Weston in Space

SAN RAMON, Calif. — ONVIF , a global standardization initiative for IP-based physical security products, has released Profile M, which standardizes metadata and events for analytics applications. The new profile is said to address the video analytics market as well as expands the pathways for the use of metadata and event handling into other systems such as access control, Cloud services and IoT platforms. Profile M provides a standard way of communicating metadata and events between analytics-capable services and devices like IP cameras, and clients like video management software or server- or Cloud-based services. It allows systems integrators and end users to flexibly combine solutions from different providers of edge devices or services that produce metadata and events, with video management software or Cloud services and IoT applications, into one system. “ONVIF recognizes that the need for interoperability has evolved beyond the traditional relationship between a hardware dev

DRAPER, Utah — ProdataKey (PDK), manufacturer of a Cloud access control platform built for mobile, introduces the latest enhancement to its Pdk io software interface, Map View. The Map View feature is said to allow users to upload custom maps and arrange device icons onto floorplans, making it possible to view and control each door’s status while looking at the full system layout on their phone, tablet or laptop. Multiple maps can be created for a single location, representing buildings, rooms, floors or other areas, according to an announcement. By linking maps together, users may easily navigate from one to the next, mimicking how they would physically travel through the site. JPEG or PNG images may be used for map images. Once a map is created and named, icons are easily dragged into location. Related: ProdataKey Integrates Microsoft Azure Active Directory The new feature makes site monitoring more convenient and intuitive, as door and system status for large areas can be

Speco Technologies President Todd Keller has been busy of late navigating the independently-owned company through not just pandemic headwinds but also new portfolio additions as he maneuvers to seize evolving market opportunities in video surveillance, access control and more. During an extended conversation with SSI (see video and audio links below), Keller explains why he is optimistic about overall economic recovery and specifically within the security industry. “I think very positively about the driving forces affecting the opportunities for our industry as a whole. There is such a need for awareness campaigns and surveillance equipment in each and every environment,” he says. Among the varied topics discussed during the podcast, Keller also touches on top challenges faced by security dealers and systems integrators — not the least of which, cybersecurity. Whereas proactively securing networks used to be an afterthought for most all industry stakeholders, Keller says cybersecu

BOCA RATON, Fla. — ADT (NYSE: ADT ) on Tuesday brought actions for patent infringement against Vivint Smart Home (NYSE: VVNT ). Separate but related actions were filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission and in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Vivint has introduced and promoted a series of products willfully infringing upon several of ADT ’s patents, the complaint asserts. These patents cover ADT’s investments and innovations in smart home integration, data collection and control panel functions and interfaces, among other capabilities and features. Specifically, according to the complaint, Vivint products including the Vivint Home Security System, SkyControl Panel and Vivint Smart Hub violate U.S. Patents No. 8,976,937 and No. 9,286,772, belonging to ADT. “Vivint launched its SkyControl Panel and related products with the express desire, in the words of its former CEO, to ‘control anything and everything inside the home,’” says David W. Smail, AD

BETHESDA, Md. — Brivo, a provider of Cloud-based access control and smart building technologies, has launched Brivo Snapshot — a high-accuracy video analytics and forensic tool that uses machine learning to deliver advanced facial and person detection by combining access control and video data streams. Brivo Snapshot is said to speed up the process of finding relevant images around access events by as much as 20x over conventional search technology in stand-alone video management systems. By detecting the presence of faces and other human characteristics, Snapshot creates a permanent “photo album” that records the complete event-related visual setting, according to an announcement. Customers no longer have to view entire video clips to research an event. Snapshot is said to provide them with a single, visual history of all the people in view of an entry point for easy reference. Because the video analysis is performed within the Brivo Cloud, Snapshot doesn’t have the compute or stora

The security industry was able to make it out of the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic with just a few scratches. Now, June’s top stories reveals the next two challenges the industry faces: NDAA compliance and a chip shortage. In relation to NDAA compliance, the FCC has approved a plan that would further limit purchases of video surveillance equipment from Hikvision and Dahua Technology, plus telecommunications gear from Huawei, ZTE Corp. and Hytera Communications Corp. Dahua received more bad news when the Security Industry Association (SIA) voted to terminate its membership, citing a violation of its Code of Ethics. Supply chain issues have been hampering businesses across a wide range of industries. Security manufacturers and integrators are beginning to see a serious impact. On top of that, everyone may have to contend with an influx of counterfeit chips . On a more positive note, SSI ‘s web readers were very interested in this year’s Sales and Marketing Awards (SAMMYs) winners. B

