Milestone Systems' new device pack version 4.6 supports network cameras from a number of manufacturers now offering hardware that is compliant with the new industry standards from ONVIF and PSIA. With the release of Device Pack 4.6, Milestone becomes the first VMS (Video Management Software) company to provide drivers that support standards from both ONVIF and PSIA. A number of camera manufacturers' models have been submitted to Milestone for developing the drivers and testing them: for example, the IQeye specs for the PSIA standards were successfully demonstrated in a beta version at the ASIS trade show in September. Since then, there has been continued testing for drivers available now with the following capabilities:

ONVIF:

• Video streaming codecs H.264, MPEG4, JPEG
• Audio in G.711, G.726 16kbit, G.726 24kbit, G.726 32kbit, G.726 40kbit
• Streaming protocols RTP over UDP, RTP over RTSP over TCP, HTTP, HTTP snapshot (JPEG)
• Joystick PTZ

PSIA:

• Video streaming codecs H.264, MPEG4, JPEG
• Streaming protocols RTP over UDP, RTP over RTSP over TCP, HTTP, HTTP snapshot (JPEG)

The adoption of IP camera standards is recognized to be a significant factor for the continued growth of IP video in the security industry because it can reduce the complexity and cost of IP surveillance installations. With the availability of ONVIF and PSIA standards, the basic levels of integration required between hardware and software should make it easier to implement IP video. Hardware manufacturers, software providers and installers could then focus on other product developments and services that can add more value for customers.

Traditionally, network camera manufacturers have only provided proprietary camera interfaces. Some standards like MJPEG and H.264 exist already for compression and streaming of video data, but basic interfaces for setting video quality via frame rates, network criteria, and PTZ control of the cameras have been different and unique for each vendor's hardware.

Milestone Systems has worked constantly for over a decade to support the largest number of network hardware manufacturers - over 78 brands as of this release. Milestone Alliance Partners (MAPs) are ensured the deepest integration and support from XProtect IP video management software. Milestone system engineers and programmers code and test extensively to confirm the interoperability of the cameras with the XProtect viewing, recording and management functionality. Each new Device Pack announces which new camera or encoder models and brands have been added to the list of Milestone supported hardware - today over 789.

"Milestone Systems has always spearheaded the concepts of true open platform IP video and we therefore embrace the standards initiatives of ONVIF and PSIA with our full support. We will continue to test compliant models that are released by the manufacturers as they make the firmware officially available. Many are still in the beta stages," says Henrik Friborg, VP Strategic Alliances and Co-founder of Milestone Systems.

Meanwhile, Milestone Device Packs will include full functionality support for network hardware that is not yet standards compliant. In Device Pack 4.6, all of the following new models are now supported by Milestone XProtect video management software:

• Arecont AV8185 and AV8365 (H.264 support)
• Axis P1343 and P1344
• DVTel 7612e
• Dynacolor NH064 and NN221
• Etrovision EV3131A (audio support added)
• Honeywell HCX13M, HCX3D, HCX5D
• IQEye IQ732
• Panasonic BB-HCM705, BB-HCM715, BB-HCM735
• Sanyo HD2500, HD3500, HD2100, HD2300, HD3100, HD3300
• Sony EP154 and EX154
• VideoIQ VIQ-E Series encoder
• Vivotek FD7130, FD7160
• Weldex WDNC-64072C