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ADPRO INSIGHT VIDEO ALARM AND VIDEO CENTRAL
STANDFIRST
Advanced multi-camera video surveillance, site security
management and PC controlled remote monitoring come together in one discrete
box with InSight and Video Central systems from Adpro
COPY
Traditionally video surveillance alarm systems have been put
together using the building block principle with key functions, such as camera
control, video multiplexing and intruder detection handled by separate
off-the-shelf components. The Adpro InSight system turns conventional wisdom on
its head by integrating a wide range of security and surveillance functions
into one convenient panel and in the process enabling a number of additional
facilities that would either be impractical, unwieldy or uneconomic by other
means.
The InSight system has been specifically designed for use in
commercial and retail premises and larger homes. Flexibility has been given a
high priority and it can be easily configured to meet the demands of a wide
range of installations and end-user requirements. The panel -- an anonymous
cream-coloured steel case measuring 430 x 580 x 100mm -- is the heart of the
system. Inside is a single, self-contained module that handles video
processing, alarm functions, site security management and communications with
remote monitoring and alarm control systems.
Core facilities revolve around the video control unit, which
can process up to eight inputs from PIR sensor-equipped cameras with audio
monitoring capability. (Standard CCTV cameras can also be used in place of
dedicated camera/sensors with an optional adaptor). The camera controller's
main feature list includes video switching and auto sequencing, spot
monitoring, quad display, video motion detection (VMD), alarm following or
'homing', freeze frame, multiplex recording to an external time-lapse VCR and
remote monitoring via ordinary telephone lines. Pre-alarm image capture records
six snapshot images in a memory buffer; recording stops if an alarm or
associated trigger is activated and the images are stored until needed.
InSight is controlled locally by up to four 'CodePads'.
Arming and access to the system is protected by four levels of user
authorisation in addition to 'Master' and 'Installer' codes. Individual user
access can be further limited by the time of day, and/or days of the week. The system
has a total of 16 alarm zones, 8 of which are linked to sensor-equipped
cameras. Zones can be divided into main and sub-areas, allowing parts of the
premises to be secured (store rooms etc.), whilst the main area remains
occupied. There is provision for five auxiliary-switched outputs, which
includes 2 siren drivers.
The remote monitoring option is based on a PC software
package called Video Central. The panel communicates via a built-in modem,
which dials up a remote PC when an alarm or trigger is enabled. Once connected to
the remote PC or Central Monitoring Station (CMS), the panel reports on the
nature of the alarm (from a list of options covering panic, duress to heating
and ventilation faults) and uploads captured video snapshots from before and
during the alarm event, or live video (and audio). CMS operators can dial in to
the remote site at any time to monitor video and audio and control devices,
such as lights or door locks. We will take a closer look at Video Central in a
moment.
But first, a tour of the main InSight panel and the
principle ancillary components. The high level of integration is immediately
obvious once the case has been opened. Inside the panel there is a fully
enclosed mains power supply, space for up to four backup batteries and the main
module. This is encased in a metal cover, both to shield the electronics from
external interference and protect the circuit boards. Inside the module there
are three PCBs, the largest one is a motherboard, which contains the power
regulation and alarm circuitry plus all of the external interfaces and
connections, neatly arranged along the outside edges of the board. The biggest
of the two daughter boards is concerned with video processing; the other one is
a telephone modem. All three are high-quality glass fibre PCBs using mainly
surface mount components. There is no internal wiring between the boards, which
must contribute significantly to long-term reliability.
Most of the connections to cameras/sensors, CodePads, alarm
sensors and switched devices, are handled by simple terminals blocks (Adpro
thoughtfully provide a suitable miniature screwdriver). Video inputs and
outputs to the monitors (one live, one processed digital video) and the
recording VCR use BNC sockets. A 9-pin D-sub socket acts as an RS232 serial
communication port, for local connection to a PC -- for set-up and testing --
or an external modem. The On-board modem has its own set of RJ11 sockets, for
the phone line and a telephone handset. A built-in amplifier can be connected
to a loudspeaker to enable two-way communications with remote site control via
CMS.
Tamper protection is provided by a user-mounted push-switch
that senses when the case's outer cover is removed. There is plenty of room
inside the case and access to the wiring terminals is very good indeed so
there's no excuse for sloppy wiring.
Incidentally, the quality of the supplied instruction manuals is generally
very good with all of the information clearly and intelligently presented.
Adpro have dubbed the dedicated cameras BiSensors and they
are available in various configurations that include colour or black and white
with wide (90 degrees) or narrow (45 degrees) fields of view. Each one contains
a PIR sensor -- with the field of view matched to the camera -- plus the camera
module, a microphone and the control electronics. Monochrome cameras also
incorporate an IR illuminator that strobes when scene illumination falls below
a pre-set level and an alarm event occurs. BiSensors connect to the main panel
by a shielded dual twisted-pair cable, carrying video, audio, alarm trigger and
power. All BiSensor cameras are fitted with two tamper switches that are
activated if any of the panels are removed. Wiring has been kept as simple as
possible, the detachable rear panel/mounting plate has a four-way screw
terminal and a plug, that fits into a socket on the back of the BiSensor, so
units can be quickly installed or exchanged. Cameras have able runs can be up
to 100 metres.
CodePads can be wall mounted, or placed on a desktop (with a
supplied tilt stand. The main feature is a multi-function backlit LCD screen
surrounded by six function buttons. The actions of these buttons or 'Softkeys'
changes according to the CodePad's mode or status. Below the display there is
an alphanumeric keypad covered by a hinged panel. The CodePad is the primary
operator interface, controlling all of the InSight panel's functions from a set
of menu-driven displays. In normal day to day use a CodePad is used to arm and
disable the system and control video surveillance operations and for that
reason one CodePad will normally be located adjacent to the panel and a monitor,
others can be positioned strategically around the protected premises.
Recommended connection to the Insight Panel is via a screened dual twisted-pair,
once again cable runs can be up to 100 metres long.
OPERATION
After switch on the system boots up then goes through a
brief self-test routine before arming itself. Disarming requires an ID code (4
to 8 digits long); there are four levels of access. Level 1 users can operate
basic video surveillance functions, arm a sub-area or the whole system. Level 2
access additionally allows the user to disarm both main and sub areas and reset
alarms. Level 3 users can also isolate alarms and enable VCR replay, and Level
4 users have access to the master set-up menus, which requires a further ID
code.
The main System Access menu is divided into six sections:
video, zone status Installer set-up, arm/disarm, zone isolate and Review Log. Menus
time out after 10 seconds if a selection isn't made and the master access code
has to be re-entered. Each Softkey selection takes the user to another set of
related menus, with further sub menus and set-up options, scores of them in
fact and far too many to list here; suffice it to say the system is very
flexible!
The main Installer menu covers time and date setting, system
tests, user ID change and the main system, area and zone level set-ups. Zone Level includes the video and non-video alarm
inputs. Video zone options are for the individual camera configurations, with
provision to create an on-screen ident, specifying the camera type and
programming the video motion detector. This comprises a field of 12 rows of 32
individual 'targets', that can be switched on or off to mask areas of random or
expected activity. Non-video zones each have a facility to set a user ident and
type of alarm trigger. Additionally there is a contrast switch setting
(triggers a response when the camera produces a low contrast image), PIR count setting
(PIR becomes primary movement alarm when a BiSensor camera is in low contrast
mode), plus a facility to set entry and exit paths.
The Review Log records all system activities including
set-up and alarm events. Up to 200 actions is listed in either short form or
with full details of what happened, and when and where it occurred.
That is just a very small sample of what is involved. In
practice this high level of user and installer flexibility puts a considerable
demand on the relatively simple CodePad, making the installation of a large
systems a long and potentially tedious business. In short there is an
opportunity to get into a tangle -- which we duly did on several occasions --
discovering to our costs that it is easier to get into a situation, than get
out of it. Our problems were compounded by the fact that our first panel had a
fault, which made life even more difficult. Our faith in the reliability of
microelectronic circuitry meant that we spent a long time trying to figure out
what we had done wrong, rather than realising that the errant behaviour was
actually a fault! This highlighted a small but possibly significant flaw in the
design in that there's no obvious 'idiot button' that will allow an installer
to return to factory defaults. InSight told us they will be looking into this
facility, though we later discovered a jumper on the motherboard that did the
job…
VIDEO CENTRAL
Video Central extends the InSight system capabilities beyond
local control to -- in theory -- anywhere with access to a telephone line. The
main requirement is a PC with a modem or a purpose-designed Video Central
Receiver Module (RXM). The latter is necessary if the requirement is to be able
to monitor audio as well as video.
A single Central Monitoring Station is capable of monitoring
between 25 to 50 sites. Video Central software can also be used in a network
configuration comprising up to 11 PCs; with an expanded network it would be
possible to monitor between 200 to 300 sites.
The software is designed to run on any IBM or IBM compatible
PC with at least a 90MHz Pentium processor (P166 recommended). It will also
need 16Mb RAM (32Mb recommended) and a minimum of 500Mb free hard disc space; something
like a 6.4 Gb disc drive is necessary in order to be able to record images and
full system data. The PC also needs the Windows 95 operating system and be
capable of displaying an 800 x 600 VGA image in 24-bit colour.
In addition to the two program installation discs (3.5-inch
floppies) the Video Central package includes a Software Protection Key or
'dongle' that connects to the PC's LPT1 printer port (the dongle is transparent
to printer data and the port can continue to be used as normal). One dongle is
required for each PC in a system or network (PCs using the optional RXM module
have internal protection).
Software installation follows normal Windows routines. The
opening screen gives the option for single or multi-user systems, and installer
utilities for local or on-site diagnostics and programming. When installation
is complete Video Central prompts the user to re-boot the PC. The first task is
to enter configuration details, this includes user passwords, information about
the sites to be monitored and instruction how to process and log incoming data.
When the system has been set up and started it will normally
display the main 'Waiting' or idle window, which consists of a quad display,
toolbar containing a set of function buttons or icons and standard Windows
title and menu bars. Alarm events are shown in a field at the bottom of the
screen.
From the Waiting window it is possible to receive incoming
alarm calls from a remote site, connect to the site, review a site database or
carry out configuration and diagnostic operations. To connect to a site the
operator simply clicks on the call icon and double clicks on the site name that
appears in a dialogue box. Once on-line the PC screen displays the image that
would normally appear on the local monitor. Icons on the toolbar allow the
operator to change camera, video quality, freeze the picture and save the image,
check site information, download the Review Log and where applicable listen to
site audio. Audio can also be broadcast back to the site from the PC an heard
on a speaker connected to the main panel, though like the site audio monitoring
facility this only works when the PC is using an RXM card, rather than a normal
PC modem.
The video quality setting determines how quickly images are
updated, at the 'high-res' level (464 x 288) settings they are refreshed more slowly
than the 'low-res' setting (304 x 288). Actual transmission times vary, from
several frames per second, to one frame every few seconds. This will depend on
whether the image is colour or black and white, the amount of activity in the
scene, the quality of the telephone connection and the speed of modem being
used. Stored images can be printed out, the print preview function has the
option to zoom in and out and adjust the size of the display.
When an alarm trigger occurs at the remote site the usual
procedure is for the InSight panel to automatically dial up the Video Central
PC and depending on the set-up configuration, download pre-event stored images
and stay on-line, allowing the operator to switch to viewing live camera feeds.
The Installer utilities in Video Central give the operator
the same level of control over the InSight panel as a CodePad, namely access to
all set-up and configuration settings, though the PC interface makes this
operation much easier. This facility is available on both local connections --
i.e. by cable from the PC to the RS232 port on the panel -- or remotely, by a
telephone dial-up connection. In both cases the Software Protection Key or dongle
has to be fitted to the host PC, unless it is using an RXM card.
VIDEO PERFORMANCE
The BiSensor camera modules are high performance designs
with good low light characteristics and within the limitations of the on-board
lenses and auto exposure systems, produce a clear sharp image with lower than
average amounts of picture noise. Camera switching is clean and glitch-free;
the quad display and multiplexed video outputs are stable with negligible
amounts of jitter. General video performance compares well with non-integrated components,
which is not altogether surprising as several of the key video processing
microchips used in the InSight Panel are common to a number of similarly
specified systems.
SUMMARY
It is clear that a lot of thought and effort has gone into
making the system as easy to install and convenient to use as possible and
InSight go to considerable lengths to acquaint installers and end users with
the system. The danger is that so many functions crammed into such a small
space could become difficult to handle. In one or two areas of set-up and
configuration it comes perilously close to doing just that (particularly when
using the CodePad) but in general the well thought out software, control
systems and documentation keep it manageable. Video Central is another
potential minefield, PC software can be flaky and unstable at the best of times
but it certainly behaved itself during our tests. InSight and Video Central
represent a significant step forward in security and surveillance hardware and Adpro
have done an excellent job of integrating so many previously diverse technologies.
PRODUCT SPECIFICATION
INSIGHT VIDEO ALARM
Features: 8 video lined alarms, 8 switched alarms, up to 8
combined camera/sensors or third-party cameras, up to 4 control 'CodePads'.
Video functions: video and audio processing, spot monitoring, video switching,
quad display, auto sequencing, video motion detection, activity following,
freeze frame, multiplex recording to VCR, remote video monitoring. Alarm
functions: 8 alarm input zones, 5 auxiliary outputs, 2 siren drivers. System
security: 4 levels of user authorisation, Master user and Installer user access
Power supply 230 VAC 50Hz
Dimensions (main panel) 430 x 580 x 100mm
VIDEO CENTRAL
System requirements: IBM or IBM compatible PC, 90MHz Pentium
processor (P166 recommended), 16Mb RAM (32Mb recommended), 500Mb free hard disc
space, (6.4 Gb recommended), VGA display (800 x 600, 24 bit colour), 33.6kbps
modem, Windows 95
PSI RATINGS
Product
Product design 9
Build quality 9
Ruggedness 10
Operation
General functions 9
CCTV functions 9
Ease of use 7
Instructions 9
Manuf. support 9
Performance
Video quality 8
Switching 9
Audio 8
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R. Maybury 1998 3011
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