Follow Us
exacqBlog links
Tag Cloud
Twitter @exacq
Archives
Tag Archives: Arecont
Arecont Vision presents Exacq with Technology Partner of the Year awards
We are pleased to announce that Exacq Technologies was recently recognized by IP megapixel camera vendor Arecont Vision for three awards.
Arecont presented Exacq three Technology Partner of the Year awards: for North America, for Middle East & Africa, and the overall Global award.
We certainly appreciate these awards. Exacq has supported the full line of Arecont Vision megapixel IP cameras since they first were introduced; we were the first VMS vendor to add support for the H.264 models when Arecont introduced them years ago; and there are hundreds of major installations around the world that use the combination of exacqVision VMS and Arecont IP cameras.
Thank you again, Arecont Vision!
exacqVision 4.5 Released
Version 4.5 of exacqVision Video Management Software has just been released. This latest release, compatible with all exacqVision Hybrid and IP video surveillance systems, incorporates new features and enhancements, and continues our quest for rapid, incremental updates.
Version 4.5 is available for download here. Key features in the 4.5 Release include:
- Serial keywords used as Event Linking and Monitoring Sources
- New RTSP Plugin – Video/Audio Streaming from RTSP Devices
- ONVIF PTZ & Presets added
- Samsung 5000-Series IP Cameras Supported through ONVIF
- Bosch ONVIF Enhancements
- New Panasonic WJ-GXE500 encoder support
- Panasonic protocol analog PTZ enhancements
- Audio support for Panasonic IP cameras
- Arecont – privacy mask enabled in latest models
- Enterprise System License Management from My Systems Page
- Finnish Language Support
Here are some of the features in detail:
Serial Keywords used as Event Linking and Monitoring Sources
A major new feature in 4.5 is the ability to create unique events on serial keywords, either from UART or IP serial ports. By tapping into the power of exacqVision event linking, creating unique events on serial keywords greatly enhances the configurability of exacqVision to act on events. Some of the key uses of this are:
Point of Sale (POS) – By using keywords, specific red-flag transactions could be subject to additional scrutiny, such as logging, e-mail alerts, move to a specific PTZ preset, etc. The keyword events are also visible in the graphical search timeline, creating an easy path for case building.
Video Analytics – Using the event per keyword also opens up support for a host of video analytic packages. In particular, keywords used with the new RTSP plugin (also in 4.5) enable the use of the full analytic functions with VideoIQ IP cameras (discussed further below).
Access Control – Using keywords with access control systems can enable video recording or other actions. Keywords can come from an access control server, or directly from IP readers.
Easy to Deploy – Using keywords with exacqVision’s powerful event linking function means integrators can easily configure systems to respond to a wide variety of events, all with zero programming.
Keyword Demo – We’ve setup a web page to demo the event-per-keyword functionality, here:
http://www.exacq.com/epk
In this demo, you can type in "clock" or "front door" or "side door" or "disco" or combinations of keywords. Pre-defined event linking will swing the PTZ camera to those locations and, if selected, turn on the famous Exacq disco ball via the relay outputs.
New RTSP Plugin – Video/Audio Streaming from RTSP Devices
Version 4.5 includes a new Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) plugin, enabling the connecting of a wide variety of video devices including a large population of IP cameras. RTSP is a widely-used streaming protocol, and most every IP camera vendor supports it to one degree or another. Our RTSP plugin is based on live555, which is the code base for many streaming applications, including the ubiquitous VLC.
VideoIQ Analytic Cameras – A key benefit of this plugin, combined with the Keyword eventing above, is the ability to use the video analytics found in VideoIQ cameras. Version 4.5 allows the connection of any VideoIQ IP camera, and enables actions to happen based on analytic events from the camera. Analytics available in VideoIQ cameras include:
• Perimeter protection
• Virtual fence or “tripwire”
• Unmanned site protection
• Crowd formation monitoring
• Direction of travel monitoring
• Outdoor inventory control
• Indoor object removed
Large Variety of RTSP Cameras – RTSP is broadly used by IP camera vendors, and as such the RTSP plugin enables the use of most every IP camera, from consumer-grade up through the highest-end cameras. RTSP does not support motion detection at the edge, but is useful when basic video streaming form just about any camera is necessary. A fairly comprehensive listing of available RTSP-supported IP cameras is here.
ONVIF PTZ and Presets Support
The exacqVision ONVIF plugin has been enhanced, adding PTZ, PTZ presets, and relay outputs to the supported commands.
