Historically, intercoms and video surveillance systems lived in separate but parallel universes. Electricians handled intercoms, and security professionals handled surveillance cameras – rarely did the two universes intersect. While surveillance solutions migrated to integrated, network-based technology and open standard solutions, traditional intercoms remained standalone units with completely proprietary closed systems. Because they were orphan technology, they made door security more expensive to manage and maintain.
With the introduction of new unifying IP technology, however, intercoms are finally being adopted into the network security family. These professional-grade video intercom/door station solutions are network-based and conform to open standards and interfaces used by the systems and solutions already deployed by security professionals worldwide. Because they adhere to standards like ONVIF and SIP, they give security professionals great freedom to choose the best products and system solutions for their customers’ needs rather than being locked into a single manufacturer and struggling with connectivity and interoperability between systems.
ONVIF enables integration with most IP-based video management software, so the network video intercom/door station can operate as a full-featured surveillance camera and communication device at the same time. SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) enables integration with existing IP telephony and VoIP (Voice over IP) communication systems.
Meeting the Demands of Professional Security Environments
Integrating consumer-quality products into professional security environments have met with disappointment in the past, primarily because the needs of security professionals differ greatly from the residential sector.
Audio quality: In professional-grade security applications, intercoms are often placed in areas where the surrounding environment can rarely be controlled to ensure optimal performance. Yet, despite the less than ideal conditions, clear and echo-free two-way communication is paramount. To elevate audio quality from microphones and loudspeakers, manufacturers are addressing issues beyond sound pressure levels and wind-protected microphones. They are incorporating features like active noise suppression and echo cancellation to make intercom systems useful even in locations with a lot of activity and background noise because, as often is the case, this is where security intercoms are needed the most.
Image quality: Similarly, professional security environments demand greater image usability to ensure full situational awareness. To that end, video intercoms are incorporating HDTV-quality cameras embedded with smart technology that can compensate for strong backlight or shadowy conditions. Capabilities such as wide dynamic range (WDR) and good lowlight performance enhance image usability which is crucial for identifying visitors or quickly grasping the severity of an emergency situation.
Video intelligence: Adding analytics, network video intercoms become an even more powerful professional security tool. They can trigger alarms, video surveillance camera recordings or public safety broadcasts based on whatever is happening at the scene. For instance, audio analytics can be used to detect a gunshot, glass breaking or the early stages of a brawl and send an alert to security. Video analytics can, among other things, be used for motion or cross-line detection and people counting. With capabilities like these, network video intercoms transform from standalone devices into intrinsic and proactive components of a comprehensive network security system.
Flexible entry control: Because no two environments are identical, many IP video intercoms/door stations provide multiple inputs and outputs for controlling door locks and other peripherals. Their adherence to open standards and interfaces support connectivity to video management systems, access control (keycard or biometric) systems, mobile applications and smart phones.
A Many-to-One Topology
Traditional door phones are commonly used in residential multi-tenant buildings where one door phone at the building entrance enables visitors to call any apartment from the list of tenants. These one-to-many systems generally operate as one-task solutions that do not interact with other systems or components.
Security intercoms for the professional security environment, however, generally do not operate as standalone systems but rather seamlessly integrate with other security systems to create a comprehensive solution. This enables users to manage and maintain the solution as a unified whole rather than as a collection of separate, unrelated components.
Professional security intercoms often follow a many-to-one configuration where multiple intercoms or door phones connect to one centralized point of operation. This might be at an airport security office, a hotel reception desk or an alarm central station where multiple intercoms serve as the front line for visitor management and identification, perimeter protection or emergency communication. Unlike traditional residential systems, in professional security applications the owner of the system/facility decides who the visitor should call to get identified and granted access – not the other way around.
Because network video intercoms/door stations are infinitely scalable, they work well in a variety of environments from a single unit in a small retail boutique or medical office to a limitless number of devices at enterprise-level installations. They can be used to screen visitors, unlock loading dock doors, and even control building access remotely after business hours from any authorized network-connected smart device. The clear advantage of network-based door security is that it increases labor flexibility and efficiency since a single operator or patrolling guard can monitor and manage multiple doors regardless of their physical location.
Parallel Universes Converge
With the advent of new IP technology, intercoms can finally lose their orphan status. As network-based systems IP video intercoms/door stations have become an integrated part of an overall network security solution.
As all-in-one devices they have eliminated the costly inefficiencies of installing, managing and maintaining separate, standalone systems. They easily integrate with other IP-based security systems already in place providing operators with a more complete picture of events in and around the property – and they excel as a front-line defense, even in noisy and difficult lighting conditions.
The combination of HDTV-quality video, crystal clear two-way audio communication with the visitor and remote door releases gives operators a decided edge in efficiently managing visitor and vendor entry while protecting premises from unwelcomed intrusions.
Karl Hill is a Business Development Manager at Axis Communications. Fredrik Nilsson is VP Americas for Axis and is the author of “Intelligent Network Video: Understanding Modern Video Surveillance Systems” published by CRC Press and now available in its second edition. Request more info about the company at www.securityinfowatch.com/10212966.