With end users facing uncertainty and myriad questions amid the pandemic, STANLEY Security repositioned its 2020 marketing strategies and developed new marketing and content channels to ensure its customers received the support they needed and felt empowered in protecting their organizations. “Our strategies, content and tactics were initially positioned with a focus on product and sharing what those products could help our customers achieve. However, the changing times encouraged us to pivot — and do so quickly,” explains Laura Rose, global marketing director. The marketing team narrowed its focus to solving one question: How can the company help organizations in their time of need? The answer: Provide them much-needed resources and solutions straight from STANLEY Security ’s own thought leaders, sales professionals and security experts. Early in the pandemic, the company directed its attention toward helping organizations establish safer and healthier environments. These efforts c

CHANTILLY, Va. — Corbett Technology Solutions (CTSI), a portfolio company of Wind Point Partners, announces the acquisition of Collaborative Technology Solutions (CTS), a provider of A/V, security and other low-voltage solutions, for undisclosed terms. Founded in 2015, Morrisville, N.C.-based CTS designs, engineers and supports customers across a wide range of low-voltage solutions. The company’s portfolio includes sound masking, mass notification systems (MNS), structured cabling networks, public safety and cellular enhancement solutions. “Our core values of excellence, reliability and integrity align perfectly with those of CTSI,” says Tom Livolsi, CTS president and partner. “We’re thrilled to continue providing our customers with the excellence they’ve come to expect while beginning to support CTSI customers with the same care and attention we’ve brought to market for years.” Related: Paladin Technologies Purchases Commercial Security Integration CTS represents the third a

In advance of its  forthcoming initial public offering (IPO) of the company’s common stock., SnapAV is unveiling a new company name and logo: Snap One. According to CEO John Heyman, the new name reflects the company’s goal to be the one-stop-shop for solutions, services and platforms for custom installation integrators whose businesses have grown well beyond A/V products. “The name ‘SnapAV’ no longer fully represents who we are or our aspirations for the future,” Heyman says. “We kept the name ‘Snap’ because of our ongoing mission to make our partners’ lives easier. Snap One builds upon this legacy and reinforces our aspiration to be the integrator’s most valued and most trusted partner. We want to be the one place with the broadest portfolio of best-in-class products; the one shopping experience that can be done online or in-store; and the one partner that professionals can depend on when installing and supporting the amazing experiences that their customers desire.” Related:

A global chip shortage is wreaking havoc across myriad industries. If someone is manufacturing something that requires computing, they are likely struggling to obtain the appropriate materials. Expected to last into early 2022, a shortage of chips isn’t the only dilemma manufacturers and end users need to worry about. Experts believe this shortage could result in an increase of counterfeit components. “If next week, you need to get 5,000 parts or your line will shut down, you will be in a situation of distress purchase and you will put your guard down,” Diganta Das, a researcher in counterfeit electronics at the Center for Advanced Life Cycle Engineering (CALCE), told ZDNet . “You won’t keep to your rules of verifying the vendor or going through test processes. This is likely to become a big problem.” Related: FCC Ups the Ante to Ban Chinese Surveillance Gear, Other Products Das regularly monitors counterfeit reporting databases and says he is confident that he will see an inc

During the past several years, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has been very busy with the development of a number of new standards. In my previous columns I have reported on several of these. In this month’s column, I will discuss NFPA 715, Standard for the Installation of Fuel Gases Detection and Warning Equipment. This standard is being promulgated by a new technical committee on fuel gases warning equipment. This standard came to creation with a request of Ted Williams with the American Gas Association to develop a standard on the location and installation of residential fuel gas detectors. After a review and request for public comments from the public, the NFPA Standards Council voted during its August 2019 meeting to create a new technical committee for the development of a standard to address this. During the public comment period regarding the need for such a standard, 20 letters of support were received to one letter in opposition. The scope of the commit

