Video Management System

Video Management System 

How to Design Video Surveillance Solutions 

Video management systems are the hub of video surveillance solutions, accepting video from cameras, storing the video and managing distribution of video to viewers. 

There are 4 fundamental options in video management systems. Most organizations choose 1 of the 4. However, as companies may have multiple types when they transition between one and another. 

DVRs are purpose built computers that combine software, hardware and video storage all in one. By definition, they only accept analog camera feeds. Almost all DVRs today support remote viewing over the Internet. DVRs are very simple to install but they significantly limit your flexibility in expansion and hardware changes. DVRs are still today the most common option amongst professional buyers. However, DVRs have definitely fallen out of favor and the trend is to move to one of the 3 categories below. 

HDVRs or hybrid DVRs are DVRs that support IP cameras. They have all the functionality of a DVR listed above plus they add support for IP and megapixel cameras. Most DVRs can be software upgraded to become HDVRs. Such upgrades are certainly a significant trend and is 

attractive because of the low migration cost (supports analog and IP cameras directly). Learn more about the value and issues in selecting HDVRs. 

NVRs are like DVRs in all ways except for camera support. Whereas a DVR only supports analog cameras, an NVR only supports IP cameras. To support analog cameras with an NVR, an encoder must be used. 

IP Video Surveillance Software is a software application, like Word or Excel. Unlike DVRs or NVRs, IP Video Surveillance Software does not come with any hardware or storage. The user must load and set up the PC/Server for the software. This provides much greater freedom 

and potentially lower cost than using DVR/NVR appliances. However, it comes with significant more complexity and time to set up and optimize the system. IP Video Surveillance Software is the hottest trend in video management systems currently and is the most frequent choice for very large camera counts (hundreds or more). 

From IPvideomarket.info

Our first venture

What could be a more duller topic than a CCTV surveillance system?  It's a product that you buy to secure your home, office or any other property.  You buy one, install it and use it.   At first, you spend hours watching it.  Later on you learn that it is probably a good activity to do if you want to beat insomnia.  After a few days, when excitement wanes off, you start to forget about it.  This stuff is pure boring, the average security guard assigned to watch over surveillance systems probably falls asleep more often in front of the live view screen and would not probably pass any lucidity test if one is given especially in the wee hours of the morning. A camera, a video recorder, a monitor is what comprises your average surveillance system and yes, we chose to enter into this very boring business.  

We are not into cameras or monitors, we are into DVRs. Ask the average Joe about a DVR and he would probably say Tivo.  Yes, Tivo was once exciting stuff, you can record your favorite shows, suspend it, resume it, go back to any part of the show, view past shows at the press of a button.  Again, we are not into this exciting stuff, but yes, we can do what a regular Tivo can do plus more!  We do not record TV or cable shows, what we do is watch over what matters most to you, your loved ones, your business, your wealth and your property.  The shows we record are shows of your life or your company's life.  

Security Digital Video Recorders or DVRs, replaced tape based recorders that keep watch over protected areas, but unlike tape recorders, DVRs are more versatile and generally possess some intelligence.  But again, these devices are condemned to be largely unknown by their very nature.  They watch over people, they are usually hidden and would be better if kept secret.

Rewind to the year 2004, developing a DVR seems simple enough! You have established brands out there in the market.  You have an exponentially growing market (due to heightened security awareness, the growth of the internet and falling CCTV prices) and you have the technology and the brainpower, or at least one thought you had it.  Let's aim for number one was the clarion call for the development team.  "Yes we can" was the motto, and so started our journey.  A quixotic charge into the windmills or sure-footed optimism, this is our story.

Philippine skunk?

What is this site all about?  A new species?  Nature site?  Skunks?  Smelly objects?  No, not really.... Read on...

Working in a Filipino R&D company has its challenges in terms of locally available resources, existing infrastructure and capital availability. Competing in the global market is an even bigger challenge.  In a sea of American, Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese and Chinese brands, one cannot expect an upstart Filipino company to even survive.   When was the last time has anyone heard of a Filipino technology company making it big in the global market?  Would anyone even dare?  

Well, there are some insane people out there who would want to give it a try and I am part of this endeavor.  After four years of struggle, survive we did!  We even made quite a significant dent in our market.  Of course, we have had some heavy backup from good hearted individuals who believe in what we can do, who gave leapfrog opportunities for us.  Now, we are embarking on more technically challenging projects which can define us in the next few months.  

Skunks?  Like the legendary Lockheed Martin Skunkworks, we churn out not so top secret military and industrial grade products, albeit only a small portion go towards military applications, which we hope will be representative of cutting edge technologies in the near future.  This blog aims to provide a glimpse of related technologies, declassified development updates and general technology news.  

Cheers!!!