A New Role for IP camera systems - Operations Managers

In this business era when companies are focusing on getting the best return on their investment, a sizable number are looking towards extending their use of IP camera surveillance systems beyond security and into overseeing business operations.
According to a recent issue of Security Watch Info, a survey in which IT and video surveillance professionals  were asked what their business plans were for video surveillance revealed that 68% of respondents plan to use their cameras for improving operations while 32% planned to restrict their usage to security.

Many retail businesses with more than one outlet, perhaps because they are already familiar with how IP cameras systems and video management software deliver remote real-time multi-screen viewing of several locations, have already made the move.

Managers feel that using the cameras will give improve their ability to:

• manage multiple locations
• monitor everyday business activities
• track employees over the course of a day
• keep a watchful eye on inventory and sensitive customer and business data.

They are particularly fond of VMS ability to record and store video and easily access it for future viewing and plant to use it for

•  ensuring  employees are following safety protocol,
•  gaining insight into employee-customer interaction 
•  keeping an eye on their assets.
• providing evidence in disability and accident incident investigations.

 Video analytics scores big too, as small business owners have come to appreciate how event-triggered notifications allow them to stay in touch with their home base from anywhere in the world via smartphones, tablets, or other Internet-connected devices, and plan to help them manage from afar

Lest the respondents appear to be too homogeneous, there were a few outlier replies. One of the most interesting came from a manager who oversees 1,600 stores.  He has 32 surveillance cameras at each location. His biggest problem is neither managing employees, keeping track of inventory, nor preventing theft. It's evaluating the value of  items brought in for sale.
Since it's impossible to have an expert at every location, he's looking into using video to enable experts to do remote evaluations.

We hope this spurs you on to think about how IP camera systems can help you  manage your business operations. Give Kintronics a call at 914-944-3425 or fill out an information request form. Our sales engineers would love to help you transform your ideas into day-to-day reality. 

IP Security Cameras Tell the Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth

It 's been nearly two years since militants, armed with grenades and anti-aircraft weapons, stormed the diplomatic mission in Benghazi, killing the US ambassador to Libya and three others, but the man suspected of orchestrating the attack was captured in Benghazi in mid-June. Last week, Ahmed Abu Khattala
appeared in federal court in Washington DC court to face formal charges of conspiring to provide material support and resources to terrorists, resulting in a death.

Fraught with Controversy

Perhaps as a sign of this contentious era, this incident of terrorism is not only tragic for its loss of life and destruction of property but it has been mired in domestic political infighting as well. Those on the receiving end of criticism include

• President Obama for his national security policies
• Hillary Clinton for how she responded  to the ambassador's call for security
• Susan Rice, the then UN Ambassador for her press appearances where she followed State Department talking points proclaiming the attacks spontaneous rather than a concentrated terrorist attack.

And now that a suspect is in custody, there's a new swirl of controversy including

• the choice of Washington DC as a venue for the hearing since the prisoner must be escorted through city streets whereas if the prisoner were tried in the federal courthouse in New York or Virginia, the facility has an attached prison.

• no consideration being given trying him before a military tribunal at Guantanamo Bay as an alternative to a criminal trial.
• Since it is a criminal case, the fact that Khattala was advised of his Miranda rights.

A Trial for the Books

Senior federal prosecutors and FBI agents occupied the first two rows of the courtroom at the United States District Court ( not your everyday courtroom spectators). This may be because, as the former United States Attorney for Eastern District Virginia put it, "This trial won't be a walk in the park."

 That's putting it mildly:

• In contrast to a typical trial where crime scene investigators have promptly vetted the scene of the crime for forensic evidence, security concerns in Benghazi following the attack prevented FBI investigators having access for over two weeks.

• Whereas your typical trial relies on witnesses who come forth voluntarily or are subpoenaed, the hostile environment in Libya, first of all, made tracking down, let alone questioning witnesses difficult, and what cooperative ones were found will have to be flown in from Libya and may not stand up well to cross-examination.
• While intercepted electronic conversations have yielded evidence that could be valuable, their classified nature precludes most of them from being presented at a public trial.

