In this solution, the existing analog equipment, including cameras, control room, video wall and cabling remain untouched while the V2216 software integrates with the present keyboard, sitting on top of the system to manage the IP equipment using the already-installed analog control system.

"This co-existence solution is just one more choice that Infinova integrators can provide to their customers," explains Mark S. Wilson, Infinova vice president, marketing. "Analog surveillance system customers wanting to test the advantages of IP video asked us for a solution that would buy them budget time without having to scrap so much of their analog equipment and immediately retrain their people on a digital system."

"The V2216 VMS provides such a solution, which lets customers extend the life of their existing analog equipment by having it co-exist with their new IP video equipment, yet control both with their present analog system," Wilson adds.

With the system, organizations wanting to migrate to IP video no longer need to convert analog signals to digital signals by buying and installing rack encoders for their analog cameras. Since the analog side of the system is not even touched by the co-existent system, security staff can continue to use their present, familiar video wall, system keyboards and joysticks to manage both the presently-installed analog equipment and their new digital equipment without any retraining.

In the coexistence system, the system keyboards connect to the V2216 VMS, not the matrix switchers. Operators use their traditional keyboard commands to manage both the analog and digital solutions.

Uniquely, the V2216 VMS also interfaces with the system's analog matrix switchers at the same time as well as the IP cameras. If an Infinova matrix switcher is used, no additional equipment is needed. For matrix switchers from other companies, Infinova provides a protocol converter box. As a result, on the combined video wall, the analog and IP solutions co-exist but are still separate. Transparent to the operator, with no mouse needed, the system sends IP camera images to the digital monitors and analog camera signals to the analog monitors.

"With this co-existent solution, customers can begin using an IP solution simply by adding IP cameras, digital monitors and Infinova's V2216 VMS," Wilson adds. "Not having to scrap existing control room equipment becomes especially important in the current business environment."

The VMS also has a built-in DVR and access control module to manage contacts and alarms from access control equipment. For door access control, the V2216 VMS displays card swipe information on the monitor and switches video to the camera viewing the door area.