Samsung 5000-Series IP Cameras Supported through ONVIF
Support has been added through ONVIF for the latest generation of Samsung IP cameras, the 5000-Series. These megapixel box and dome cameras include the following models:
SNB-5000
SND-5080
SND-5080F
SNV-5080
The Samsung 5000-Series IP cameras mut have firmware 1.32_110201 or newer.
Bosch ONVIF Enhancements
Support for Bosch cameras under ONVIF has been enhanced, adding the ability to select both resolution and compression type.
New Panasonic WJ-GXE500 encoder support
Support has been added for the Panasonic WJ-GXE500 4-Channel H.264 Real-Time Network Video Encoder.
Panasonic protocol analog PTZ enhancements
Support had been added for Menu, Flip and Pattern Programming on Panasonic-protocol analog PTZ cameras.
Audio support for Panasonic IP cameras
Audio decode support for G726-type audio has been added for the latest generation of Panasonic IP cameras:
Arecont – privacy mask enabled in latest models
The privacy mask functionality has been added for the latest models of Arecont megapixel IP cameras:
AV1315
AV1325
AV2815
AV2825
AV2805
AV10005 (with firmware 65191/2 or newer)
System License Management Enhancements on My Systems Page
In Version 4.5 the process of managing and updating system licenses has been greatly enhanced, and can be done right from the My Systems page. Whether a single license key for a single server, or hundreds of license keys for an enterprise installation, the process has been made quick and easy.
Individual License Update -To update individual system license keys, go to the My Systems page, right click on any system in the Subscription column, select Update, and select either Update License from file or Update License from text.
Batch License Update – For enterprise installations with dozens or even hundreds of servers, license update is now entirely automated. A single .CSV file with all MAC addresses and License Keys is generated by Exacq. The user simply imports that one file and it applies the license keys to all servers. The user can also easily export all server license keys for easy updating.
Finnish Language Support
Finnish localization support has been added to Version 4.5.
This brings a total of 18 languages supported in exacqVision, including English, French, German, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Dutch, Spanish, Catalan/Valencian, Polish, Slovak, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Hungarian.
Recent Releases
With this release we continue to make rapid progress with exacqVision, and incremental releases have hit about every 2 months. A large number of new features have been added in a short period of time. You can see the full release history of exacqVision here:
exacqVision Release History
Download and Installation
As always, the latest versions of exacqVision client and server software can easily and quickly be copied over existing versions while retaining all user settings. The latest versions can always be downloaded from the exacqVision Downloads page, or you can click on ‘Check for Updates‘ within the ‘About‘ box in the exacqVision software.
exacqVision Server software is available in both Windows and Linux versions, and the exacqVision client software is available in Windows, Linux and Macintosh native versions. Any version of exacqVision client can connect to any version of exacqVision server.
Posted in exacq
Tagged Arecont, Bosch, ONVIF, Panasonic, Release Notes, RTSP, Samsung, VideoIQ
Leave a comment
Street Test: Exacq + Arecont AV8185
One of our primary distributors for China, nnodal, put up an interesting blog post today, experimenting with exacqVision VMS and Arecont panoramic cameras at a busy intersection in the city. They shared some great video footage. Their blog post starts out:
In preparation for an upcoming project we decided to put together a little test scenario involving the exacqvision VMS and an Arecont AV8185 180 degree view 8 megapixel camera.
Our setup on the street
Our setup included an Alienware Laptop running the exacqVision enterprise server & client, an Arecont AV8185 camera mounted on a 3 meter AV stand, a Netgear 8 port POE router, a 5 meter IP cable and power from the nearby flower stand.
Video of the Setup (including lots of interested onlookers)
Results
Here’s a video of what the system was showing us. Forgive the resolution – remember this was compressed once for the screen capture & again when uploaded to VIMEO.
Although the video appears choppy this appears to stem from the 5.5 fps limitation on each of the 4 cameras when running at full 2 megapixel res – 8 megs across the board. In reality the 5.5 fps is plenty fast enough to capture vehicle license plates and other fast-moving objects in the camera’s view. All things being said we were extremely pleased with the performance of the solution – especially considering there was absolutely zero configuration of the cameras prior to shooting the video.
The original-resolution exacqVision video export is here:
http://nnodal.com/sharedfiles/180cam.exe (350MB)
Below are some screen captures from the video export. Click on each for a larger view:
Using the exacqVision digital zoom, we can clearly read the license plate number:
And again using exacqVision digital zoom:
Other views from the Arecont cameras:
The original nnodal blog post is here. Our thanks to Tony Luce and everyone at nnodal for this interesting experiment.
exacqVision 4.1 Released
Version 4.1 of exacqVision Video Management Software has just been released. This latest release, compatible with all exacqVision Hybrid and IP video surveillance systems, incorporates new features and enhancements, and continues our quest for rapid, incremental updates.
