industries. In spite of this, a look at the industry shows that few security companies are expecting significant growth for 2010.


Small businesses are suffering the most. Similarly, smaller security businesses are facing extreme pressure. It is not uncommon to see a significant number of them closing shop. At the same time, mergers and acquisitions should be happening among medium to large players, as the security market consolidates. These happenings will occur as they did during the 1997 and the early 2000 recessions.


Vertical Markets
Singapore is a global city, and like others, it is subjected to the threat of global terrorism. This will continue to be a key factor for governments around the world to continue to spend on infrastructure protection. During and after a recession, crime rates tend to rise. These factors have an undeniable impact on the security market.


Importantly, the government’s push for greater productivity will urge companies to review and reinvest more in systems and managed services for greater ROI and lower TCO. In this way, the security market will benefit. In particular, security companies with strong technological and service offerings will improve.


Infrastructure projects such as oil and gas, transportation and education are growing vertical markets in Singapore.


The tourism industry is booming, with the Resorts World Sentosa currently embarking on the project’s final phase. Security requirements for the gaming industry are extremely stringent and demand sophisticated electronic systems.


Due to its size, complexity and the variety of components and equipment used in the Resorts World Sentosa operations, traditional security systems were not suitable. The resorts include hotels, casinos, retail chains, and a world-class theme park, among other leisure offerings. The project has more than 1,000 readers and several thousand sensor points, with complex high-level integration to many subsystems and operating systems within. The complete solution is also designed for almost 100-percent uptime, redundancy and resilience.


Product Needs
By product, video surveillance will grow roughly 30 percent. Access control and electronic locks follow, growing at 25 percent and 15 percent respectively. Access control systems will see more growth in the mid-end market, whereas electronic locks will grow in high-end markets. Intrusion alarms, public address and intercoms should grow at 15 percent, and mostly in the high-end sector.


IP infrastructure is growing fast. Singapore is currently building a new nationwide high-speed broadband network. This will mean easier implementation of IP-based security devices and a wider market acceptance. Currently, IP-based security systems are already out performing analog systems in growth. Going forward, as price lowers and more standards formalize, IP-based systems will continue to grow.


Even in newer markets such as China, security providers are utilizing secured IP networks to transmit alarms, video and data. This is sometimes done over a distance of thousands of kilometers. However, vendors and users in developed economies such as Singapore, tend to be skeptical and have not fully harnessed this yet.


Two barriers remain for the full embrace of IP-based systems in Singapore, and likely all of Asia. The first is a product problem. Although there are many IP-based products in the market, not all are created equally. The extreme technical details, in why one product performs so differently from another, are something users generally cannot understand. The standardization of video quality, together with grading or surveillance-specific certification, will help users choose appropriate products.


The second problem is the cost of network bandwidth. An industry expert once said, "Telecommunications providers build networks like highways; they charge you a price to get into a traffic jam." In reality, a secure and dedicated IP network is still very expensive. Telecommunications providers are still unable to provide good bandwidth for video at an affordable cost in most countries. That has restricted the growth of IP-based solutions within a LAN environment.


Malaysia
The expectations and awareness of security have increased across the globe, and the potential of growth is very positive. Demand for security systems is greater now than the past two years, and it is forecasted to grow at a rate of 13.5 percent from 2010 to 2011.


Major contributors will be government, especially homeland security and city surveillance, and commercial, particularly for gated communities and high-end hotels. The Malaysian government has invested a great deal of effort in enhancing homeland security, to improve public confidence and safety.


"In the next two years, the video surveillance market will see more IP-based and hybrid systems. The potential growth for analog providers is still present; however, the percentage of growth will not be great compared to those who focus on IP-based systems," said Carerina Yap, GM of Prisma Bytes. Nowadays, people are very open to IP-based video surveillance, as the features and functionalities are better, and the reliability, higher.


There are many IP-based products available on the market, even for smaller applications such as home and retail. Systems are becoming more affordable. Enterprise level video surveillance is becoming more robust than ever before, with flexible system capabilities and lower TCO compared to analog systems. Hybrid systems are a popular option for upgrading systems, as they allow the majority of the system to still be maintained.