It wasn’t long ago that fidget spinners took over popular culture. From desk drawers, to schoolrooms to even trade show booths, these little devices were nearly unavoidable. ADT Commercial went the “fidget” route with its latest giveaway: the “Magic Small Krazy Cube.” This wasn’t just any plain old cube, it was branded with ADT Commercial’s logo and messaging. “As a continuation of ADT Commercial’s internal branding efforts and to engage new members of the team, especially those joining us from newly acquired companies, we created a fun and engaging way to showcase our guiding principles with a ‘Magic Small Krazy Cube,’ inspired by the famous Rubik’s Cube,” says Beth Tarnoff , vice president, marketing and communications. The cube is constructed of durable, nontoxic plastic with photo images merged to the surface to create a solid, yet flexible high-quality item built to be flipped, folded, fidgeted or displayed, Tarnoff says. The puzzle-like nature of the piece allows for the imag

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The City Council here has taken action to reduce false alarms , including updates to fees and charges related to alarm systems that trigger an automatic response from the Asheville Police Department. On June 22, the City Council approved new rules meant to tamp down on the problem, cutting off service to those regularly causing false alarms, increasing fees and requiring verification from companies. According to a staff report, APD responded to more than 15,600 burglar alarms between January 2018 and May 2021, 97% of which were false alarms. The council passed the new ordinances, replacing ones passed in 2002, unanimously with no comment as part of its consent agenda reserved for noncontroversial items, citizen-times.com reports . During the meeting, Asheville Police Department Chief David Zack and the department’s administrative services manager, Dan Lemley, said the new rules were based on best practices found in other departments and would allow for “more effic

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — ZKTeco USA, announces the launch of ZKWatch, an integrated biometric access control with video event management solution powered by Arteco. ZKWatch combines alarms and notifications from third-party devices such as video surveillance, access control, license plate recognition (LPR), fire detection, gunshot detection, video analytics, building automation and more onto a single platform. The solution ‘s server is a hardware appliance preloaded with ZKBioSecurity. ZKWatch, which can support up to ten doors and cameras , can provide reasonable recording storage capacity as well, according to the company. ZKTeco USA President and Founder Manish Dalal says, “Arteco was one of the first software developers to offer video event management and partnering with them to offer an integrated solution with ZKBioSecurity platform was the need of the hour. As ZKTeco introduces new devices and software applications to the market, we look forward to integrating them with Arteco’s NEX

ATLANTA  — Salto Systems announces the release of the Neoxx electronic padlock. The new lock is said to enable users to benefit from the advantages of electronic access control where previously it was only possible to use a mechanical locking solution (i.e., perimeter or fire access gates, industrial equipment yards and residential storage areas). Smart padlocks offer more security, easier maintenance, flexible access methods and a better overview of the locks and users’ activity, according to the announcement. Security is enhanced by removing the lock’s most vulnerable part — the mechanical key — and adding the benefits of being operated with a mobile app and contactless smart key managed by a web-based access control platform. The Salto Neoxx Padlock is said to be suitable for utility providers — electric power stations, telecom network services, industry applications and more — and property services that need an additional level of security to control specific doors, like gates

An important area for all best practicing techs to understand is applying proper battery backups. This topic is often overlooked until, when? You guessed it — the systems power fails and the backup batteries only worked for a few minutes instead of hours. The system appears to be working fine on a daily basis so how can this be? Let’s take a few minutes this month to drill down on the technology of battery backups. First, what type of battery are we talking about, one that starts a car? While they are physically big and have a lot of starting power, they are not best suited for alarm systems.  Let’s look at sealed lead acid batteries (SLA). Being sealed allows for locating in alarm cabinets and not always positioned upright. While it is important to have adequate backup power for all systems, it is especially important for life-safety systems such as fire alarms. This is why I will take a brief look at some of the backup battery requirements for fire alarm systems in standard NFPA 7

BOCA RATON, Fla. — ADT announces it has settled a lawsuit against Ring over alleged trademark infringement involving ADT’s blue octagon mark and Ring’s products. Filed in April, the lawsuit alleged that Ring adopted a blue octagon mark that is virtually indistinguishable from ADT’s blue octagon mark. Following an attempt to imitate ADT’s lawn signs, the DIY security provider went further and allegedly assimilated the company’s blue octagon design into its Ring Alarm Outdoor Siren, according to the complaint. “ADT and Ring are pleased to have reached a mutually agreeable resolution,” says David Smail, executive vice president and chief legal officer at ADT. “Ring will release a new version of the Outdoor Siren product and will discontinue the marketing and sale of the current design. As we continue to innovate in the smart home technology space through new products and partnerships — including partnerships with Google and other peers in the marketplace — it’s important that we prote

