INOVONICS INTRODUCES RADIUS, SECURITY INDUSTRY’S FIRST WIRELESS SITUATIONAL AWARENESS SYSTEM WITH LOCATION

Mobile duress system combines latest mass notification capabilities with advanced positioning technology to pinpoint alarm devices.  Inovonics (http://www.inovonics.com), the industry leader in high-performance wireless sensor networks for commercial and life safety applications, today announced Radius™,  the security industry’s first situational awareness system utilizing Inovonics’ wireless positioning technology. Radius combines the latest mass notification capabilities with advanced positioning technology to pinpoint mobile duress alarm devices for use in multiple industries, including manufacturing/industrial plants, retail, education, government, and the financial sector.

Radius monitors any Inovonics’ security, and sensor, end devices and interfaces to fire, access control and environment systems, providing instant notification to mass communication alert devices.  For example, when a potential life-threatening event occurs, it is automatically transmitted to Radius. The system then processes and locates the position where the event is taking place and alerts the appropriate authorities immediately so they can get help and move affected people to a safe, secure location.

“Radius fills a critical need in today’s security marketplace,” said Jeff Kessler, managing director of Imperial Capital (http://www.imperialcapital.com/), a leading security market research and advisory firm. “Most systems only can notify when a duress alarm has been activated, but, with Inovonics’ wireless Radius system, users can now tell exactly where the [mobile] alarm is coming from. No other system in the security marketplace can do that today.”

Unlike traditional hard-wired control panel systems that have been used to detect safety issues and report alarms, Radius provides a complete end-to-end, IP-enabled wireless solution for the security market. Radius can work alone or be integrated with other safety and security systems. Key features and benefits of Radius include:

• Location: Radius allows for mobile duress applications by accurately determining where an alarm is coming from within a building or campus setting. It allows users to locate employees, faculty or students immediately when they signal for help.

Monitoring: Radius works with the complete line of Inovonics end devices, including pendant transmitters, universal transmitters and motion detectors. It also supports integration with Inovonics’ extensive list of system partners who provide fire extinguisher monitoring, wireless perimeter beams, fence tilt sensors, man hole cover monitoring, water sensors and a host of many other types of solutions. Radius also can alert users even when people are not present, such as after-hours.  The sooner users are notified of an issue, the faster they can take action.

Notification: Radius coordinates event monitoring and mass notification. It communicates information from in-building systems and routes them to alert devices, such as pagers, emails and mobile phones using text messaging or voice mail. Radius also packages multiple in-building systems into a single notification solution allowing for more efficient and quicker responses.

“Inovonics is committed to providing the most advanced technology on the market today for ensuring the safety and security of organizations’ most important assets – their people, buildings and housed resources,” explained Mark Jarman, president of Inovonics. “Radius exemplifies this commitment and provides the highest degree of trust, reliability and proven accuracy available in the market today regardless of structural, physical or geographic challenges.”

Configurations, Availability and Pricing:

Radius can be used within single buildings or scale to large multi-building campuses spread over hundreds of acres. It can be easily integrated with other fire and safety and security systems and be customized based on customer preference. It is available now and is priced based on customer configuration. For more information and to view the intro video, visit the Radius product page at www.inovonics.com/radius.aspx.

Firetide Completes Its Wireless Infrastructure Platform With New Mobility Controller Appliance and 900 MHz Mesh

The solution reinforces Firetide’s position in fast-growing government, transportation and commercial markets for advanced fixed and mobile wireless infrastructure solutions.  The new Firetide Mobility Controller appliance and HotPort 7000-900 MHz wireless infrastructure mesh, completing Firetide’s HotPort 7000 wireless infrastructure platform. With the addition of these products, the 7000 series provides customers with a complete, robust and flexible wireless mesh platform that allow users to add more functionality, performance and new applications as needed.

·     Single-platform infrastructure mesh for a variety of fixed and mobile applications

With the HotPort 7000 series, Firetide customers now have a complete ‘pay-as-you-go’ wireless infrastructure solution to meet a variety of needs in fixed and mobile environments. For example, customers can use 900 MHz links for non-line-of-sight communications and line-of-sight (2.4, 4.9 and 5 GHz) MIMO mesh for highest-capacity backhaul, then add mobility later on. In fact, about 95% of Firetide projects involve an infrastructure mobility application, if not today, then in the near future.

“These new capabilities contribute to the performance and economic advantages of using Firetide technology in metro-wide wireless infrastructure for a variety of applications on a single network,” said Bo Larsson, chief executive officer of Firetide. “Firetide infrastructure mesh is the solution for large-scale, multi-service municipal, transportation and utility networks.”

