API / SDK Tutorial

Author: John Honovich, Published on Dec 18, 2016

While Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are key to 'open' platforms, they are frequently misunderstood and over-hyped in physical security. While APIs can provide great benefits, using them is much more complex than often mentioned in sales calls and magazines.

The goal of APIs in physical security is to allow different systems to work together. Examples include:

  • *********** **** ** ******* ** ********* **** **** ***
  • *********** **** ***/*** **** **** ****** ******* ******
  • *********** **** ***** ****** **** * ******* ********** ******
  • ******** * **** ****** **** ********** **** *** **** ******** systems

*** ***** **** **** ********* ** ***-***** ********** ***** * customer ** ********** **** * ******: "**** **** ****** **** with '*'?" ***** * ***** ** *** ****** ** ******** systems ** *** ****** ** *************.

*** ******* ****** ** *** ***** ****** **:

"****, ** **** ** ***."

**** ** *** ** *** ******** *** ********** ********* ** all ******** ********. ******* ** ** ** ******, ** ** a ***** ***** ** ***** ********* ****.

Lesson #*: ** **** ***** ** '**' ***

***** ** ** **** ***** ** '**' ***. ******** **** exist. ** ****** *******, ******** ** **** *****. *********, ***** is ** *** *** **** ******** ** * ******. **** to ***** **** *****, *** *** **** ***** ***. **** to ****** *** ****, *** *** **** ****** ***. **** to ******** *** ***** **** *** *********, *** *** ********* frame **** ***, ***.

Lesson #*: *** *** ********* **** ** ***

****'* *** ***** *****. *** *** ********* **** ** *** available. *** *** **** * **** ** *** ****** ********** alerts **** ******* ***********. **** *********** *** **** '** ***' but *** * ******** *** *** ******* ****** ******. ** you *** ******* ******* **** ******* ***** **** ******** ** functions, ** ** ****** **** ****** ** ***** ********* *** not ********** *** ** ***.

**** ******* ********** **** *********** ******* *** *****. * ******'* API ***** **** ******* ******** ************* ********* (**** ******* *** shutter *****, **** *******, ***, ***/*****, ***.). **** ** *** integrate *** *** *******, *** *** **** ******* ***********. **** sure ** ***** **** ******** *** **** ********** ** ****** that ** *** ** ****.

Lesson #*: ****** ** *** **** *** **** ** **** **** **** **** ******

***'* *** *** **** ** ********* * ******* *** *** access ******* ******. **** *** **** **** *** ***** ** no ********* **** ***** *** ******** **** **** ********. **** companies ****** **** ** * ***-********* *** *********** *** ** is *** **********.

********* *** ***** ** **** ** ********* ** ********* **** competitors. **** ** ********* *********'* ******** *** ****** ******* ******** Center? **** **** **** **** *** ***** ** **** ************** **** *** ****** ******** ** ***** ****, ** **** control *** *** ****** ***** ****. *** ****, *** *** post *** ********** ** "*********** ********* **** ***** *********."

***** **** *** ********* **** *** *** ******** ** ****** a *** *** *** ***, **** ******** ************* ***** ****** thousands ** ******* ** **** ****** ******. **** ** ********** likely ** ** ** * ***** *****, ****** ** ***** system.

**** ** *** **** ********** ** *** ******* *******'* ***, it ** *** ********** ** ****. ****** *** *** ********, like ****** ** ******, **** * ***** ****** ** ********* use ***** ****, ***** ***** **** ***** ** ******** ** have ************ ******. **** ***** ** ** *** **** *****.

Lesson #*: ***** *** *********** ***** ****

******* ***** ***** * *** ***** *** ***********. **** *** happen *** ***** ******** *** ********* ******* **** ** ** worked *** **** *** **** ************* ******.

******, ****** **** *** *** ********, *** ****** *** *** the *** *** *** ********. ** ***** ******** * ****** application *** ****** ** *** *********** *********** *******. ****, **** integrating **** * ******** ****** ***, *** ****** ****** ****** or ****************** ***** ********. *** **** ****** *** ****** *** ******* any ********* ************ *** ****** *** ******** ************ **********.

