The Concept Behind IP Video Surveillance

Reduce Cost and Workload
All Milestone software products for controlling video surveillance are based on the TCP/IP network protocol, which enables you to build your own video surveillance system using standard video and computer hardware. This reduces maintenance costs, lessens the amount of work for you, and protects your business environment. Milestone software supplies the basis for highly efficient operations of video monitoring and analysis, and opens up a wide spectrum of opportunities for integrating with other business applications in any IT environment.

Get Better Pictures Faster
On old VCR systems (analog), surveillance staff had to change tapes frequently. Over time the VCR heads got dirty and distorted the images. Digital search and retrieval functions are much faster with just a click of the mouse. The images are clearer, too, making it easier to review the recordings. You can still benefit from the advantages of Milestone XProtect^TM solutions if you have a traditional analog video surveillance system - our digital IP products also operate with most analog video setups.

* Capture live video from IP cameras and IP video encoders
* Perform basic video processing
* Record video to database
* Facilitate remote access for live view with camera control and playback
* Search video and export evidence material
* Integrate with 3rd party systems

XProtect Corporate System Overview

XProtect Corporate consists of several components that are designed for optimal fit to modern IT infrastructures and network architectures.

The distributed server architecture lets you place recording servers where they are needed. This optimizes network traffic by isolating heavy video traffic into segments, and only allowing necessary management and playback traffic between cameras and users.

System Overview

Management Server
Central manager for recording servers, cameras, devices and users.

SQL Server
The configuration settings of the servers, users and cameras are all stored in the SQL database. The SQL database can either be an already-existing database or a Microsoft® SQL Express installed as an alternative. The SQL database ensures easy backup of vital system settings and swift restoration of failed systems.

Management Client
This client provides access to the management server. Using the console as a single point-of-management, the administrator can configure and manage all recording servers, cameras and users.

Recording Server(s)
The recording server(s) processes the recording and playback of video streams - typically to the local hard drive. Archiving can be done either locally or to a networked drive. The recording server(s) are typically placed in the subnets of the cameras to optimize bandwidth usage.

Failover Server(s)
A failover server can be on standby for a single recording server or for a group of recording servers, and will take over if one of these fails. Recordings are synchronized back to the original recording server once it is back online.

Smart Client
This is a full-featured access client, providing operators with all daily functions such as live view and playback, intelligent PTZ functions, advanced search functions and export of evidence material. The Smart Client supports up to 100 cameras per view.

Smart Wall Client PC
Smart Wall is an advanced Video Wall add-on product. The Smart Wall Client PC drives one or several wall displays making up the video wall by displaying selected camera feeds on the wall displays. The Smart Wall can be controlled manually by the security operator from the Smart Client, and automatically by XProtect Corporate's rule system.

Remote Client
The Remote Client is a web-based all-round tool for operators. The Remote Client handles most daily operations, including live view and playback of up to 16 cameras per view.

Request more information on XProtect Corporate.

XProtect Enterprise System Overview
The distributed server architecture in XProtect Enterprise allows you to place recording servers in the networks where the cameras are actually connected. The benefit is optimized bandwidth usage. There are no limits to how many slave recording servers can be connected to a customer installation.

System Overview
Recording Server
The recording server is the core of the XProtect Enterprise system. It has several functions:
* Connection to each IP camera and IP video encoder
* Recording of video and audio
* Receive events and activate pre-defined alerts and actions
* Host and control access from XProtect clients
* Logging of activity

Management Application
Provides a consolidated management interface for the XProtect Enterprise Recording Server:
* Management of server, users and devices
* System configuration wizards
* Automated device discovery
* Smart bulk configuration function
* Automatic system restore points

Viewer
The viewer enables the operator/administrator to do basic viewing and browsing of video data. The viewer is directly attached to the recording server.

Smart Client
This advanced and full-featured remote client provides operators with all daily functions like simultaneous live view and playback from 100 cameras, intelligent Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) functions, advanced search functions and export of evidence material.

Remote Client
The Remote Client offers live view and playback of up to 16 cameras from the same or multiple recording servers. Operators are able to perform most daily operations.

PDA Client
Basic view and playback on a PDA device from the same or multiple servers. In live mode the operator can Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) and control input/output devices (i.e. open gate, turn on lights, etc.) In browse mode, the operator can search recordings based on time/date and motion detection.

Matrix
The Matrix functionality lets the operator send live video from up to 4 cameras to PCs with the Smart Client installed.

Request more information on XProtect Enterprise.

XProtect Central Overview
Central monitoring and alarm handling for your Xprotect Enterprise and XProtect Corporate installations.

XProtect Central is designed for alarm centers and security monitoring stations. XProtect central ensures that operators maintain a complete overview of alarms and possible technical problems, allowing immediate visual verification and troubleshooting to resolve incidents fast.

Hierarchical multi-level maps let the operator have a visual overview of widespread areas. When alarms occur, the operator can quickly drill down in the layers to the exact location simply by clicking the alarms on the map.

Quick Overview of Critical Alarms
Other security systems such as access control and intruder alarms can be integrated with XProtect Central. This provides the operator with full overview of installations; critical alarms can be visually verified - fast. The multi-level architecture and customizable alarm priorities allow the operator to differentiate alarms, which ensures that important and critical matters get immediate attention.

Effective Alarm Management
The flexibility in the system facilitates a seamless and effective alarm management process. The operator can quickly acknowledge or reassign alarms with only a few clicks. Incidents can be snoozed when scheduled maintenance occur, thus not causing unnecessary alarms.

Spread the Workload
In large installations or in alarm centers, the workload of managing and handling alarms can be spread over several security operators. This allows each operator to re-assign incoming alarms to colleagues who have the right skills for handling these types of alarms.

Request more information on XProtect Central.

XProtect Transact
Integrates Point-of-Sale or Automated Teller Machine (ATM) data with IP video. Designed for retail to manage loss prevention.

XProtect Transact system overview
Cameras
The cameras send video images to the video server

Transaction device
Transaction data can be retrieved in several ways.

XProtect recording server
The XProtect video server receives, processes and stores all video data in a high-speed database. The XProtect Transact builds on either XProtect Basis+, Professional, Enterprise or Corporate.

Transact server
Server-based software for managing transactions. Installed on the same server as the recording server.

Smart Client with Transact Client plug-in
The XProtect Smart Client provides unlimited access to view live, browse and search both video and transaction data. It installs on a standard PC.

Request more information on XProtect Transact.