Over the past few months, we’ve been highlighting some of our new profile release candidates, such as Profile M and Profile D, as well as the ONVIF GitHub for open-source development. We are sure these developments will continue to be a topic of conversation throughout the coming year. However, another topic we’re excited to talk more about in 2021 is a specification that’s not part of any profile: the ONVIF Export File Format.
This specification works by standardizing a common format in which the recorded video files are exported, ensuring that video is usable regardless of the file origin. This is significant for law enforcement or corporate investigative teams as it allows them to more efficiently conduct forensic investigations using video surveillance from multiple sources – private or public – regardless of the proprietary video format that the video was originally recorded in.
How it works
Export File Format works by not only standardizing a common export format but also provides a video player with which the video clip can be replayed. This standardized format will also provide useful exported metadata information (e.g., recording equipment used, export file creation time, name of export operator) as well as allow the video file to be digitally signed to ensure the chain of custody for evidentiary purposes.
Why Export File Format is valuable to the investigative process
This specification is invaluable for cases that are being examined in multiple countries or even in multiple jurisdictions within the same state. This common format can provide huge gains in the speed and efficiency of investigations for both public and private security and safety offices, as it ensures these video files can be viewed on any video system that incorporates the ONVIF Export File Format.
Export File Format has already received a nod in the global standardization community, with its endorsement by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC 62676-2-32:2019). We are very proud to have collaborated with IEC on this feature for inclusion in global standards.
While our profiles are certainly the core of our market offering and conformance structure, we’re excited to share some of the more innovative elements of ONVIF that are part of our Network Interface Specifications. Stay tuned as we highlight a few more specifications available from ONVIF.
