Cisco Introduces Safety, Security and Communication Solutions for Urban Environments

Interoperable Solutions Combine Voice, Video and Data Applications into a Single, Open Platform to Help Ensure Coordinated, Efficient Responses

SAN JOSE, Calif., and ORLANDO (ASIS 2011, Booth # 3525), Sept. 20, 2011– Cisco today announced a series of safety and security innovations powered by a comprehensive Medianet architecture. Together these innovations support the evolution of Cisco’s strategy towards a solutions-oriented services-led approach that will enable Cisco customers and large security integrators to build highly scalable network-based security systems that better protect people, property and critical infrastructure.

At the ASIS show, Cisco today underscored its continued commitment to open standards by demonstrating video support for ONVIF-compliant cameras.  The company is also for the first time extending its Medianet Services Interface software to certified video surveillance partners to automate and streamline the way in which Cisco networks recognize, configure and monitor the service levels for third party IP cameras.

As part of Cisco’s Smart+Connected Communities initiative, Cisco is also introducing new communications interoperability solutions and enhancements.   Real-time communication is critical in times of emergency. Currently in many cases, firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians and public safety professionals communicate on different radio frequencies and with different systems, creating barriers to providing a coordinated and efficient response during crises.

Key Highlights:

Enhancements to Cisco Video Surveillance Manager 6.3.2

• Cisco introduced a new high density Physical Security Storage Series platform with the ability to manage video recording of up to 120 terabytes of storage, and 60 disks in only 4RU of rack space, and up to 240 terabytes, and 120 disks in only 8U of rack space.
• Video Surveillance Manager also now supports third party cameras with extended edge storage; this approach effectively extends the value of VSM 6.3.2 to the edge of the network to intelligently manage offload.  Working closely with VideoIQ, the leader and pioneer in distributed storage surveillance solutions, Cisco will be integrating VideoIQ’s iCVR-HD High Definition line of cameras, including their onboard storage, into Cisco’s Video Surveillance Manager.
• Cisco today demonstrated ONVIF 2.0 streaming video integrated with Cisco Video Surveillance Manager.  For customers with third party IP camera deployments, this capability aims to help protect existing investments and maximizes their choice of deployable cameras.

Cisco IP Interoperability and Communications System (IPICS) 4.5

Cisco IPICS is a complete IP-based dispatch and incidence-response solution enabling rapid, reliable communication using whatever desktop or mobile device is at hand to provide public safety personnel with continuous, real-time communication as well as streaming video.

• At ASIS, Cisco is demonstrating support for the latest generation of open IP standards interoperability between P25 radio networks and the IP network infrastructure using P25 ISSI gateway capabilities and a universal media services appliance. P25 offers a number of benefits over traditional analog radio systems including improved coverage, better interoperability, and more efficient use of the radio spectrum.

Extending medianet to the industry

• Cisco today announced that its Medianet support has been extended to Cisco and other third party cameras.  VideoIQ is the first camera vendor to publicly announce its intent to embed Medianet Services Interface software into its cameras to help automate the way that its cameras interface with Cisco network switches.
• The Medianet architecture delivers a smarter network, smarter endpoints, cloud services and shared media services.  With Medianet Services Interface software, IP cameras can be auto-configured upon network connection, and provided with the specific network bandwidth and security they need. Camera connections can be diagnosed and even tested with “synthetic” traffic to ensure a trouble-free deployment.

Analog to IP-Encoders

• Cisco also announced new 4 and 8 port standalone encoders that complement its existing 16-port chassis-based analog to IP video encoders to further support customers in migrating existing deployments to the IP network.

Supporting Quotes

Bill Stuntz, vice president and general manager, Physical Security Business Unit,Cisco, said: “Today’s announcements represent key steps we are taking as we evolve our safety and security strategy to a more solutions-oriented, services-led approach.  We envisage a greater role for our large security integration partners as we focus on projects with our clients that will take advantage of the Medianet architecture. The security business is converging on IP and open standards, and Cisco is continuing to collaborate with the industry to underpin this evolution.”

