Open Platform Video Management Software

Open Platform Video Management Software

Technology is constantly evolving. More mature network infrastructure, wider availability of data and increased processing power have all helped advance technologies such as deep learning and edge analytics to the next level. 

A high quality and exceptional reliability of the Camera, but products OEM/manufacturers don't have any software for further value addition. If this case for 10-16nos camera then any end user scrap the same & put new camera & OEM/manufacturers fulfil customer needs. If this came under 30-50nos camera, no one can do this. Through technology updation & software development. Over the last couple of years analytics have improved greatly. Putting two and two together camera manufacturers have started to create open platforms, which accept third-party applications (Standard API) and act as a server for the analytics.

The end user’s site requires various analytics, so the camera can accept and run more than one analytic function simultaneously, such as people counting and heat-mapping. A multi-camera site may need a number of specialist analytics created by different companies. With the camera’s open platform each camera can essentially run different companies’ analytics without compromising on quality or incurring the expense of multiple servers to run different applications. These cameras are then viewed by video management software (VMS) that pulls everything together.

Open Platform Video Management Software products that support a variety of hardware (cameras and encoders/decoders) from multiple vendors and offer the ability for customized integration with other systems or devices using an open platform software development kit (SDK). Most Popular Open-Platform Video Management Software is Mirasys, Milestone - XProtect, AxxonSoft, AllGoVision etc.

Video surveillance systems based on Axxon can scale infinitely: there are no restrictions on the number of video servers, workstations or video cameras. Support for over 6000 models of IP devices including more than 1500 models of IP cameras. integrated using proprietary protocol and 4500 ONVIF compliant devices is included, as well as remote access from mobile devices and a web interface. Axxon Next versions 3.1 and later include mobile clients for iOS and Android devices, allowing you to monitor the situation at the site from anywhere with Internet access.

Mirasys VMS (Both the Pro & Enterprise versions) supports thousands of different analogue & IP camera models from tens different manufacturers through 70+ native drives of various OEM, ONVIF - Profile S, PSIA, RTSP / HTTP streaming. Mirasys has own analytics which reduces server requirement. Mirasys has 6 Platinum partners who pays to support there feature. Mirasys india sold around 40K license in last 5years.

AllGoVision has been successfully integrated with 10+ major VMS like Milestone, Genetec, Honeywell EBI, HUS, DVM, Wavestore, etc.

Milestone open platform extends beyond camera support, into areas like access control systems that have historically stood apart from video surveillance. Traditionally, the security industry has been very proprietary, with software, cameras and access control all coming from different manufacturers with separate specifications. This means that the infrastructure is tailored for a specific camera model, environment or application. Milestone belief in an open platform extends beyond camera support, into areas like access control systems that have historically stood apart from video surveillance. Traditionally, the security industry has been very proprietary, with software, cameras and access control all coming from different manufacturers with separate specifications. This means that the infrastructure is tailored for a specific camera model, environment or application. Inputs like alarms and alerts would all appear on a single display and get routed to appropriate channels. In this environment, the access control system, cameras and video management system would all share data and communicate with each other as a connected.

Milestone currently has 36 access control vendors who have created integrations with the XProtect VMS, and about half of those have already been developed through the XProtect Access interface that allows use of multiple third-party systems to operate in collaboration. Allows a customizable search based on a single access event, a specific door or a cardholder. XProtect Access can also search for events exclusively associated with a single person, storyboard the panels to see exactly what transpired over time, and create an evidence lock to ensure the video does not get deleted or tampered with.

Open platforms also have these advantages when processing analytics:

1.      Detection quality is much higher and results much improved because it is run inside the camera – at source.

2.      No need to transmit video from the camera to the analytics server, as bandwidth traffic to the recording/viewing platform is much reduced, enabling a smoother flow of image data across the network, increased capacity to add additional cameras without adding to network infrastructure costs, or reducing network infrastructural costs as the number of required network switches is reduced.

3.      Reducing total ownership costs by future-proofing is at the back of every buyer’s mind. An open platform does just that, as any new software release will automatically work with the camera without the need for a concomitant firmware upgrade.

Many Video Management Software (VMS) providers offer free versions, either open source, for a limited number of cameras or for a limited amount of time.

We share some small list of open-source, restricted use, and trial-version VMS in below.

A.     Open Source/Free:-

Open/Free source options for VMS are limited.

1.     Shinobi - Open source VMS, developed in node.js

2.     Zoneminder - Offers precompiled packages for linux distros, and also open source code.

3.     iSpy - Visual Studio 2015 source code is available as well as precompiled installable versions.

B.     Free With Restricted Use:-

These products all work without any timeout period, but generally have limitations around the number of channels or the amount of storage supported in the free version.

1.     Axxon Next - 4 channels, 1TB storage.

2.     Pelco VideoXpert Professional - 1 year trial (renewable) for 4 channels

3.     Milestone Essential - 8 channels, no storage limits, requires annual renewal for free license key

4.     March Networks Command Lite - 6 channels, 1 week of recording

5.     Alnet Systems Netstation - 4 channels, 7 days recording, software login required every 8 hours

C.     Free For Trial Period:-

Generally offer full functionality, but timeout after a limited period.

1.     Avigilon Control Center - 30 day trial of Enterprise product, sales people can provide 180 day trial keys.

2.     Axis Camera Station - 30 day trial

3.     Exacq - 45 day trial key

4.     IndigoVision Control Center - 5 camera/45 day trial.

5.     Milestone XProtect - 30 day trial of any version, 8 channels/5 days storage

6.     OnSSI Occularis - 30 day trial, requires providing project/user details

7.     Sony RealShot Manager 30 day trial for up to 32 channels

8.     VideoInsight VI Monitor - 60 day trial, up to 99 cameras

9.     Wavestore VMS - 30 day trial

D.     Free With Same-Brand Cameras:-

Manufacturers have VMS that do not require a license when used with their own brand of cameras.

1.     ACTi NVR - Free for use with ACTi cameras + 1 free channel for non-ACTi cameras.

2.     Axis Camera Companion - Only works with Axis cameras, 16 channel limit

3.     Mobotix Control Center - Free for Mobotix cameras

4.     Sony RealShot Manager - 9 channels free for use with Sony cameras

5.     Video Insight VI Monitor - Free when used with Panasonic cameras

6.     Vivotek VAST - 32 channels free when used with Vivotek cameras.