Finally, intelligent video surveillance is in the spotlight, as needs are increasing. Video analytics drive the surveillance software market forward. It is becoming very useful in public safety, aviation, perimeter protection, naval-base protection and border protection.

Optelecom-NKF Fiber Optics Connect Singaporean Metro Stations

Editor / Provider: Optelecom-NKF | Updated: 5/14/2010 | Article type: Infrastructure

The city-state of Singapore is one of the wealthiest and most densely-populated nations in the world. Its MRT rail network forms the backbone of the city's public transport system. The government is currently expanding the network through the introduction of the Circle Line (CCL), a fully-underground orbital line connecting all the MRT routes into the city, at a cost of US$6.7 billion.


Set for completion in 2010, CCL will be 33.3 km long with 29 stations. Its purpose is to cut traveling time by enabling commuters to bypass busy interchanges.


The primary goal of the Land Transport Authority of Singapore is to provide the population of around 4.5 million, plus its 10 million yearly visitors, with a safe, efficient, and comfortable means of public transportation.


On completion, the CCL is expected to carry around 500,000 commuters. It will also be used by a large volume of tourists, the numbers of which are anticipated to increase with the imminent opening of two new integrated (casino and theme park) resorts in the city.


With such a high passenger flow, the monitoring and management of crowd control is of paramount importance. The Singapore government is also dedicated to countering potential terrorist threats to the country across its infrastructure. To address these issues, an extensive surveillance system has been installed incorporating Optelecom-NKF's fiber optic transmission equipment.


Singaporeans are extensive users of public transport and proud of their world-class system. CCL therefore requires state-of-the-art security equipment. Singapore Technologies Electronics, the system integrator for the surveillance project, chose Optelecom-NKF as an integral supplier for the system.


Optelecom-NKF will be responsible for providing the fiber optic transmission system within each of the CCL stations. The units will relay the collected video, data, and alarm signals from the surveillance cameras to each of the station control rooms. The project involves the deployment of four-channel digital video multiplexers, transmitters and receivers, which will connect the surveillance security system while maintaining high picture quality at all times.


For such a high-profile installation, the customer needed to have complete confidence in their suppliers. Optelecom-NKF met this expectation through its reputation for product reliability and by demonstrating technical support and local knowledge.


The project also demanded short lead times for installation, which Optelecom-NKF was able to meet as a result of close cooperation between its regional office and the factory.

Managing Video and Power on One Source

Editor / Provider: The Editorial Team | Updated: 5/10/2010 | Article type: Tech Corner

As video surveillance increasingly adopts IP-based technology, more advanced functions and features are needed in data transmission. Transmission devices such as PoE switches are being built as the backbone for IP-based surveillance. A&S takes a look at its latest technology developments and future trends.


The use of PoE switches in surveillance infrastructure provides a cost-effective solution. Video and power can be streamed on the same Cat-5 cable, making system inspection and maintenance easy.


PoE switch applications range from correctional facilities, substations, railways, airports, maritime installations, factories, building automation projects to intelligent transportation systems.


An Infonetics report found the worldwide Ethernet switch market dropped 26 percent in the first quarter of 2009. All switch port shipments were down during this period, but demand still grew for 1-Gigabit PoE switches, 10-Gigabit layer 3 fixed managed switches and 10-Gigabit chassis switches. With improved technology and a recovering market in 2010, switch providers are expecting more growth.


In general, there are no specific rules or regulations governing system designs. However, there are mandated specifications for systems in different verticals. "Manufacturers with extensive industry experience should understand each industry's know-how and acquire the necessary certifications and approvals," said Joe Lai, Field Applications Engineer, EtherWan Systems.


Technology
The number of PoE ports per switch range from six, eight, 10, 12, 24 to 28 ports. "An example of port combination for an industrial-grade switch is 24 100-Mbps ports with four 1000-Mbps ports," Lai said.


Customized solutions can offer a mixture of copper, PoE, fiber-optic and Gigabit ports in one switch. As many as 12 small form factor pluggable (SFP) fiber ports can be included in one switch. "Switches with fiber-optic ports are often used in large industrial deployments where the network is large," said Stephen Tseng, Manager, Ethernet Switch Product Department, D-Link.


