White paper Integration for controlling Milestone XProtect Integration Decision Guide Prepared by: Anders B. Christensen, Chief Architect Ole Lennert, Product Owner SDK & Verticals Jasleen Kaur Rehal, Strategic Alliance Manager, Global Milestone Systems Date: June 15, 2016
Table of Contents 1. Target audience... 3 3. Terminology... 3 4. Control of cameras... 4 5. Control of Recording Server... 5 6. Control via triggering of built-in rules... 6 Page 2 of 7
1. Target audience This document is intended to assist decision makers and solution architects in the process of evaluating how to integrate a solution for control of Milestone XProtect VMS. 2. Control overview You can make integrations to control devices, control the recordings and control output triggers. Use the control integration to control where a PTZ camera should be moved via presets or joystick-like commands. You can use it to trigger auxiliary outputs for turning features on and off in a device (for example, a wiper). You can also use the control integration for controlling when to record video, retrieve edge recordings or start a rule. Following is an overview of the system architecture and functionality you want to control in your XProtect VMS. The illustration shows the three areas of control this document describes. 3. Terminology Control in this document covers these areas: Control and move PTZ cameras Move PTZ camera to a predefined preset Trigger an auxiliary port on the camera Trigger an output port on a camera Control of edge retrieval and evidence lock on the recorder Trigger of built-in rules: Start Recording and Stop Recording Page 3 of 7
Integration methods To provide maximum flexibility and enable optimal integration of different types of systems and applications, the Milestone Integration Platform offers three main integration options: Protocol Integration: A basic integration method particularly suited for integration of applications running in non-windows environments. Component Integration: Lets you integrate MIP components into your application, which is useful when you want to use libraries provided by Milestone in your Windows-based application. Plug-in Integration: The most refined integration method. This allows you to embed your Milestone Solution Partner plug-in in the Milestone XProtect application environment, and run your plug-in as an integrated part of the XProtect software and its client applications. 4. Control of cameras Control and move PTZ cameras Many cameras support PTZ operation and preset definition. To control the position of a camera, XProtect supports the use of relative movements and absolute movements. The actual support details vary from camera to camera, but many new camera models support absolute movements used for joystick handling. This integration supports presets on all PTZ cameras. The integration can use all PTZ controls and preset commands. Examples of typical applications: Alarm pop-up window that plays live video from a camera that needs to follow a person or car Analytics server that analyzes video and performs real time zoom to follow a person Page 4 of 7
Own rule action that moves the camera to a predefined position, when rule is triggered. In MIP SDK: Introduction to Controlling output, PTZ and Matrix In MIP SDK: Component sample PTZ and Presets Control and trigger of outputs and auxiliary Many cameras have hardware output ports, and auxiliary ports. XProtect supports integrations that can trigger an output port or an auxiliary port. You can do this directly from the XProtect Smart Client via buttons. You can also make your own integration solution to trigger these ports. Output ports can be connected to turn on the light, opening a door or gate. Auxiliary ports can be hardware ports or built-in functions like wiper or sprinkler features. Examples of typical applications: Live viewer integrations, where a VMS operator view video but need to issue one of these commands to get an improved image In MIP SDK: Introduction to Controlling output, PTZ and Matrix 5. Control of Recording Server Control of edge retrieval and evidence lock XProtect Corporate and XProtect Expert support features called edge retrieval and evidence lock. External solutions can control these features to ensure that the video that contains the evidence is available for a given period of time. Page 5 of 7
Control commands are sent directly to the recording server that is connected to the camera. Integration can be done via.net component integration and protocol integration. Examples of typical solutions: PSIM application, that lets the operator lock the video for the length of an investigation, to prevent it from getting deleted Service application that performs edge retrieval at convenient period of hours In MIP SDK: Samples: Evidence Lock, Remote Retrieval Task 6. Control via triggering of built-in rules Triggering of Start and Stop Recording XProtect has two built-in rules that can be triggered via user-defined events, or the Trigger MIP message. Triggering of Start/Stop recording is done by triggering a user-defined event on the Management Server. The two rules are created when your product is installed. When issued via the MIP messaging, the TriggerCommand message is used, and the.net MIP SDK will convert to the correct user-defined event and protocol. Examples of typical solutions: PSIM application, that let operator start and stop recording, in case it did not start automatically. For example, too little motion to start, but image still contains valid documentation. In MIP SDK: Samples: VideoViewer Page 6 of 7
About Milestone Systems Founded in 1998, Milestone Systems is the global industry leader in open platform IP video management software. The XProtect platform delivers powerful surveillance that is easy to manage, reliable and proven in thousands of customer installations around the world. With support for the widest choice in network hardware and integration with other systems, XProtect provides best-in-class solutions to video enable organizations managing risks, protecting people and assets, optimizing processes and reducing costs. Milestone software is sold through authorized and certified partners. For more information, visit www.milestonesys.com Milestone Systems Headquarters, DK Tel: +45 88 300 300 Milestone Systems US Tel: +1 503 350 1100 Page 7 of 7