Western DataCom to demonstrate rugged video solution at Cleveland Ingenuity Festival July 13th through the 16th

Westlake, Ohio - Western DataCom (WDC) has been invited to participate in iNGENUiTY, Cleveland Festival of Arts and Technology, July 13th through 16th Downtown Cleveland Ohio. Ingenuity Festival Artista Use Technology to Produce One-of-a-Kind Exhibits and Performances.

Western DataCom will have a portable mast solution from The Willburt Company to demonstrate the portability of its new rugged video solution. The demonstration will show wireless communicaitons using a video enabled 3200 Series Mobile Router integrated with the Western DataCom Intelligent Video Server (IVS). Video will be provided by a thermal camera provided by IEC mounted to the Willburt mast. Onboard video analytics from Object Video will be enabled demonstrating the ability to track and categorize object within the live video stream.

“The region’s art and technology communities have may talented individuals capable of producing unbeleivable work. Ingenuity is committed to the beleif that collaborations between these groups not only make for intriguing exhibits and performances during the festival, but also help strengthen creative bonds throughout Northeast Ohio,” said James Levin, director of the Ingenuity Festival.

“The ruggedness and flexibility of PC/104 has allowed WDC to provide a certain level of customization available to its end users”, said Jeff Sweitzer, VP of Sales for Western DataCom. “The ability to tailor not only hardware but software allows us to fit the solution to the customer and their budget. It’s an extraordinary teaming arrangement.”

Westlake, Ohio - Western DataCom (WDC) introduces the latest addition to the MobileCom family of wireless cellular data only modems, the MobileCom eXpress, wireless PC/104 Plus 3G modem. The MobileCom eXpress incorporates the latest 3G module technology to achieve the highest attainable bandwidths capable today on cellular data networks. The MobileCom eXpress comes in two versions EV-DO and HSDPA allowing it to operate on every carriers 3G network and is backwards compatible to current 2.5 and prior technologies (1xRTT or UMTS/EDGE/GPRS/GSM).

The MobileCom eXpress is also available with custom thermal plates allowing it to be used in a standard Cisco 3200 Rugged Enclosure. The interface connectors have also been design to mate with the Mobile Router using standard cables. The integrated GPS Receiver provides additional service for location tracking and can be provided over serial RS-232 or via Ethernet. The graphical user interface is command line based or web based (optional) to provide configuration, administration and status. Additional features to be introduced later this year include VPN services for secure IP communications.

Our continuing efforts to develop products specifically to enhance the capabilities of the Mobile Router put Western DataCom at the forefront of Mobile IP based product solutions. The MobileCom eXpress is another step forward to fulfilling the needs of the IP mobility community and these continuing efforts allow us to introduce leading edge designs to meet every network challenge.

“WDC continues to develop new products to enhance mobile communications whether used in conjunction with the Cisco 3200 Series Wireless and Mobile Router(s) or in its standalone rugged enclosure the MobileCom eXpress achieves a new level of connectivity for IP networks”, said Philip Ardire, President of Western DataCom. “Not only does it enable applications currently unattainable over lower speed network technologies but it continues to evolve with the release of Rev A.”

Westlake, Ohio - Western DataCom (WDC) in a unique partnership with industry leading technology vendors demonstrated the first rugged DVR to Cook County - Chicago, IL. Using a custom extended 14-slot extrusion Western DataCom integrated the necessary hardware components to demonstrate digital video recording via wireless communications (802.11g). The software portion, a Linux based, custom developed application was used to view live video on a laptop computer using a web interface. Recording was triggered using several sensors tied into the system (emergency lights, siren, etc.).

The successful demonstration has lead to a pilot program and formal productization of the mobile video recorder for official acceptance into the Cook County Shield program. The three major components router, DVR and software were pulled together in a short time and integrated to provide all the necessary functionality in addition to hardening the product to be suitable for use in a wide range of temperature scenarios (-40C to +85C). Official product release is planned for July 4th with first customer shipments occurring later that same month. Our goal was to be fielding product prior to the upcoming NACO (National Association of Counties) convention being held in Chicago in August. A fully operational system will be on demonstration at the Cisco and IBM booths.

The Mobile Video Recorder gives law enforcement agencies the ability to monitor all critical areas of the daily duties police officers encounter while on patrol. Video is recorded and stored on board of all activities that are deemed necessary, maintaining constant communications is another key aspect of the MVR. Utilizing wireless hotspots and cellular data services the patrol vehicle is in continuous communications with headquarters.

“The ruggedness and flexibility of PC/104 has allowed WDC to provide a certain level of customization available to its end users”, said Jeff Sweitzer, VP of Sales for Western DataCom. “The ability to tailor not only hardware but software allows us to fit the solution to the customer and their budget.” “It’s an extraordinary teaming arrangement.”

