The panel discussion, held as part of an ONVIF networking event during Security Essen, featured a panel of industry experts from the security and standards industries. The panelists agreed that the deployment of standards in the industry would allow systems integrators and end users to more easily compare and select products for IP video deployments and enable interoperability between existing and future components of a system.

“For the most part, we don’t typically build a system from scratch,” said panelist Jürgen Alz, Product Management, Bosch Security Systems, business area building security. As ONVIF matures and becomes more widespread in installations, he said, this will provide the ability to automatically interface with existing ONVIF conformant surveillance equipment at a customer site and would be a major advantage when upgrading a system for a client.

The panel also included Jonas Andersson, Chairman of ONVIF’s Steering Committee; Frank Rottmann, Bosch Security Systems, and liaison partner and convener, International Electrotechnical Commission TC 79 ‘CCTV’ and René Kiefer, Siemens Building Technologies, and Chairman of the Video Expert Group, ZVEI Industrial Association Security. Panelists discussed such issues as ONVIF test tools, the impacts of competing standards initiatives in the market and whether technological innovation would be stifled as the result of standardisation.

Audience members queried the panel on topics ranging from the timeline of ONVIF’s introductions of the access control specification and future plans for an intrusion spec. Questions were also raised about the potential use of third party testing houses as a standard method for ensuring full product compliance.

“In the end, ONVIF will create more easily interoperable products, which will increase the number of applications for the end user and grow the market for manufacturers and integrators,” stated René Kiefer.

Another ideal outcome of standards initiatives in the security market would be to spread the message to other industries that IP video is a valuable tool outside of surveillance, such as queue management, traffic flow and other functions.

“Standards will enable the security industry to talk with one voice to the rest of the world,” said Frank Rottmann. “Whether it's the logistics industry or a company like SAP, those organizations will think that video is easy because of standards and they should be doing more with that technology within their own businesses.”