International. ONVIF revealed information about the publication of the Release Candidate for Profile D, a draft specification covering interfaces for access control peripherals.
This newer candidate profile is designed to provide ONVIF interoperability for peripheral devices such as locks, credential/biometric readers, PIN keypads, license plate recognition cameras, door phones, sensors, and displays.
"Profile D, along with access management profiles such as ONVIF profiles A and C, and video profiles such as ONVIF's T profile, will help users create modern and secure IP-based access control systems," said Patrik Björling, President of ONVIF Profile D Working Group. "It will enable the integration of products from different manufacturers and help further drive the adoption of ONVIF interfaces in the physical access control and video surveillance space."
With profile D, a peripheral device can pass credential identifiers to a securely located profile D compliant client, such as an access control unit or management software. The client or controller, which stores access rules, schedules, and credentials, can make the access decision and send a command to the peripheral device to grant or deny access, display a message, or request additional input, such as a PIN code. Having sensitive information on a separate controller in a secure area improves security. Communications between the device and the client are protected by ONVIF security protocols such as TLS.
The Profile D specification allows a compliant customer to configure a device that conforms to the necessary data, such as a door and access point, for which the device is responsible, as well as to configure a list of allowed or blocked credential identifiers on a device that supports this capability.
The need for standardized interfaces between access control management systems and peripheral devices is driven by innovative identification technologies such as recognition plate cameras for parking management, barcode reading cameras for visitor management, wireless locks and sensors for access control, and video door stations for intercom management.
ONVIF Profile D complements Profile A and Profile C by enabling standardized communications in an IP-based electronic access control system. Profile D devices can also support video profiles such as Profile T to enable an integrated video and access control system using ONVIF interfaces. Such devices include a door phone that combines a reader and lock with an audio/video intercom, or an IP camera with a relay output connected to a lock that can be used by a guard to visually identify a visitor and unlock the door remotely.