Surveillance Cameras to The Rescue

According to the New York Times, In addition to eyewitness accounts, the prosecutor is expected to rely on IP camera security systems video. Thanks to Video Management Software, Justice Department investigators were able to analyze over one hundred hours of video that allowed them to construct a narrative of the period leading up to the attacks, the actual attack, not only on the mission, but on the CIA annex as well, and the time following the siege.

As to how valuable the cameras' eyewitness accounts will be, the former United States Attorney has this to say " The Department of Justice bats nearly 1,000 percent in these kinds of extraterritorial cases but that's because they put so much diligence on the front end of the investigations."

Kintronics has faith in IP camera systems as well. If you are interested in finding out how IP surveillance cameras can served your home or place of business, call 914-944-3425 to speak to an engineer, or fill out an information request form.

Airports and Perimeter Security

The newscaster had my attention when she reported that a boy had flown from California to Hawaii stowed away in a plane's wheel well, enduring  five hours of near-zero temperatures and extremely low oxygen levels  in an unpressurized space at an altitude of 38,000 feet "Wow," I marveled as I'm sure viewers did  all over the world. "How could that be?"

When an on-site reporter detailed how the boy managed to slip through a web of manpower and technology, including  an extensive network of IP security cameras and a  workforce of 3,000, charged with handling security. It wasn't until she went into detail describing how he had managed to evade Sega-riding security officers and a foot patrol accompanied by  German shepherds made regular patrols while an overhead  camera swept the scene, including a corner of the airfield formed by the angle of a traffic-filled freeway and its exit ramp that I instantly recognized the locale. Simultaneously she confirmed it with the words  "The incident occurred at the 1,050 acre Mineta San Jose International Airport." My reaction changed instantly  from "How could it be?" to "I believe it."

Some Relevant Facts

Mineta San Jose International Airport was my home airport for fifteen years although it was just San Jose International Airport at the time. In fact when I first moved to the San Jose area in 1979 it was just San Jose Airport. If I wanted a direct flight to New York I had to drive to San Francisco since San Jose's landing field was too small for a a jumbo jet. If I did fly on a smaller jet there was no such thing as a jet port because there was no such thing as a big terminal. One had to trek out onto the field and ascend the shaky metal steps that had been rolled up to the plane's door.

Sometime in the mid-80's when Silicon Valley made San Jose a bonafide destination, American Airlines made San Jose a hub, built their own terminal, scheduling international flights and the rest is history. Other airlines added direct flights to the airport, and in 2010 San Jose International Airport once again underwent a major overhaul, making it a state-of-the-art facility.

But one thing remains, Highway 101 still  borders the west perimeter of the airport and its freeway ramp still forms a portion of the south perimeter.

Only a six foot high fence topped with barbwire separates air traffic from road traffic. It is one of these fences that the young stowaway scaled. I said to myself, "If there's an airport in need of tight perimeter security it's certainly San Jose."

This incident brings up the question, Are American airports doing as much as they can to maintain security outside terminals? Rafi Ron, former security head at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, possibly the most secure airport in the world, told the Associated Press, of his own experience. "We were investing all our resources at the front door which was the passengers and their bags.

 And we left the back door open. And that was the perimeter and access to the aircraft."

Perimeter Security

Perimeter security is an attempt to monitor sprawling areas. "Attempt", because, as any security official will tell you,no system is foolproof. That's why perimeter security solutions make use of several different surveillance technologies

IP Camera Video Surveillance

In years past, installing hard-wired security cameras was an expensive and labor-intensive project with the need for digging trenches and running cables. However the installation of today's wireless IP camera surveillance systems call for neither. Since each camera occupies a node on an Ethernet network, with its own IP address, they merely need to mounted and connected to the airport's network. Additional cameras can be added quickly, and should a camera need to be moved, relocation is all that's needed.

Once added, the cameras can be monitored from any PC or mobile device.

However, keeping one's eye on all this video is a monumental task, as Mr Paul attested. "What happened at San Jose can happen, as we speak, at other airports, because nobody can watch all these monitors." This is why video management software is so important as part of a total surveillance solution.

Video management software

Pan Tilt zoom cameras can be programmed to range back and forth, covering a specific area of the airports boundaries, and with Video Management Software  installed can alert security, should motion be detected, or a parcel that wasn't there on one sweep of the area appears on the next. In both cases, a pushed video alert would stream the video to the PC or video wall at the security stations and/or to roving guards' mobile device screens so they can respond immediately.  

