What is Included in the Subscriber Video Surveillance Service
Today we want to tell you about how we helped the integrator operator OBIT launch a subscriber video surveillance service based on the developments that the operator already had and enhanced them with our turnkey Flussonic solution.
What is Included in the Service
The OBIT video surveillance service was launched into commercial operation about a year ago. Prior to this, the company was offering one-time video surveillance connections at the request of customers.
“Over time, these requests became more and more frequent, so we came up with the idea of creating a full-featured cloud service, including remote control over the business and secure storage of data on our server hardware. This corresponds to the vector of the company’s development towards expanding the portfolio of services with cloud services”,
comments Mikhail Telegin, head of the development department of OBIT.
OBIT offered its subscribers a comprehensive solution that is completely ready for use. These solutions include:
- delivery of a video stream from the subscriber’s cameras over a secure network without overloading the internet connection;
- remote storage of data in a reliable OBIT data center of Tier III class, which frees the service subscriber from the costs of purchasing, maintaining and upgrading their own equipment;
- monitoring the video stream in real time, excluding the possibility of technical failures or hacking;
- the ability to control a business from anywhere with Internet access or from any device through a personal account.
How the Service is Implemented
To implement the service, a cluster solution is used, which assumes the presence of a Flussonic Watcher control server and a number of streamers responsible for recording and distributing the archive to users. In addition to the web interface, subscribers have access to the service through a free mobile application.
Payment for the Video Surveillance service is made in the form of a subscription fee, which depends on the depth of video storage (7, 14, or 30 days), according to the postpaid payment system per month. This model does not require deep integration with billing. If the subscriber’s payment is delayed for some reason, access to cameras may be limited.
Who Uses the Service
Video surveillance is designed for a wide range of organizations - from small businesses to large federal companies with geographically distributed facilities, and solves a number of business problems:
- employee discipline management;
- control over the quality of customer service;
- monitoring of key events at facilities;
- prevention of theft;
- monitoring hard-to-reach and dangerous areas.
“The Video Surveillance service is in high demand among small and medium-sized businesses. More than 60% of connections were implemented in the retail and HoReCa industry. Here, video surveillance allows you to control the quality of staff work, captures controversial situations, and helps prevent fraud and theft. The remaining 40% of our subscribers are represented by companies operating in the areas of construction and real estate, finance and banking, IT, tourism and recreation”,
Mikhail Telegin, head of the development department of OBIT.
OBIT selects individual solutions for the task demands of each specific business. If the company does not have video surveillance, then the operator performs a set of works from scratch: audit of premises, project plan, selection, installation, and configuration of IP cameras, transmission, and cloud storage of video data. If the customer already has cameras installed and working, the operator ensures the transportation of the video stream over its own data transmission network to the server, secure remote storage of video in its own data center, and access to the personal account.
How We Helped Launch the Service
To implement the video surveillance service, OBIT uses the Flussonic Watcher software package, which includes a full set of components from server software to mobile applications and firmware for cameras.
Many telecom operators also use cameras with our Flussonic Agent firmware preinstalled on them, which allows them to add cameras to the operator’s billing and assign their address in the network to each subscriber. OBIT works according to a different scheme: an intermediate switch is connected to the routers, to which cameras are connected and receive a static IP address in the OBIT address space, where the Watcher server is located.
In the process of launching the service, we provided OBIT with operational technical support, answered questions, and offered ideas. For example, when launching the service, there were minor technical difficulties with the removal of old archives, which prevented the automation of the connection and monitoring process. With the help of timely recommendations and prompt software fixes, it was possible to quickly solve this problem.
“It took about two months to launch the product, including the necessary installation, automation, testing, and employee training. Today we continue to actively develop this service. In the near future - the creation of a high-quality video analytics service based on the existing solution”,
Mikhail Telegin, head of the development department of OBIT.
We, in turn, plan to continue helping telecom operators wishing to expand their portfolio of services with the video surveillance
service. Thanks to our cooperation with OBIT, the process of launching the service was easily worked out and optimized to ensure maximum performance, stability, and value.