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Access control standard preview

ONVIF has announced the availability of the Release Candidate for Profile C, which enables interoperability between clients and devices of physical access control systems (PACS) and network-based video systems. This new profile extends the functionality of the ONVIF global interface specification into physical access control.

With Profile C, systems integrators, specifiers and consultants will be able to more easily deploy an integrated IP-based video and access control solution from a variety of different video and access control providers. Compatibility between edge devices and clients helps to simplify installation and user training by reducing the need for multiple proprietary monitoring systems to handle different PACS devices.

“Integration between IP-based physical access control systems and video surveillance is no longer considered a luxury in today’s market, and is becoming a necessary component for many different types of users,” said Baldvin Gislason Bern, chairman of ONVIF’s Profile C Working Group. “With Profile C, users and specifiers will be able to integrate the Profile C products of their choosing without relying on existing integrations between manufacturers.”

As part of a physical access control system, Profile C conformant devices will be able to provide information about doors and access points in the system. Profile C conformant clients will enable the monitoring of doors, access control decisions and alarms, such as if a door is unlocked, when a door has been accessed and other similar functions. Profile C conformant clients will also provide basic door control functions, such as providing access and locking/unlocking doors. When combined with other Profiles such as Profile S for video and audio streaming, users can also group together related access control and video devices using a configurable discovery scope. Profile C and Profile S also share the same device management features such as network configuration and system settings.

As part of the inclusion of physical access control to the scope of ONVIF, the ONVIF Network Interface Specification Set version 2.3 has also been released. This update incorporates new services for physical access control clients and devices and also includes a number of minor clarifications for better interoperability among ONVIF conformant clients and devices. The ONVIF test specification set has also been updated with the Access Control Test Specification and Door Control Test Specifications for the new physical access control services.

Further information about ONVIF conformant products, including the vendors and the conformant models, is available on ONVIF’s website: www.onvif.org

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