Thermal Imaging
Thermal imaging cameras can provide "insurance" coverage. Since they function by detecting heat, conditions that interfere with the light needed by conventional cameras, do not interfere with thermal imaging. They are able to provide coverage through dust, glare, the uneven lighting available at dusk and dawn, or even in the darkness of night. Using special adaptive analytics,VMS, and video encoders, footage can be recorded and stored, or should security be breached, push alerts can go out to security as noted above.

The Experts Weigh In

 The San  Jose Mercury News included the response of  Jeff Price, a professor at Metropolitan State University in Denver and an author who has written extensively on security. "You've got enough layers in the system. It's just a matter where it seems the system didn't work."

The Mercury News also quoted Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's Director of Terrorism, Intelligence, and Security Systems Richard Bloom as commenting "This doesn't mean we should radically change the way we do airport security. It's just that with all these layers of security, none of them is 100% accurate. Each has its own vulnerabilities."

This was apparent because after the boy was discovered wandering the airfield in Hawaii, he told authorities that he had gained entry by climbing a fence. And indeed, review of the stored video back in San Jose revealed footage of what appeared to be the youth on the field. Apparently no one monitoring the video feed had noticed him.

Stating the Obvious

While stored video can be invaluable in reconstructing a forensics scene, it can only be effective in real time if  someone is carefully monitoring their screen.

IP Door Access Control: Retiring the Key Ring

In our previous post we looked at how the security industry's adoption of IP cameras changed the lonely night watchman into a technology-savvy security officer. Today we take a  look at how IP door access control has made his set of keys all but unnecessary.

The night watchman’s scheduled rounds were marked not only by his flashlight’s circle of light but by the sound of his keys as he unlocked and relocked each door as he made his rounds

With IP door access control in place, a key is of no use since each door’s lock  is controlled by the intelligent card reader mounted at thedoor. The reader contains all the intelligence that is needed to read and validate any company access card presented to it by any employee authorized to use that particular entrance. The guard just swipes his proximity credential  in front of the IP reader. Validation is instant and the lock is de-activated.

Accountability

At one time, night watchmen had to verify they were carrying out their duty by logging in at certain points of their patrol, by signing their name and noting the time. IP door access control software automatically captures this information when the guard swipes his credential, not only validating that the officer has passed through this site, but providing a timetable for any forensic investigation that may arise in the future.

 Being connected to the company’s  ethernet  network and powered by PoE  means there is no need for a central control panel box or even a power outlet. So the security guard has none of the connection problems or power outages faced by ye olde night watchman. 

Employee Access

Today’s video management software means the security guard  no longer has to check each worker’s ID badge or rely on recognition. Although a guard is usually present to provide manual entry if required, his presence is not required thanks to access control software.

Once administrators have customized the software to specify the entrance an employee is authorized to use, and during what hours, it sends that information to the reader mounted at that door. The reader processes the commands stores the information so that when the employee presents her credential, it deactivates the lock if she's authorized (or doesn't, if she's not.)

This allows the security guard to stand  apart from the process, and not  have to put up with anger, frustration  or arguments if entry is denied. The matter is beyond his control.

 Visitor Management

Visitor Management software can automate lobby security, freeing up security personnel for other

duties. No longer is it necessary for hospitals to use security guards to greet and process visitors at the information  desk or for school’s to station a guard in the entrance lobby to verify a parent coming for a scheduled teacher conference.  Using Visitor security management software installed on a PC, hospital volunteers or school clerical staff can confirm a visitor's identity, capture information from his photo ID and issue a temporary visitor’s pass with hardly any typing and print professional quality visitor badges withing seconds.

Remote Access Control

The Ultimate Security Triumvirate: IP camera + IP Access Control + IP intercom

Some guard duties involve manual control of locked entrances as in the case of a bank vault or safety depositroom , a high security prison, or a loading dock after regular business hours. Whereas Ye Olde Night watchman was forced to go to the door, the security officer of today can monitor, converse with, and grant entry to those seeking entry without leaving his desk, thanks to IP connectivity.