Las Vegas, NV - ISC West (April 7, 2006) - ObjectVideo®, the leader in intelligent video, announced today its partnership with Western DataCom, a leader in the design and manufacture of communications equipment for security. Western DataCom has just launched the IVS PC/104 Intelligent Video Server Card, incorporating ObjectVideo OnBoard™ intelligent analytic software and designed specifically for the Cisco Systems 3200 Series Wireless Mobile Router. Additionally, the Western DataCom IVS PC/104 Intelligent Video Server Card has met the Cisco Technology Developer Program test criteria for interoperability with the Cisco 3200 Series Wireless Mobile Router.

Western DataCom’s IVS PC/104 card, is powered by a Mango DSP multimedia platform (www.mangodsp.com) and fully supports all intelligent functionality of ObjectVideo OnBoard, which detects, classifies and tracks objects in a video surveillance application, and generates real time alerts if any object violates rules established by the end user.

The events detected by ObjectVideo OnBoard not only provide real-time alert notification, but also can be used to dynamically manage the distribution and quality of digital video streamed from the router. This allows customers to maximize the use of multiple intelligence applications, while minimizing the bandwidth burden placed on their network by the use of real-time video.

“This technology has gone from concept to market in six short months, providing an ideal solution for customers who needed to secure areas or perimeters where running cable and wire is not possible,” said Brian Eckert, vice president of sales & marketing for ObjectVideo. “The demand for this product is high and we are pleased it is now available through Western DataCom.”

The combined technologies will help customers proactively address threats, improve security planning, and enhance their overall effectiveness in security efforts.

“Bringing ObjectVideo OnBoard technology onto the IVS PC/104 enables us to offer a product today, that will meet the demands of those who understand the value of intelligence on the router to bring video where needed for swift action,” said Phil Ardire, president of Western DataCom.

“We understand the growing need for innovative and effective security solutions,” said Dr. Hugo Vliegen, senior manager—market development for Cisco. “Cisco Systems is driving an ecosystem around intelligent video for the 3200 Series Wireless Router to ensure our customers have leading edge networked surveillance and monitoring solutions. This ObjectVideo OnBoard-equipped product from Western DataCom is a strong example of companies coming together to take advantage of the strengths of the Cisco 3200 Series - Cisco IOS, security, high performance and Mobile IP on a rugged mobile and wireless platform in response to market requirements.”

The Cisco Technology Developer Program sets criteria for interoperability testing and helps leading product and services firms to deploy innovative business solutions. The program provides enterprise or service provider customers with information regarding Cisco Technology Developer Partner products and services that the Cisco Technology Developer Partner believes meet the program’s criteria for interoperability with Cisco networking technology.

About Western DataCom
Western DataCom has been in business since 1982, providing cryptographic data communication solutions to the US military and to civilian agencies. Western DataCom manufactures IP encryptors, CDMA/GSM cellular modems, GPS receivers, intelligent video servers and WAN compression equipment. Western DataCom is an Advanced Technology Partner of Cisco Systems and the Company’s products compliment the Cisco 3200 series of mobile Routers and wireless equipment. Integrated Cisco/Western DataCom equipment has been deployed in the Global War on Terror in Afghanistan,Iraq and for disaster recovery operations after hurricane Katrina. Western DataCom markets and sells its products through its Key Partner program that includes system integrators and LAN/WAN system design companies. In 2005, Western DataCom received a NASA TGIR award for its contribution toward integrating a Cisco Mobile Router into a satellite that was launched and is now orbiting the earth. This earth sciences satellite can be commanded, via the Internet, to take specificallyrequested pictures of the earth.
http://www.western-data.com/

About ObjectVideo
ObjectVideo® provides intelligent video technology products for the protection of critical infrastructure and high-risk environments such as borders, airports, seaports, oil refineries, chemical and nuclear plants and water treatment facilities. Based on patented computer vision technology, ObjectVideo’s software is deployed in more than 170 locations in eight countries, including Iraq, where the U.S. Marines use it to protect soldiers in forward-operating bases. ObjectVideo provides a variety of markets with an advanced ability to detect, classify, track and analyze video data, allowing end users to proactively address threats, improve security planning and enhance overall effectiveness. ObjectVideo markets and sells its products through a Video Intelligent Partner (VIP) program of OEMs, integrators and leading security companies on digital media processor and server platforms. ObjectVideo is the recipient of the Wall Street Journal’s Technology Innovation Award and Frost & Sullivan’s Excellence in Technology Award.

Originating Technology/ NASA Contribution

When NASA needed help better securing its communications with orbiting satellites, the Agency called on Western DataCom Co., Inc., to help develop a prototype Internet Protocol (IP) router - view article.

Westlake, Ohio-based Western DataCom designs, develops, and manufactures hardware that secures voice, video, and data transmissions over any IP-based network. The technology that it jointly developed with NASA is now serving as a communications solution in military and first-response situations.

