Marconi's integrated communication networks improve security at public transport hubs

Marconi's Broadband Routing & Switching group is demonstrating its patent-pending Network Based Physical Security and Surveillance (NBPSS) solution at the Dubai 2003 Event from 7-11th December. The solution is already deployed at Miami International Airport and by the new people mover system at Dallas Fort Worth Airport in the US., RATP (the Paris Metro Authority) in France has implemented the solution, while NBPSS is pending implementation with the London Underground in the UK.

Marconi's NBPSS solution integrates all the traditional elements of a security environment (closed circuit television, bio-metric systems, card access readers, public address systems, etc.) onto a single, multi-service infrastructure, greatly enhancing the effectiveness of the security team. Additionally, airport and transportation authorities significantly reduce operating costs by converging those disparate information systems onto Marconi's single network infrastructure.

The same NBPSS network can also be used by the public transportation authority to offer commercial broadband communications services such as internet access, wireless hot spots, voice communications, etc., making the Marconi network a source of revenue- generation.

At Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, Marconi's converged network supports surveillance video, the airport's operational and emergency communications, and control of a 64-car Automated People Mover train. For the Paris Metro, Marconi's NBPSS solution integrates 6,000 video surveillance cameras, 300 video monitors, 400 PABXs (Private Automatic Branch Exchanges), some 40,000 telephone lines and connects about 1,500 Local Area Networks across 500 Metro, train and bus stations.

"A network-centric security solution must begin with a network platform that is itself reliable, scalable, flexible and secure" said Tom Murray, Vice President of Marketing for Marconi's Broadband Routing & Switching group. "With that platform in place, multiple benefits then accrue. Transportation authorities can realize cost savings both through converging multiple security systems onto a single network, as well as by ensuring that future security applications can be integrated onto the NBPSS system. Security performance is enhanced by extending system intelligence from a security officer alone to the network itself. And finally, the network itself becomes a platform from which to offer the public commercial voice, video and data services."

The NBPSS solution incorporates Marconi's ViPr™ Virtual Presence System (ViPr), enabling clear, real-time video-based communications between geographies without concern for delay or mis-interpretation. In addition to its deployment in the NBPSS solution, Marconi is also demonstrating its ViPr™ Virtual Presence System at Dubai 2003 Event.

ViPr is the only broadband video-telephony device that combines broadcast-quality video-conferencing with IP (Internet Protocol)-based voice features. Using ViPr, in either a desktop or room-sized configuration, people in different parts of the world can meet virtually, making quicker and better decisions. Security chiefs can hold real-time multimedia intelligence briefings and meetings with staff in the field, exercise command and control communications and guide events. And, if a security event should occur, security chiefs can receive immediate updates through ViPr's capability to include real-time video on the same screen being used by the videoconference participants. The US government is a major customer.