Although easy to install, several devices and types of software must be installed.
      ·         IP camera with two way audio

·       An   IP intercom to be connected to the video in and video out connectors of the IP camera

·         Video Management Software to provide doorbell notification

·         Electric Door lock and IP access control software.

 Using these configured items, let's look at scenario in which a bank employee seeks admittance to the vault.

1. She rings the bell on the intercom. 
2. The sound comes to the guard through his computer's speaker
3. The employee appears on his monitor
4. He converses with her via his computer’s mic 
5. Satisfied with her identity, he deactivates the electric lock via the access control software.

If the guard needs to monitor the surrounding area before granting entry, a standalone IP camera is used but often such a camera is not positioned to capture the entrant's face. If the guard needs a head on view, an inter-cam might be a better choice.

Simply put, the inter-cam is an integrated unit consisting of a wide angle lens IP camera inside an intercom.

Since the camera can be focused on the area a visitor would stand when using the intercom, it can provide a clear view of the person’s face.

The Inter-cam includes an interface box for connecting it to the ethernet so it’s included on the network along with the IP access control, and can be controlled by the same video management software. So, as soon as the guard confirms the vistor’s identity, he can deactivate the lock right from his station.

And so, thanks to IP technology, the security guard's life is easier, yet more complex. More complex because as noted in the previous post, he does need basic technical knowledge about IP technology and video management software; easier because he does not have to spend so much energy patrolling the facility.
And as far as his welfare is concerned the news is good and bad. Good because an IP camera allows him situational awareness, no longer venturing into the unknown dangers ye olde night watchman faced investigating intruders in the dark. Bad because with all that technology at his fingertips he’s going to gain weight if he doesn’t get up and walk once in a while!

To learn more about how IP cameras, IP door access control, and IP intercoms and inter-cams can improve your facility's security, call 914-944-3425 to speak to one of Kintronics sales engineers or just fill out an information request form on http://www.kintronics.com/RequestInfo.htm

Where Have All The Night Watchmen Gone?

One rarely hears the term night watchman anymore. But up until the 1980’s, this was the name today’s security personnel answered to.The common image of a night watchman was a man, keys jangling on his belt along with a whistle, as he made his rounds through a deserted facility, following the lonely beam of hisflashlight. Advances in technology have all but retired his (or her) flash light but these same advances have added to the requirements and knowledge needed to become a night watchman, oops, a security officer.

IP Cameras Call for a Tech-Savvy Breed of Security Officers

Today’s organizations and institutions, whether they hire their own security personnel or contract with a security agency, are turning to IP technology to expand their security.

What this means for security guards, especially those in supervisory positions, is that they need to have a basic technological understanding of and familiarity with IP cameras, monitors, video management software, PCs and servers. And since the world of technology expands constantly, they need to keep abreast of changes.

Many organizations are also seeing a subtle blending of IT and Security operations. Let’s take a look at three specific sectors.

Hospitals

How ironic is it that hospitals, places that provide care and healing are also experiencing a surge of violence and theft?  But think about it - a hospital provides fertile ground for both.

• ·         Emotions can run high in crowded Emergency Rooms, accelerated by long waits and tight quarters.
• ·         Upstairs, frustrated  relatives seek instant answers to questions that rely on lengthy testing.
• ·         Back downstairs, the pharmacy, although under lock, and with access procedures in place, offers temptation to trespassers, or even employees with a drug habit or in need of money.

Having to monitor all the corridors and departments of a hospital presents a challenge. Ye Olde night

watchman would have needed to expend a lot of shoe leather. Today, thanks to the remote connectivity offered by IP networks and Video Management Software (VMS), today’s guards can monitor it all from the security desk.

Department Stores

In the watchman era, a plainclothes “store detective” might wander the floors all day, posing as a browsing customer.  Today’s theft  prevention officer can view live camera feeds from the women’s department,

housewares, toy department, cosmetics, and menswear without leaving her desk. And in the case of a large chain with many locations, thanks again to network connectivity and VMS, the corporate security officer at the flagship store or the company headquarters can view every one of its stores either as a live feed or recorded video.

This is possible because every IP camera has its own unique IP address, and resides on its own node on the company’s Ethernet network, just like any other device. So if a branch manager in Peoria, Illinois can  connect to the purchasing department in the corporate office in Chicago, or download an evaluation form from the flagship store in Los Angeles, the security department can use the same network to monitor sites.

