How Does CHEKT Create Alarm Signals and Video Events?

How Does CHEKT Create Alarm Signals and Video Events?

The CHeKT Video Alarm Bridge can create alarm signals and video events using a few methods.  When the Bridge is used as a component or module of an alarm panel, triggered events can be programmed to only create and upload a video event, leaving the alarm signal transmission in the hands of the on-site alarm system. The information below is designed to help you understand how the Bridge can be triggered to generate an alarm signal and a video event. 

When using video analytics, it is always recommended to program the Bridge to send alarm signals because the on-site alarm system is typically unaware of the video analytic data trigger communicated over the IP network to the Bridge.  The chart below defines each method and the options available for each trigger method.

Trigger Type Trigger Source Bridge Input Method Alarm Code Programming Event FileCreates Event while Disarmed 
Wiring Sensors to Zones on the Bridge
 Physical detectors, relays, Alarm Panel Zones Physical Digital Inputs Alarm Panel or Bridge 20s Video File (10s Pre - 10s Post)
Only for 24-Hour Zone Types
ONVIF Analytic Events
 Cameras or Server Analytics (ONVIF API) Network IP Trigger with ONVIF API Bridge Only 20s Video File (10s Pre - 10s Post)Only for 24-Hour Zone Types
Understanding the 2-Minute Event Request "Rewind"
 Central Station Alarm Automation Software, On-Demand Operator Request Zone Variable in the URL, Manual Request from the Operator in Monitoring Portal None2 Minute Pre Request Video FileYes
API Trigger Request Alarm Automation Software, 3rd Party Integration Local Bridge & Cloud APIs (Links below) Bridge Only 20s Video File (10s Pre - 10s Post) & 2-Minute Video FileBoth

The trigger source for these first two methods is local to the Bridge, and it is recommended that you properly configure the arming and disarming of the Bridge.  All CHeKT sites can be configured to arm and disarm with the on-site alarm panel or by providing the end-user with a mobile app.  
  1. Physical Triggers:  Each Bridge has multiple Digital Input (DI) zones that are assigned to internal camera channels of the Bridge.  When the DI is triggered, a video event file is created and uploaded to the CHeKT cloud platform.  Each DI can be programmed with zone characteristics and alarm reporting codes.
    1. Pros: Precise Event Creation, Inexpensive, Fast & Reliable Alarm Transmission, the alarm signal transmission can come from the alarm panel and the Bridge.
    2. Cons: Learning how to properly wire the Bridge and Alarm Panel Zones, Sync Common Ground with an Alarm Panel.
      1. Wiring the Alarm Panels and Zones to the Bridge
      2. Wiring Sensors to Zones on the Bridge
      3. Adding Cameras to a CHeKT Bridge
      4. The Bridge Zone Types
      5. Understanding the CHeKT Alarm Signals
  2. Video Analytics: Cameras and Video Servers that support ONVIF Event Messaging API with their analytic data can trigger a Bridge camera channel from an analytic event.  This trigger is transmitted over the IP network to a camera mounted on the Bridge.  When communicating video analytics over the network there is not a physical trigger tied to an alarm panel zone, so the Bridge should be programmed to communicate the Video Analytic event trigger as an alarm signal to the central station for an active response.
    1. Pros: Precise Event Creation, Fast Installation Time, Bridge converts analytics to Contact ID alarm codes.
    2. Cons: Expensive, Detection Inaccuracies, Network failure will affect detection and signal delivery. 
      1. Supporting Cameras with Analytics
      2. ONVIF Analytic Events
  1. 2-Minute Event Request: Events can be manually requested by any operator in the CHeKT Video Monitoring Portal or automatically by a supported alarm automation platform with the correct URL parameter. On supported alarm automation platforms, if the system is able to open the CHeKT Video Monitoring portal and add the zone number associated with a specific camera, then the CHeKT cloud will request a 2-minute video from the associated camera. The video event captures the previous 2 minutes from the camera requested. This feature is recommended for all sites with wireless alarm panel zones.  Each stored 2-minute event counts as a single event toward the Video Event Clips on an account.
    1. Pros: Simple Installation, Support for wireless zones sensors
    2. Cons:2-Minute video is less precise than a physical alarm trigger, if the panel has an entry delay, dial delay, or there is a delay in the operator response, the alarm activation could be older than 2 minutes. 
      1. Setting up 2-Minute Event Requests
  1. API Trigger: Using CHeKT APIs to initiated an video alarm event allows integration with 3rd party software solutions to include AI server platforms, access control systems and alarm automation software.
    1. Local Bridge API Trigger: Using a local API request to the Bridge for a specific camera can generate an alarm and video event.  This video event will be available to the operator processing the alarm in the CHEKT Video Monitoring platform. 
      1. API Document: http://external.chekt.click/swagger-ui/
    2. Cloud API Trigger: - Using a cloud API request, a request to CHeKT for a specific site and camera will generate an alarm and video event.  This video event will be available to the operator processing the alarm in the CHEKT Video Monitoring platform.  The API trigger can come from the alarm automation platform or another cloud provider when an alarm is received by an existing alarm system.  With this method, the Bridge does not have to be in an "armed" or "disarmed" condition and zone sensors do not need to be wired to the Bridge. 
      1. API Documents: https://public-apidoc-chekt.web.app/
      2. Site Contact API Document:  https://documenter.getpostman.com/view/14852345/Tz5jg1yD

Related Articles: 
  1. How to Arm/Disarm the Bridge with an alarm panel?
  2. Integrating CHeKT with my central station software?

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