IVA 4.0 focuses strongly on ease of setup, and reducing false alarms. With the new interactive setup tool it takes an average installer about two minutes to calibrate a camera. The tool also includes 'accuracy feedback', reporting how accurately the camera is calibrated. In addition, a new head detection filter detects human head and shoulder contours to reliably classify people in a scene and further reduce false alarms. IVA 4.0 also comes bundled with a new vector-based direction-detection motion algorithm: IVA 4.0 Flow, providing in effect two powerful algorithms for intelligent video analysis.

With the IVA 4.0 new camera calibration tool, users simply draw measured straight lines and right angles on the scene, and the tool automatically calculates the perspective. The function enables accurate estimates of the distance and speed of moving objects, even allowing for perspective in the scene. Moreover, the tool provides direct feedback on the accuracy of the calibration, indicated by an on-screen calibration-quality traffic light which shows the calibration quality by color. Accurately calibrated cameras are more likely to be able to predict size and speed of any object, which is important for filtering out unwanted events and minimizing false alarms.

The new head detection filter greatly facilitates IVA's forensic search function by allowing an operator to limit the search to only show results of scenes containing human objects. This significantly reduces the number of 'false hits' from spurious signals such as reflections, making it feasible to quickly search for important events.

The IVA algorithm already includes a filter for detecting direction which relies on segmenting the moving objects in a scene over a static background. However, to tackle fully covered backgrounds, for example in a crowded or complex scene, Bosch has introduced a new motion vector algorithm, IVA 4.0 Flow, which detects direction of movement of an object by the absolute movement of pixels in the scene. IVA 4.0 Flow provides effective detection of counter-flow, especially where there are objects occupying a relatively large area in the scene, e.g. crowded scenes. Examples include people trying to move the wrong way in turnstiles or airport baggage claim areas, and vehicles travelling in the wrong direction.

IVA 4.0 and IVA 4.0 Flow are included in Bosch's latest firmware 4.0 release, and can be licensed for Bosch's IP fixed and AutoDome cameras and video encoders. In line with Bosch's policy of providing ongoing upgrade support for its customers, licensed users of earlier versions of the company's Intelligent Video Analysis software will automatically be upgraded free of charge to IVA 4.0/IVA 4.0 Flow on upgrading their firmware to the latest 4.0 version.

The new firmware 4.0 also features an advanced profile scheduler that can switch the encoders and IP cameras between several independent profiles - two in the case of the encoders and fixed IP cameras. For AutoDome IP cameras up to 10 scenes can be associated with independent IVA profiles. With this function it is possible to configure several instances of IVA 4.0 to cover, for example, day-time and night-time viewing or to run a preset scene tour in the case of AutoDome IP cameras, or even to run versions of IVA 4.0 and IVA 4.0 Flow in the same camera or encoder under different profiles.