Version 4.1 is available for download here. Key features in the 4.1 Release:
- Serial Data over IP
- Viasys Video Analytics Support
- Serial Data export to ePlayer
- Expanded PTZ functionality
- Expanded Maps functionality
- Support for new IP camera models from Arecont, Ganz, IQeye, and StarDot
Here are some of the features in detail:
Serial Data over IP
Serial data can now be read over IP ports in addition to standard serial ports. A new window has been added to the Serial Port Setup page to configure the IP serial ports:
A close-up view of the IP Serial Setup window is here:
Up to 64 IP serial ports can be added per server, in addition to the standard RS-232 and RS-485 serial ports. IP serial port profiles are set up the same way as standard serial port profiles. Enabling serial over IP expands the ability of exacqVision servers to integrate with POS and ATM systems, access control systems, alarm systems, and video analytic systems, such as Viasys.
Viasys Video Analytics Support
Viasys is a vendor of video analytics software that resides on the edge and runs on Axis IP cameras, on IQeye Pro-line IP cameras. As analytic events occur, ASCII data is sent over the IP port. Through the use of serial over IP, an exacqVision server can read the serial data from this network port, and trigger recording and other actions based on the associated analytic events.
Viasys routines include intruder detection, perimeter protection, and alarming, and include ability for Adaptive Outdoor Analytics, 3D Video-Awareness, Electronic Fence/Trip Wire, Directional Detection and Sabotage Detection.
In addition to edge analytics, Viasys software also runs on any exacqVision server, enabling full video analytics capability for all IP cameras supported in exacqVision, including Arecont Vision, ACTi, Panasonic, Vivotek, StarDot, and more.
You can download a fully-functioning 30-day trial of Viasys software here. Demo videos of Viasys in action are here.
Serial Data Export to ePlayer
Serial data, whether from serial ports or IP ports, can now be fully exported along with associated video cameras. This export enables the serial data to scroll in real-time with what is happening on the cameras. As the video scrub bar is used to rapidly forward or reverse through video, the serial data scrolls rapidly as well; likewise as you rapidly scroll through serial data, the video stays in sync.
Here’s a sample screenshot of exported video and serial data in the ePlayer:
An exported clip of video and serial data in the ePlayer is available for download here
34.5 MB, requires reseller password
Expanded PTZ Functionality
With Version 4.1, additional commands have been added for mechanical PTZ cameras using the AD-422 and Pelco-D protocol, as well as for all analog and IP mechanical PTZ cameras.
Access PTZ Dome Menu – For Pelco and AD, you can now access the camera’s internal menu from within the exacqVision client (click images for a larger view):
More Joystick Commands – In addition, additional PTZ commands are now available from PTZ consoles and joysticks, including Menu On/Off, Run Patterns, and Flip.
Proportional PTZ via Mouse – New enhancements have been added for propotional PTZ control of mechanical cameras via a mouse. Graphical feedback appears showing the direction of the mouse. As the mouse moves farther from the center crosshair, the pan-tilt speed increases. This feature has always been available with PTZ joysticks, and is now available with the mouse:
Record Dome Patterns – Dome Patterns can now be recorded from within the exacqVision client. A new Dome Pattern section appears on a right-click of a PTZ camera setup:
Dome patterns, both those that have been recorded within exacqVision or recorded externally, can be accessed from the right-click PTZ menu:
Video Demo – Here’s a brief video demo of the new enhanced PTZ features in exacqVision 4.1:
Import/Export Maps
Enhanced ability to import and export graphics used for Maps. Export/Import buttons along with a status bar are now included in the System Setup page:
IP Camera Support Updates
Support for a number of new IP camera models has been added, including:
Arecont Vision – Support added for the new Arecont AV3135 D/N camera, as well as the new dual-mode AV10005 10-Mpixel/1080P IP camera
Ganz – Support added for the new CBC Ganz IP Dome Cameras ZN-D9312NHA and ZN-DN9312NHA
IQeye – Support added for the new IQeye HD1080P Series H.264 IP cameras. Usability improvements have also been added for the entire IQeye line, enabling port configuration and auto login.
StarDot – Support added for the new line of H.264 NetCam multi-megapixel cameras, models SDH500BN, SDH500B, SDH300B, SDH130BN, SDH130B.
