AMERICAN Dynamics has released victor – a unified security and surveillance management solution that’s designed to allow operators to view, manage and control live and recorded video from Intellex DVRs and VideoEdge NVRs.
The system can handle analogue and IP cameras, standard and megapixel resolutions regardless of the codec – as well as supporting multiple technologies simultaneously. The victor can also work as a pure NVR – and it will support Axis, Arecont, Pana, Bosch, Sony JVC and AD cameras. There’s an IT path that’s unlimited in expansion.
Tyco Security Products’ Scott Whitehead took me for a test drive of victor and the Windows-based system proved simple and intuitive. The system is remarkably uncluttered given its underlying capabilities and for organisations looking to leverage existing AD DVRs and NVRs it looks a real winner.
Important too, is news that victor is a work in progress that will be expanded over the next few years to offer a total security management solution incorporating CCTV, alarms, access control and fire control.
The system I take a look at is running on Whitehead’s business PC and instead of using recorded footage for the demo, we’re calling up sites in America over a wireless connection. This makes the demonstration feel pretty close to what some security managers would experience accessing their systems while mobile.
According to Whitehead, with the old Intellex DVR the software was in 2 parts – there was management software on the recorder itself and a network client elsewhere. This meant you could look at different DVRs but it was cumbersome because you needed to be sitting at dedicated workstations to view footage.
“This system is able to handle any AD product no matter which DVR, hybrid or NVR from Version 3.2 (1994) through to the current V4 – all can be viewed on the same platform”
“As part of the process of designing a system to facilitate the move from analog to IP, Tyco Security Products came up with victor,” Whitehead explains. “This system is able to handle any AD product no matter which DVR, hybrid or NVR from Version 3.2 (1994) through to the current V4 – now all can be viewed on the same platform.
“There a lot of features the software of each of these products already had and there are a lot of add-ons to original software that have been incorporated – in particular, roles that can be linked to operators that can be programmed using exception rules.”
Essentially, victor is a Window-based product that’s designed to manage all Tyco Products – yes, all. The first phase is video but victor will expand to encompass access control and alarms, then take in fire control, as well as supporting third party products as well.
“The system includes a site manager which lives on a server on the site with all remote clients directed to that site manager,” he explains. “This gives the ability to connect to the system and get the same privileges wherever you are as an operator tied to a dedicated role. We can have as many roles as we like.
“One of the strongest features of victor is this ability to set up roles. The first 4 are default and you then put in additional operators roles as you need them. You do this by creating an operator and you start your programming with exceptions and then add what operators can view and do. There are multiple features that can be locked into a role – all are enabled right from the start.
“An operator might not be allowed to sync access or edit, but might be allowed to unlock and lock a door. We then add readers to the role – you just add all the exceptions, running reports, reducing bandwidth, events, cameras, video actions, salvos, create tours, matrix, sync access – it gives the end user to nominate exactly what each operator can and can’t see and do.”
As Whitehead runs through the demo he generates an alarm in one window and in another an alarm is immediately registered with video automatically popping up for the operator. Sitting at the controls we can see event logs, salvos, and look at the alarm event immediately without having to go to some other client or workstation to find it.
“You can have 4 monitors on a workstation and still have the original view on one monitor that’s been generated by the alarm, and you can then take control of those cameras in real time and pan, tilt and zoom with a control unit or via a keyboard.
“I can also use the system to check access events and grant access in real time. If a card is presented the cardholder pops up on the screen along with live video and I can then open a door.”
Another strong feature is the ability to create a virtual matrix. Whitehead explains that users can create a virtual matrix with 64 cameras connected to any of 4 possible monitors.
“With this configuration we can designate an alarm monitor, a spot monitor and 2 viewing monitors. I can have floating views – it’s all drag and drop with cameras. There are a range of options that give a huge number of video layouts – it’s whatever suits and it can be customised for a single operator.”
Whitehead says this allows operators to customize their management screen for themselves – they can save whatever configuration suits best.
“Workstations and recorders get listed, readers, cameras, keyboards. In a big system it can be broken down by site,” he explains. “You can drag devices into a site – recorders, cameras – you can name the folder. You can also create camera names that don’t impact on the names assigned on the site.
“Roles can be individual or they could be a group and apply to all operators, all security officers, all security managers. This is perfect for many companies. It’s very flexible, simple and powerful. If it’s just a graphic platform you need for existing hardware, I can train you in an hour.”
Search and retrieval is strong. There’s a wizard but Whitehead explains that it’s optional. You can select time and date or motion-based searches. And he says there will be another dozen features available for video analytics coming out over the 1-2 years.
“When searching we can pick out a recorder and select cameras, then drag and drop them to check out footage surrounding a time or an event. We can click on clips, export, delete or playback – if we export we can save as a native player or save as an AVI for USB or DVD. It’s very simple.”
Fact file:
Key features of AD’s new victor include:
* View, manage, and control recorded video from Intellex digital video recorders and VideoEdge network video recorders; live streams from analog and IP cameras all in one intuitive client
* Display H.264, ACC, MJPEG, MPEG-4 video simultaneously
* Intuitive interface and controls, lets users mix live and recorded within the same window for real-time response
* Easily create multi-monitor, user-specific layouts to increase operator efficiency
* Innovative motion-based smart search and investigation tool speeds operator’s workflows versus traditional video searches.