·     Transportation networks for real-time video, voice and data

The new Firetide Mobility Controller (FMC-2050) is an all-inclusive, easy-to-use and high-capacity solution for advanced wireless infrastructure mobility. With the mobility controller functionality, Ethernet-enabled devices such as IP video cameras, Wi-Fi access points, RFID readers, and laptops can maintain network connectivity while traveling at high speeds across multiple Firetide mesh networks. Large-scale projects for Seoul Subway and Mumbai Metro are already being deployed with Firetide mobility controller technology for mobile, real-time video.

“Transportation is one of the fastest growing end-user industries in the video surveillance market. Furthermore, video surveillance cameras are increasingly being installed on school buses, transit buses, trains and police vehicles,” said Niall Jenkins, senior research analyst at IMS Research. Historically, these video streams are recorded onto a mobile DVR, located on the vehicle. However, as wireless infrastructure penetrates the video surveillance industry, real-time video streaming from mobile cameras will become a viable option for more and more transit agencies and police departments.” Infrastructure mobility architecture enables a variety of real-time applications not possible with fixed wireless networks. These applications include:

o   Continuous video surveillance for mobile vehicles such as police cruisers, fire trucks, buses and trains;

o   Uninterrupted, high-capacity Wi-Fi access on public transit;

o   Portable and mobile network services on public transportation, first responder vehicles, fork lifts and cranes; 

o   Mobile command centers for emergency personnel.

·      Non-line-of-site mesh for utility and Smart Grid networks

The new HotPort 7000-900 non-line-of-sight wireless ‘Smart Adaptive’ infrastructure mesh solution operates in a 900 MHz spectrum to enable high bandwidth applications in challenging environments. It addresses the need for non line-of-sight applications in Firetide’s core public safety, transportation and industrial markets as well as utilities.

Municipal and private utilities have communications and physical security requirements that are often challenging to address. Interconnecting multiple sites at wire-like speeds is a daunting proposition for many, when fiber or leased lines are too costly or impractical. The needs are pressing, with a single act of theft or vandalism potentially costing six figures to mitigate.

“Our business is exclusively with utility customers who face challenging conditions in their projects, including remote facilities, vegetation, obstructions, and limited mounting and power options,” said Ken VandeVeer, sales manager at Sage Designs Inc. “Most of our Firetide projects include a combination of 900 MHz links for non-line-of-sight or partially obstructed locations and line-of-sight links at 5 GHz or 4.9 GHz, all the way to MIMO links for high-capacity backhaul at 100 Mbps throughput. With the range of capabilities that Firetide delivers, we can provide a solution that meets our customers’ needs, rather than having to limit network coverage or throughput due to environmental conditions. A single HotPort 7000 platform also simplifies specification, design and deployment.”

·     Configuration and Availability

Firetide FMC-2050 consists of mobility controller software housed in a compact appliance, eliminating a requirement for a 3rd party server. FMC-2050 brings in support for MIMO mesh technology and offers management of up to 50 mesh nodes. FMC-2050 is available in Q1 2011.

Firetide HotPort 7000-900 is a dual-radio mesh node operating in the 900 MHz spectrum on one of the radios, and in the 2.4 GHz, 4.9 or 5 GHz frequency bands on the other. The solution is available in Q4 2010 in both indoor and outdoor configurations.

Milestone X-Protect Corporate 4.0 Goes After The Large Enterprise Accounts

Milestone Systems is catching up and moving forward.  As the company is installing some large national accounts the company is rolling out a high-end version of its open platform-based X-Protect line of video management software aimed at transportation, government and city surveillance markets.   With X-Protect Corporate 4.0, Milestone is hoping to carry its success in the mid-range enterprise market--typically measured in deployments of several hundred cameras--where it holds a 50 percent share, into the large-scale segment, where it trails Genetec.

Corporate 4.0 will incorporate the Milestone Federated Architecture concept, which was outlined broadly at Milestone's Integration Platform Symposium in Hollywood last February. Milestone Federated Architecture allows a high degree of scalability, retaining centralized management functionality while permitting user a wide range of options over configuration and policies. Alarm and monitoring capabilities are integrated with multi-layered maps.

The new release supports edge storage, but adds tighter integration with centralized storage at the server, said Eric Fullerton, chief sales and marketing officer for Milestone.  For instance, the software features a tool that allows recording stored at the camera to be easily dropped into the correct place in a server recording. If there is an outage at the server, or a loss of bandwidth or connection, operators can retrieve the video from the camera and drop it in the right place. "It is as stable as old coax-based video," Fullerton said.

