Introduction

Integration of Security Technology is a definite trend which is applicable all over the world. Integration of security technology can be divided into the following two levels

System Integration : This involves the integration of the various sub systems of a security management system. This paper will give an overview of the various components of a security system and then trace the history of how the various sub system are being integrated

Site Integration : This discusses the communication technology being used to integrate the security systems at different sites for the same organisation. When this integration is done, the types of monitoring which are available will also be discussed.

Components of a Security System

The following are the different types of electronic security systems available:

• Alarms and Alarm monitoring
• CCTV
• Access Control Systems
• Fence Detection System
• Intercom Systems
  

There is a definite trend towards the integration of the above systems. It may be worthwhile to understand how and why this integration is taking place.

System Integration

1st Generation

Electronic systems was a new concept. All the above systems were being developed and installed in the organisation. This led to the change in the role of the guard, but the control room was a mess. Each of the above systems had its own and independent control point. One can pity the role of the guard trying to master and control all the above systems.

2nd Generation

To overcome the above problem and make the system more effective, there was a trend towards integration. Some of the advantages of integration are :

• to make the best use of resources
• to enable the management of the site most effectively and keep the control room uncluttered.
• to allow the electronics to do most of the work,
• to integrate systems, so that one system could respond to a particular activity on another system, electronically, consistently, and without the requirement for human intervention or judgement.
  

The major problem over here is that each system is developed on different platforms by different manufacturers. The systems do not talk the same language. Stop gap solutions were found to make these systems communicate.

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The Next generation

The next generation integration will be done in multimedia mode. Following are the different types of information sent by the different security systems :

• Alarms Data
  
• Access Control Systems: Data
  
• CCTV: Video and Data
  
• Intercom System: Video and Sound
  

As we know that a multimedia system can handle data, video and sound by using the appropriate cards in the computer. Once this information is received in the computer, it then requires the skills of software engineers to display the information in formats which will meet the requirement of the customer.

Some of the advantages are :

1. From a single keyboard the entire security system can be controlled, including CCTV. Upon an alarm, the floor layout can pinpoint the exact location of the alarm by flashing lights and the image from the local camera can be displayed in a window in the same computer screen.
   
   
2. The use of Graphical Display (GUI) and mouse (point and click) makes the system operation very user friendly.
   
   
3. Even the building management system, fire alarm system can be controlled from the same terminal.
   
   
4. By using standard networking techniques, like LAN or WAN, the security system can be controlled by any terminal in the network.
   

Site Integration

In a local site, the cameras, alarms, readers etc. are easy to cable and the standard cabling styles can be used. Co-axial cable for CCTV and twisted pair cable for alarms and access control systems.

If the site is remote (in the same town, same state or same country) or for a multi site organisation the communication link then plays a very important role. Therefore multimedia technology is dependent upon communication technology. As expected lot of changes are taking place in this area also. We discuss some of them

Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)

As the name implies ISDN is a digital network using the normal copper wires. The traditional network (PSTN) is an analogue network. It is very slow. In PSTN network, using a modem the maximum speed of transmission is 9.6Kb per sec. It may be adequate for data (used with alarms and access control) but very slow for video pictures. Inspite of using picture compression it is only possible to send a video frame every 2 seconds.

In that respect the base ISDN link is made of 3 channels

• Channel A 56 Kb per sec
  
• Channel B 56 Kb per sec
  
• Channel C 16 Kb per sec
  

If channel A is used for video, then one can send 6 video frames per sec. The other channels can then be used to send alarm information from motion detectors, heat sensors and other information like access control etc.

If the current copper telephone lines are upgraded to fibre optics, then the capacity to send information is unlimited. Many countries are going in a big way in changing all the telephone cables to fibre optics.

Fibre optics has a band width of 1000Mhz. Transmission of real time video pictures would be possible.

ISDN networks and multimedia are going to change how organisations are going to set-up their control rooms. Multi-site organisations are using these trends to set-up a central monitoring station. From this central station, a watch is kept on all the sites which may be spread throughout the city, state or country.

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Types of Monitoring Stations

The functions of centralised monitoring stations may vary from organisation toorganisation, but can be classified under the following three areas :

1. After Hours Monitoring
   
   During normal office hours each site would monitor its own operation, but after normal hours it would pass control to the central monitoring station. The central station would access each site periodically by fast scan and view all cameras as a routine check.
   
   This is like a guard's tour. An alarm situation from any site would appear on the monitor and the operator could then take appropriate action.
   
   Manpower saving and continuous monitoring are the obvious benefits of this system.
   
   
2. Simultaneous Monitoring
   
   Both the local site and the central monitoring station would function simultaneously. The central station could access any site by fast scan and operate the camera network through its own switching system. For fixed cameras, the camera could be operated by the two locations at the same time, while in the case of pan tilt cameras a priority system would need to be set up.
   
   In an alarm situation, both the local and remote systems would be activated by an interface and the operator of each system would handle the switching network independently and differently.
   
   Despite the duplication of effort the benefit of risk reduction and joint action between local and central stations would produce a more effective action in combating security breaches. Such a system would be valuable for high security organisations.
   
   
3. Remote Monitoring
   
   For small sites it may not be economical to have local monitoring.
   
   In such cases it would be best to monitor the location from a central monitoring station. Manpower saving and security for small sites are the major advantages of such a strategy.