Schools

It used to be that vandalism, burglary, and extensive graffiti were the major problems schools  faced.  But, for reasons, yet to be fathomed, schools from kindergarten through university, have become a destination for sick individuals bent on wiping out innocent victims.

The presence of watchmen patrolling the corridors would only add to the stress level of students. But by adding IP cameras to the school ‘s network a security officer  can sit in his office and keep careful but discrete watch over the gym, cafeteria, corridors, classrooms, parking lots and playgrounds. Should an intruder approach, security can be forewarned. Careful IP camera vigilance might also help in warding off bullying that often goes un-noticed by teachers and administrators.

Video Management Software Makes for A Safer Security Officer

The night watchman treaded on a path of uncertainty each time he made a patrol. He could never be sure what was just beyond the beam of his flashlight. 

Adding  Video Management Software (VMS)  to the IP camera system  takes some of the inherent danger and uncertainty out of the night watchman’s job, and affords the Security Officer a chance to organize and prepare for an incident as it unfolds.

What this means for today’s security officer is he/she needs to be trained on navigating the software to take advantage of its many features and options such as

Virtual Patrols

VMS allows security to “patrol” several areas at once without leaving his PC or control station. Live footage

from cameras in select locations can be viewed on one split screen monitor, each in its own little segment of the screen, or preset to scroll through the frames. This means the guards can take more virtual tours and fewer walking ones. 

·         Should a school security guard spy an open exit door in the empty gym or cafeteria on his virtual tour, he can alert another guard closer to the area while he scrolls through cameras in the surrounding areas searching for any intruders.

·         In a hospital, viewing a scene of escalating tempers might prompt the viewing officer to not only send several of his men to the scene, but also to call in the police.

·         In a shopping mall, a large gathering of youths might warrant the dispatching of several guards to the area.

Motion Detection, Cross Line Detection, and Alerts 

Cameras equipped with Cross line detection or motion detection can be programmed to automatically send an alert  to the monitoring screen. Both applications are similar in that they detect moving objects. The difference is that motion detection concerns itself with movement in a predetermined area while cross line detection sets up a virtual tripwire which when crossed by a moving object will send an alert. The officer at the  PC will be alerted when that particular camera’s viewing pane is suddenly highlighted, outlined, flashes, sounds an alert, or all four. The alert signal is programmed at set-up.

Subsequent cameras can be selected to follow the progress of the intruder, and depending on the software, the alert may automatically alert the police. Meanwhile it allows on-site staff to know what they will be facing so they coordinate and respond to the situation.

 And so today's security personnel has to be technology-savvy. Savvy leads to superior security. Not only does it make a guard's job safer but it expands his presence, and that expanded presence makes for safer facilities and businesses.

Next post we'll explore how IP-based Door Access control and IP-based Intercoms would also have lightened Ye Olde Night watchman's load.

Meanwhile, if you're interested in finding out more about how IP-based security products can make your workplace a safer place, Kintronics sales engineers are available at 914-944-3425 to answer your questions or design a system for you. Filling out a form at request info is another option.

Edge Storage

Edge Storage

Over the course of our last couple of posts we took a look at Video Management Software (VMS) and how it provides efficient, comprehensive video recording and storage. In this post we will explore a way to complement it: edge storage. Comparable terms you may be familiar with include onboard recording and local storage.

Many of the latest IP cameras from Axis , IQinVision, and Sony offer edge storage which allows a network video device such as a camera or video encoder to create, control and manage recordings either locally to an SD/SDHC card or to network  shares like Network Attached Storage (NAS) . Edge Storage can be add value to an IP camera system in a few ways

Redundancy

Edge storage can serve as a partner to central storage, either recoding in tandem or as a back-up.  If the central system happens to be down due to a network disruption,  hardware malfunction, or  central system maintenance, a camera equipped with edge storage will continue to store its video (fail over recording).  And if used in conjunction with VMS, the missing video clip can be merged to the central system once the network is back up.

