SAN MATEO COUNTY BEEFS UP SECURITY FOR PETERSON TRIAL
WITH NEW WI-FI VIDEO SURVEILLANCE
OF PUBLIC AREAS IN AND AROUND THE COURTHOUSE
Tropos Networks, On-Net Surveillance Systems and Sony Team Up
To Rapidly Deploy Wireless Surveillance System in Advance of the Trial
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., May 26, 2004 - A new, outdoor wireless network-based video surveillance system for the San Mateo County, California Sheriff's Department goes live today in preparation for the Scott Peterson trial starting June 1. The project is a team effort from Tropos Networks, a leading supplier of equipment used to build metro-scale Wi-Fi networks, On-Net Surveillance Systems, Inc. (ONSSI), a leading developer of network-based digital video surveillance solutions, and Sony Electronics, a leading provider of network video surveillance cameras.
The system provides real-time video surveillance and recording so that the Sheriff's Department can enhance security by better monitoring the public areas of the San Mateo County Center for the duration of the Scott Peterson trial.
The Peterson trial is attracting worldwide media coverage, with up to 500 reporters and 50 television networks expected to set up facilities in and around the area during the trial. Attendance by the general public is strictly controlled, with daily random selections determining who has access to the limited in-court seating. According to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Department, the agency responsible for policing the San Mateo County Center, the volume of attendees, plus strict regulations regarding photography and other security requirements, have created security challenges.
"The video surveillance system allows us to efficiently monitor all of the critical public areas around the County Center campus and enhances security," said San Mateo County Sheriff, Don Horsley. "Without the Wi-Fi components from Tropos, the network PTZ cameras from Sony, and the DVR software from ONSSI, we could not have implemented this system around this event."
"We are pleased to be helping the Sheriff quickly implement a security system that will improve safety around this venue," said Ron Sege, President and CEO of Tropos Networks. "This project again proves the versatility, ease-of-use and speed of deployment of Wi-Fi based technologies. Our metro-scale Wi-Fi system, combined with elements from ONSSI and Sony, has created a first in terms of fast and easy deployment of a large-scale video surveillance program."
A metro-scale Tropos wireless network has been used to connect networked Sony digital video cameras located on rooftops around the area. Video data is wirelessly transmitted to Sheriff's Department offices where the images are monitored and stored using ONSSI's NetDVR-64 digital video recording software located in the central court security area. This software additionally allows live and recorded images to be transmitted to other authorized computers on the network, allowing, for example, patrol officers to receive live video on their laptops and PDAs while en route to a potential incident. This remote controlled access is available anywhere within the wireless network coverage area, which covers the entire San Mateo County Center campus.
Tropos' 5110 outdoor-optimized Wi-Fi cells create the wireless network environment with Sony SNC-RZ30N PTZ (pan/tilt/zoom) cameras in outdoor enclosures connected to the Tropos 5110s at each rooftop site. Because transmission from the remote cameras is entirely wireless, no outdoor cabling had to be installed which saved on cabling costs. The entire system, including the wireless network, DVR software and five cameras, was deployed in less than three days.
The Tropos 5110 Wi-Fi cell, an outdoor-optimized and ruggedized node based on the 802.11 standard, uses the intelligent Predictive Wireless Routing Protocol (PWRP) to provide pervasive, metro-scale coverage. The Tropos PWRP routes traffic wirelessly, effectively eliminating up to 95% of the wired backhaul requirements associated with traditional access point, or hotspot, solutions. The Tropos Wi-Fi cells form a wireless mesh, dynamically routing traffic along the highest throughput path to the wired gateway. This intelligent routing negates effects of radio frequency (RF) interference, backhaul failure, and traffic loads by selecting the best performing route to a wired backhaul point. PWRP also scales to thousands of nodes with the lowest routing overhead in the industry.
"The convergence of three technologies: digital IP cameras, sophisticated DVR software running on standard PCs, and true broadband, large-scale wireless networks has expanded the scope of video surveillance applications," said Gadi Piran, president of On-Net Surveillance Systems. "We are now able to deploy solutions across entire cities and with unprecedented economics. Metro-scale video surveillance solutions make our public safety agencies more effective, and our cities safer."
"The ability to use wireless networking to place our cameras at high vantage points allows maximum advantage to be taken of the mobility, zooming capabilities and image quality of the SNC-RZ30N cameras," said Bill Lee, General Manager of Sony Electronics' Digital Security Division. "The SNC-RZ30N is rapidly becoming the industry choice for metro-scale video applications."
The Sony SNC-RZ30N network camera features a 25X optical auto focus zoom lens, built-in web browser and offers remote-controlled pan, tilt and zoom capabilities. The camera produces high-quality motion JPEG images with 640x480 resolution and up to 30 frames per second. It comes equipped with a 10/100 Base-T Ethernet interface as well as two Type II PCMCIA slots, for IEEE 802.11b compliant wireless PC cards or to expand the camera's memory.
About Tropos Networks
Tropos Networks, Inc. is a leading supplier of systems used to build metro-scale, outdoor Wi-Fi networks. Tropos unique Wi-Fi cells, along with the first element manager to control large Wi-Fi networks, enable public agencies and service providers to deliver ubiquitous, city-wide mobile broadband to users in any locale. These carrier-class IP networks are low cost and easy to install and scale. The Tropos cellular mesh architecture and use of optimized open-standard radios dramatically reduce the need for wired backhaul while eliminating expensive proprietary clients and complex software. Using the patented Predictive Wireless Routing Protocol ™, Tropos solutions deliver maximum bandwidth to the user regardless of conditions, at unprecedented Wi-Fi network scale. Tropos Networks is headquartered in San Mateo, California. For more information, please visit www.tropos.com, call 650-286-4250 or write to info@tropos.com.
ONSSI is a privately held company specializing in Network Based Digital Video Surveillance and Security Applications, located in Suffern, New York. The company is a market leader in digital video surveillance systems based on live network video technology - also known as Video over IP technology. On-Net Surveillance Systems Inc. offers a full range of software products, specifically developed for the needs of the professional video surveillance industry. The flexibility of the IP technology results in significant advantages for the user when compared to other digital video solutions. ONSSI products help protect people, property and resources. . For more information, please visit www.onssi.com, call 845-369-6400 or write to info@onssi.com.
About Sony Electronics' Digital Security Division
Based in àPark Ridge, New Jersey, the Digital Security Division of Sony Electronics markets a wide array of products àranging from video cameras and digital recorders to àIP video àmonitoring devices. à All product offerings utilize a wide range of àestablished and new technologies from within Sony àCorporation. à This commitment àto technology àmanifest into both analog and digital security solutions to satisfy the various needs of users in the corporate, government, education, transportation, manufacturing, healthcare and retail fields. For additional information àabout Sony's security products line-up, please visit www.sony.com/security.
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