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Monthly Archives: June 2007
exacqVision Command Line Interface Released
We’ve officially released a major part of the Software Developers Kit for the exacqVision client . The exacqVision Command Line Interface (eV-CLI) allows the playback of selected recorded video thru a customized, configurable exacqVision client window from within any application.
An access control system may want to display a live video window from a camera pointed at a doorway when the door sensor indicated the door has opened. A POS data management application may want to open a searched video window from the camera and time corresponding to a particular transaction. The exacqVision Client supports these types of applications by being highly configurable thru the eV-CLI.
All of the attributes of eV-CLI are specified in a user-defined XML file. Variables include layout and position attributes of the exacqVision window, the server name or IP address, camera, serial and audio inputs, and search attributes.
A translation program is also included for applications such as POS systems which may not map directly to the eV-CLI. This translation program also includes an editable XML which specifies the mapping of POS terminals to inputs on an exacqVision server, and maps the time format of the POS system to the Unix time of the exacqVision server.
One of the new features of last week’s exacqVision Version 2.6 release is exacqReplay, which provides immediate playback of any live video. exacqReplay also utilizes eV-CLI for its operation.
eV-CLI manual and source code are available on the Exacq downloads page.
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| exacqReplay utilizes eV-CLI for its operation |
Updated exacqVision Family Spec Sheet – June 07
We’ve updated the exacqVision IP Video Surveillance family spec sheet. This latest version, dated June 07, provides updates for the latest feature set, product offerings and IP camera support.
Information on our exacqVision Pro rackmount and desktop Hybrid systems, exacqVision IP NVR rackmount IP servers, and exacqVision IP software are included, as well as an updated product comparison matrix on the back.
A quantity of these spec sheets will be mailed to every Exacq reseller and Rep next week. The PDF version is available for download here. The link is also on our Downloads page.
exacqVision Version 2.6 Released
We’ve just released Version 2.6 of the exacqVision IP video surveillance software. This latest release continues our quest to issue incremental releases about every six weeks to continually add customer-requested features.
Version 2.6 can be downloaded here.
Key features in the Version 2.6 Release
- exacqReplay – instant right-click replay from any camera view
- Joystick support – added support for all USB joysticks for PTZ functionality
- Arecont 5100 support – 5 Mpixel IP camera
- Improved Axis integration
- New 6×5 widescreen view
- Shortcut Function key support – function keys for help, hide navigation panel, hide toolbar, and full screen.
Here are some of these features in detail:
exacqReplay
We’ve implemented one of the key usability features we’ve wanted in exacqVision. With exacqReplay, you can right-click on any live window window and see the last few seconds or few minutes of video recorded on that camera.
Here’s a close-up of that right-click menu:
exacqReplay then pops up a window showing that camera’s video for the selected time:
That window can be resized and displayed in-line or on another monitor. The video selection can be “scrubbed” back and forth, and you can step thru the clip frame by frame, both forward and backward. You can also right-click to bring up a menu where you can save individual images, video clips, and even burn directly to a CD-R or DVD-RAM.
Joystick Support
We’ve added support for USB joysticks to control the PTZ functions within exacqVision client. Using a USB joystick, you can control not only specific PTZ cameras, analog or IP, but also control fixed camera PTZ using our Digital PTZ functionality.
Any USB joystick will work, including gaming joysticks. However, we recommend the Axis 295 Professional USB Joystick. We will list additional professional-grade USB joysticks on our website soon.
Arecont Vision 5100 5 Mpixel IP Camera Support
We now support the Arecont 5100 5 Mpixel IP camera. This unique high-resolution camera delivers spectacular images, at 15 fps, at a resolution of 2560×1600.
Improved Axis IP Camera Integration
We have improved the integration with many of the newer Axis IP cameras, adding support for unique frame rate, resolution and audio support.
- Axis 221 – We now support 45 ips in D1 resolution, and 60 ips in CIF mode from this camera
- Axis 223M - We now support the 2 Mpixel mode of this camera
- 207MW – We now support the AAC audio format from this camera
- Corrected maximum frame rates for all Axis cameras
New 6×5 Widescreen View
When running exacqVision client on widescreen monitors, an additional widescreen live view mode, 6×5 appears
New
Shortcut Function Keys
The following new Shortcut Functions have been added, conforming to standards used in popular Windows programs:
- F1 = Help (just like all Windows apps)
- F4 = Hide Navigation Panel (just like in Adobe Acrobat)
- F8 = Hide Toolbar (just like in Adobe Acrobat)
- F11 = Full Screen (just like in Internet Explorer)
We have made a great deal of progress with our feature set so far this year. We released Version 2.0 in December of 2006, and have had almost monthly releases since then. Here’s a recap of some of the recent release highlights:
Version 2.5 Release, May 7, 2007
- Bandwidth Throttling
- View Tour & Enhancements
- Enhanced exacqRecall
Version 2.4 Release, March 27, 2007
- Arecont & Panasonic IP Camera Support
- Audio support on Axis Cameras
- Time-Lapse Mode
- Pre-Motion Recording
Going back further, we had IP Camera Finder in Version 2.3 (Feb 07), Multi-Monitor support in Version 2.2 (Jan 07), and many, many other enhancements and bug fixes.