Recent Releases
With this release we continue to make rapid progress with exacqVision, and incremental releases have hit about every 2 months. A large number of new features have been added in a short period of time. You can see the full release history of exacqVision here:
exacqVision Release History
Download and Installation
As always, the latest versions of exacqVision client and server software can easily and quickly be copied over existing versions while retaining all user settings. The latest versions can always be downloaded from the exacqVision Downloads page, or you can click on ‘Check for Updates‘ within the ‘About‘ box in the exacqVision software.
exacqVision Server software is available in both Windows and Linux versions, and the exacqVision client software is available in Windows, Linux and Macintosh native versions. Any version of exacqVision client can connect to any version of exacqVision server.
At SICUR 2010 in Madrid with IPtecno
Sicur 2010, the largest physical security tradeshow in Spain, was held last week in Madrid. Our representative IPtecno had a large booth in the exhibit hall, showing the latest exacqVision 4.0 features. Below are some pictures from the show. Click each for a larger view.
ICT Protégé and exacqVision integration at the Telus Centre
Security Central, our manufacturer’s Rep firm in Canada, has just put up a blog post installation story about the new Telus Centre for Performance and Learning, the recently-opened state-of-the-art addition to the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Omni Security, a Toronto-based integrator, is busy installing the ICT Protégé access control system and the exacqVision IP video surveillance management system in this new facility.
The Protégé system will manage over 100 doors of access control complete with full integration into the exacqVision VMS system. More than eighty IP cameras will be managed by exacqVision including twenty Arecont Vision 2-Megapixel H.264 cameras. To manage the access control database and the video files, Omni Security is deploying several high-end servers utilizing RAID6 technology for redundancy.
Future plans include integration of Protégé and exacqVision to the facility’s hotelling system for automating access control for guests to the many classrooms.
Our congratulations to the crew at Omni Security for this great high-profile integration installation. More pictures and information are on the Security Canada blog here. More information on the ICT Protégé access control system is here.
ASIS 2008: Integration Partner News
ASIS 2008 is underway in Atlanta. We’ll have a full report on our activities at the show in a couple of days. In the meantime, here’s a roundup of ASIS press releases from some of our integration partners:
Arecont Vision Furthers Partnership with Exacq Technologies for Seamless H.264 Megapixel Cameras and ExacqVision Integration 
GLENDALE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Arecont Vision, the industry leader in megapixel IP camera technology, announces that it has furthered its partnership with Exacq Technologies. The collaborative effort assures interoperability of Arecont Vision’s H.264 megapixel cameras offering to customers an efficient megapixel surveillance solution on Exacq Technologies’ exacqVision NVR platform. … full press release here
Intransa Widely Displayed at ASIS Atlanta
11 Exhibitors to Demonstrate and Display Intransa’s Shared, External IP Storage
SAN JOSE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Intransa, the global leader of shared, scalable and simple external IP storage solutions, has announced that its products will be demonstrated and integrated with those of eleven different exhibitors at next week’s ASIS Atlanta event. ASIS International, the physical security industry’s largest annual conference, is being held September 15-17 at the Georgia World Congress Center, 285 Andrew Young International NW, Atlanta, Georgia. … full press release here
Demand for IP Storage and Ease of Integration Fuels Intransa Partner Program GrowthIndustry-leading IP Storage Practices Combine with Flexible, Innovative Certification Program to Drive Strong Partner
SAN JOSE, Calif. & ATLANTA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Intransa, the global leader of shared, scalable and simple external IP storage solutions, today announced the continued expansion of its StorAlliance Technology Partner and certification program. Designed to propel the compatibility and growth of both industry-leading and up-and-coming software and hardware vendors, the Intransa StorAlliance Technology Partner program provides security practitioners with affordable and dependable solutions. Customers are guaranteed Intransa’s IP storage products integrate seamlessly with video management and security applications, existing DVRs and both analog and digital surveillance cameras. StorAlliance was the first IP storage certification program for the physical security industry, and remains the most widely adopted. … full press release here
Pivot3 Demonstrates Serverless Computing Platform at ASIS 2008; Announces Partner Certification Program
Innovative Platform Eliminates Dedicated NVR Servers to Save Power, Reduce Rack Space, and Lower Costs
ATLANTA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Pivot3, Inc, the market leader in High-Definition Storage™, today announced the first public demonstration of its Pivot3 Serverless Computing™ platform at ASIS International 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia. This new platform, which runs NVR software on the storage node rather than requiring its own dedicated server, will be demonstrated in three locations at the show at the World Congress Convention Center: with Genetec Omnicast in the Pivot3 booth #5139, with Exacq exacqVision in booth #1247, and with Lenel OnGuard in the Lenel Partner Pavilion booth #2735. … full press release here
ioimage and Exacq Announce Technology Partnership 
ioimage Intelligent Video Encoders and IP Cameras to Integrate With Exacq’s IP Video Management Software
HERZLIYA, Israel, September 9 /PRNewswire/ — ioimage, the pioneer of intelligent video appliances designed for simplicity, announced today a technology partnership with Exacq Technologies, a leading developer of open architecture NVR (Network Video Recorder) software and hardware solutions used in security surveillance applications. … full press release here
Report from Security 2008 Australia
The Security 2008 Australia show was held last week at the Sydney Convention Centre. This is the largest physical security trade show in Australia, and our agent for the entire region, Zone Advanced Protection Systems, had a prominent booth on the show floor.
