The new software feature is designed for the company’s Communicator range of alarm signalling systems, and brings with it the integration of IP cameras (more of which anon).
WebWay Imaging enables installers to add verification to sites without changing the alarm panel. New systems can be installed with the added value of verification, or future proofed using WebWay’s technology.
At the Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC), operators receive the alarm and camera images together without the need for additional screens.
The Imaging function is armed using the condition of the alarm panel and image transmission triggered by events associated to areas, zones and alarm types.
The first ARCs to implement the solution are Southern and Northern Monitoring Services and EMCS.
WebWay is upgrading all ARCs to the new solution. Updates can be provided by WebWay directly or via their website.
Comment from the ARCs
“Southern Monitoring Services has implemented the WebWay Imaging solution to provide installers with a flexible, low cost solution to panic alarm verification,” explained Steve Kimber, managing director at Southern Monitoring Services.
“Add to that the core functions of alarm signalling, network monitoring and DD263-compliant UDL and installers have a total solution.”
Claire Poyser Blaire – sales manager at EMCS – added: “EMCS is at the forefront of delivering new services to installers. WebWay’s Imaging solution enables installers to offer a low cost PA verification solution using their favoured panels and cameras. The ability to deliver the system to existing sites which may have lost a URN or require one is excellent, let alone the ability to add value to new installations needing this level of protection.”
Installers can connect the WebWay signalling device to their favoured intruder alarm panel using either inputs or a serial data connection. The alarm events are then associated to either analogue (connected via an encoder) or IP cameras.
Where do the IP cameras fit in?
IP cameras can be connected either to the customer’s computer network or to an Ethernet switch (which can also be provided by WebWay).
Communicator integrates to the alarm panel and cameras from integration partners Axis Communications, Hikvision, Vista and Brickcom.
Thus, if the system is set up to transmit images on a panic alarm then Communicator picks up the SIA alarm message from the panel and sends images associated with the particular camera observing that panic scenario.
WebWay has integrated the capability for Communicator to “talk” to the aforementioned manufacturers’ IP cameras in order to gather the images that subsequently verify each event.
Each IP camera can be armed based open, close, specific area or aways. Cameras are triggered by SIA code events such as BA or PA and can be associated to areas or zones. In this way, an individual camera can be configured for PA verification during the open and BA and PA events during the set period.
Cameras may also be configured to verify events from a specific normally closed area (or on any specific alarm type).
WebWay Imaging transmits the alarm information and images to the ARC over IP or GPRS networks. By default, the system is configured to transmit 6 pre-, one trigger and six post-alarm images over IP. If the primary circuit is in failure the system automatically reduces the rate of image transmission to two pre-, one trigger and four-post for fast transmission over GPRS.
EN signalling standards for transmission
A maximum of ten, one and ten images may be configured.
The combined alarm transmission, network monitoring and image verification solution meets all EN signalling standards for transmission and BS 8148.
Equipment can be purchased from WebWay’s online shop. Annual fees do not start until the system is commission. The solution can be fully programmed online without the need for a laptop connection to the WebWay signalling device.
Monitoring charges are provided by the ARC and include WebWay support and GPRS bandwidth use.
Summary of the new solution
- WebWay Imaging can be added to new or existing WebWay signalling devices
- Installers can use their favoured alarm panel and camera manufacturers
- Images are transmitted over IP or GPRS, with all charges included in the ARC fee
- The system can be Armed and Disarmed using specific events or areas
- Cameras can be configured to trigger on up to four different conditions.
- The solution supports up to four cameras
- The system is approved to Grade 4 signalling and compliant to BS 8141 and DD263 (UDL)