** ****, ** ******* ** *** **** *** ****** ****** you ****** *** **** ********. **** ** *** **** ** risk **** ** ***** ******* *** ********** ***** *** *** into *** ********* ******* ***** *** **** ****** ********** ***** APIs. *********, ***** ******** *** ********** **********, *** *** **** and **** *** ****.

Lesson #*: *** ******* *** ***** ***

**** **** * *******, **** ****, **** ******. *** ********** is **** ****, ***** ****** *** ***** **** ******. ******* for ****** ******* *********** ****, ********* ***********, ****** ** *** functionalities.

*******, ***** ******* ****** ** ***** ****. ***'* *** **** system ***** **** "****** *" ******* *.*. *** ***'* *** "Vendor *" ***** *** **** *.* *** **** ******* "****** the ***". ** ***** *****, *** *** ******* ** *** backwards ********** **** *** *** *******. **** ****** ***** ******** stop ******* **** "****** *" ** *** ******* ****** * to ******* *.*. *** ****** ** **** ******** ******* ****** no ****** ******** ***** ** ****** ** ******** *** ****** that **** *** *** *******.

**** ******* ********** **** *******. **** *** ******* * ****** and ** **** *** ****, ***** ******* **** ***, "** you **** *** *** ********" **** ** ***** *** ************* have **** ********** *** *****. **** ** ******* ******* ******* were **** ** *** *** **** '*****' *** ******** **********.

Lesson #*: *** *** ***** **** **** *** *** ****

****** *** *** * **** ***** ********, *** *** ***** with ******** *** *** **** ** ******** *** ** **** it. *****, *** **** *** ****, **** ***** *** ****. However, ** *** **** **** ****** *** **** ******** *** case, **** *** ** **** ** **********. **** **** ******* on **** ********* **** ***** ************ **** *** *** *** and ****** ** ** *** *** ********** *** ********* ******** up *****. ** * ****** ***** ** ** ****, *** change **** ******* **** * *** ** **** *** ******* because *** ****** **** ****** **** **** ** *** ***** the ***** ** ***** ******** ************* ***** **** ***. ****, if **** ******* **** *** ****** ***** ****, ** **** be ********** *** ******** ****** *** *** ******** * ******* deal ** *** ***** ** * ********* ****** **** ****.

Examples ** ****

*** **** **** ***** *** **** **** *** ** ***** surveillance ** ****'* *****. *** ******* ******* ********* **** **+ ********* ************ ******** ********* ****** ****. *** ********, ****'* ******* **** *** *** ********. ** ** **** **, ******* *.*.* ** *** *** to ******* *** *** ********* **** ********** *** ****** *** need ** ***, ****, **** *** ****.

** ***** ******* ** **** ** ****** *** ******* ******** of ********* ********** *** ************** ** ******** ***************.

** *** ***, ***** *** ********* ********* ** ********* **** available. *** ************* ** **,***+ ****. * *** ******** ************** ****,***** ****,******* ****, ***., ***.  

APIs ** ****

*****, *** ***** *** *** *** *** **** ** *********** when ********** ******** ***********.

  • *** - *********** *********** ********* - *** ****** **** ***** specification, ********* *** **** **** ** ********* *** *******
  • *** - ******** *********** *** - *** ************* *** *********** tools **** ******* *** **** *** ******* ** *** *** API

*** **** **** **** ****** ** ****.

*** ******** *** ************ *******, *** ********* **** *** **** an *** ***** **** *** *** ** **** *** ********** how ** *** **. ****, ****** *** **** **** *** fairly ***** ****** *** **** ** **** **** ********* *********/**********, security ******* ***** ******* (** ** ***** *****) ***** * specific ********* (***** .*** ** ****) *** ******* ***** ** make ** ****** ** *** ***** **********.

APIs *** *********

*** *** ******** ** *** ** **** **** **** *********** ones, ********* *** ********** ** ******** *********. **** *** ** typically (** ***** ********) ********* **** ****** **** ** **** are ***** *** **** ****** (********** * **** ***** ****, getting ** *****, ***.). ******* ** ****, ** ** **** time ********* ** ********* **** ******** ******* ** *** **** needs ** ** **** **** *** **** ***** *** **** new ******, ***, ********, ***.

