NICE’s New Open and Standards-Compliant Situation Management Solution

NICE Situator’s application of PSIA specifications demonstrates how broad interoperability with multiple third party security systems enables flexible, seamless and cost efficient situation management.   NICE Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: NICE), the worldwide leader of intent-based solutions that extract insight to impact business performance, reduce financial risk and ensure safety and security, recently announced that the Physical Security Interoperability Alliance (PSIA), a global consortium of physical security providers focused on promoting the interoperability of IP-enabled devices.  NICE Situator will be highlighted for its broad interoperability in a demonstration that will include integration with HikVision’s CCTV cameras and recording systems. Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd. is a leading supplier of digital video surveillance products with headquarters in China.

The implementation of PSIA specifications in NICE Situator enables third party IP video surveillance products such as NVRs, DVRs and cameras to be automatically recognized as PSIA-enabled cameras and stream video according to the open standard specification. The openness and standards compliance of NICE Situator enables security personnel to choose the best and most relevant components to address their needs in a flexible and cost efficient manner.  David Bunzel, Executive Director PSIA, commented, “PSIA’s objective to develop standards relevant to networked physical security technology is being fully supported by NICE’s extensive commitment to IP system interoperability.

NICE Situator is a situation management software platform that addresses the security operations needs of transportation systems – airports, seaports and mass transit, critical infrastructure, utilities, enterprise campuses and city centers. It enables automatic situation planning, response and analysis in real time, as well as thorough post-incident reviews and investigations. NICE Situator already has over 150 gateways to different security and safety systems, including video surveillance, communication devices, access control, intrusion sensors, fire and safety, geo-location, building management, web feeds, and data bases.

 “NICE is committed to supporting PSIA's objective of achieving industry-wide interoperability standards,” said Israel Livnat, President, NICE Security Group. “NICE is proud to showcase an open, standards-based system, and our intention is to continue to lead the interoperability trend within the physical security eco-system. It is NICE’s policy to continue actively pursuing industry standardization, and continue providing the market with open solutions that allow for flexibility and freedom of choice in the meantime.”

 The NICE Security Offering addresses the needs of governments and enterprises with intent-based solutions for fighting crime and terror, by anticipating, managing and mitigating safety, security and operational risks. The offering enables capturing, analysis and correlation of data from multiple sensors and systems, including audio, video, radio, geo-location and web, providing a framework for fusing data silos into a single, holistic operational view.  NICE Security solutions empower organizations to act effectively in real time to prevent, manage and investigate incidents, ensuring fast resolution and debriefing, and continuous security improvements. NICE Security solutions are deployed worldwide in transportation systems, critical infrastructures, city centers and enterprise campuses.

The Physical Security Interoperability Alliance is a global consortium of more than 75 physical security manufacturers and systems integrators focused on promoting interoperability of IP-enabled security devices across all segments of the security industry. Participating companies include Arecont Vision, ASSA ABLOY, Cisco Systems, GE Security, Genetec, Hikvision, Honeywell, IBM, IQinVision, Kastle Systems, March Networks, Milestone Systems, NICE Systems, ObjectVideo, OnSSI, Pelco, Stanley Security, Texas Instruments, Tyco International, Verint and Vidsys.

PSIA’s objective is to develop standards relevant to networked physical security technology. Under the direction of its Board of Directors, PSIA promotes and develops open standards relevant to networked physical security technology across all segments including video surveillance, access control, video analytics, storage and recording devices, and software.

PSIA supports license-free standards and specifications, which are vetted in an open and collaborative manner to the industry as a whole. There are currently five active working groups: IP Video, Video Analytics, Recording and Content Management, Area Control and Systems. The organization reviewed and ratified its IP Media Device specification in March 2008 and since then, more than 1,700 companies have registered for the specification.

About NICE Systems

NICE Systems (NASDAQ: NICE), is the worldwide leader of intent-based solutions that capture and analyze interactions and transactions, realize intent, and extract and leverage insights to deliver impact in real time. Driven by cross-channel and multi-sensor analytics, NICE solutions enable organizations to improve business performance, increase operational efficiency, prevent financial crime, ensure compliance, and enhance safety and security. NICE serves over 25,000 organizations in the enterprise and security sectors, representing a variety of sizes and industries in more than 150 countries, and including over 80 of the Fortune 100 companies. www.nice.com.

March Networks Introduces Break-Through Capabilities with Seven New IP Video Products

March Networks® (TSX: MN), a global provider of intelligent IP video solutions, recently announced an innovative March Networks Command solution and six new high-performance products.  The new products deliver the enterprise-class management and video protection for which March Networks solutions are recognized industry-wide, and demonstrate the company’s commitment to open standards.

Command is a comprehensive, end-to-end video surveillance solution that enables organizations to manage their entire surveillance infrastructure using a single web-based interface. With Command, customers can install, deploy and manage their video assets from any location easily and efficiently. The powerful solution delivers mass configuration and management capabilities that lower installation and maintenance costs significantly. It also incorporates remote video gateway technology to reduce video streaming over a corporate WAN, a key advantage for large organizations with multiple remote locations.

