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?

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Uniview Low-Cost Bullet PTZ Tested on Jun 21, 2017
Uniview is offering a HD zoom bullet camera, the IPC742SR9-PZ30-32G, with an integrated pan / tilt positioner, for the price of a low-cost...
Resolver / PPM 2000 Incident Management Platform Profile on Jun 20, 2017
You might have seen the company whose employees wear hockey jerseys at trade shows and wondered "what do they do?" PPM 2000 has been active in...
Dahua Demotes USA CEO on Jun 19, 2017
Dahua has demoted their USA CEO Tim Wang. Inside this note, we examine the move, Dahua's challenges and what lies ahead for the...
VMS UI - Light vs Dark Preferences on Jun 16, 2017
Several VMS manufacturers have the ability to choose a user interface with either a light or dark color theme. 150+ integrators told us which they...
Panasonic Sells VSaaS Company To Eagle Eye (Cameramanager) on Jun 15, 2017
While many VSaaS companies might hope for one acquisition, Cameramanager has managed to get acquired twice. First they were acquired by Panasonic,...
Axis 20MP Q1659 Camera Tested on Jun 13, 2017
Axis has joined the super high resolution camera trend with their Q1659, a 20MP model equipped with Canon's APS-C sensor. We tested the Q1659...
NLSS / ATV Partnership Examined on Jun 13, 2017
NLSS has been one of the most ambitious security / surveillance startups. After selling his last startup, Sypixx, to Cisco, Pete...
Non-Competes Divide Integrators on Jun 12, 2017
Non-competes are controversial legal agreements that prohibit parties (typically employees) from working in a similar role or trade of their...
Camera Course Summer 2017 on Jun 08, 2017
Learn video surveillance and get certified. IPVM provides live online classes, recorded videos, personal help, cutting edge education and...
Milestone New "+" Claims To "Conquer The Mid-Market" on Jun 07, 2017
Milestone has declared they are going to "Conquer The Mid-Market" with new "+" releases. Will they? In this report, we examine Milestone's "+"...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Uniview Low-Cost Bullet PTZ Tested on Jun 21, 2017
Uniview is offering a HD zoom bullet camera, the IPC742SR9-PZ30-32G, with an integrated pan / tilt positioner, for the price of a low-cost...
QSR Video Surveillance Best Practices on Jun 21, 2017
Fast food restaurants or QSRs (quick service restaurants), are frequent victims of crime and fraud. Because they are open late, deal with cash, and...
45 Drives 'Lowest Cost' Enterprise Storage Company Profile on Jun 21, 2017
45 Drives claims the "lowest cost per Hard Drive Slot in the industry." But who or what is '45 Drives'? What started as a product design to...
No Hack, Still Liable, Court Finds ADT on Jun 20, 2017
Recently, ADT has been in the news for a $16 million settlement for a cyber security vulnerability class action suit. One of the most important...
Resolver / PPM 2000 Incident Management Platform Profile on Jun 20, 2017
You might have seen the company whose employees wear hockey jerseys at trade shows and wondered "what do they do?" PPM 2000 has been active in...
Axis P3225 Mk II Tested Vs. Original on Jun 20, 2017
Axis has released a number of 'Mk II' versions of their cameras, which are the same fundamental camera but with specific improvements. We tested...
Directory of 40 IP Camera Manufacturer Discovery Tools on Jun 19, 2017
Locating the IP address of a DHCP client or factory defaulted device on a network is often a difficult task.  In another report, we discussed...
Dahua Demotes USA CEO on Jun 19, 2017
Dahua has demoted their USA CEO Tim Wang. Inside this note, we examine the move, Dahua's challenges and what lies ahead for the...
Avigilon Increases Prices In Canada, Europe and UK on Jun 19, 2017
While many video surveillance companies are racing to see who can cut prices the fastest, Avigilon is taking a contrary approach, actually raising...
VMS UI - Light vs Dark Preferences on Jun 16, 2017
Several VMS manufacturers have the ability to choose a user interface with either a light or dark color theme. 150+ integrators told us which they...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact