Software for MACROSCOP IP cameras: advantages of open architecture.
Software for MACROSCOP IP cameras: advantages of open architecture Satellite Innovation has released MACROSCOP 1.2, a new version of the popular software for IP cameras. Now MACROSCOP has not only significantly increased its functionality, but also acquired a truly open architecture.
One of the biggest changes in the new version has been made to the MACROSCOP core. MACROSCOP 1.2 is a fully decentralized, open system. The core now contains only the main functions that are critical to the system's operability. Most components are implemented as plugins (plug-in modules), including interfaces for connecting various IP cameras and intelligent modules.
The main application (core) provides services that a particular plugin uses. These include the ability to register itself in the core, as well as the protocol for exchanging data with other modules. At the same time, the main application independently operates plugins, which allows end users to expand functionality by dynamically adding and updating modules without making changes to the core. Now it has become much easier and faster to implement new functions, integration with other software, cameras, devices.
The modernization of the architecture allowed MACROSCOP developers to:
1. Bring reliability and stability to a new level – the core functions like a Swiss watch and is virtually invulnerable.
2. Significantly simplify the upgrade of an already installed system.
3. Significantly simplify the integration of MACROSCOP into any external systems via an SDK available to users.
4. Noticeably accelerate the development of product functionality.
New system capabilities:
The new version of MACROSCOP has for the first time an archive replication function – the ability to automatically duplicate the archive on a central server. Let us explain what this gives to users using one typical example. Let us assume that there is an IP video surveillance system that monitors a large number of remote sites. Each of them has its own server with an operational archive of small depth. Archive replication allows you to automatically copy the video archive from the operational servers to a centralized storage every night, which can be of any capacity. Thus, the new function allows you to: l significantly increase the reliability and security of the archive from any software or hardware failures; l implement the concept of a centralized storage. Now MACROSCOP has a significantly developed scenario approach to the automatic response of the system to any events occurring at the site.
The reaction is defined as a sequence of actions, such as activating a camera alarm output, sending an SMS, or starting an external command. MACROSCOP can implement any scenarios the user needs, and does not require any special knowledge in the field of programming.
All settings of actions are made in a convenient graphical interface and mainly with a mouse. It is simple and fast. Actions are implemented as plugins, so it is easy to add any necessary new type of reaction. The new Multi-Streaming function is also very useful, which allows you to establish two connections to one camera with different parameters for transmitting a video signal: the main and alternative streams. The main stream is intended, for example, for recording in an archive, and the alternative is for display and analysis. This approach significantly saves both hardware resources of servers and clients, as well as network resources. The new version of MACROSCOP has an interface for working through an Internet browser. Simple and lightweight, it allows you to view video in real time or from an archive on any computer or mobile device without installing special client software. Such versatility is achieved due to the fact that no specific technologies such as Flash, ActiveX, Silverlight, etc. are involved in the implementation of the interface. In addition, of course, there is a full-featured Web client based on Silverlight technology, as well as mobile clients for iPhone, iPad and Android. The consumer just has to choose what and in what case suits him best.
New video analysis technologies
The new version of MACROSCOP introduces face and license plate recognition functions. They are added to the previously developed interactive search for objects by pattern and features, the speed and accuracy of which have already been appreciated by installers and end users.
The MACROSCOP developers took into account the experience of the most famous IT equipment manufacturers and chose a different path — using algorithms from specialized companies that have been dealing with these tasks for many years. After a thorough analysis of the entire offer on the world market in terms of price/quality, they settled on two companies. For face recognition, algorithms from Cognitec (Germany), which has been specializing in this since 2002, are used. A module based on these algorithms allows you to create a card index of people, include them in various groups, set up automatic interception, and much more. To implement the car number recognition function, algorithms from Video Internet Technologies (a Ukrainian company based at the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, working on this task since 2000) were used, which showed themselves well in tests and, in addition, allowed the MACROSCOP developers to offer the market a module at an extremely attractive price. However, if necessary, any other modules and algorithms can be quickly integrated into MACROSCOP; the only thing that remains unchanged due to the stability of the core is the unprecedented efficiency and reliability of working with IP cameras.
Directions for further development
Let us briefly list what will be implemented in MACROSCOP in the near future:
l a full-fledged architecture for «Video Surveillance-as-a-Service» (VaaS);
l a version for Linux OS;
l a centralized monitoring server;
l improved video data indexing and archive search technology;
l integration with POS systems;
l expanded integration with various ACS and OPS.
These capabilities will be covered in more detail in subsequent publications.
Based on materials from the magazine «Security Systems» August-September 2011