For back-end data transmission, many switches have one to three Gigabit ports. The amount of data transferred back ranges from 1-Gigabit to 10-, 100- or even 1,000-Gigabit, said Darren Chen, Product Manager, Moxa.


Megapixel network cameras require more bandwidth to stream larger images. "Switches with a combination of fiber-optic and Gigabit ports are common for large-scale multisite surveillance applications," said Andy Leung, Senior Product Manager, APAC, Juniper Networks.


If required, PoE switches can provide power over existing Ethernet, twisted-pair and hard-wire cables. "We have switches that come with removable modules, so users can easily change the features according to their needs," Lai said.


Distance
On average, the longest transmission distance for both PoE and Ethernet switches is 100 meters. "For the SFP transceiver module, its 1000-BaseEZX and LC Connector can transmit at distances of up to 110 kilometers," said Chen.


Fiber-optic transmission ports can send signals as far as 120 kilometers away. "The distance may increase, if fiber optic manufacturers develop transceiver modules that surpass current distances available," Lai said.


Data can be transmitted over hard -wired cable with PLC equipment. "The
Theoretical transmission distance is 300 meters, but the practical distance is 100 meters," Tseng said. "We plan to offer media converters that can offer PoE functionality across coaxial cable."


Power
PoE switches provide flexible and reliable power for devices. Most industrial-grade PoE switches comply with IEEE802.3af standards, supplying a maximum of 15.4 watts (W) per port.


However, power-hungry devices are frequently connected to switches, such as PTZ network cameras, wireless access bridges, routers and network video phones with large displays. With an increase in high-power devices, more commercial-grade PoE switches are adapting the IEEE802.3at standard, delivering double the power at 30W per port.


With management settings, the switch can supply either 25.5 W or 30 W through an 802.3af port. "PoE plus is becoming a trend in commercialgrade switches," Chen said. "This development allows for easier network configuration and reduces system maintenance and operation costs."


"We also have PoE splitter which separates power and data from a PoE input and can distribute 24 V DC power to non-PoE devices," Chen said. Some switches can boost available electricity to power more devices.


Management Functions
Transmission devices are featuring more intelligence, making them smart edge devices. Network reliability is key. Other than traditional MSTP, RSTP and STP network redundancy mechanisms, advanced turbo ring and chain structures can shorten recovery time to as little as 5 milliseconds.


Powered device (PD) failure recovery is possible with managed PoE switches. "Users can reset the PD by powering it on or off to bring back its default status," Chen said. "It also offers different power options during day and night or by schedule."


Intelligent functions built into switches ensure transmission stability. Switches with multicast support reduce network traffic by duplicating video streams and transferring them to different servers, Tseng said.


Network performance and video transmission are also ensured by the quality of service (QoS) function, which assigns priority for video streams to avoid network jittering, said Armine Beybutyan, Product Sales and Marketing Manager, Korenix Technology.


With bandwidth management, users can control each port's rate of I/O data streams. "Simple network management protocol also allows switches to report events to the management software," Lai said. "Port authentication, power utilization and remote status monitoring are made possible."


Prioritizing data transmission optimizes system performance. "PoE switches allow multicast interface, allowing both surveillance data and multimedia streaming through the same device," Leung said. "With limited bandwidth, prioritizing traffic ensures better real-time streaming."


Data Protection
As IP-based technology is more widely adopted, data protection is an important issue for transmission.


PoE switches include data security features that can lock a network camera's IP address. By securing the camera's IP address, it prevents malicious denial-of-service (DoS) or distributed-denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and detects viruses. This feature protects video data privacy," said Angus Shih, CEO, ORing Industrial Networking. "Our system also automatically prevents DoS/DDoS intrusion within a shared network, and it locks the source IP address to protect network cameras and NVRs from attacks."


Apart from data intrusion detection, management can also be done through system settings. "Switches can be configured to authenticate the camera by using its IP address or 802.1X authentication protocol," Tseng said. "Only valid cameras can be allowed to connect to the network."


Routers with firewalls and gateways grant a higher level of protection. "A secured firewall and VPN router often have basic functions such as NAT firewall protection, which further ensures data security," Chen said.


Selection Criteria
Selecting systems from reputable companies ensures a worthwhile investment. Many quality companies offer three- to five-year warranties on their solutions.


