Just to make it crystal clear.
"I dont get it, the manual says that I don't need an onsite blackbox or recorder just smart IP cameras, what on earth does that mean?"
That's correct, most modern IP cameras are supported by the VerifiedAlarms network without the requirement for any JAR (Just Another Recorder) as soon as the camera detects something it sends pre and post alarm images to the server you subscribed too.
"How does the camera detect an event?"
Most cameras either have motion detection (OK for internal areas) or a digital input, but, remember if you are linking the cameras to an existing alarm you don't need to do anything except link the camera name to the alarm zone, our smart software does the rest.
"So how do I arm a system that just has cameras?"
The question is, how are you using the system? As there are many ways to do this. Alarm verification, standalone alarm or general surveillance?
"Lets say Alarm Verification...."
That is easy, for cameras provided by Panasonic and YCam you can do it two ways, firstly the network can be told to arm the cameras when a close message is received at the ARC(Alarm Receiving Center) and then disarmed when an open message is received - this uses the cameras own detection to raise an alarm (second level detect).
For other cameras and some DVR the ARC will send a message to the cameras to send images from before the event and while it is ongoing.
Finally, of course you could always link the alarm to the camera or DVR so that it triggers in the event of an alarm.
"What is the advantage/disadvantage of these three?"
Well its all pretty clever (but we would say that) the first one gives a second level of alarm to an existing system, the second one depends on the camera and if it has an image buffer, both of these are superb ways to offer true VerifiedAlarms.
The third is a poor man's way of doing visual verification simply because the first two bring the correct image to the view of the control room operator - and that is crucial, its just not fair to expect a control room operator to "guess which camera" to view.
"How do you know which camera belongs to which alarm zone?"
In the network (site web page) the installer sets up a lookup table between the alarm zone and the camera (or zones to cameras). When the alarm is triggered the zones automatically pull the correct image to the operator.
"That sounds a lot of work"
The point is that Security has to be installed properly in order for it to work properly, for too long ARC operators have been expected to look at all the cameras on a protected premises to try and figure out what caused the alarm. Generally these are ity bity images, grainy and hardly useable with this smarter system the onus of responsibility falls on the installer to make sure that the right camera is presented to the operator (and he has a responsibility to ensure that the image quality is good).
Of course setting up the cameras to the zones requires some level of intelligence, but that can be done centrally via the web page from drawings before the system is installed. All you need to do is send the engineers to install the cameras and the alarm as seperate entities or add cameras to an existing alarm.
"What type of alarm panel is compatible? Any?"
It is important that the panel is not all dumb technology and is one that transmits the correct zone information to the alarm receiving station.
"What if my customer wants to record locally?"
Easy, just install a local IP camera compatible recorder. It does not have to be connected to the ARC because remember its the cameras that talk directly. The Initsys IAF is ideal as it is monitored by the network.
"And what about using the cameras in standalone mode - without an intruder panel? That seems both innovative and weak at the same time"
Thanks for the compliment, although I don't understand the question about it being weak?
"Without a keypad how do you arm and disarm the cameras? and what about tamper protection, polling etc?"
Lets make one thing clear if you need an alarm that complies with the required EN standards for, say, Police attendance then, yes, of course you need the panel as well as the cameras/DVR/NVR. But for homes and some commercial installations (building site for example) or anywhere that has a guard company response then this is fine. This is not to say that the system is any less secure simply that the insurers and response take some time to accept and adopt new technology, even if its better than the current solution.
You arm and disarm the system by using the Internet, you simply click on the arm disarm or privacy icons. You can do the same thing from a mobile telephone using text (or mobile web page). The control room can also arm the cameras on a fixed timer or by request.
We poll the cameras (in fact the network can poll any device that is connected), depending on the service you select it can even comply with EN50136.
"You make a lot of privacy? whats behind that?"
The use of CCTV is growing and that may or may not be a good thing. If you had cameras installed for Alarm Verification, for example, a School, you would not want the camera images visible at just any time by anybody? Many of the cameras we support have a privacy feature built in that cuts off the image transmission when selected. In addition to that the ARC cannot access your cameras unless there is an alarm in progress.
This also protects the ARC as there are very stiff penalties for viewing cameras when not authorised to do so. European law has just been tightened up on this. To put this into perspective if an employee takes home information that makes it possible to view cameras not only is the employee committing a criminal offence but his employers as well.
The ICO (Information Commissioners Office) has requested legal powers to make it a legal requirement for ARC to prove that this cannot occur.
"But what if I want them to check the cameras?"
The user web page has the ability to set up patrols. You select when you want the ARC to view your cameras and you select which cameras you want them to check. Of course most of the time this feature is required to check that the cameras are still working. The polling does that in our instance.
The critical point here is that its the user thats made the instruction so the network makes that link for the ARC to view the cameras. Just as an alarm is an automated request.
"Finally, IP cameras are a lot more expensive than traditional ones and the motion is not quite as smooth."
Well, cost is dependent on benefit surely. In our model you don't require a black box or a JAR (Just Another Recorder) so that saves money. Installation of IP cameras is easier as the network can be designed so that you work smarter not harder. Smooth motion is always an argument, but what you need to understand is that smooth motion is great if you can afford or require to record at that rate and the necessity for that is often false. The important thing to remember is that image quality beats smooth every time (ask a Policeman).
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