Five marks of the open platform of the IP Video Monitoring System

• Five marks of the open platform of the IP Video Monitoring System

  Reprinted from: http://www.51afcn.com/news/dongtai/2012/0509/546.html

  Update: Source: Security Protection website has something to say (63 times)

Research Reports on the IP Video Surveillance market have repeatedly stressed the trend of "open platforms". Many manufacturers claim that their products are based on IP and open platforms to comply with this trend. Recently, in the security industry, it seems embarrassing for an enterprise to admit that it has a proprietary (single vendor) solution.

At present, it seems that a tacit understanding has been formed in suppliers, that is, the flexibility and efficiency of open platforms are used to promote their products. However, many of these suppliers are just for good. Therefore, it is very important to distinguish from a real open platform with the so-called open platform that manufacturers claim.

How do I define open platform software? Wikipedia defines open platforms as: in software and web-based architecture, open platforms refer to a software system with externalProgramInterface, allows other software without modificationSource codeThen you can play a functional role. These interfaces are generally called application programming interfaces (APIs). Third parties can integrate with the platform and add functions. Open platforms mean vendors allow or support third-party integration. With the open platform, developers can add other functions or devices that are incomplete or not involved in the supplier.

In the context of the security industry and IP video surveillance, the key to an open platform is to make the investment in the monitoring system proactive. Under the market trend, by integrating third-party solutions and innovative technologies, the system can upgrade and add functions to meet customers' needs.

Eric Fullerton, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of milestone systems in Denmark, a world-leading open platform software developer, outlines five notable features of the open platform, to help IP system investors determine whether they choose an open platform in the true sense. Five marks of the open platform of the monitoring system:

1. Open common external program Interfaces

Open Platform vendors provide common API interfaces so that security consultants, partners, and end users can be compatible with the platform. Whether APIs can be provided is determined by the architecture design of the monitoring software. An open platform can effectively ensure compatibility between third-party systems and devices, data, scheduling, alarms, reports, maintenance, and other functions create better operational efficiency. The API interface should be made public to any Party that has signed the confidentiality agreement.

2. Open documentation

Document release can eliminate software solutions that claim to be open but are actually open to a limited extent. Even if the supplier does not provide a software development kit (SDK), the supplier or partner can obtain an integrated third-party solution by integrating with a specific system or hardware. Suppliers use this "exclusive" to claim that their products are "open", but they limit their choice of their own profit channels. Some companies provide released APIs through sdks that are easy to use and open to any system integrators. This SDK contains a set of cases that allow people to use APIS by sharing APIs in operations. This also includes some software that has been writtenCodeCan be directly copied to a third-party application.

3. software training

Training is often the most fundamental difference between a truly open platform and a platform that only provides some open aspects. If a manufacturer's Open Platform provides released APIs and sdks, it is only the foundation of a real open platform. In the next work, we need to train third-party programmers to write API code and use sdks. Through training, the company can seamlessly integrate with released APIs and obtain the greatest benefits from sdks, which is truly value-added for all partners involved in the platform, this value can benefit end users.

4. Project consulting

The project consulting proves that the technology and support for system integration are obtained from the source, and the IP video platform manufacturer can take necessary steps, to ensure smooth and seamless integration between any cooperative project and open platform. In addition, the company's engineers are able to take control of the ownership of the execution integration, and will pass strict quality assurance when a third party requests. A skilled system engineer is a strong proof of the depth of the company's product development capabilities, and also represents the future development feasibility of the company.

5. "consistent words and deeds"

Finally, only when the supplier carries out the business according to the rules of the open platform can the five features of the real open platform be complete. Open Platform rules are the core requirements of today's security vendors. When they are "talking", they must be "consistent in words and deeds ".

An open platform can be truly open only by having the above five marks. With open platforms, security investment will be more forward-looking.