Network solutions must comply with application-specific specifications, which are highly customized depending on usage. "Specifications must accurately conform to the industrial standards,” said Lai. "A one-stop shop where users can find total solutions is ideal.”


Stability must also be ensured with ruggedized devices that operate under harsh environments, which may have to be of ATEX explosionproof grade. Switches that have IP67 and IP68 grade protection with fanless designs are more reliable. "Uniquely made M12 connectors with reliable mechanical designs provide solid Ethernet and PoE connections for various applications, such as railways," Chen said.


Cost-effective products should use energy efficiently. "Our engineers have designed the PoE booster technology, which allows PoE switches to accept 12 to 24 V and release 48 V power, making the switches suitable for vehicle and transit surveillance applications,” Beybutyan said.


Scalability is preferred. "Even for large industrial use of switches, users don't need to purchase a large switch on day one," Leung said. "We offer scalable solutions, so users can add more PoE ports as time goes by."


Challenges and Outlook
While managed PoE switch technology advances, it still has challenges to overcome. For example, wireless transmission of real-time video images is slow. "One of the toughest challenges we recently encountered was transmitting a network camera's real-time video wirelessly via our wireless AP," Lai said. "To ensure a consistent signal and image quality over long distances in a wireless environment, we had to adjust the camera's quality settings — resolution, FPS and codec — to be reasonable. That means it could not exceed the maximum bandwidth throughput for our wireless AP. It is essential to determine the best frequency, number of available channels and amount of wireless interference."


In terms of hardware development, cooling for fanless switches is tricky. "To improve this, R&D personally must carefully design the PCB layout for better heat dissipation to increase device efficiency," Chen said.


With more IP video surveillance equipment such as megapixel cameras, reliable networks with faster data transmission speeds are crucial. In the future, manufacturers are developing more 24-Gigabit ports per switch for data streaming. Data transmission distance is expected to reach 200 kilometers.


Multigateway and different streaming media such as wireless, fiber optics and Gigabit PoE will be developed. "We expect 10-Gigabit transmission to be used increasingly as prices fall," Shih said. "Switch functions will become more powerful with user-friendly GUIs."


More makers are improving system manageability. "D-Link is developing camera recognition technology on switches," Tseng said. "Once a camera is detected, the switch automatically assigns an appropriate QoS to stream videos. Multicast settings will also be applied automatically."


Green products are another transmission trend, for lower power consumption. "We choose hardware components with materials that are RoHS compliant and environment-friendly," Lai said.

Video Encoders Smooth Analog Migration to IP

Editor / Provider: The Editorial Team | Updated: 5/7/2010 | Article type: Tech Corner

Video encoders help traditional analog systems migrate to IP-based convergence. With the worldwide market filled with growth potential, A&S takes a look at the latest technology developments.

With the economic downturn slowing the adoption of pure IP-based security, video encoders provide a middle way. Users can maintain existing investments and enjoy functions traditional systems do not have — easier data management, more efficient storage compression and powerful video analytic functions.

While the video encoder market continues to grow, growth may slow as pure IP-based technology becomes better established globally. A Frost & Sullivan report found the market to grow 13 to 14 percent for 2010.

Latest Technology
H.264 compression is now standard for encoders, joining M-JPEG and MPEG-4. "The H.264 main profile compression can reduce the network load up to 30 percent compared with conventional compression technologies," said Gerard Otterspeer, Product Marketing Manager CCTV EMEA, Bosch Security Systems. "With low latency implementation of the main profile technology, the solution can successfully reduce bandwidth requirements."

Encoders can convert anywhere from one to 16 channels. They can simultaneously stream video at either 4CIF, D1 or a mixture of both at full frame rate for all channels.

Video compression and quality vary widely between manufacturers, due to differences in product development and manufacturing. To increase encoding efficiency, different technologies are used. "We deploy the unique activity controlled frame-rate feature that can significantly reduce bit rates and storage requirements, without dropping or losing a signal frame under motion conditions," said Karen McCarrison, Product Manager for IndigoVision.

User-friendliness is important. "Our four- and 10-channel units have fully hot-swappable encoder cards to allow for maintenance or upgrade to any encoder without affecting the video streaming on any of the other channels," said McCarrison. "Power and network redundancy are available."