Since the year 2010, the United States averages 15 lives lost to mass shootings annually in our school system. The average may have been higher if it were not for the COVID-19 pandemic, which kept our children and teachers out of school last year. According to the FBI, between the years 2000 and 2018, 74% of mass shootings in education occurred at or below the 12th grade level. This past April, President Biden stated, “Gun violence in this country is an epidemic.” It has become so bad, more and more schools are starting to implement gunshot detection technology within their halls. The gunshot detectors will be protecting lives much like a fire alarm system’s manual pull station — pull stations do not prevent fires from starting, but hopefully they are activated early enough to save as many lives as possible. Related: Vegas’ Famed Fremont Street Installs Gunshot Detection System How does gunshot detection work? A sensor is used to listen for the acoustic properties unique to t

AUSTIN, Texas — HID Global announces its HID Signo Biometric Reader 25B is now designed to capture and read fingerprints in real-world applications and conditions. The reader is the latest addition to the company’s signature line of HID Signo Readers and adds an API for integration with access control software solutions from HID Global partners. This is said to enable a single point of biometric template enrollment through an access control system. The templates can then be pushed to all connected devices simultaneously. The new solution brings HID’s biometrics technology to the HID Signo Reader platform. It reads fingerprints of all types, including those that are hard-to-read where people have wet, dry, dirty or worn fingerprints. With company’s patented multispectral imaging technology, the HID Signo Biometric Reader 25B is said to capture fingerprint images from both the surface and the sub-surface of the skin, delivering consistent read performance regardless of environmental

In this week’s Top Su rveillance Videos… Active shooter situations are always scary and tensions are even more high when they occur in a heavily trafficked location such as an airport. San Antonio International Airport experienced this scenario earlier this year and the local police department has just released new footage of the event. Surveillance video shows a suspect open fire at people and vehicles outside the airport as a police officer races to the scene. Also this week… Violence continues to spike in New York City and this footage may be some of the most disturbing and unbelievable that has been released so far. Surveillance video shows a gunman chasing a man down a crowded street when the victim bumps into and knocks down two small children. The gunman then opens fire at close-range on the suspect while he is tangled up with the children. The victim was shot several times but the children were luckily unharmed physically. Make sure to check out the rest of this week’s t

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Convergint Technologies, a global leader in service-based systems integration, announces a global master reseller agreement (MRA) with Safetrust, a provider of secure and virtual credential solutions. The MRA will enable Convergint customers to modernize their existing physical access control systems, provide mobile capabilities to their evolving workforce and enhance building and resource intelligence across the enterprise. As companies continue to accelerate their security initiatives, use cases for secure mobile access extend far beyond just opening the door. Convergint’s customers may now deploy Safetrust solutions to store unlimited credentials in one secure location, modernize their legacy readers, migrate to touchless access, and generate building occupancy analytics to become a relevant factor in helping meet the strategic initiatives of the company. “Enhancing our sensor and mobile solutions portfolio has been a strategic initiative,” says Amir Shechte

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Security Industry Association (SIA) announces the 2021 agenda and speaker lineup for AcceleRISE: The Challenge, an experience hosted by SIA’s RISE community for young professionals in the security industry. The 2021 AcceleRISE event — taking place virtually Aug. 23-25 — will challenge tomorrow’s security leaders to test their limits, escape their comfort zones and grow their industry expertise, according to SIA . “AcceleRISE is a unique learning experience for up-and-coming security professionals to learn and network together,” says Dr. Elli Voorhees, director of learning and development at SIA. “The conference program covers key security technologies and business topics along with essential soft skills that support professional growth for high performers looking to stay at the forefront of the security industry and advance their careers.” AcceleRISE was created for rising stars in the security industry and is different from a standard conference. SIA says t

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Qognify is enabling Southern Illinois University (SIU) to stream drone footage in real-time, securely and with low latency. Integrating drones with its existing Ocularis video management system (VMS), also from Qognify, is said to deliver additional operational, safety and security benefits including active-shooter tests, evidence sharing, monitoring, maintenance and mapping. Every year since 1974, SIU has hosted The Great Cardboard Boat Regatta on its Carbondale Campus Lake, an event that has attracted worldwide renown. Wanting to improve the view for spectators, two of the university’s building automation technicians decided to use a drone to capture the action on the water. However, the challenge of projecting a live stream on-screen presented a number of technical and procedural obstacles that would need to be overcome. Luke Schemonia is an FAA-certified commercial drone pilot and Building Automation Technician II at the SIU. He explains: “Because the event i