Array Microsystems Extends Functionality and Performance of Leading Digital Video Surveillance Solution.

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

LOS GATOS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 11, 2000

Sentry Digital Video Surveillance Product

Now Supports 16 Cameras On a Single PCI Board

Array Microsystems, a leading supplier of enhanced digital video solutions for surveillance, conferencing, recording and streaming, announces improved functionality and performance for its Sentry digital video surveillance product. The Sentry's hardware is now even more highly integrated, consuming just a single PCI slot rather than the two slots required of its predecessor, while still supporting up to sixteen cameras. The Sentry Software Development Kit (SDK) combined with the highly integrated Sentry PCI MPEG-1 video encoder hardware provides surveillance system original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) a flexible and solid platform for fast and easy product development.

Because the Sentry can operate with the same video cameras that are currently in use with today's installed base of analog surveillance systems, no changes to a user's infrastructure are required to migrate from their lower quality analog surveillance systems to a digital surveillance system based on Sentry. The Sentry will appeal to three different types of surveillance companies:

-- Those currently only offering analog video surveillance systems who would
like to quickly develop a digital video surveillance solution

-- Those currently without video surveillance products who want to expand their
product line and need a solid platform for fast, low risk development

-- Those currently offering digital video surveillance systems who want to
offer higher quality and greater duration industry standard MPEG-1 video
recording

"We are excited about the market acceptance of our Sentry digital video surveillance solution. It offers surveillance OEMs and system users a wide range of features that analog systems cannot provide, including simultaneous video record and playback, high accuracy motion detection, and high quality video storage and archiving that can be easily searched for specific events," said Paul Smith, president and CEO of Array Microsystems. "Sentry has proved to users of analog surveillance systems that PC-based digital video surveillance systems are dependable and reliable while providing a new level of functionality and flexibility."

The Sentry leverages the highest quality MPEG-1 compression available, enabled by Array's proprietary VideoFLOW(TM) MPEG-1 encoder chipset, to record and store 24 hours of dependable, live multiplexed video in less than 3Gbyte of disk space. Storage requirements vary depending upon the desired video resolution, frame rate and amount of video compression used. This release of Sentry also includes improved DMA performance that allows up to five Sentry boards to be installed on a common PCI bus with no degradation in capture performance, enabling up to 80 cameras to be supported in a single PC.

Full Software Support

The Sentry SDK supports many new features, including a programmable multi-way split screen display of incoming camera video. Users can view 1, 4, 6, 9, 13 or 16 independent cameras simultaneously. Users can also, on a per camera basis, subdivide the camera's image into multiple regions to set motion detection for specific areas of interest. The SDK supports simple integration with other system functions, such as sounding alarms and other tasks.

Pricing and Availability

Shipping this month, with an unchanged MSRP of $1,599, this upgraded Sentry system offers OEMs and users an invaluable tool for developing digital surveillance systems with premium video quality.

About Array Microsystems

Headquartered in Los Gatos, CA., Array Microsystems is a leading supplier of digital video solutions for enhanced video conferencing, recording, surveillance and streaming. Array Microsystems leverages its proprietary VideoFLOW(TM) chipset to offer products that are superior in video quality, value and ease of use. For product and sales information please visit our website at www.array.com or phone us at [phone]

VideoFLOW is a registered trademark, and VideoONE is a trademark by Array Microsystems, Inc. All other products/services and trademarks mentioned in this article are the properties of their respective companies. Products and specifications are subject to change without notice.