Partnership

In early 2000, Glenn Research Center approached Western DataCom to develop the prototype IP router. This was part of NASA’s “IP in Space” initiative, which looked to employ commercial off-the-shelf products to support reliable, fast, and secure communications between NASA and its orbiting satellites. The company signed a Space Act Agreement with Glenn and delivered a prototype device that met the three requirements set by the NASA research center, namely speed, security, and reliability. The router employed advanced data-compression techniques (to improve throughput and meet the speed requirement) and encryption (to meet the security requirement), and operated with commercial protocols (to meet the reliability requirement).Because of the work it had done for Glenn, Western DataCom was approached by Cisco Systems, Inc., in 2001, to participate in the development of an IP encryptor for the Cisco Mobile Access Router (3200 Series), for military use. According to Western DataCom, it offered Cisco two distinct advantages: 1) Western DataCom had leading encryption and compression technologies, from working with NASA, as well as the National Security Agency; and 2) Western DataCom code developers possessed the military clearances needed to perform the work required. Cisco created its “Advance Technology Partner” classification and named Western DataCom the first of such partners. Cisco also joined Western DataCom in working with Glenn to develop the reliable, fast, and secure mobile router system for military and first-response use.

The technology was not commercially available at the time that the September 11 attacks took place, but will prove invaluable to emergency and rescue personnel in averting any potential future threats.

Product Outcome

In the hours and days after September 11, communications between first responders and emergency-management officials from Federal, state, and local agencies were severely disrupted. New York City’s Emergency Operations Center, designed to coordinate rescue efforts in a major terrorist attack, was housed in the 47-story “7 World Trade Center” building and destroyed.The World Trade Center was a node of central communications for all forms of voice and data traffic and was utilized by business and private customers, as well as the city’s first responder and emergency-management agencies. Communications systems for the police and fire departments were temporarily disabled as a result of the damage caused by the collapsing of the building and senior emergency-management officials were unable to contact first responders in the early hours of the tragedy.

Because police and firefighters could not communicate directly with each other, many firefighters within striking distance of safety never received a police warning on the impending collapse of the South Tower. A report from the University of New Hampshire* concluded that this lack of interoperability between the police and fire communications systems were “at least, partially responsible for the loss of 343 firefighters at the World Trade Center.”

Much of New York City’s landline and cell phone infrastructure was also damaged or destroyed during the attacks. Moreover, the disaster generated so much communications traffic in and around the city that the remaining intact landline, cellular, and two-way pager systems became too congested to be of use to first responders and emergency-management personnel. The experiences of September 11 have driven many organizations and individuals to realize that new communications systems are needed to secure our country and improve our ability to respond to terrorist attacks. In addition, the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq have broadened the need to provide a mobile, interoperable, and secure communications system solution for the U.S. military and first responder personnel, such as U.S. Army National Guard, firefighters, police, and emergency medical services (EMS). In 2004, the secure mobile router system co-developed by Western DataCom and NASA was successfully used by the Army for an aerostat (balloon)-based radar, called the Persistent Threat Detection System, in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The system permits military technical operations centers (TOCs) in Iraq to send secure, high-speed voice, video, and data communications to the field through tactically deployed mobile units. This was the first use, during war, of technology enabling TOCs and mobile units to send secure voice, video, and data communications, according to Western DataCom. First responders from Cook County, Illinois; the New York Port Authority; and the New Jersey Port Authority are currently utilizing the company’s secure system in preparation for natural or man-made disasters. Also, in 2004, Western DataCom developed a secure-communications modem to be utilized primarily by first responders for homeland defense operations. These products were successfully deployed during the Republican National Convention and the presidential inauguration. Recently, Western DataCom received a $100,000 Glenn Alliance for Technology Exchange (GATE) award from Glenn and Battelle, an organization that helps bring NASA technology to companies outside the traditional aerospace industry. The award, in the form of $50,000 in cash and $50,000 in Glenn engineering time, will be used to design a small personal computer encryptor card for commercial markets. This card is anticipated to act as a shield outside of a computer, protecting its hard drive from outside “attacks,” such as worms and viruses, as well as “middle-man” and “spoofing” threats. (A “middle-man” is someone who unwittingly spreads a virus by simply opening or forwarding an e-mail, while “spoofing” is a technique used to gain unauthorized access to computers. A user receives e-mail that appears to have originated from one source when it actually was sent from another source, in an attempt to trick the user into releasing sensitive information.) The two NASA engineers assigned to this project have experience with Western DataCom, in that they were involved with the 2000-2001 “space router” project that culminated in the basic technology platform utilized in the company’s current encryptor product line.

Once the commercial personal computer card is operational, Western DataCom plans to design a top-secret military version. The company intends to have the commercial card designed and operating, and to have work started on the military version, by the end of 2005.

*Lund, Donald A., The Lessons of Non-Interoperability in Public Safety Communication Systems. University of New Hampshire, April 2002.