By now, we’re all familiar with the key benefits that IP surveillance systems can garner for both end users and security installers: greater functionality for end users and simplified installation that saves a tremendous amount of time and effort for installers.
So whether you’re already ‘on board’ with IP, or still unsure, it’s important to stay on top of the merits and applications that continue to emerge, making SIP-based solutions a sound decision.
SIP, or Session Initiation Protocol, is the application layer protocol that has emerged as the standard for controlling multimedia communication sessions like voice and video over IP.
Cheap – or free
It allows telephone calls to traverse between compatible devices across a network, whether the calls are physically in the same building, or on the other side of the world, just as long as the calls have network access to each other by means of a physical cabled network, or over the Internet.
Usually, SIP is employed to provide users with cheaper, or even free of charge telephone calls when compared to traditional telephony systems.
Calls using SIP are not limited to voice applications, though. SIP also carries real-time video signals together with audio to enable face-to-face communications, at the same time, at a lower cost than using the public telephone network.
SIP delivers another layer to the already accepted benefits of IP security over traditional analogue, and provides a whole new ‘set of tools’ for the switched-on installer to innovate with additional functionality
SIP everywhere
SIP compatible devices today are everywhere. Telephone handsets, PC applications (think Skype, which uses a similar but proprietary protocol), smart phones such as Apple’s iPhone, and now IP surveillance cameras!
IP cameras can send emails with a still image to alert the user that motion has been detected, or that a PIR or similar device connected to the camera has been triggered. What happens next is the operator typically logs into the VMS or NVR to determine what exactly has occurred and then charts the appropriate action.
Imagine how more beneficial it would be if instead of simply sending an email, the camera could make a telephone call when an event is triggered, enabling the user to see and hear what is happening in real-time, as well as having the ability to talk to whoever has caused the trigger. Users can do exactly that with SIP-enabled surveillance cameras.
Applications are limitless. Installers can use SIP to build solutions that range from a simple door-entry application, where a button is pressed to trigger the camera to make a call to a receptionist.
The receptionist can then conduct a short conversation with the visitor before entering a code on the phone informing the camera to release the door lock mechanism via an analogue output.
Visual verification
Another application is providing real-time visual clarification that a fire or intruder alarm has been triggered. The latter can provide potentially huge benefits in reduced call-outs of emergency services, or manned guards.
This is a big deal in the UK, at the moment, with police and fire services refusing to attend to alarms if three false alarms have occurred previously. With false alarms pushing insurance premiums sky-high, having an immediate clarification or false-alarm detection is very desirable.
Using the analogue inputs on IP cameras can help to achieve this at very low cost, and potentially gives additional revenue streams to the installer.
Similarly, as well as being able to make calls, a SIP-enabled IP camera can receive calls, meaning a user can dial the extension number of a specific camera to get real-time visual and audio from the location.
This allows a guard to ‘virtually’ conduct a patrol. Accessing a PC or CCTV control system is not even needed as a mobile phone might be all that’s needed to dial in and see what the camera can see.
SIP flexibility
These application examples show how SIP flexibility can meet three important criteria for any new technical project: helping to make business processes easier, faster and less expensive.
Delivering security solutions that are customized to an end user’s needs helps the installer to build long-term loyalty and referrals from customers.
So embrace SIP-based solutions. Unleash your imagination as the flexibility of this technology is limitless.
Partner with IP surveillance solutions companies that deliver crisp, clear picture quality, rich telephony features, full compliance with industry standards and broad interoperability with most service providers and 3rd party SIP based VoIP products.
