Issue #5- June 2010

PSIA Newsletter- Issue No. 5- June 2010

The Physical Security Interoperability Alliance Releases First Set of Conformance Tools

The Physical Security Interoperability Alliance on June 15 released conformance tools for its 1.1 IP Media Device specification.

“The compliance tool for the IP Media Device rounds out PSIA’s ability to develop open and interoperable standards,” said Peter Jankowski, Chairman, PSIA IP Video Working Group, and Chairman and CEO, Next Level Security Systems. “PSIA member companies can now leverage these tools to ensure conformance with the specification and quickly bring PSIA-enabled solutions to market.”

Developed by an independent firm, the conformance tools provide assurance that companies have correctly implemented the IP Media Device specification while the process ensures equal testing of different manufacturers’ products. Once the test documents are downloaded and installed from the PSIA Web site, implementers will move through an approval process. At the end of the procedure, an automatic report will be generated, which manufacturers must send to PSIA for review along with the Self-Declaration of Conformance form. Successful completion of the entire process enables companies to market their products as PSIA-certified. Members that have certified their security solutions with the tool will be listed on PSIA’s Web site.

“The release of the compliance tool is a powerful step forward in the quest for interoperability among IP-enabled devices,” said Ian Johnston, CTO, IQinVision. “This is the culmination of significant effort and collaboration from dozens of companies that have been active and influential within the PSIA community.”

PSIA Member Spotlight: Next Level Security Systems

Emerging company finds value in IP standards

Next Level Security Systems is a newly launched physical security company focused on developing a new breed of unified, networked security solutions. Founded by Pete Jankowski, who formerly launched Loronix (sold to Verint) and SyPixx (sold to Cisco), Next Level develops IP security solutions that are based on open standards, including PSIA and ONVIF, offer a robust set of capabilities and are designed to be easy-to-configure and cost-effective. The company’s flagship product, the NLSS Gateway, combines video management, access control, VoIP and video analytics into a single open architecture platform.

Jankowski, who also serves as Chairman of the PSIA IP Video Working Group, quickly realized IP standards were a critical addition to Next Level’s products to enable technologies to easily communicate with other IP devices. The adoption of open standards reduces the amount of custom integration and lowers end-user costs.

“Standards, such as the PSIA IP Media Device, address important issues, such as device discovery and configuration, and is one of the first steps toward true interoperability and industry-wide convergence,” Jankowski said. “The ability to streamline methods of communication with IP networks offers substantial value to the industry at large.”

The integration of IP-based security technologies has traditionally been challenging, as one manufacturer’s products may not work with another without customized software integration. Unfortunately, the lack of a common communication protocol has significantly slowed the adoption of IP technologies in the security marketplace. But standard development efforts will allow network-based technologies to communicate efficiently and therefore reduce the complexity associated with IP security integration. Furthermore, PSIA’s 1.1 IP Media Device specification makes it easier for systems integrators to offer cost effective solutions to customers; enable end users to select best-in-class IP security products, regardless of brand; and increase market opportunities for manufacturers of IP-enabled solutions as products can be easily integrated with others.

“We firmly believe IP standards are a valuable component of our product portfolio and we will continue to support the development of not only IP video standards but those that address access control, video analytics and recording solutions,” Jankowski said.

NEW PSIA Members- June 2010