Installation is made easier with PoE-powered video encoders. "With an expansion card, more transmission options such as dual Ethernet ports as either copper or small form factor-pluggable (SFP) fiber connection are made available," said Corin Moorhead, Product Manager, COE.

For easier system maintenance, a built-in camera health check function can be added to encoders, said Peter de Konink, Product Line Manager Codecs and Analytics, Optelecom-NKF.

An effective solution considers not just system performance but overall ROI as well. "Equipment space and cost can be saved by using rack-mounted video encoders that allows up to 192 channels of analog video to be encoded through 12 rack units in a single 19-inch rack chassis," said Alex Johnson, Senior Director of Sales Enablement for APAC, Video Intelligence Solutions, Verint Systems. Axis Communications' 19-inch server rack contains 14 hot swappable blades with support of up to 84 channels of cameras.

Systems that use less energy also reduce costs. "Each port in our video encoder requires less than 0.9 watts to power up. Low power dissipation means the system generates less heat and higher reliability for the overall system," De Konink said.

Video encoders now do more than convert video signals. "Sony's video encoders can enhance and improve picture quality with its tone correction technology. This technology optimizes the visibility of a scene by increasing brightness in darker areas of the scene and compressing the brighter areas for sharper and clearer images," said Atsushi Iida, Product Manager of Security Solutions, Business and Professional Products Asia Pacific Company, Sony Electronics. XDNR technology, which minimizes motion blur under low illumination, further enhances images.

Analytics
There is more intelligence at the edge, as more encoders include video analytics. "Running analytics at the edge results in fast and scalable analytics across all sizes of installations," said Johnson.


To enable satisfactory system performance, encoding and analytics are often run on two different processors. For example, IndigoVision's encoding is done on a FPGA chip, while other functions run on an Intel IXP 420 processor. "This helps us to guarantee that video will not drop frames," McCarrison said. While some makers use third-party processors, Panasonic deploys its own proprietary LSI system UniPhier.

The unique design of video analytics can limit the use of CPU power, De Konink said. Detection of motion, nonmotion or multiple zones is basic. Rule-based analytics such as people counting, suspicious activity detection and face detection are also available. "We offer analytics ranging from anti-camera shake to applications pecific analytics, such as water vessel detection," Moorhead said. "The ability to link multiple rules is also provided."

Integration and Standards
There are currently no standards governing the development of video encoders. Several specification bodies such as ONVIF and PSIA are working to make integration easier. "Our products are ONVIF conformant and are able to exchange live video, audio, metadata and control information to any conformant VMS," Otterspeer said.

Apart from standard bodies, manufacturers can also partner with related providers to make their solutions compatible. "We have solution partner program named the PSDN program. Through this activity, we have about 230 VMS partners around the world. As soon as our new encoder is released, those partners will support the encoder," said Shusuke Aoki, Product Marketing Manager, System Solution Company, Panasonic System Networks.

Media formats are becoming more uniform, allowing products to work together. "There are new standards arising, like RTMP or Adobe Flash players and HTML 5 with open video," De Konink said. "Streaming video is governed by RTSP, RTCP and RTP."

A well-documented SDK can aid compatibility with third-party VMS. "While most of the major open platform VMS vendors support our encoders, we offer a dedicated website which provides our partners with SDKs, CGI commands, STKs, application guide documents, and other necessary tools required for smooth integration," Iida said.

"Connecting encoders to in-house VMS prevents possible compatibility issues and further ensures system functionality," Johnson said.

Selection Criteria
When upgrading an existing analog system to IP, the main considerations are image quality, reliability, easy installation and data security.

Depending on the physical placement of the cameras and the user's network, encoders are either placed close to the camera or centrally. "Small and easy-to-install one-channel encoders with built-in mounting brackets and modular systems for centralized solutions are desired, complete with redundant network connections and redundant power supplies," Otterspeer said.

Reliability and availability are key considerations. "H.264 offers high video quality at low bit rates," De Konink said. "This implies a minimal initial investment and even more important savings on operational costs due to the proven reliability, life expectancy and camera health check applications for proactive system maintenance."

Rugged designs enable more deployments. "Our equipment is designed for use in the demanding transportation market. By designing our products to function effectively in harsh environments, while maintaining the flexibility provided by optional rack or boxed housing options, we have ensured our products to be deployed in any market with confidence," Moorhead said.