The software also has a bookmarking feature that allows operators to easily mark and later return to key video footage.  Milestone has made no secret of its wish to grab a larger share among high-end verticals such as transportation, traffic management, urban safety and critical infrastructure protection, where camera deployments are measured in the thousands, and a premium is placed on standards-based integration across multiple video, access and sensor platforms. Not only does Milestone face competition from other VMS manufacturers such Genetec, OnSSI and NICE Systems, physical security information management vendors such as Proximex and Vidsys are also jockeying for position, as are major networking companies such as Cisco Systems. 

SONY ADDS NEW PRODUCTS TO THE IPELA LINE OF HD VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SOLUTIONS

Following the initial unveiling of Sony Electronics’ high definition network security technologies at ISC West in March, the company will now complete the full range of technologies to reinforce its leadership ‐ They launched several new products at ASIS 2010.

Market demand for network surveillance products is growing rapidly and Sony is helping users migrate from analog to IP seamlessly. IMS research shows that in 2010, the global network security camera market will grow by 26 percent.

Sony has added the following full‐HD models to the E‐Series of cameras SNC‐CH220, SNC‐DH220, SNC‐DH220T, SNC‐CH260, SNC‐DH260 ‐ all with full 1080p video capabilities as well as the SNC‐CH210, SNC‐DH210, SNC‐CH210T, SCN‐CH110SNC‐DH110, SNC‐DH110T to the X‐Series of compact surveillance to meet these demands and support a variety of applications at range of prices.

“HD is transforming the security industry but few users are taking full advantage of the technology’s capabilities or breadth of features,” said Miguel Lazatin, Senior Manager, Marketing, Sony Electronics Security Group. “With the launch of these new HD cameras, Sony is now able to offer customers security solutions, regardless of budget, in either digital or analog formats.”

Sony’s HD range of V, E and X Series cameras provide superior picture quality due to innovations such as View‐DR and XDNR technologies. View‐DR technology incorporates the latest in wide‐dynamic range technology with visibility enhancer which enhances video quality where contrast differs and XDNR allows these cameras to provide quality HD images, even in the most challenging backlit environments.

Designed for the highest quality digital imaging, Sony’s Exmor™ CMOS sensors ensure the capture of high definition images in low light environments. Many of the new models incorporate in‐camera analytics offering system feedback and image analysis in real time.

One new security camera incorporating these features – and more – is the SNC‐DH180 vandal resistant camera. With built‐in infrared (IR) illuminator, it delivers excellent images even in absolute darkness. This dual‐stream network camera supports H.264, MPEG‐4 and JPEG compression formats and is available in a ruggedized model for surveillance applications in high‐traffic environments.

With the latest additions to the V and X‐Series of surveillance cameras Sony now offers more than 25 HD network models. The E Series includes entry‐level models that combine high picture quality and a robust feature‐set at a cost‐effective price. The X Series offers cameras for unique surveillance installations.

Sporting an ultra‐compact housing and stylish design, the X series is used in environments that require high performance in a small footprint. The new cameras are available in a variety of form factors including low profile mini‐dome, vandal resistant mini‐dome and fixed/box shape. As regards to simple and easy operation, RealShot Manager Lite software is bundled with those cameras. This software allows users to record up to 9 cameras on free of charge basis.

For users that demand feature‐rich performance, but still operate on an analog infrastructure, Sony is also adding two new analog cameras. The SSC‐N21A and SSC‐N11A are low‐cost, indoor mini‐dome cameras offer high‐performance in a simple to install and maintain form. Both cameras offer top quality surveillance video for entry level users.

Sony also showed a new network surveillance server. The Sony NSR‐S10 is a 4‐channel network video recorder for analog, digital, HD and SD cameras. With choice of storage capacity of non HDD or 1TB, each recorder can support up to 4 cameras. These recorders provide users easy setup and operation. The NSR‐1000 server includes monitoring and search modules that incorporate Sony’s DEPA technology to increase the accuracy of object detection capabilities. Lazatin continued, “Only Sony can build a solution that includes recorders, management software and HD display units to ensure seamless performance.”

In addition to a full line of cameras and recorders, Sony offers an extensive range of accessories including housings and audio peripherals.  For more information on Sony’s new security solutions and to see the entire line of HD video surveillance products, visit www.sony.com/security.

