This is one of hundreds of video surveillance cameras with analytic capabilities that are deployed to protect Israel’s railways.

One trend in video analytics is to distribute the software towards the “edge” of the system, either in the camera or the video encoder, which converts analog video to digital. One example of this type of technology is the analytics system from Agent VI, Fort Myers, Fla., which is distributed between the camera or encoder and the system’s computer server. This differs from other analytics solutions in which all of the processing takes place in one location.

“We do not do the whole algorithm in one location, either in the field or central server, but rather we distribute the algorithm to two separate components,” explains Gadi Talmon, vice president of business development.

“We do some initial processing inside an IP camera or video encoder, whatever you have in the field,” he continues. “Then you send the result of this processing over the network to a central server doing the second part of the algorithm. We do not need to transmit the video from all the cameras in the field to a central server.”

This improves performance and efficiency, conserves bandwidth and makes the system useful for enterprise installations with thousands of cameras, Talmon maintains. It also enables the initial analysis to be performed in or near the camera before the image is compressed.

“In most cases, we can use existing hardware devices in the field and just embed a piece of software inside those IP cameras or other IP devices, and upgrade existing hardware for video analytic capability,” Talmon insists.

The company embeds its analytic software on the camera’s DSP chip. “The reason that we can do this is we do not run the entire algorithm in the field; therefore, we don’t have too much of a processing requirement,” Talmon observes.

“Normally, an IP camera or a video encoder would have maybe 20 to 30 percent of its processor available for other applications,” he calculates. “It’s not enough to run an entire video analytic algorithm, but it is enough to run our software, which is only doing an initial part of the algorithm. Therefore, it is suitable for the limited processing resources of video devices in the field.”

All of the company’s analytic software can fit on one chip, Talmon asserts, but it is not necessary for his market.

“Our target market is enterprise-grade customers, and usually they are using many cameras, and in many cases, those cameras are installed in more than one location, so that requirement to install everything in the camera or near the camera is not relevant for large installations,” he believes.

Sidebar: Bosch Expands Online Training Offerings

Bosch Security Systems Inc., Fairport, N.Y., offers two new eLearning courses: Access Personal Edition and the AutoDome Modular Camera System. These online, self-paced classes can be completed in sections whenever it is most convenient for the participant.

The Access Personal Edition course provides attendees with step-by-step instructions on how to install and use the access control software, configure the Access Modular Controller hardware and use card personalization to design and create badges. This course includes software demonstrations and simulations, and self-checks at the end of each module.

The AutoDome Modular Camera System program walks attendees through the installation of various mounts, including the parts needed for each interface option. The navigation of keyboard controls and on-screen display menus for configuring features, including TCP/IP connectivity, as well as basic troubleshooting are covered. The course incorporates interactive labs and review questions on the material.

Both courses also provide a final assessment and have received Continuing Education Unit (CEU) accreditation from the National Training School (NTS), a member service of the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA). When a course is successfully completed with a score of 80 percent or higher on the final assessment, a certificate will be filled out with the attendee’s name, course name and NTS CEU information.

For additional information on these or other eLearning or instructor-led courses from Bosch, visit http://training.boschsecurity.us.