Zone was showing their full line-up of products, including ICx thermal imaging, intelligent sensors and radar surveillance systems; ioimage video analytic cameras; and ACTi IP video cameras. But certainly a highlight of their booth was the exacqVision IP video surveillance systems combined with the new Arecont Vision h.264 megapixel IP cameras. These new h.264 compression-based megapixel cameras (Arecont models AV5105, AV3105, AV2105 and AV1305) provide a tremendous benefit in reducing both storage space and network traffic. Since these cameras have become available, we’re seeing upwards of 10x average file size reduction with the h.264 models vs. the corresponding MJPEG models.
Bill Nolan, Managing Director of Zone, reported that the new cameras with the exacqVision software were a hit: “The customers GOT it and so it made megapixel much more interesting.” One visitor to the booth said this combination was “the first real megapixel management system I’ve seen.” The fact that the exacqVision software runs natively on Windows, Linux and Macintosh, as well as browsers and mobile devices, was also a big draw. Bill summed up the exacqVision response at the show by saying “it was instantly understandable by the trade and will migrate IP systems to the forefront of the buyers mind by its great management of megapixel cameras.”
Our congratulations to the crew at Zone for yet another successful show. Zone will exhibiting the exacqVision products at two additional trade shows this month, the JAA Australian Jewellery Fair 08 in Sydney next week, and the Security in Government 2008 show in Canberra in two weeks. Zone can be reached as follows:
Web: www.zoneaps.com.au
Phone: +61-2-9894-7025
E-mail: sales@zoneaps.com
exacqVision Ver 2.9 Preview: Mpixel Camera Cropping
Continuing the exacqVision Version 2.9 new feature preview: Another of the major new features in Version 2.9 is Megapixel Camera Cropping.
The IP megapixel cameras from IQeye and Arecont Vision can produce spectacular images with great detail. With those increased-resolution images also comes increased file sizes and increased network bandwidth usage.
In many cases, there are areas in each megapixel camera image that are not necessary to view or record. For example, an exterior camera aimed at a parking lot may also include sky or buildings or landscaping in the view, which you do not need to record. With the new Cropping feature of exacqVision, you can crop out those areas you don’t wish to record, thereby maintaining the high-resolution for the areas you do want to see, but reducing file sizes and network bandwidth usage.
This feature is particularly useful for systems that may have a large number of IP megapixel cameras connected.
Dan and Roger created a YouTube video for this feature as well:
A full Blog post on all of the Version 2.9 features will hit when we release the new version.
exacqVision Load Testing With Megapixel IP Cameras
We’re always testing the network loading and throughput on our exacqVision NVR servers. It is important that when large numbers of megapixel IP cameras are connected to either a single server or to an enterprise that we can maintain our specified throughput and frame rates. There are a variety of ways for testing, including virtual camera software, but nothing is more accurate in a real-world scenario than connecting actual cameras and running the servers in a worst-case scenario: continuous free-run at 100% motion on all cameras.
Last week, TJ and Matthew traveled to California to perform just such qualification and testing at the Arecont Vision headquarters. Using our stock exacqVision server, used in our rackmount NVR systems and rackmount Hybrid systems, Arecont furnished more than 64 megapixel cameras which TJ and Matthew connected to the server through standard NETGEAR Smart Switches. The cameras were primarily AV2100 2-Mpixel (1600×1200) IP cameras, but there were also a mixture of other cameras, including AV3100 3-Mpixel (2040×1530) cameras and AV8360 360-degree panoramic IP cameras.
Our real-world testing once again confirmed our virtual testing. The exacqVision system achieved expected frame rates and network throughput, while maintaining a low processor load. We were able to specifically and definitively qualify a number of pending installations in which large numbers of megapixel cameras have been specified by our resellers for use with our NVR video surveillance systems.
Our thanks to Arecont Vision for hosting us at their facility and for providing all of the cameras and lenses we used for testing. Below are some pictures from the testing.