Designed to meet industry and Information Technology (IT) standards, Command supports ONVIF™ (Open Network Video Interface Forum) compliant video surveillance devices for seamless third-party integration, and open SQL database standards. It enables users to access video from a variety of operating systems, including Windows® XP, Windows 7 and MAC OSX, via the browser.

“We are excited to introduce our new Command solution, which is the result of extensive research and development efforts,” said Net Payne, Chief Marketing Officer, responsible for March Networks’ product management and marketing functions. “With Command, customers benefit from exceptional scalability, flexibility and operational efficiency. Ultimately, it provides the centralized management and integrated access to information that organizations need to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment.”

March Networks’ newest recording system and edge devices are fully compatible with Command. Each comes with an internal SD memory card and – when deployed as part of the end-to-end solution – leverages the company’s unique Shadow Archiving™ technology to ensure seamless access to redundant video, as well as intelligent video synchronization following a network failure or server outage.

The March Networks 7532 Hybrid Networked Video Recorder (NVR) is an embedded Windows® OS recording system ideal for larger enterprise and commercial industrial installations. The 7532 complements March Networks’ industry-leading 4000 C Series hybrid NVRs and comes with the same exclusive docking-station architecture for rapid installation and maintenance. It supports a total of 32 high-definition (HD) IP and analog cameras (up to 16 analog), best-in-class compression and up to 8 TB of internal storage, as well as external storage options.

Four new VideoSphere® IP cameras introduce additional capabilities to March Networks’ extensive camera portfolio. They are compatible with all March Networks hybrid recorders and incorporate shared features such as LDAP password configuration and ONVIF compliance.

The new cameras include:

• A compact CamPX MicroDome, the industry’s first Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) camera able to capture accurate color in near-dark conditions;
• A MDome HD PTZ, which combines HD video resolution with the power of a PTZ solution in an indoor/outdoor environmental housing built to withstand extreme temperatures;
• A MegaPX WDR MiniDome, which delivers HD 1080p video resolution and WDR; and
• A MegaPX NanoDome, a low-profile HD camera with flexible video streaming and a sleek, unobtrusive housing ideal for inconspicuous surveillance applications.

Rounding out its new product offerings is the recently announced March Networks Searchlight Skimming Detection (SD), a powerful data analytic that enhances the company’s comprehensive Financial Solutions. Searchlight SD monitors surveillance video and ATM transaction data simultaneously and alerts investigators daily to suspicious and potentially fraudulent activity at ATMs via a web-based dashboard.

To see and learn more, visit the company online at www.marchnetworks.com.

Avigilon Expands Avigilon Control Center to Enterprise Class, Introduces Standard Edition

Avigilon Control Center 4.6 Enterprise Edition offers advanced features and open integration for the most demanding, security-centric deployments while Avigilon Control Center 4.6 Standard Edition meets vital and focused surveillance needs.   Avigilon, the performance and value leader in high definition (HD) and megapixel video surveillance systems, recently announced the introduction of Avigilon Control Center 4.6 Network Video Management Software (NVMS), the company’s latest version of its award-winning HD surveillance software with High Definition Stream ManagementTM (HDSM.) The Avigilon Control Center 4.6 update delivers new features to improve the performance, extensibility, and manageability of HD surveillance systems as well as open systems integration, and is available in two editions— Avigilon Control Center Enterprise Edition and Avigilon Control Center Standard Edition.

Avigilon Control Center 4.6 Enterprise Edition

Avigilon Control Center 4.6 Enterprise Edition includes advanced features to make it the most powerful, open HD surveillance platform on the market, able to seamlessly integrate with other security systems and handle transmission, recording, and storage of HD video gathered by hundreds of cameras across multiple sites.

Avigilon Control Center 4.6 Standard Edition

Avigilon Control Center 4.6 Standard Edition delivers the same powerful HD surveillance engine with HDSM. Designed as a cost-effective solution to meet vital and focused security needs, Avigilon Control Center 4.6 Standard Edition combines high quality image detail with ease of use and expandability at an associated value point. Features of the new Avigilon Control Center 4.6 Standard Edition include: support for ONVIF, 3rd party IP cameras, and Avigilon HD, HD H.264, HD Panoramic cameras, and analog encoders as well as robust searching, exporting, and playback controls.

“By offering two editions of the award-winning Avigilon Control Center software, we can address the demanding needs of enterprise-level HD surveillance with a sophisticated solution and also meet the more focused surveillance needs of relatively concentrated facilities looking to launch or transition to an HD surveillance solution in the most cost-effective way possible,” said Dave Tynan, vice president of global sales and marketing at Avigilon. “Designed from the ground                up to intelligently manage HD video, Avigilon Control Center 4.6 software delivers a powerful and intuitive interface that now addresses a broader demand from customers to efficiently evaluate and respond to events quickly and easily for greater investigative success.”