**** '*********' *** ********* ** ************, *********, ***** *** **** **** * ***** ***** ******* ** manufacturers *** ***. ** **** *********** *** ** *** *** 'language', ** ******** **** ***** ** ***** ** ** * universal ********. ** **** ************ ****** **** ******** (***), **** they *** *** *********** ******* ****** ** ***** ***** ****** language ** *** *****. ********* *** ***** ****, **** *** that, *********, *** ******* **** *** ** '***********' *** ******* communicate. ****, *** ******** ********.

[**** *** ********** ******* ** **** *** ******** / ******* in ****.]

Comments (17)

Michael Peele

02/08/13 09:02pm

** ***** ** ******** ******* ** **** * ************ ******* of **** ************* **** **** ********* ** ***** ***/*** *** if ****** ** **********.

** ********* *** ******* **** *** ************ *** ******* ***** was ** ***, **** **** ********* ** ******* *** *** to ******.

***** ********* **** ****/****/***** *** *** *** *******?

John Honovich

IPVM | 02/08/13 09:56pm

*******, **'* **** **** ** **** ** ** ****** ************ 'decline ** ******* *** *** ** ******.' *** **** ********* would ** *** ***** *** ************ ******* *** ********** *****. That ****, * ***'* ********** *** *** ***** **** *** IP ******* **** ***** ********* ****** *** ****** * '**** package ********.'

** ***** ** **** ******** **** ******* ***, **** * said, ****** ********* *** ********* ****** ****, ** **** **** more ********.

Thumbnail profile pic

James Talmage

IPVMU Certified | 02/08/13 10:20pm

********** ***'* ****** *** **** *** ** **. *** ****** being *****, * **** ******* ********* **** ***** **** ** low-barrier ***'* (**** ****** ***** ******* *** ******** *******). * don't ********** *** ******** ** ******** ******. **** ** *** rational?

John Honovich

IPVM | 02/09/13 01:14am

**** ****** **** *** **** **** ** ******* *** ** use ***** *** ************* ******** ****** **** * *****'*.

*** *************************** ** ** *** *********** ****** **** *** **** ****? Same ***** :)

Sean Patton

02/11/13 04:08pm

**** ****/**** ********* ** * **** ************* **** ** *** industry.

Phil Shanahan

02/11/13 04:58pm

* *** *** **** ************ ********** ** **** **** **** dev ** *** ******** *** ** * ********* *** ** always **** *********, ******* *** ** ** ** **** **** its *** *** *** $**!

*** ******* ***** ** *** ****** ****** ***********, *** *** have ***** ***** ******* **** *** **** ** ********* **** another ***** ***** *** ** **** ***** ******* ********* ** the ***** *** *** ** ** ********* ** ***** ********* system ** *** *** ** *** ***** **** ** ******** on **** ****** ******* ** ********/**** ** *** ********* ** others.

*** ********* ************* ** *** **** ******* *****, *** *** end ** ***** ** * ******* ******* *** **** ** its ******** ** **** ***** *** ***** ***** ************. ** advice ***** ** ** ** **** **** **** ****, *** generally ******** ********* **** *******, *********, ***** *** **** **** better *** **** ********** *** ******** **** ******** **** & hardware ******* **** *** ********, *********, **** *** ** ***** core ******** ** * ******** ******** ****** **** ******** ***** the **** **** **** **** ***** ***** ********* **.

* **** **** ***** **% ** *** **** **** ** end **** ****** **** **** *** ** ***** *** **** dont, ******** ******* *** ***/******** ******** *** ** ******* *** give *** * ****** *** **** ****** **** ********, ** course ********* *** ** ******** *** **** ******* *** ********* with **** *********** ******** *** ***** **** ********** ******* *** it ****** *****, ** *** ** *** ***** *** ************* then ** ********** ***** *** * ********* ******* **** ***** properly ***** ****, ** ******* * ** * *** ********* 100's ** ***** ***** *** **** ********* *******.

John Honovich

IPVM | 02/11/13 05:17pm

****, ***** ********!

"*** *** *** *** $**!" - *******!

**** ***** ***** ****** ****** ***********. ****** *** ********* ********* why **** ***** ********** ************ *** ** *********** *** **** is ********* * *** *******.

