ONVIF, the US-based standards body for IP-based physical security products, has announced the add-on concept. It extends the ONVIF conformance process to a product feature that can solve a specific use case or end user need. ONVIF says this is so it can more quickly respond to the needs of the market with interoperability for end users and systems installers.
Leo Levit, chairman of the ONVIF Steering Committee, said: “The demand for more standardised solutions that can solve a wide variety of use cases is only continuing to grow. As profile development can be a lengthy process, add-ons will allow ONVIF to more quickly offer additional capabilities and functionalities that carry the weight of ONVIF conformance to the market. We look forward to seeing development proposals from members for not only profiles, but also add-ons.”
An ONVIF add-on is one or more features that solve a use case; for instance, a need for standardising file formats when exporting video. To conform to an add-on, a product must also conform to an ONVIF profile. The add-on concept can enable conformance claims to extra features and capabilities that are not already included in ONVIF profiles.
An ONVIF profile involves a fixed set of features that enable a functional product to be developed solely on the profile specification. While the features included in profiles cannot be changed, add-ons are adaptable to evolving technology and specifications, the body adds. Because an add-on supports version handling, it can be updated to adjust for new technology additions or updates. An ONVIF conformant device, such as an IP camera, and an ONVIF client, such as a video management system, that conform to an add-on will work together regardless of the manufacturer.
About ONVIF
Founded in 2008, ONVIF has a member base of camera, video management system and access control companies and more than 20,000 profile conformant products. ONVIF offers Profile S for streaming video; Profile G for video recording and storage; Profile C for physical access control; Profile A for broader access control configuration; Profile T for advanced video streaming; Profile M for metadata and events for analytics applications and Profile D for access control peripherals. Visit www.onvif.org.