Ed Bednarcik, president of VideoIQ said: “Optimizing network traffic by intelligently streaming video based on events and content is a key part of both our value proposition and Cisco’s Medianet.  With up to 500GB of onboard storage in each device, VideoIQ’s unique solution enables customers to archive video at maximum frame rate, bit rate and resolution without saturating a network – making the system more scalable, cost effective and easier to deploy.  By supporting Medianet Services Interface software our cameras, we will be able to extend these customer benefits even further by automating critical network configurations and helping ensure peak network performance.”

Warren O’Connor, National Networks manager – Data,New Zealand Police, said: “Implementing Cisco IPICS has provided New Zealand Police with a national radio channel distribution capability. This significantly improved functionality and provided the flexibility to respond to quickly and effectively to rapidly changing emergency response scenarios. Any radio channel can now be accessed by the Dispatch Console, Operators Console or IP Phone anywhere in the country. This improved capability has been of particular benefit for meeting our response to the earthquake in Christchurch as well as the radio communication requirements for the Rugby World Cup.”

Markus Nepp, project manager for ASFINAG Maut Service GmbH’s Systems Operation Department, the Austrian highway and expressways financing company, said: “We previously experienced issues with retransmitting radio channels via PDH, and as a result we switched to voice over IP technology and headset technology.  We currently have 60 locations equipped with the system, which includes a Cisco router in each tunnel building connected to the radio interface, and a router installed in the central tunnel control room.  Subsequently we introduced IPICS server, and we can now listen into each radio channel from the monitoring center, and also speak to each channel directly from a Cisco Unified IP phone.  We have the potential for cell phones or soft clients to participate, and as an added benefit we can now connect emergency services into our talk groups.  In the future we are aiming to equip another 50 sites with IPICS.  For our emergency system, we also want to change to the CONET Software UC Radio Suite to integrate with our IPICS server.”

Federico Palleiro, Special Projects manager, Banco de Cordoba, said: “As one of the largest banks in Argentina, security is a key concern. By utilizing Cisco Physical Security Solutions, including Cisco Video Surveillance 2500 IP cameras and Cisco Video Surveillance Stream Manager software, we were able to modernize our technological infrastructure to reduce operating and maintenance costs while converging telephony, video surveillance and data through a network that allows the remote monitoring of 50 branches and the bank’s headquarters.”

Douglas Watters, manager, enterprise infrastructure, Nippon Express (Global Logistics Solutions), said: “In order to offer sophisticated logistical solutions to best suit our clients’ everyday needs, security is a paramount concern. With our recent comprehensive Cisco security deployment featuring integrated access control and video surveillance monitoring, we were able to centralize and manage security services, lower total cost of operations and comply with industry regulations with confidence that we are prepared to effectively address any potential threat that could arise, today and in the future.”

Johann Putter, corporate manager, Information Services, Africa Middle East, at Aurecon in South Africa said: “With a network of offices across 23 countries, Aurecon required a scalable, comprehensive access control and video surveillance solution that would enable our mobile employees to be productive with authorized privileges regardless of their office location. The Cisco Physical Access Control and Video Surveillance solutions we selected allow the management of building security to be done through a single, centralized interface, while ensuring the protection of our intellectual property and our employees’ ability to collaborate effectively.  We aim to extend the solution to additional offices worldwide.”

Supporting Resources:

To learn more, visitCisco Physical Security: www.cisco.com/go/physec

Cisco Capital offers a variety of flexible financing offers to streamline the acquisition of Cisco Products and Services.

Cisco Safety and Security Solutions

Medianet-enabled IP Video Surveillance

Cisco IP Interoperability & Collaboration System (IPICS)

Cisco Video Surveillance Manager Suite

Technorati Tags: Cisco, Physical Security, IPICS, VSM, ONVIF, Physical Access, Video Surveillance, Safety & Security, Medianet

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO, news, filings) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com.

# # #

Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco’s trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company.

PR Archives: Latest, By Company, By Date