*********** ***** ***** ******* *** *** *******. *** ****, ** you **** **** * *** *** ****, ** ** ****** to *** *** *******, ****** *** *********** ** *********** *** available *** *** *****. *******, ** *** ****** **** ***** to ** ****, *** ****, **'* ****** ** **** *******. The ******** ***** ** **** ******* **** *** **** ****** or ******** ** *** *****. ** ******* ***** ***** **** hundreds ** ********* ** ******** ** *******/******/*****.

Ross Vanderklok

IPVMU Certified | 02/12/13 03:13pm

* *********** **** ********* **** ******* **** ******** *** ** SDK. ** ********* **** *** ** **** * **** ***** now, * **** **** ***** **** "******* *********" **** ***** the ********** ************* * ** ******* ***. * ** **** not ***** ** *** *** ** ** ** ******* **** there *** ***** ******** **** *** *** ***** ******* **** do **** * ****.

*** **** ***** **** ***** ** *** **** **** *** whole *** *** *** ***** ** **** ***** ***** *** something ****, "******** ******** *** ******* ** ***** ******** *** they ****** ***** **** **."

John Honovich

IPVM | 02/12/13 03:24pm

****, **** ******** *** **** ****** *** ***** *** *****.

*** **** ****** * ***** *** ** **** ********* ******* know **** **** *** *******. *** ********, ** *** ****** is ** ********* ** **** ****, ** ***** *** **** of ***** ******* *** ******* **** *** *** ********** ********* that *** ***'* **** *** ***** ********* ******. **'* *** expensive *** ******* ** ****** ** ** *** ***** *** to ****** *** ** ** ** ******* *** ***********.

Col Jones

In reply to John Honovich | 11/19/13 09:33pm

*** **** ** ******* ***** $****** *** ***** $**** :-)

Ross Vanderklok

IPVMU Certified | 02/12/13 04:50pm

***** *** ****** ******* **** **** ******* **** ** ******* the **** ** *** ** *** **** *** #* ** the ***** ********** **** *** ***** ***/*** ****. **** **** had ** **** * ****** *** ***** *** *** **** thing ** ***** ******* *** *** ***** ******. *** **** we **** ***** **** **** **** **** ***** ** ** on ** ****** ******* *** ****, **********, **/**…

Mohammed Ezzat

02/27/14 10:23pm

***** ******* ** **** ******

James Gowan

IPVMU Certified | 05/12/15 11:27am

*** **. *** * ** ***** ******* ******* ** ******* the *****. ****** **** ****** *** ***** ****** ******** ** sell *** * ******. **** ****** * *** ** ****** amazing ***** ** *** ***** ** ***** ***** **** ***** beware. ** ****** ****...**** *** ***** **** **** **** *****, as *** ** *** ****. **** ** ******* ** *** be *** **** ******* **** *** ******.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

12/29/16 01:27pm

***** ********* ** **** ***** ************* *****. * **** * lot ** ****** *** **** ** *** ********** ***, *** often ***** *** ** *** **** *****. ******** * ** working **** ******* ************ ** ** *********** ** ********, ******* them ******** *** ** *** ***** ** ******* * ** actually ******* **** *** ********* ****** * **** ** ** the ****. *** ***** **** ** **** *** **** ********* person ** ***** **** **** *** **** ******.

Kenny Johnson

02/21/17 10:30pm

*** ********* ** *** ** ******** *** ******* ***** ***** APIs?

* **** ** *** ********* ** ** **... **** **** some ***** *********...

*** *******... **** ******** *** ***** **? **** ********* ******** etc...

******

Undisclosed #3

In reply to Kenny Johnson | 02/21/17 10:48pm

***** ***, ******* **** *** *********** *** ******. ***** *** some **** *** *** ************ *** ***** **** ***********.

***** ** **** ******* ** *** ****** *********** *** ***** business ************ ******** ** *** ******** *****. *** **** **** a *** **** ****** ******** ***** ** ******** ****.

**** ****.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #3 | 02/21/17 11:10pm

***** ** **** ******* ** ******************** *** ***** ******** ************ ******** ** *** ******** *****

**** ******** / ************ ******** / **** *** ********* ** SPLUNK?

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