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Features

• Fully integrated system for surveillance and visual assessment in remote applications
• Incorporates multiple redundant low-cost communication channels
• Operates in severe weather conditions including extreme temperatures
• Authenticates video data on-site at HS³
• Performs motion detection, infrared imaging
• Image compression, RSA authentication, and AES encryption
• Provides both full color and black/white images
• Accepts all standard video cameras
• Stores surveillance data in on-board non-volatile storage
• Runs on AC mains power; also contains battery back-up for 12 hours of operation
• Offers optional solar power when AC power not available

Description

The Homeland Security Surveillance System (HS³) provides a fully integrated unit for surveillance and visual assessment in remote applications. Leveraging 15 years of experience in international treaty and non-proliferation monitoring in some of the most severe environments in the world, HS³ is structured to operate in extreme temperatures, on suboptimal power, and with multiple redundant low-cost data communication channels.

The heart of the HS³ unit is CANBERRA's Color Video Server (CVS). Placing the video processor at the camera head eliminates the very expensive requirement to stream video for processing at the remote monitoring station. In addition, this allows the data to meet international rules of evidence by being authenticated before it leaves the housing. CVS performs all of the essential motion detection, image compression, RSA authentication, AES encryption, and data storage and management functions.

The standard camera that comes with HS³ provides full color images in bright light and switches to high-sensitivity black and white mode whenever there is insufficient light to expose a clear color picture. The built-in infrared illuminators provide clear images of objects out to a distance of about 450 feet in pitch black conditions. While the standard camera provides excellent results in almost all surveillance applications, HS³ will also accept any other standard video camera.

COMMUNICATIONS

High speed data communications to a remote installation is often a very expensive and difficult proposition. Therefore, to ensure reliable communication without the need for a private infrastructure, HS³ incorporates a hierarchy of communication channels that take advantage of the existing commercial Internet infrastructure. Within its electronics enclosure, HS³ contains two fully integrated modems. The first is a baseline landline phone modem. If landline service is available at the surveillance location, HS³ can use it as a “last resort” that is not subject to weather-related wireless service interruptions. The second internal modem offers a significantly faster, low-cost channel using cell-phone-based EDGE technology. The upper compartment of HS³ provides a mounting point for additional user-supplied modems for additional communications channels such as satellite, ISDN, or frame relay; or even a power-line modem. For the most critical applications, all three channels can be active simultaneously to ensure non-stop redundant communication pathways. To ensure continuity of knowledge in the unlikely event that all communications channels fail simultaneously, HS³ stores the surveillance data in on-board non-volatile storage; and transmits that data whenever communications is restored.

Mounting the system is extremely simple and very fast. The mounting plate is fastened to any convenient location – side of a building, wooden pole, steel pole, etc. The HS³ is then hooked to the top of the plate and bolted down.

AC mains power, telephone, and Ethernet connections are all made in the lowest panel of the HS³ chassis. HS³ normally requires AC mains power, but also contains its own backup battery that provides about twelve hours of operation. For applications where AC mains power is not available, a solar power option is available that includes larger batteries and solar panels. The standard maintenance cycle requires 30 minutes every 18 months to change the batteries. The modular design incorporates all of the standard electronics in a single Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) so that field repair is a simple swap.

In operation, HS³ can simply record time-lapse images; it can trigger alarms using its internal motion detection; it can be triggered by up to four switch-type (TTL) devices, and can be triggered by RadNet* alarm packets from other devices on the network. Each image carries a header containing the time, date, camera ID, information denoting whether the image is a pre-alarm, alarm, or post-alarm picture, what caused the alarm, and internal diagnostics information (i.e. voltage, temperature, etc.). For example, if the case is opened, a “tamper” alarm will be recorded and transmitted. Likewise, if AC mains power is removed, a “power fail” alarm will be recorded and transmitted.

Monitoring station software provides the cryptographic log-in to the cameras and allows an unlimited number of cameras to alarm the monitoring station and display images. Likewise, an unlimited number of (authorized) users can log in to the camera to view the current scene. For example, this software can run on a laptop equipped with a cell-phone modem to allow response forces to remotely view the target area as they are enroute.

*ANSI N42.36 (Pending)