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only does this limitation make the sys-
tem inflexible, but also makes it diffi-
cult for the end user to match require-
ments with products available, i.e. if
there is a want for access control at 9
or 17 doors. The lack of flexibility also
brings high marginal costs, which can
make the addition of one extra door un-
justifiably expensive.”
Transmission Control Protocol/
Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) systems en-
able what Axis called an “edge” solution,
which it described as having “one con-
troller for each door, which then is con-
nected to the existing local Ethernet
through a regular network switch.
Because IP networks are ubiquitous in
offices, stores, factory plants and similar
facilities, the cost of adding an IP-based
door controller would be minimal, as
opposed to multiple serial connections
wired back to a central server.
“Cabling work can be even further facilitated,” Axis Communications said.
“By employing a Power over Ethernet
supported controller at each door, the
need for separate power cables for door
equipment such as locks and readers
can be eliminated. This reduces the total installation cost. In addition, support for uninterruptible power supplies
makes it possible to avoid having battery backup for door equipment.”
ONVIF profiles
Axis authored that paper three years
ago. In the time since its publication,
some technological evolution and inno-
vations have shaped the IP access con-
trol landscape. In July of this year, ONVIF
(founded as the Open Network Video
Interface Forum in 2008 by Axis, Bosch
Security Systems and Sony) announced
the final release of Profile A “for broader
access control configuration that estab-
lishes a standardized interface for access
control clients and expands the config-
uration options of ONVIF conformant
access control systems,” the group said.
“The release marks the first open spec-
ification that allows for the mixing and
matching of access control devices and
clients within a system, facilitating in-
teroperability for multi-vendor products.”
Per Bjorkdahl, ONVIF steering com-
mittee chair, commented, “Profile A is
a significant development for the mar-
ket because it provides a pathway for in-
tegrating together access control panels
and hardware with management soft-
ware from different manufacturers. This
pathway for integration also provides
futureproofing of an access control sys-
tem, as it allows another manufacturer’s
access control management software
to be installed in the future, eliminat-
ing the need for a hardware rip-and-re-
place scenario.”
In 2014—the same year the Axis pa-
per was produced—ONVIF released its
Profile C for physical access control. It
said at the time, “Through Profile C, sys-
tems integrators, specifiers and con-
sultants are able to achieve interoper-
ability between clients and devices of
physical access control systems and net-
work-based video systems. With this fi-
nal release, manufacturers are now able
to introduce Profile C conformant prod-
ucts to the market.
“With Profile C, compatibility be-
tween access control edge devices and
clients is improved, installation simpli-
fied and training time diminished be-
cause of the reduced need for multiple
proprietary monitoring systems to han-
dle different access control systems de-
vices,” ONVIF added.
This year’s release of Profile A broadens access control configuration, the
group stressed.
Hardware and software upgrades
Also this year, several suppliers in the
access control market have unveiled
new software programs and upgrades.