Onvif introduces Profile M Release Candidate for metadata and analytics events

This specification paves the way for greater interoperability of IP cameras or analytics applications with video management systems and easier integration with IoT systems..

The global standardization initiative for IP-based physical security products –Onvif– has presented Release candidate (Candidate version) to Profile M (Profile M), a draft specification that standardizes metadata communication and analysis event handling for intelligent applications.

Among other advantages, paves the way to achieve greater interoperability of IP cameras or analysis applications with video management systems, as well as easier integration with IoT systems (Internet of Things – Internet of Things).

Profile M provides a standard way to communicate metadata between devices or services, such as IP cameras or analytics applications for devices and clients, video management software (VMS), network video recorders and server- or cloud-based services.

This means system integrators and end users can flexibly mix and match solutions from different analytics vendors., video management devices and software or cloud services, along with IoT applications, in a single system.

“Profile M will be a compelling Onvif profile for camera and VMS vendors.”, as well as for independent developers of cloud-based services, server or peripherals”, explains Sriram Bhetanabottla, president of the Onvif M Profile working group.

The increase in the number of smart security applications, enterprise and IoT devices “is driving demands for interoperability. Profile M applications will have broad compatibility, which will encourage further growth in the number and types of applications and result in even greater choice for end users”, underlines this responsible.

Onvif Profile M release candidate supports configuring analytics and querying information for metadata, as well as filtering and transmission of metadata. It has interfaces for classification of generic objects and specific metadata for geolocation, vehicle, registration, human face and body.

Profile M also defines interfaces for configuring rules for events, for management for applications that support people counting and face and license plate recognition, as well as those that use JSON (JavaScript object notation) and the MQTT protocol (Message queue qerver telemetry transport) for IoT applications.

Metadata use cases include highlighting objects of interest in a video stream, heat maps in a retail store using human and geolocation metadata and vehicle mapping in a parking lot with vehicle metadata and geolocation.

Use cases for Profile M event handling interfaces include crowd control or queue management through people counting analytics and access control in a parking lot with license plate recognition applications.

For an IoT application, the Profile M event handling interface can be used, For example, for room temperature control, where a Profile M camera (with MQTT support) detects humans in a space and sends an Onvif event over MQTT to an IoT platform or application, in turn, activates a smart thermostat to adjust the room temperature.

Profile M can be combined with other Onvif access control and video profiles for an integrated system based on interfaces from this standardization initiative.