But the security of fail over recording isn’t the only advantage of adding Edge Storage equipped cameras to your IP camera system:

Remote Locations

In remote locations such as fire outposts or ATM kiosks, where network connectivity is not available, cameras with edge storage can be used to manage recordings and save them to an SD/SDHC card. The video on the card can be transferred to a central system periodically. It can also be of use on trains and other rail bound vehicles where video can be recorded to edge storage and transferred to the central system when the train stops at a depot.

Compensation for Low Bandwidth

In situations where the network’s bandwidth is low, streamed video can suffer in terms of clarity and definition. Using edge storage can compensate by supplying high quality video of incidents recorded locally that can be imported should the need for forensic use arise.

Cost Effectiveness

IP Cameras equipped with edge storage, depending on your purpose, can eliminate the need for a DVR, NVR, PC, or an onsite server.

If you’d like to find out if edge storage is right for you, our sales engineers can answer all your questions. Call us at 914-944-3425 or visit our website http://www.kintronics.com/neteye/neteye.html   Or if you prefer, fill out this information request form, http://www.kintronics.com/RequestInfo.htm and we will respond promptly.

Ocularis VMS - Something for Everyone

In our last post we provided an overview of Video Management Software (VMS) and promised to return for a closer look. For that we turn to Ocularis from ONSSI.  ONSSI stands for On-Net Surveillance Systems Inc., and they provide a range of software solutions to support IP camera systems ranging from the entry level Occularis PS to the enterprise version, Ocularis ES.

What is Ocularis VMS?

As a comprehensive video management system, Ocularis combines powerful network video recorders (NVR) with physical security information management (PSIM) functionality. As a video and event management platform, it allows streaming, recording, and managing cameras at multiple sites.   It is totally scalable since an unlimited number of cameras may be added at any time.

Ocularis distinguishes itself by providing a collaborative environment in which video and alerts from across the network can be consolidated into meaningful events that to be shared across the IP network and used to build a case file of video evidence.  Once any Ocularis Video Management software is installed it can be viewed from any workstation, as well as over the internet, either using Ocularis client software or a web browser (with optional Ocularis X)

What Can Ocularis VMS Do for You?

Before examining the different Ocularis versions, let’s look at the common features shared across the board.:

·         User-friendly touch screen interface with multi-screen support

·         Map-based integration of cameras and  camera-views  with preview windows

·         Unlimited number of viewing panes for individual cameras, carousel views, hot spots, web image (html) and alerts

·         Pane menu control for  changing cameras on the fly, clearing panes, clipboard copying, and manual push video alert

·         Interactive overlay controls (IOC) for instant investigation allowing playback, optical and digital PTZ as well as 360 degree lens parsing.

·         IOC for instant investigation during live monitoring

·         Auto detection of cameras

·         Support for MPEG4, MJPEG, H.263, H.264 as well as ONVIF and PSIA standards

Which Ocularis VMS is Right For You?

Ocularis PS is a small system solution that delivers high quality, dependable video.  It supports up to 25 cameras per server, but by adding additional servers, can provide unlimited  scalability. Security personnel can monitor the premises live or view recorded video.

Ocularis PS is an ideal application for

·         Standalone schools

·         Hospital campuses

·         Chain franchises

·         Residential buildings

Ocularis IS combines all the features of PS with an efficient event management platform. IS supports up to 64 cameras per server.  It offers multiple video recording servers at multiple sites with the option of either local or network storage; map navigation with active camera previews; and shared event handling among multiple operators.

Ocularis IS can be readily integrated with third party vendors’systems for access control, license plate recognition, and content video analytics. When used with these, IS can be used to detect and analyze events and send pro-active alerts to security personnel across the organization thereby providing better security and quicker responses.

Ocularis IS is an ideal application for

·         Municipal or public safety organizations

·         School districts

·         College campuses

·         Retail operations with centralized headquarters

·         Chains with franchised locations

Ocularis CS is scalable for an unlimited amount of cameras.  It offers all the previously described features plus optional access to video and alerts from multiple Ocularis systems and wall video-equipped central command centers. Likewise police command centers can use its easy-to-use map-based interface to access video from multiple Ocularis systems in the same locality.

