Surveillance Manager Features

The Surveillance Manager is designed for large enterprises and casinos. It offers a myriad of features not found elsewhere in a tightly-connected enterprise control and management tool. 

Note that some of the pictures accessed by clicking on a Picture button may not display properly if the page is not maximised.

Consoles

The system allows definition of normal and master consoles for supervisors, management and surveillance personnel. DVRs are not accessed directly and all operations are carried out from these remote consoles.

 Multiple monitors (up to 8) can be attached to these workstations and the various displays can be dragged to different screens.

 The installation can also define what define of facility is being monitored and the screens will be altered for that kind of environment.

 Electronic Map        

The electronic map is the focus of most of the surveillance activities. It provides a user-friendly interface to a host of video functions. The following features are available:

  1. The system has an electronic map of the facility, based on a user-provided image.
  2. The user can define the cameras which display video of that area of the map.
  3. Users never have to know the IP addresses of DVRs and cameras. All access is accomplished by meaningful names.
  4. Multiple maps can be defined so, for example, there might be a map for the first floor, the mezzanine floor, the administration area etc. Users cam switch between maps at the click of a button. In addition, each map has it’s own number of grid squares and cameras associated with it.
  5. The electronic map, when left-clicked, displays the primary camera for that area.
  6. When right-clicked all the cameras defined for that area are displayed.
  7. Left-clicking on any live camera display causes the display to be zoomed.
  8. Shift-left-clicking on an area displays the recorded logs for the main camera.
  9. Shift-right-clicking on an area displays the recorded logs for all the cameras defined for that area.
  10. Right-clicking on any live camera display starts a fast, smooth, reverse playback of that camera’s recorded data. The frame speed is variable, and no frames are skipped.
  11. A note facility on every live camera display allows the user to make and save a note regarding the event being viewed. The user can later view a list of notes and return to the recorded video simply by clicking on the note.
  12. Audio, where implemented, is available from all live and recorded views.
  13. Any camera can be selected by name from a list.
  14. Right-clicking on a camera in the list displays the recorded logs for the camera.
  15. Groups of cameras can be defined and selected from a list which then displays video windows for all the cameras in the list.
  16. Predefined routes can be specified and the user can move to the next or previous live camera view in the route by clicking ‘next’ or ‘previous’
  17. These same routes can be followed with the recorded rather than the live data.
  18. The user can also set up predefined routes which automatically switch to the next camera after the specified time, like a sequential switcher.
  19. The user can zoom into the electronic map and scroll around. Camera and recorded log views are invoked the same way as outlined above.
  20. All camera views, live or recorded, can be dragged to other monitors so as not to clutter up the main console view.
  21. The user can define the number of horizontal and vertical grid squares for the electronic map.

 Administration

Appropriate administration tools for definition, deletion and update of system users, locations for saving of various types of data, data retention periods, DVRs, cameras, audio, text overlay etc. are provided.

 Logon

All users will be required to logon to the application. Passwords must be at least 6 alphanumeric characters in length and a password change is to be forced once a month. Passwords are encrypted in the database.

 Only system (authorized) users would have access to certain key functions such as the definition of cameras, DVRs, groups of cameras and general setup functions.

 Users must log off and on again every time the shift changes. If this is not done, a message will force the operator to do so. Facilities exist to define the shift hours for master and other consoles.

 A log of operator activity is maintained and reports are available to check operator activity and productivity.

 Interfaces to current applications

The system interfaces with the Central Messaging System for text overlay with video and audio alarm.

 It also interfaces with the Pit Tracking application to make that information available to the surveillance user.      

Incidents

The system provides total control of incidents and related information

  1. Create new incident with all fields required
  2. Review, track, update, comment on, close and report on incidents
  3. All video information saved with incident and can be accessed at the click of the mouse.
  4. Incidents can be reviewed at any authorised location including incident rooms.
  5. Create and control banned person records with all related information and digital photograph.
  6. Automatic routing for online review and approval.
  7. Client application for viewing and approving.
  8. Incidents cannot be closed until all approvals have been done.
  9. Define types of incident, locations and status fields as well as routing information for each type of incident.
  10. Daily lists of incidents are automatically generated.
  11. Full set of reports

•         By type, locations, status, date etc.

•         For specified or predefined time periods

•         Overdue incidents

Forms 

The system has a full forms facility which provides:

  1. Creation of forms as currently implemented in the current paper environment.
  2. Definition of automatic routings for approval and review.
  3. Ability to complete the forms online while watching the related live video.
  4. Client application to view and/or approve forms at remote stations.
  5. Reports to track and control the forms and review process.

Software text overlay

1.      The subsystem overlays text which is received from the central messaging system (CMS) onto the appropriate video stream.

2.      This text is displayed both on the live video and saved to the recorded log.

3.      All text is also shown on Master Console. Clicking on any message displays the video record for that time and camera.

4.      Specific messages create an alarm on the Master console and the system automatically displays the current video.

Proxy Server

The proxy enables an authorized user to control the selected DVR remotely, exactly as though the user were sitting in front of the DVR. This facility is used to update and maintain the remote DVRs.

 System Health Monitor

The system automatically checks to ensure that each DVR is online, that every camera is functioning as required, that text overlays are taking place as required, that all audio connections are working and that backups are taking place properly. All errors are logged and reporting is done on downtimes and components which remain offline.

 All errors are displayed on the main screen, showing what the error is, when it was detected as an error, and these messages are automatically removed when the System Health Monitor determines that the component is working again.

 The System Health monitor also checks that the time settings across the DVRs are the same, and, if they are not, it will reset the clock on the DVR so that all DVR times are synchronised. This only occurs if the Text Overlay Facility is running on the DVR.

 Redundant Backup and Backup File Player

The system can take a backup of each file once it has been written and save it to a backup device. An appropriate viewer is available to view these files.

Error Logs

All error logs are easily available to the user and can be viewed, searched and printed.

 Cleanup

A facility is provided for the periodic cleanup of data for which the defined retention period has passed as well as to compress and backup the system databases.

 Operator Logs

A log entry is created whenever an operator logs on or off the Surveillance Manager or opens or closes a camera view.

 Masked Motion Detection 

The ability to mask an area in recorded logs and then to search for any movement in that box means a tremendous time saving when trying to find when an object was placed or removed.