There’s been quite a bit of ONVIF news with the release of two new profiles in late June and July. Below is an overview of current ONVIF profiles and the functions they serve. With the recent attention given to our new releases, Profile M for metadata and events for analytics applications and Profile D for access control peripherals, we thought we’d take a look at the profiles that have been powering ONVIF conformant security systems and promoting interoperability for more than 10 years. Using ONVIF, systems designers can employ a combination of these profiles to create a robust and open integrated video and access control solution.

Profile S – for basic video streaming
Profile S was the first ONVIF profile and remains the most widely implemented profile in the ONVIF offering. How it works is that Profile S devices, such as an IP camera or video encoder, can send video data over an IP network to a Profile S client. A Profile S client, such as video management software, can then configure, request and control video streaming over an IP network from a Profile S device.

Profile G – for edge storage and retrieval
Designed for IP-based video systems, Profile G supports storage, search, retrieval and playback of media on devices or clients that support recording capabilities and on-board storage. This extends the video continuum from streaming to encompass recording and storage.

Profile T – for advanced video streaming
Profile T offers support for more advanced video streaming and updated video compression technologies, reflecting the response of ONVIF to the ongoing evolution of the video market. Profile T is designed for IP-based video systems and supports video streaming features, such as the use of H.264 and H265 encoding formats, imaging settings and alarm events such as motion and tampering detection.

Profile M – for metadata and events for analytics applications
Profile M standardizes metadata and events for analytics applications. This profile addresses the dynamic video analytics market as well as expands the pathways for the use of metadata and event handling into other systems such as access control, cloud services and IoT platforms.

Profile C – for door control and event management
As the first official access control profile, ONVIF Profile C supports basic door control and, in conjunction with Profile S, also provided the industry’s first common interface for the integration of access control and video surveillance. Profile C conformant devices and clients support site information, door access control, and event and alarm management.

Profile A – for access control configuration
Building on the basic functionality of Profile C, Profile A enables more advanced features- providing deeper functionality with access control configuration, including support for credentials, schedules and access rules. Profile A can be combined with Profile C and Profile S for an integrated video and access control system.

Profile D – for access control peripherals
The most recent ONVIF profile to be released, Profile D provides support for access control peripheral devices, such as card readers, mobile access control credentials, fingerprint biometric readers, cameras (for iris, facial or LPR), keypads, sensors (for lock status, door status, temperature or motion), and output devices such as locks, displays or LEDs. This new profile provides easier integrations of these peripherals into an access control system, where typically unique integrations between specific devices and clients would be required.

Learn more about ONVIF and its profiles here.