Arecont Vision recently announced a new line of lower-cost H.264 compact megapixel cameras

Arecont Vision http://www.arecontvision.com recently announced a new line of lower-cost H.264 compact megapixel cameras that are half the size and a third of the weight of previous models.

Above is an interview of Michael Hodor, vice president of sales-North America for Arecont Vision on megapixel surveillance cameras by Steve Titch of Security Squared. Also, in a recent interview Dr. Michael Kaplinsky, CEO of Arecont Vision said “Our new compact H.264 megapixel cameras set a new bar for performance and price in the market giving yet another compelling reason to ‘Go Megapixel’ in any surveillance application,”. “The attractive price points of these new cameras reflect a 20 to 25 percent price decrease compared to previous models making them even more cost competitive against standard definition IP and analog cameras. And, the user gets the full benefit of much greater image resolution and functionality in a smaller camera.”

The new models are:  The model AV1315 1.3 megapixel camera and the model AV2815, 1080p HD camera are easy to install and can now fit into smaller housings and domes.   Unveiled at ASIS, model AV1315 provides 1280x1024-pixel (1.3 megapixel) images at 32 frames per second, and model AV 2815 provides 1920x1080-pixel (2.07 megapixel) images at 24 frames per second.

Both camera models use H.264 compression to minimize bandwidth and storage requirements. The cameras are also fully compatible with the PSIA industry standard and have passed PSIA conformance tests. Each is also available in a Day/Night version (Model AV1315DN or Model AV2815DN). The units are powered via PoE eliminating the need for auxiliary power.

The new Arecont Vision compact camera models also provide added functionality. The privacy mask enables video to be blocked in multiple regions in any arbitrary shape. Extended motion detection provides a higher-granularity grid of 1,024 distinct motion detection zones (compared to 64 zones supported earlier). These features are controlled via both HTTP and TFTP commands and by the on-camera web interface.  Check these cameras out today!

SALTO Scalable Access Control System One Card One technology Unlimited possibilities

If you are looking for protection from uncontrolled access, SALTO can deliver the perfect solution, tailored to your exact requirements to provide you with all the security, convenience and control you need.

Their state-of-the-art electronic locking systems offers flexible and functional access control with a wide choice of software options. Their access control systems are designed to work in a wire free environment so there is no need to hard wire the building, allowing you to keep your original doors and locks in place. This makes installation fast, self contained and straightforward. An access control system that uses distributed intelligence in both the lock and the key to communicate wirelessly with PC based SALTO programming software that makes lock re-programming or re-keying a thing of the past.

Both key cards and locks can be programmed to allow or restrict access to different parts of the building. And the information stored in the key card can be transferred to a computer to provide precise audit trail information about where and when each lock has been used including the date, time and whether access was allowed or denied.

And when combined with the additional functionality provided by the SALTO Virtual Network (SVN), users can achieve 90% of the benefits of a fully on-line system for the cost of a stand alone system.

ASIS 2010 is in full swing in Dallas

The security industries biggest show for security professionals is in full swing in Dallas this week.  The exposition floor opens Tomorrow and runs thru Thursday from 9:00am to 4:30pm at the Dallas Convention Center.  Hosted by ASIS International, the largest organization in the world for security management professionals, ASIS 2010 is the one destination for those seeking security solutions.

The exhibition floor will cover more than 240,000 net square feet. Some 700 exhibiting companies will showcase the most innovative technologies, products, and services on the market today. More than 20,000 security, business and government professionals from more than 90 countries are expected to attend. Click here for registration information.

“For security practitioners from around the world, the ASIS Seminar and Exhibits is the single most important event each year,” says ASIS President Joseph R. (“Bob”) Granger, CPP. “Over the course of three days, attendees will be face-to-face with some of the foremost authorities in their profession, see hands-on demonstrations of the most advanced security product and service solutions available, and have the opportunity to establish and strengthen their professional network.”

Product and service categories include access control, alarms, biometrics, chemical trace detection, disaster recovery and crisis management, executive and VIP protection, guard services, information technology, hazardous material threats, perimeter protection, robots, surveillance, threat assessments, video surveillance, and weapons/bomb detection.

Keynote speakers include Past-President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan, Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, III is the heroic pilot who masterfully landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River and saved the lives of 155 people and Dave Barry is a humor columnist and best-selling author.

ASIS International is the preeminent organization for security professionals. Founded in 1955, ASIS is dedicated to increasing the effectiveness and productivity of security professionals by developing educational programs and materials that address broad security interests, such as the ASIS Annual Seminar and Exhibits, as well as specific security topics.