New Features in Avigilon Control Center 4.6

A feature-rich offering that is positioned for the most security-centric applications, Avigilon Control Center 4.6 offers the following new features and benefits:

• Expanded Third Party IP Camera Support - Avigilon Control Center 4.6 Enterprise and Standard Editions are ONVIF compliant NVMS platforms that deliver expanded support for a wide range of third party IP cameras and analog encoders from vendors such as ACTi Corp., Sanyo Electric Co., Mobotix, Pelco, and VideoIQ for the purpose of building hybrid systems and preserving existing assets. Management of surveillance video from third party cameras and analog encoders is in the camera’s native compression format including H.264, MPEG4, or MJPEG.
• Expanded Analytics Support - In addition to its current integration with SightLogix outdoor video analytics cameras, Avigilon Control Center 4.6 Enterprise and Standard Editions now support video analytics solutions from other vendors including VideoIQ, creating an integrated situational awareness platform for real- time incident management and response.
• Expanded Integration with Access Control and Intercom Systems (ACC Enterprise) - Avigilon Control Center 4.6 Enterprise Edition integrates seamlessly with third party VoIP or standalone digital intelligent intercom systems such as the Stentofon intercom system, Jacques intercom system, and DDS Amadeus 5 online access control and alarm monitoring software to provide a fully integrated communications system for greater overall security.

About Avigilon

Avigilon designs, manufactures, and markets award-winning HD surveillance systems. The performance and value leader, Avigilon’s solutions protect and monitor thousands of customer sites in more than 60 countries around the world. Avigilon Control Center, the world’s first open HD Network Video Management Software platform, and megapixel cameras deliver full situational awareness and actionable image detail. Campuses, transportation systems, healthcare providers, public venues, infrastructure, and manufacturing sites with security, safety validation, and compliance requirements all benefit from reduced investigation time and more successful investigations by immediately producing indisputable video evidence. Avigilon earned Frost & Sullivan’s HD Surveillance Company of the Year award in 2009 and the Frost & Sullivan Award for New Product Innovation in 2010. For further information, please visit www.avigilon.com.

VideoIQ iCVR-HD High-Definition Cameras Now Available

Revolutionary Camera Delivers Full 1080/30 fps Resolution, Zero Bandwidth in-camera NVR and Full Megapixel Analytics  by VideoIQ, the leader in video surveillance innovation, recently announced the immediate availability of the iCVR-HD cameras, the revolutionary security devices that deliver full 1080p resolution and frame rate, zero bandwidth recording, full megapixel analytics and support for IQTrack™ - automatic digital PTZ zoom and track. Unveiled in March, the iCVR-HD is the latest addition to VideoIQ’s line of intelligent video surveillance systems, including the iCVR dome cameras, iCVR encoders, iCST line of streaming cameras and encodersand VIEW™ - an advanced video management system from VideoIQ.

"Architectural choices have always involved cost and performance trade-offs between image resolution, network bandwidth, and storage requirements," said Derek E. Brink, vice president and research fellow for IT Security, Aberdeen Group. "VideoIQ's approach with the iCVR-HD – full 1080p high-resolution, combined with on-camera storage and analytics -- is designed to meet the market's demands to extract more accurate and more effective information from video surveillance, and to do so in a simple and cost effective way."

VideoIQ’s patented adaptive video analytic technology is the only one capable of processing full megapixel streams on-camera – producing the highest accuracy and greatest range. As a result, iCVR-HD analytics deliver over two times the range of D1 analytics.  Additionally, with a wider field of view and higher resolution than standard resolution cameras, VideoIQ’s iCVR-HD cameras allow operators to capture greater detail and track objects for longer periods of time, delivering better context and perspective on suspicious behavior.  Finally, the camera’s real-time threat detection relies on VideoIQ’s award winning adaptive analytics, which self calibrate in minutes, maintain calibration over time, and are capable of uniquely distinguishing people, vehicles and boats from other objects, animals and scene movement.

Unlike conventional megapixel cameras, VideoIQ iCVR-HD cameras store full 1080p video in up to half a terabyte of onboard NVR storage for months worth of recording, eliminating the need to stream high-resolution images across a network to a central NVR – reducing network traffic and bandwidth consumption by more than 90 percent. As a result, iCVR-HD cameras simplify infrastructure dramatically, allowing customers to deploy high definition video surveillance in environments that are impractical for conventional megapixel cameras, including mixed IT networks, wireless networks, and WAN deployments.

“VideoIQ is on the cutting edge of surveillance innovation, setting the pace for the security industry and providing the highest level of protection in areas where it was previously thought impossible,” said Scott Schnell, president and CEO of VideoIQ. “With the shipment of the iCVR-HD, we have raised the bar for real-time threat detection and high definition forensic evidence without expensive storage and bandwidth constraints.”  See http://www.videoiq.com/index.php for more information.

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.