Group 4 Technology Offers New Symmetry™ Edge Network Video Servers

Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, May 1, 2006 – Group 4 Technology (G4Tec) announces the launch of a range of new Symmetry™ Edge Network Video Servers (ENVS™). The Symmetry ENVS works with G4Tec’s new Symmetry Video Management module to provide a unique store and forward solution that saves bandwidth.

The Symmetry video servers sit at the edge of the LAN/WAN and come in one or four channel models in convenient, ready to install packages integrated with G4Tec’s range of access control panels. With 80Gb of storage in the video server, activity can be stored and forwarded on demand allowing for archiving to take place at off-peak times. This provides the scalability and flexibility to meet the demands of many applications while reducing stress on the network by decreasing the amount of bandwidth required during peak operating times.

“The Symmetry ENVS coupled with the Video Management module provides another progressive security management alternative to G4Tec customers who need a video solution deeply integrated with their access control system,” said G4Tec Vice President, Kim Loy.

A new range of multiNODE security control panels combines advanced access control functionality with the unique Mpeg 4 IP video capabilities to offer high levels of compression to optimize video quality and network utilization. The video and access control are integrated at the panel level, foregoing the need for PC server intervention for event based recording or trigger based commands. Using event based recording capabilities, video can be stored on an event basis, for example, a minute before and after a door is opened or the frame rate, presets and video resolution can be adjusted to react to predefined events.

The Symmetry ENVS provides one or four channels of video and frame rates of up to 30 frames per second depending on the model and configuration selected. It is controlled by the G4Tec Symmetry Video Management software which also integrates IP cameras, HTML web cams, and supports all of G4Tec’s previously integrated video recording partners. The continued growth and support of G4Tec’s DVR Partner Program is in keeping with G4Tec’s goal of providing flexibility and choice to meet its customer’s unique needs.

The servers are based on Texas Instruments’ high performance DM642 digital media processor.

"We are delighted to be selected by AMAG Technology as a preferred technology supplier to power their state-of-the-art IP based video security systems," said Cyril Clocher, business development manager of TI DSP group in Europe. "The high-performance and cost-effectiveness of the DM642 DSP is a perfect match for the intensive processing requirements of the digital IP video server and is a further example of how technology from TI is helping to power innovation for the video security market."

For more information about the new Symmety ENVS or G4Tec call (01684) 850977.