Applications for Ocularis CS include

·         Transportation authorities

·         Clusters of police precincts

·         Municipalities with access to hospitals and schools

Ocularis ES is designed with IT-oriented organizations in mind. It includes all the functions of the Ocularis suite of VMS plus a central video recording management utility. Much of the complexity of managing hundreds, even thousands of cameras at multiple sites is simplified by CS’ provision of a single access point to the entire recording server array. This single access point makes possible batch operations and easy configuration of system-wide storage, cameras, and recording .

To prevent video data loss, Ocularis ES allows the set-up of multiple failover recording servers that begin recording instantly should a hardware failure occur.

Ocularis ES is perfect for

·         Complex city-wide or public-safety environments with a large number of simultaneously viewing clients.

If you’d like more information about any of the Ocularis Video Management Software versions detailed here, or about compatible IP cameras, Kintronics sales engineers will be glad to answer any of your questions . You can contact them at 914-944-3425 or visit http://www.kintronics.com/neteye/Softsite32.html. Or if you prefer, just fill out http://www.kintronics.com/RequestInfo.htm and a Kintronics engineer will contact you with the specified information.

IP Cameras and Customer Service

Let’s say you walk into your local J.C. Penney's or Target  and you spot a sign,

What comes to mind? If you think "they’re trying to catch shoplifters", the majority of shoppers share your thought. 

And you’re probably right.  99% of retailers purchase IP cameras to prevent and deter shoplifting. And sometimes just the sign is enough to make a teenager intending to pocket a tube of mascara give it a second thought.

But increasingly retailers are adding other duties to an IP camera’s job description. And they all come under the heading………

Customer Service

Wikipedia defines customer service as

 “The provision of service to customers before, during, and after a purchase”

Wise Geek words it this way:

 “Customer Service refers to the practice of providing people with a positive, helpful experience before, during, or after buying something.”

Installing IP cameras aids a store manager in improving her customer’s experience. With the intelligence afforded by a video managementsystem, she can put herself in a customer’s shoes as he travels down every aisle and turns every corner of the store. 

She can monitor the length of the lines at the cashier counters and customer service areas,check for bottlenecks at the escalator, 

even check on the maintenance of  the parking lot on a snowy day. 

Real time viewing will reveal patterns in customer traffic. And like all traffic, foot traffic does not flow uniformly. It can benefit from ………….

Traffic Control

Just as air traffic controllers in their towers rely on radar to keep track of arriving and departing plane , a wise management team utilizes IP cameras to keep abreast of the good, the bad, and the potential for improvement in their store.

Real Time Viewing

·         If the lines at the checkout counter are getting long, additional cashiers can be summoned to open more cash registers.

·       

 When the stock in the electronics department is getting low, a stocker can be alerted to come replenish the shelves.Using real-time viewing allows retailers to keep up on operational details so they can make decisions and improvements based on daily observations. 

Stored video from those same cameras,  on the other hand, can make use of  weekly, monthly or even annual data to determine the effectiveness of those decisions.

Analyzing Stored Video

Video Management Software ( VMS) and stored video.

Using  Video Management Software, such as ONSSI, retail business managers can view multiple cameras, record and retrieve video, and monitor alarms. There is a variety of video management software on the market, each with its own particular capabilities, that users can adapt to their particular specifications. For example, retail managers can study a compilation of day-to-day traffic to determine if their store’s layout needs revamping.

Dwell Time

What area attracts the most customers? Do they pause there? For how long? This is called dwell time. Dwell analysis can be used to measure the results of advertising campaigns. What age group is prevalent? Is it mostly men? 

Is it mostly women? All this information is valuable in determining product placement and the positioning of promotional displays.  

Zone Counter

IP camera management software can automatically count  the number of people who pass through different areas or departments throughout the day. It can keep track of how many people use various check out areas. Analysis of the resulting patterns can aid department heads with personnel scheduling and best allocation of staff throughout the store.

Browsers vs Buyers

People counting can also be used to determine conversion rates. What is the ratio of a day’s total visitors to the number of sales transactions recorded that day. This can also result in changes in displays or product placement to help convert browsers to buyers..

And so next time you see a surveillance camera remember as law-abiding as you are, you may be one its targeted subjects.     

      For more information on IP cameras or Video Management Systems, call Kintronics at 1-800-431-1658 to speak to one of our Sales Engineers or visit our website,  www.kintronics.com . If you prefer you can fill out an information request form and a sales engineer will get back to you.