HDcctv Alliance Ratifies Version 1.0 Of Specification

  • Jan 12, 2010


HDcctv Alliance, the global security industry consortium established to manage and promote technical standards for HDcctv equipment interoperability, announced recently that its voting members have ratified version 1.0 of the HDcctv (high-definition closed-circuit television) Specification. HDcctv Alliance members are already introducing HDcctv-compliant products displaying the HDcctv logo.

“HDcctv is perhaps the first new product category in ten years to be introduced into the surveillance industry, a new way to provide high resolution on selected cameras on the premises while preserving the existing CCTV system architecture.” said Todd Rockoff, chair of HDcctv Alliance.

“Prior to the advent of HDcctv systems, the only way to achieve high-resolution video surveillance was to install IP cameras, which can be costly and present technical challenges to the installer and security professional,” Rockoff said. “HDcctv squeezes new value out of existing CCTV cabling infrastructure. HDcctv is profitable for the manufacturer, dealer and installer since it is a high margin, high technology offering that is a cost effective, easy upgrade for customers.”

The HDcctv v1.0 Specification and all future Specifications adhere to the principle that the user/installer experience must mirror an analog CCTV installation, usage and maintenance experience with the best aspects of analog CCTV retained, including plug-and-play installation, a secure closed loop for information transmission, and negligible video transmission latency.

In an HDcctv-based system, HDTV signals are transmitted digitally over conventional CCTV media without packetization or any perceivable compression latency. HDcctv is a zero-training, plug-and-play resolution upgrade for the installed base.

The HDcctv v1.0 Specification is an open industry standard that accommodates the growing broad adoption of HD video formats by both surveillance equipment manufacturers and security service providers within the CCTV industry. The Specification defines the requirements for a flexible system and apparatus capable of creating, transporting, distributing, recording and displaying HDcctv video and metadata. A scalable digital interface with support for external box-to-box digital interfaces is defined with optional audio, metadata and data capability for broad application for CCTV devices.

The HDcctv Alliance has partnered with SMPTE (Society for Motion Picture and Television Engineers) to include the family of video interfaces known as HD-SDI, covering transmission of 720p and 1080p formats, among others, at data rates around 1.5Gb/s, to create derivative standards to enable plug-and-play security systems and equipment that deliver high-resolution, high-definition (HD) surveillance video with no delays, image artifacts, or visible jitter.

Under the license agreement with SMPTE, the HDcctv Alliance has quickly developed v1.0 of its specification by directly reproducing many of the key technologies and requirements of HD-SDI, while adding new capabilities and formats tailored to the unique needs of the surveillance industry. Subsequent versions of the HDcctv specification will build on the v1.0 Specification to provide for advanced features, such as 300-meter signal transmission, up-the-cable control, bi-directional audio, and up-the-cable power.

“As a Charter Member of the HDcctv Alliance, Gennum provides connectivity technology to adopters of the Specification and is a major contributor to the standard itself,” said Gareth Heywood, Gennum Corp. product market manager. “Gennum’s Aviia HDcctv-compliant serial digital interface transmitter and receiver chips provide a foundation for the version 1.0 HDcctv specification that delivers a proven broadcast industry-based standard on which to expand capabilities specific to the security and surveillance industry in the near future.”

“The ratification of the HDcctv v1.0 specification paves the way for CSST to take full advantage of the opportunity to rapidly bring HDcctv technology to the market," said Yuesheng Zhou, CTO of CSST and president of CSST Product. ““As China's leading security company, CSST is well positioned to introduce HDcctv to the rapidly growing end market in China. At the China Public Security Exposition (CPSE) in 2009, we demonstrated a full range of HDcctv compliant products including a camera, optical transceiver, DVR and monitor, all of which are able to form a complete HDcctv system solution at no packet loss, long transmission and zero delay. We have no doubt that HDcctv will come to its full bloom in security industry soon.”

“Stretch provides manufacturers wanting to incorporate HDcctv capabilities into their standalone DVRs a quick path to market with our HDcctv v1.0 Specification compliant DVR reference designs for video surveillance OEMs and ODMs,” said Bob Beachler, Stretch vice president of marketing, operations, and systems design. “Ratification of the HDcctv v1.0 Specification is a significant landmark in the road to delivering HDcctv to the security industry.”

HDcctv Alliance is open for membership sign up at http://www.highdefcctv.org. Alliance Members can log into the Website and gain access to non-public Alliance information. Only Adopting and Voting Members have access to the HDcctv V1.0 Specification. The Alliance’s membership, drawn from component and equipment manufacturers worldwide, includes Adopting and Voting Members CSST, Gennum, Stretch, AltaSens, blueCaps, Clinton Electronics, Comart, COP UK, EverFocus, theHDcctv.com, IDIS, Marshall Electronics, OmniVision, Ovii, Pixim, Speco Technologies and Win4NET.

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