Version 2.6 of exacqVision is available on our Downloads page. As always, new versions of both client and server can be installed on top of previous versions while fully retaining all user settings.
Loss Prevention in San Diego
We recently returned from the National Retail Federation’s annual Loss Prevention Expo – this time held in the San Diego Convention Center. We were showing our exacqVision IP video surveillance solutions in the IPVS Magazine booth. The NRF-LP Expo focuses on retail loss prevention, with emphasis on everything from designing floor layouts and surveillance systems, to combating counterfeit brands and organized retail theft rings.
The attendance at NRF-LP is primarily loss prevention officers from the larger retail chains worldwide. We met with many of these key LP decision makers and had an opportunity to discuss our exacqVision IP and hybrid video solutions. Also in the IPVS booth were vendors of companion technologies to exacqVision, such as IP cameras and managed networking gear. Key issues with these LP professionals included a desire for flexible and scalable video surveillance solutions, and the ability to access all locations from a single remote interface. The ability to scale an exacqVision system to any size, the ease-of use of the user interface, the tie-in to POS systems, and the ability to seamlessly mix both IP and analog video, thereby allowing them to use existing cameras, was of significant interest. We were able to make a number of great contacts at this show.
Our thanks again to Eric and the entire crew at IPVS Magazine for once again putting together a great booth. We’ll be with IPVS Magazine in the retail market again in November when we head to Atlanta for the National Association of Convenience Stores Annual Convention.
Updated exacqVision Disk Calculator
Sean has completed the latest iteration of the online exacqVision Disk Calculator and the link is on our Downloads page. This online disk calculator provides a quick method for calculating disk and bandwidth requirements for exacqVision video surveillance installations.
This latest version adds additional IP camera granularity, allowing the selection of resolution, compression and frame rate for each individual IP camera. Additionally, enhanced bandwidth calculators provide insight into the given installation’s utilization of various types of purchased bandwidth (DSL, U-Verse, T1, FiOS, Switch, etc).
The exacqVision Disk Calculator is an online tool that works with any internet browser and is available here:
www.exacq.com/evCalc/exacqVisionCalculator.html
Updated exacqVision User Manual
We’ve updated the exacqVision User Manual. The latest edition, dated June 7, 2007, is available on our Downloads Page, and is updated to the currently shipping version of exacqVision IP software.
The exacqVision User Manual is a PDF file, aprox 12 MB in size.
As always, the Help function within the exacqVision client contains the latest User Manual content.
exacqVision IP – Mobile Application
Our friends at American Digital Security, an exacqVision integrator in Liberty, MO, have developed a unique mobile platform for the exacqVision IP video surveillance software and Axis 207MW IP cameras. Providing multi-camera views with spectacular megapixel resolution, their platform is ideal for all mobile applications that need video recording and surveillance.
Here’s a sample export from the exacqVision IP client of one of the cameras, on a drive across town:
Some individual screen shots from this video, at full resolution, saved directly from the exacqVision IP client software, are available below. Click on each picture for the full resolution, 1280×960 image.
ADS can be reached by calling +1-888-833-4237 or on the web here.
exacqVision IP Camera Integration Partner: Arecont Vision
One of our exacqVision IP camera integration partners is Arecont Vision, a privately-held company based in Altadena, CA. Arecont manufacturers a line of aggressively-priced megapixel IP cameras, from 2 Mpixel to 5 Mpixel, plus a unique 3 Mpixel DayNight camera. A number of our systems integrators in North America and Europe are resellers of Arecont Vision cameras.
Arecont just got a good write-up in the June, 2007, issue of Security Systems News. Sam Pfeifle, editor of SSN, wrote about Arecont:
Arecont Vision, manufacturer of IP megapixel cameras, has announced in past months a slew of agreements with command and control software manufacturers whereby its cameras can be integrated into their operating systems. … Exacq now supports Arecont with all of its exacqVision NVR products.
Why the sudden rush to integrate with Arecont? “They have spectacular image quality,” said Roger Shuman, vice president of marketing at Exacq. Plus, “one of our reps had a potentially significant deal on the table that required Arecont cameras. They were already on our list, so that moved them to the top of the list.”
Steven Sarfati, VP of Sales & Marketing for Arecont, goes on in the article to explain how advances in technology have eliminated the cost barriers of storage and networking bandwidth for megapixel video surveillance systems.
Our exacqVision IP software supports Arecont’s AV1300 1.3 Mpixel camera, the AV2100 2 Mpixel camera, the AV3100 3 Mpixel camera, and the AV3130 3 Mpixel DayNight camera. Support is forthcoming for the AV5100 5 Mpixel camera.
One of the cool features we’ve added for these megapixel cameras is the ability to use the unique digital PTZ in the exacqVision client to pan and zoom these hi-res images in both live and playback modes. In addition, we enable multiple camera views from a single megapixel camera, providing wide views and digital PTZ close shots, all from a single camera, all recorded as if they were separate cameras. In one bank drive-thru installation, a single Arecont megapixel camera provides a wide view, a close-up of the driver view, and a close-up of the license plate view, all independently recorded and searchable.
Congratulations to Arecont for a great write-up.