Good ROI is key. "Cost is understandably a key consideration in the decision process when purchasing new equipment. Recognizing this, we have priced our solution competitively by including one-, two- and four-channel variants in the range, with the option of up to 56 channels per rack," Moorhead said.
Important video information needs to be carefully protected. "Both cameras and encoders should be password-protected to protect sensitive data transmission before it reaches the network," Otterspeer said. "Network connections can be established using secured links for the control channels."

Challenges
The growth of video encoders is inhibited by limited user education about network video and perceptions about analytics at the edge.

"Often the biggest challenge, when migrating an analog system, is convincing an end user to switch ‘front end' command and control to a digital solution," McCarrison said. "This can provide many cost benefits and add value to the system. The compatibility of existing analog PTZ camera protocols must be confirmed to ensure a smooth move to an IP-based solution."

Misunderstandings about video analytics pose a challenge. The best video analytics cannot accurately analyze an unclear image. "To resolve this, systems that provide good quality, crisp and clear images help in the recognition of small details," De Konink said.

Future Outlook
Standardized video encoders are a definite trend. "As IP becomes more popular in the security industry there has been demand for open standards, to improve interoperability between manufacturers," McCarrison said.

A uniform video format for high resolution, such as megapixel images, will have to replace standard definition formats. High definition video will push H.264 even more, but efficient compression is only available for network cameras, as HD video servers do not yet exist.

More devices will run on IPv6 for added network security. "Each device will have its own IP address and be directly connected to the World Wide Web," De Konink said. "This means there will be the need to encrypt the video stream itself."

Intelligence at the edge will become more common. "The implementation of the audio alarm in all of our encoders is an indication of that," Otterspeer said.

Nice Provides Converged Security for 2010 Shanghai World Expo

Editor / Provider: Nice Systems | Updated: 5/6/2010 | Article type: Government & Public Services

The Nice Systems IP video surveillance solution has been deployed as part of the overall security measures that will be ensuring the safety and security of visitors to the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, scheduled to be held from May 1 to October 31. Nice Systems is a provider of solutions that enable enterprises and security organizations to extract insight from interactions, transactions and surveillance to drive business performance, reduce risk and ensure safety.


The 2010 Shanghai World Expo is expected to attract 70 million visitors. More than 190 countries and 50 international organizations have registered to participate in the Shanghai World Expo, as well as approximately 100 foreign leaders.


The Nice IP video surveillance solution is part of the Nice security offering, which enables the capture of security, safety and operational data from multiple sensors and systems, including audio, video, radio, Web and more. The solution will be part of the security measures that will be ensuring security at the Expo Site, which spans both sides of the Huangpu River, covering a total area of approximately five square kilometers, and the enclosed area and outside areas of support facilities. Nice will also closely monitor the outdoor area of the Expo park, and is integrated with the PTZ control system being used by the surveillance cameras at the Expo.


"Security work within the Expo site was the vital part of preparing the event and will be critical to its success. The Nice solution was implemented as part of the efforts to minimize the risk involved with dealing with large crowds," said Jin Yao Hua, at Hong Cheng Electrical and Mechanical, Nice's project partner for the Expo. "The authorities must use advanced surveillance technology, and Nice proved itself to be the premier IP video security provider to meet this strategic task."


"We are proud to be providing our advanced IP video security solution to this important world event," said Doron Ben-Sira, President of Nice APAC. "This deployment reflects once more our footprint in Asia's security market, with a presence that includes, just in China, eight strategic implementations by a variety of mass transportation systems as well as by Shanghai Pudong International airport. It is also indicative of the unique value add that Nice's solutions bring to organizations all over the world in anticipating , managing and mitigating security, safety and operational risks."


The Nice video surveillance solution is part of the Nice security offering which enables the capture of security, safety and operational data from multiple sensors and systems, including audio, video, radio, web, and more. It offers content analysis for immediate and relevant insights and provides a framework for fusing data silos into a single, holistic view, delivering real-time situational awareness and incident management. The Nice offering provides real-time capabilities for handling security events to mitigate and prevent risk, as well as faster, more accurate and reliable post-event investigation capabilities.