Luminite Electronics, a British manufacturer of wireless and hardwired PIR detectors has developed a flexible wireless PIR camera technology.
Luminite Electronics, a British manufacturer of wireless and hardwired PIR detectors has developed a flexible wireless PIR camera technology. It utilizes the latest in lithium battery power and cellular connectivity – making the OCULi ideal for use in vulnerable areas where CCTV cannot be installed due to power and internet limitations.
Fitted with a VGA camera and powerful IR LED, OCULi uses the mobile phone network to send rapid visual verification of a detected event. Supported by Luminite’s web portal and OCULi app on Android on iOS, users can configure a host of functions including arm and disarm units on site, push notifications, PIR setting adjustments and view events.
A connectivity challenge
Delivering the ‘always on’, ‘always connected’ functionality required for Oculi presented a number of challenges. While working with lithium technology has safely delivered optimized power to solve the ‘always on’ challenge, initial trials presented disappointing connectivity test results for the Luminite development team.
Laura Grainger, Marketing Manager for Luminite explains: “More and more locations require rapid verification detection where users need to respond immediately to alerts. Whilst power and fixed-line broadband is naturally critical, the availability and cost of installation can be limiting.”
After initially experiencing slow and unreliable connectivity, Luminite turned to Wireless Logic Group to investigate a number of 3G/4G options as part of their broader IoT connectivity platform offering. It was vital that the OCULi unit should connect to the strongest network to ensure the rapid and resilient delivery of images.
An always connected solution
Oliver Wallington, Business Development Manager at Wireless Logic explains: “A roaming SIM will typically be pushed to a preferred network, and this steering can have a detrimental effect for installations like this that require the strongest signal. We proposed a package utilizing the Scandinavian-based Telenor network – whereby the optimal signal is always selected first.”
The Telenor solution surpassed the expectations of the Luminite development team. “The cost of utilizing a roaming solution fits perfectly within our connectivity model,” says Laura Grainger of Luminite. “Wireless Logic’s reliable, totally wireless solution means we can now place OCULi in the most remote and hard to reach locations. This solution has given us more flexibility.”
The OCULi connected solution uses a fixed-IP SIM across Wireless Logic’s private network overlay. This allows secure two-way traffic off the public network, enhanced by a more resilient, SLA-based supported infrastructure that is vital for strategically deployed security devices.
Unexpected advantages enable new revenue streams
Management of the SIM estate is controlled via Wireless Logic’s SIMPro platform. With multi-level access, Luminite can view the entire SIM portfolio whilst enabling further controlled access throughout the supply chain – from distributor to end user. Whilst customers have the choice of acquiring connectivity either directly from Wireless Logic or through an end-to-end package from Luminite, the flexibility of SIMPro’s billing capabilities is allowing both organizations to explore further revenue-share options. These include seamless billing to end users in all layers of the supply chain.
“Wireless Logic’s connected solutions are now giving Luminite new ways to structure their commercial offerings by incorporating connectivity into their product mix,” explains Wireless Logic’s Oliver Wallington.
OCULi integrates with the IMMIX IP intruder alarm and video monitoring platform, a worldwide platform that allows alarm receiving and monitoring centers (ARCs) to efficiently manage and control responses to events. The solution will now be rolled out across Europe using Wireless Logic’s connectivity solution. The next step will be to leverage the connectivity delivered by Wireless Logic to augment OCULi’s features with voice alerts and verbal broadcasts from the OCULi unit, enabling communication with anyone in the vicinity of the camera.
Laura Grainger of Luminite concludes: “Whilst still early days, the results of the first deployments have been encouraging. ‘Without wires’ gives customers the broadest flexibility in how they protect their property and assets. We had initially focused on construction sites, farm buildings and vacant properties, but the variety of use applications is growing day by day – including the protection of public defibrillator cabinets! With connectivity assured, we are confident that OCULi will become the go-to camera solution wherever users need a rapidly-deployed, cost-effective and resilient visual-alert solution. They can now install the OCULi unit – with no strings and no wires attached!”
Product Adopted:Other