Latin America is gradually adapting to the different novelties presented by the electronic security industry, and within this panorama is also located the software of alarms via IP and its penetration in the region. by: Duván Chaverra
There is no doubt that IP technology continues to scale and gain ground within the electronic security market in Latin America, a territory to which advanced systems that aim to provide security and efficiency are gradually arriving.
On this occasion we will talk about the software of alarms via IP and to make a small introduction we leave in the hands of an expert in the field what in defined accounts is a system of this class. It is therefore appropriate that José Cúperman, regional manager of Latin America and Spain at Pima, gives us an introduction to this kind of systems.
"Ip-based alarm software is an interface that contains a communication protocol which allows receiving and decoding alarm reports that are sent through GPRS and TCP/IP communication channels. Today there is no standardized and approved communication protocol that allows you to receive the reports of alarm systems regardless of the type of GPRS equipment or Ethernet interfaces you use, so each manufacturer uses its own proprietary protocol. "
Within this article we will also talk about the main technological advances of these solutions, we will know how the acceptance of this technology has been in Latin America and what are its advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, in addition to José Cúperman, from Pima, we invited three other experts in the field, they are Virginia D'Errico, sales manager of Softguard Technologies; Germán Cortés, official instructor of ALAS; Martín Hildebrandt, representative of Amag, and Cliff Dice, general manager of Dice.
Main developments
On this subject each guest has his point of view according to the type of system offered, for example, Virginia D'Errico highlights the total integration with GPRS systems, in addition to SMS instant messaging for receiving events.
"We have adopted a policy of total integration, this applied to the new links and to the new equipment such as the control of guards with devices that transmit by GPRS each marking of the guard when crossing a perimeter; the video verification of the alarms uniting all types of imaging devices: DVR, IP cameras, Video servers through the Internet and the new PIR CAM equipment that includes in the same infrared sensors a camera to capture the image of the exact moment of the intrusion. SMS has also been integrated as an event reception link, which gives the monitored user the ease of sending different emergency warnings directly from their cellular device to the monitoring center."
For his part, José Cúperman says that there is a variety of systems, from very simple to very advanced: "The simplest simply receive and decode the reports of the alarm systems and then they are sent to the monitoring management software to manage in an organized and effective way the reports of each client. Another type of software offers levels of security, such as encrypting the information so that it travels confidentially to the monitoring station; there is the option of anti-substitution and anti-forwarding; there are versions that include a powerful database that allows you to perform all the monitoring management in the same software".
Meanwhile, Cliff Dice refers to three categories associated with IP alarm software:
- The IP Panel, which is the one that usually communicates with the receiver, takes the IP alarm and transmits it to the software for processing and control management, the IP alarm can also reach directly to the automation program and can be diversified.
- A video alarm basically transmits video signals in the monitoring and this program has several points that can be motion detectors contained in a certain video area, which generates an alarm that sends the video signal and the area where the camera area was activated, these reach the program for administration and sent authorities.
- Almost all video alarms, as well as ip digital alarms, have an audio component that can be two-way, this means that the operator at the central station can hear what is happening in the location by transmitting IP audio, or the central station operator can speak to the location via the IP channel, which is very common in different DVRs and IP cameras that have audio control channels and all this is integrated into the automation system.
Latin America
The region is gradually integrating more and more this kind of systems into its security panel. Latin America has always presented difficulties for the implementation of new technologies, however this seems not to be the case of this class of IP systems, as professionals say that the region is accepting this service with agility.
In the particular case of Softguard, Virginia D'Errico assures that the numbers in Latin America have grown in all areas of security: "Our company currently markets in 23 Spanish-speaking countries. They are mainly private security companies, from electronics to physical, which adds up to 70% of the market. 20% is required by corporations that decide to form their own monitoring centers to control their dependencies, branches and warehouses. 5% of the market is reserved for financial and banking entities, and the final 5% is represented by housing condominiums, private urbanizations or closed neighborhoods, which provide electronic security not only to homes but also to the outer perimeter, including recreational dependencies such as gyms, meeting rooms, spa, restaurants, etc. "
For his part, the general manager of Dice assures that "we have seen that Latin America has implemented IP technology through GPS systems to track people, goods and cars. That was one of the big boosts for alarm companies and others that are looking for follow-up. Another growing aspect of Latin America has been commercial and industrial video monitoring. But we haven't seen in that region a big boost in IP signals from residential and commercial alarm panels, but we think that based on the growth of these types of alarms in North America and the desire for this type of signal transmission, we're going to see this in there in the near future and clear video, audio and GPS signals will continue to grow and expand."
Germán Cortés explains that in corporate companies this type of solutions have been widely implemented because they already have their own Intranet data network. However, employees who do not have this service continue to implement telephone wiring, they can use the software through an Internet connection, although the failures that still present this type of connections weaken the service.
"From my point of view the error is not in the software but in the low reliability that Internet-based communications have today. They serve for many things, they are a blessing, but we all know that they fall from time to time and although humans ignore this and it seems to us that it is not important when watching a video or to check the mail, it is important for a time of emergency where we need 100% reliability, "explained the engineer.
Advantages and disadvantages
Like any type of product that is still relatively new within the electronic security market, this one has its advantages and disadvantages, which will be referenced below by experts.
Initially, José Cúperman, from Pima, explains: "In most cases there is talk that the software is delivered for free or at a very low price, which allows it to be used by almost any monitoring station that wants to use this technology. It is worth mentioning its easy and simple implementation and integration with the different monitoring management programs existing in the market. However, some disadvantages are the cost of transmission equipment or that will always depend on a third party, that is, the provider of cellular and / or Internet communication service. In the case of GPRS, sometimes there can be a delay in receiving reports due to the data traffic that the channel may have at a certain time."
Cliff Dice, general manager of Dice, highlights the speed of the system in information management: "The advantages of this type of program is that IP signals guarantee delivery by IP signal which is faster and in turn can deliver more technology such as video, audio and various types of alarms, also GPS information and map control systems."
On the disadvantages, the executive mentioned that a good technological infrastructure is needed for their good performance: "They require a lot of technology, since it is not something that the operator can do manually, nor something that a small company can do with an office and a couple of people without computer systems and technology. Much more is required to be able to offer this type of service to customers, a large investment in technology and programs is needed, this means that not all companies have the ability to offer their customers this type of services without having made a strong investment in programs, computers, wireless networks and IP, you also need good management to be able to offer this system. The good news is that small businesses are not going to emerge and lower the prices of customer services, that is why they will be able to maintain the monthly payments of the companies that offer this to the maximum."
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