How Is Data Used To Improve Video Intercom Systems?

New technologies are changing the face of the real estate industry. Smart homes and smart apartments are becoming more prevalent. Property owners are tasked with providing safe, secure, and convenient apartment buildings that tenants can call home. Using IP intercoms can help property owners provide tenants with easy access to their homes while ensuring secure visitor access. Take a look at how IP intercoms work and how they help improve the living experience.

What's an IP Intercom?

An IP intercom is an internet-connected device that transmits audio and video between two parties. IP stands for internet protocol, which is a set of rules for routing and addressing data so that it can travel via the internet to the intended destination. IP intercoms connect via a local area network (LAN) connection or a computer server. Unlike analog systems, IP intercoms use digital technology to transmit larger and more complex data such as video and facial recognition. Modern IP intercoms also connect to a building's electronic or magnetic lock for easy access. Like other smart home appliances, IP intercoms are part of the Internet of Things (IoT). They use built-in sensors and cloud-based computational power to function and ensure that tenants can speak with visitors without interruption or delay.

IoT devices collect a large amount of data daily. The key to leveraging business intelligence within large-scale data collection is having the means to manage data. The best way to do this is to utilize the right modern data architecture. Data-driven businesses rely on data fabrics to manage their data. Data fabric is a data integration and management solution comprising data architecture, data management, and integration software and the shared data that organizations use to manage data.

Data fabrics allow business users to unify all data, align IT with business, and empower remote team members. A successful data fabric implementation provides a distributed data architecture, provides consistent data quality, helps businesses benefit faster from new technologies, saves time and money with streamlined data management and integration capabilities that use artificial intelligence and machine learning, and supports data governance.

How Does an IP Intercom Work?

IP intercoms use the internet to transmit data between a master station and terminals. Master stations are the brains of an IP doorbell system. They communicate with different parts of the building's system, including door-locking mechanisms and terminals used by tenants. Master stations are located at an apartment building's entryway and can include microphones and cameras. Terminals are used by tenants to interact with visitors at the master station and grant visitor access. Terminals previously were found in individual apartments and required wiring throughout the building. With modern technology, an IP terminal can be installed wirelessly.

The integrated video intercom solution for multifamily buildings and offices from Swiftlane offers high security and reliable visitor management. Their video intercom helps reduce delivery theft, decreases the work of front-desk and concierge staff, centralizes multi-building management, and provides secure mobile unlock and face recognition access control. The key features of Swiftlane's video intercom include two-way audio and video intercom calling, remote door unlocking via mobile phone, audio and video call answering via mobile app, real-time security monitoring, secure single-use or multi-use PINs for visitors or deliveries, a central cloud-based dashboard, and real-time visitor arrival notifications.

Technical Workings of IP Intercoms

When a visitor wishes to enter a building with an IP system, they select a tenant from the door station directory. The station sends a signal to the correct terminal via the internet to notify the tenant of their visitor's arrival. Using the terminal to speak with the visitor, the tenant can grant building access.

IP intercoms use organizational protocols to transmit audio and video data. The most popular protocol for audio and video delivery is the session initiation protocol, or SIP. This connection lasts as long as the tenant wants. If the tenant wants to grant visitor access, the terminal sends a different signal to the door station, where the door is electronically unlocked.

In conclusion, data can play a huge part in improving video intercom technology, which is why successful management of data is key.