Questions & Answers From the Top

A conversation with Kirk Wilde

• By Security Products Staff
• Mar 27, 2008

Years of research, investment and development finally paid off as IVR Controls launched its business model in 2007, bringing a new level of performance technology to video surveillance and security. IVR Controls provides a software solution to a product problem, with a series of products and services that allow the viewing, recording, archiving and playback of video over the Internet. To find out more, we talked with Kirk Wilde, chief technology officer of IVR, to learn about IP-based network products.

Q.How has the advent of IP-based network products changed the landscape of video surveillance?
A.It is no longer necessary for all the capabilities of a system to reside in the hardware. Now there is a universe of software and middleware that enables a limitlessly expanding scope of functionality, bringing in an era of higher-quality surveillance video and data availability. In addition, we have developed graphical user interfaces for these solutions that are easy to control while providing far greater capabilities.

IP-based products also have made it possible to assign multiple user authority levels, so each user is only able to view or download the live, recorded or archived video his user name and password have permission to access. This provides a higher level of centralized control for the system.

Q.What is the business model for IVR Controls, and why is the time right for such a solution to gain traction for professional video surveillance applications?
A.The business model for IVR Controls is similar to that of established central alarm monitoring services that have thrived over the years. The difference is that we offer a video surveillance, recording and archiving solution that allows users to forego the previously required investment in recording and monitoring systems infrastructure.

Recent developments in IP video surveillance make Internet transmission feasible for video surveillance systems with multiple cameras. The ease in which these systems can be deployed remotely also is a driving force behind IVR Controls’ business proposition. By centralizing these critical video surveillance management and storage functions, and providing access through existing prevalent Internet infrastructure, IVR Controls greatly reduces the user’s investment through a subscriptionbased service. Additionally, this eliminates the user’s need to research and acclimate himself with otherwise complex video surveillance technologies while benefiting fully from the capabilities new advanced IP systems provide.

Installing and networking cameras onsite is easy—easier in most instances than installing a closed-circuit analog system— because the number of components exposed to the user is virtually eliminated. Once the IP camera system is installed, users only need to access system cameras and recorded data by visiting a Web site. In addition to providing a seamless GUI that takes virtually no technical expertise to access and control, all of the system’s functionality can be accessed from virtually any computer with Internet access from any remote location. This adds a new degree of functionality by allowing business owners and managers to remotely monitor multiple locations from anywhere they can log onto the Internet.

Additionally, IVR Controls provides video surveillance dealers and integrators with a great opportunity for new business development—especially those companies that already have alarm businesses—as our service provides an easy sale that requires minimal technical support.

Q.How is IVR Controls’ solution different from other video surveillance solutions on the market?
A.Basically, IVR Controls is the first commercial business we know of to offer an IP-based video surveillance subscription service. The solution allows the end user to view, record, store and archive video, all via a high-speed Internet connection. For the dealer, IVR provides a means to offer services that will increase recurring monthly revenue. Most important, this solution brings cost-effective video surveillance capabilities to a much wider market while benefiting both end users and dealers.

Another solution we provide is an enterprise (NVR) solution. This will handle the management of up to hundreds of cameras using the same software platform. The only difference with this solution is that the video is stored locally on the client’s NVR server.

Q.Why is Internet-based video surveillance beneficial to end users?
A.Some potential users may have avoided implementing a video surveillance system due to apprehension about how easy to use it may be. With Internetbased video surveillance, as mentioned, there is no need for the user to touch any recording hardware—all storage and archiving is done at the head end. Users are provided a simple, intuitive point-and-click Web-based dashboard for their PC.

In addition, users can choose from a wide range of available storage and archiving options, and change or upgrade at any time without the need for new hardware. All they need to contract for is the service itself, making it an easy decision and an easy implementation using an existing high-speed Internet connection. Even for clients who already have a DVR in place, an IVR Controls dealer can still provide the added benefit of storing camera video safely and securely off-site. So if their DVR is turned off, destroyed, stolen or simply stops working, critical camera video still will have been recorded.

Q.What benefits do Internet-based services offer to the dealer?
A.For the dealer, this is a way to connect with users who may not have been in the video surveillance market previously. By offering a service that is easy to use and cost-effective, our network of authorized dealers can enhance the recurring monthly revenues while building successful, long-term relationships with clients. As with all IP-based systems, installation is less complex than with non- IP systems, and the systems themselves are scalable, so they can grow as clients’Years of research, investment and development finally paid off as IVR Controls launched its business model in 2007, bringing a new level of performance technology to video surveillance and security. IVR Controls provides a software solution to a product problem, with a series of products and services that allow the viewing, recording, archiving and playback of video over the Internet. To find out more, we talked with Kirk Wilde, chief technology officer of IVR, to learn about IP-based network products. needs grow.

When a dealer works with IVR Controls, we monitor every camera, router and modem, and we are instantly alerted if any device goes offline. IVR Controls also provides end-user training and technical support. Finally, since the solution is software- based, there are no boxes to stock in inventory, a convenience that is a cost space savings.