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CONTEMPORARY home security systems are often connected to the telephone line, so when an alarm is tripped, the resident is alerted immediately via their handset. But the system leaves the homeowner in the dark about whether the culprit is a wayward cat, or a genuine intruder.
Early adopters have found the solution by connecting their security system to the Internet. With the addition of cameras, these enhanced systems can send the nominated person an email with a picture or footage of the area where the alarm was tripped.
These sophisticated security systems, plus other enhancements, are expected to become more prevalent, as security devices integrate more functions, and become better connected. Consumers can expect improved visibility into the status of their homes in coming years, with integration with mobile devices helping ease anxiety when owners are away from the house.
Electronics News talked to Axis Communications and Chubb Home Security for an insight into how the security systems of the future will look.
Control from the cloud
According to Deborah Garnier, general manager of Chubb Home Security, the main drive for early adoption of new security technologies is from people who demand more control of the system and visual verification of intruders.
The most obvious way to bring control capability and visual data to the user is through the Internet from cloud servers, to which the resident can then connect via their smart phones or remote computers when away from home.
“The best option is a combination of an alarm system/a monitoring centre/‘smart’ mobile devices,” said Garnier. “This combination provides insight into the alarm event including visual verification via an emailed video in real time.”
Wai King Wong, country manager of Axis Communications, said the company’s Axis Video Hosting Solution, which also resides in the cloud, is one option for homeowners looking for better security systems.
Axis’ platform provides a way for users to remotely stream the footage from their security cameras by accessing a site through a browser, be it on a portable device or a computer. Axis Communications has already developed the technology and is currently in talks with potential partners regarding bringing the solution to the market.
“You can be anywhere, and you can use an iPhone or iPad to look at video recordings and alerts,” Wong told Electronics News. “In terms of technology, this is available today. The question is who will be the hosting company to continue to develop it for the market.”
Device-level changes
As nice as these extra capabilities will be, they rely on a big change: from the currently ubiquitous movement sensors to network cameras. These are connected to the home network and the Internet through Power over Ethernet (PoE), cabled Ethernet, or wireless.
The Axis Communications M1054 camera, for example, provides high definition (HD) footage, an I/O port that connects to the alarm system, motion detection, speakers, microphone, and a PoE port.
When the alarm is tripped (by motion, loud sounds or other means), the camera is triggered, and sends the footage or images to the server for storage or dissemination to pre-determined third parties.
All these features are powered by Axis Communication’s inhouse-developed chipsets, and fit into a slim and small body.
The company started off developing robust industrial-scale cameras, but when it moved into the retail and home sectors, it was necessary to redesign the units.
“The form factor, the look and feel, are very important for home users,” said Wong. “We designed [the camera] to ensure it is not too big, so it fits [discretely] into the home. We started [enhanged] the aesthetics and the useability of the camera as well.”
To wire, or not to wire
While wireless technology has been around for years – and is a compelling solution for home users who don’t want the hassle of wiring up complicated networks – its relative immaturity means, in most instances, PoE cameras are more practical.
For example, Axis Communications says that while a wireless version of its camera is available, it only streams VGA resolution video due to bandwidth limitations. Additionally, it has to be powered by an adapter, so some wiring is inevitable.
According to Wong, pulling PoE cables (which carry both data and power) through the walls is something every homeowner can do, especially if the cameras are being used as a drop-in replacement of older equipment. And because the PoE standard uses less than 24V, this can be done without calling in an electrician.
Chris Tangsilsat, sales engineer at Axis Communications, says the PoE solutions are also more flexible, and can be plugged into wireless routers, effectively transforming at least part of the system into a wireless network.
“In terms of the wireless technologies you can use not just 802.11b/g, but also the n standard for increased range, or directional wireless, or wireless mesh which can span several kilometres,” Tangilsat said. “The non-wireless-equipped [PoE] cameras leave the wireless [communication] option up to the customers.”
The cameras can be configured through a web browser by typing in the network address of the device. They can also email snapshots, and transfer videos to a network storage device or to the cloud. And when the Axis Video Hosting Solution comes online, MMS and SMS capabilities will also be available.
Beyond simple surveillance
Network cameras are becoming increasingly intelligent and versatile, with some of the newer units packing triple-core chipsets.
Axis Communications is encouraging development by opening its systems to over 500 Application Development Partners (ADPs) who develop software for the cameras. These are applications that turn the cameras into standard verification tools and enable facial recognition for access control among other capabilities.
“It’s all firmware-based and accessible through the browser interface,” said Wong. “You can buy an application from the ADP and upload it [to the camera].”
But Wong ruled out the possibility of an “appstore” for the software, preferring instead for customers to deal directly with the ADPs.
An integrated future
Most commercial systems only require the cameras to stream footage on internal (‘closed circuit’) networks, mostly because of data security concerns. But to boost useability, the residential market requires Internet capability to interface with mobile devices.
However, in Australia at least, the transition to HD Internet-capable cameras for the home has thus far been hobbled by a lack of infrastructure.
Wong is counting on the forthcoming National Broadband Network (NBN) to be the catalyst for change, not just for security, but for other areas of the home.
“With the HD TV and SMTP standards, when the cameras and the other systems are linked together, home automation and everything else will gel together,” said Wong. “With the NBN, we will have the bandwidth, and cloud computing will fall into place. Everything will be seamless and integrated into one environment.”
This level of integration, along with the flexibility of more powerful camera systems, means the consumer will soon have unprecedented control and insight into the situation at home, even while they embrace an ever more mobile lifestyle.