Milestone Announces XProtect SDK version 3.3 for IP Video Integrations with Analytics and H.264

Milestone Systems, the open platform company within IP video management software, has announced the release of the XProtectâ„¢ Software Development Kit (SDK) version 3.3. The SDK provides rich and robust Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) used by a wide community of solution partners, consultants and systems integrators to create network-based surveillance solutions that are interoperable with other systems and devices. Examples of these include Milestone IP video integration with analytics, biometrics, access control, Point-of-Sale, people counting, HVAC building management, video walls and control rooms, maps, lighting, fire alarms, baggage handling, gates, parking barriers, RFID, ERP, and much more.

The SDK is used by authorized and certified Milestone partners around the world to create value-adding integrated solutions that ‘video-enable' security and business systems. Milestone Systems also uses the SDK internally to develop such integrated surveillance offerings as retail and transaction system loss prevention, central surveillance, and matrix solutions.

"The SDK builds on the Milestone open platform concept with unlimited options for video surveillance integrations with other applications and devices," says Martin Kaufmann, Solutions Partner Manager at Milestone Systems. "There are more than 100 Milestone Solution Partners today working with our SDK to deliver exciting new innovations to the market. We share these with our entire eco-system of channel partners around the world, to the benefit of customers in all industry sectors."

Integrations that are made using open platform Milestone IP video management provide customers with more effective solutions for handling security and business demands. For example, by combining video with Point-of-Sales systems, retailers manage loss and shrinkage through video evidence displayed simultaneously with transaction information from the register. When biometrics and access control systems operate together with surveillance, verification is possible on who is actually entering (compared to problems with stolen access cards or "tailgating" which is slipping in behind someone else when a door is opened) along with sending an alert for faster response by security personnel.

Some of the Milestone partners who use the SDK include Agent VI, Cernium Corporation, CheckPoint, Cognimatics, CNL, IBM, John Lay Electronics, Johnson Controls, JVC Professional, Keeneo, KeyProcessor, Lextech Labs, MATE, MobiDEOS, Netgenium, Nippon Techno Lab, ObjectVideo, OPAX, Open Options, Pango Security Systems, Paxton Access, S2 Security Corporation, Secured by Web, Siebold Security, Terma, Thomas Defense Group, Toshiba Teli, Transact Payment Systems, Tyco Fire & Security, Via:Sys and Vidient Systems. A number of these integrated solutions are demonstrated at security trade shows like ISC West and IFSEC, and presented bi-annually at Milestone Integration Platform Symposiums.

"My experience with the Milestone SDK has been very positive," comments Frank Yeh, Sr. Security Architect at IMB Global Technology Services. "The solution is flexible and extremely easy to use. We are able to use our preferred development environments and operate on platforms that some other vendors do not support. In addition, remote support was top notch and our requests for enhancements to SDK components were turned around quickly."

The Milestone XProtect SDK 3.3 includes new API code samples, updated and new documentation, integration to XProtect Corporate and the ImageServer interface. The Video OS SDK includes a timeline expansion, token timers, exception handling for the Recording Server and export functionality. The ImageViewer ActiveX now includes support for the improved video compression format H.264 used by some new network camera models, and for the XProtect Analytics Framework that aggregates solutions from multiple vendors in one interface - two important advancements in video surveillance. There are also APIs for the Milestone ImageServer, DirectShow filter with Active Directory support, the Download Manager, XProtect Matrix and XProtect Central, as well as the Milestone EngineManager.

To further strengthen third-party integrations, Milestone provides optional technical support and training in the SDK. Moreover, Milestone has a dedicated consultancy team that develops custom-specific integrations and extensions on the complete range of Milestone products.