For electrical contractors with a low-voltage or security division—or for any company involved in physical security and surveillance—keeping pace with new technology is one of the greatest challenges. Contractors fear specifying technology that may have a limited lifespan, but they still want to offer their customers exciting new security products and services. 


Now, more manufacturers have created bridge products—hardware and software—or migration paths to ease the transition to network-based technology or simply to enable the continued use of the user’s extensive legacy-based equipment and infrastructure.


Consider how an encoder is used in video surveillance. Encoders are black boxes or hardware that convert analog signals to digital so the camera’s recorded and live images can be viewed on the network. Video can be displayed with a video management system or a web browser, and images can be transferred to network video recorders or centralized storage. 


Encoder technology has been around for years, but more migration products—sometimes referred to as hybrid solutions—continue to emerge in an effort to make the most of the customer’s current resources. This way, a customer can upgrade at their own pace or as budgets permit.


Hybrid options extend capabilities


Hybrid or bridge video surveillance products continue to flood the market because of the large installed base of analog cameras. For a campus or enterprise environment, the cost to replace an older, all-analog specification can be monumental. With hybrid technology, contractors can use legacy analog cameras and still leverage the Internet-protocol (IP) network and its inherent advantages, such as ease of use, scalability, reliability, greater access to recorded video, analytics and business intelligence. 


Like the encoder, a digital video recorder (DVR) might be used in a hybrid solution. In this example, the video feed from the analog camera is digitized within the DVR and can be viewed locally, over the Ethernet network or using the Internet. 


Customers today appreciate the ability to use their current equipment rather than the all-or-nothing approach, said Sri L. Palasamudrum, chief executive officer of mobiDEOS, Los Gatos, Calif. He said that, although the move from analog to IP is clearly progressing, the high price of converting to IP cameras may be slowing the migration.


His company has developed a cloud-based platform called Universal Cloud and Network Enabler (UCNE), which is, in essence, a video encoder that allows analog cameras and DVRs to become network appliances and leverage virtual storage.


Palasamudrum said customers should be able to migrate to the network at their own pace and without restriction. 


“Many facilities with an existing infrastructure can’t afford to migrate to IP all at once and want to use their current cameras and other equipment until their budget allows them to make a wholesale change,” he said.


Those who can migrate at least partially can reap the advantages of the network. 


“Certainly, IP brings more value than analog video,” he said. “Another benefit is the ability to leverage video analytics.”


New ways to spec access control


In access control, companies have worked hard to provide more secure, robust and strong wireless signaling for keypads and readers to incorporate technology that doesn’t require rebuilding the infrastructure. There are also new hardwired technologies that provide a way to bring IP connectivity into the fold. 


ISONAS, Boulder, Colo., recently unveiled a system that uses the existing Ethernet network to provide additional intelligence to the edge (readers) in an access control system. According to Rob Mossman, chief executive officer, it’s important for the industry to have stable technology migration paths with IP. 


The “Pure-IP” panelless access-
control technology from ISONAS enables users to use their existing network infrastructure and “provide intelligence in the reader and IP hardware, along with a seamless integrated video management system,” he said.


Mossman added that the solution extends the range of specifications for access control, which can be used in applications such as medical dispensary cabinets, ambulances or anywhere Category 5 structured cabling can be installed.


The ISONAS system consists of a reader-controller at each access point and a network connection. 


“Our world is becoming an interconnected web of IP addresses,” Mossman said. “The Internet of Things is driving dramatic change and opportunity. Video surveillance has already moved from analog to IP with better cameras and feature-rich software-management tools. IP access control can change the world. It’s easier to deploy, more flexible and significantly less expensive.”