MotionCam (PhOD) Jeweller and MotionCam Outdoor (PhOD) Jeweller extend the product line of motion detectors equipped with a photo camera for visual verification of alarms. In addition to taking photos in the event of an alarm, these two new detector models can take photos at the request of the user or when an alarm is triggered by another system device. The PhOD detectors are sold separately and have special labeling on the packaging and in the Ajax apps.

Ajax users can now use updated privacy settings to limit access to visual data in the security system. The new "Privacy" menu can be used to specify when exactly users can request photos (when the system is armed or at any time). It is also possible to specify which users can make such a request, view photos or view video streams from third-party cameras integrated into the system.

The background
Photo verification of alarms has already become standard in the security industry. Motion detectors that visually verify alarms, even if the security system only works via mobile radio and without an external power supply, have established themselves as expected. We see this not only in the feedback from our partners, but also in the growth in sales. Since the market launch of the MotionCam (2019) and MotionCam Outdoor (2021) detectors, the number of devices sold worldwide has reached one million.

In the experience of our customers, these detectors protect houses, hospitals, schools, production facilities, museums and other completely different objects. Some security companies and police departments report a 95% reduction in false alarms thanks to photo verification. MotionCam is not only popular with users, but has also received international recognition from security experts.

These successes are based on the practical function of visual verification and the unreserved trust of users. From the outset, MotionCam detectors only took and transmitted photos in the event of an alarm if they detected movement. The idea was to design the detector's software architecture in such a way that third-party intervention and activation of the camera on request are excluded. The entire process, from activating the camera to displaying a series of photos in the app, is as secure as possible. The visual data is encrypted during transmission and storage, is not processed or analyzed on the server and every detector operation is documented.

Thanks to this concept, the detectors have gained the trust of users, but the photo on alarm function did not seem to be enough. There was an explicit request from the market, especially from the professional sector, for a "photo on request" function.

A professional approach to the photo on demand function
The "photo on demand" feature not only helps end users verify that everything is OK in their facility, but is also designed for broad professional use. The new detectors allow trusted PRO accounts to take photos to verify alarms and review events for monitoring purposes or to configure the camera during installation.

A good example is checking alarms and events in the PRO desktop app. Let's say a single detector or tamper triggers an alarm, or the hub reports a communication or power problem. The relevant PRO user with appropriate photo capture permissions can review the suspicious activity and dispatch a patrol if necessary. In PRO Desktop, the practical floor plans are attached to the setup profile and are available with just a few clicks. The facts of the request for the photo and the deployment of a patrol are logged.

The "photo on demand" function helps to select the most effective detector location when installing a security system. An installer does not even need to fix the MotionCam with a double-sided tape, but can simply hold the detector with one hand, take a photo on demand via the Ajax PRO mobile app and adjust the installation location according to the received photo. The function is also useful if the detector is reconfigured during further operation.

Photo by scenario to confirm other system alarms
With the update to OS Malevich 2.13.1, detectors with PhOD function can take photos when other system devices are triggered, such as fire, leakage or opening detectors, or when a panic button is pressed. By creating a scenario in a few clicks, users and the responsible security service can receive photo confirmations of alarms from those detectors that are located near or within the field of view of the detector with PhOD function.

Thanks to the new "photo by scenario" function, a PhOD detector can make the work of the fire department easier, for example. Triggering FireProtect or FireProtect Plus detectors can automatically activate the camera of the motion detector installed nearby. In just a few seconds, the control center employee can get a clear picture of the actual situation. The city's fire department thus significantly reduces the number of call-outs due to false alarms. There can be numerous similar scenarios for other devices.

The Photo by Scenario feature was developed in response to the demand for the introduction of photo confirmations of fire alarms came from our partners in Norway, where we implemented a joint project to protect a UNESCO World Heritage Site from fires. This is not the first project in which Norwegian know-how has been used to improve fire detection in an Ajax security system. In OS Malevich 2.10, we have jointly implemented the "Delay of paired fire alarms" function in the FireProtect product line.

Complete control of privacy
With MotionCam (PhOD) Jeweller and MotionCam Outdoor (PhOD) Jeweller, we've taken privacy and access to visual data one step further. We have implemented the Privacy menu in the hub settings to allow Ajax users to properly control the "photo on request" feature.

The new menu allows users with administrator rights to define which users have access to photos from detectors and videos from integrated surveillance cameras. A PRO account (e.g. an installer) does not have access to these settings, but the hub administrator can enable them to use the "Photo on request" function. By default, the feature is disabled for all users.

The hub administrator can restrict access to the function depending on the mode of the security system, so that the user can only take photos on request when the detector is armed. The process of taking photos is completely transparent. When a particular detector takes a photo, all users receive a notification and see who took the photo. Importantly, only the users who have access to the photos can view them.

In addition to comprehensive protection for Ajax apps, including passcodes and biometric credentials, two-factor authentication and session control by default, the new "Privacy" menu provides another layer of protection for Ajax security users.

How to use the "Photo on request" function
The function is only available with the new MotionCam (PhOD) Jeweller and MotionCam Outdoor (PhOD) Jeweller detectors. Detectors without PhOD designation do not support this function, regardless of the firmware version.

The updated privacy settings are available with version OS Malevich 2.13 and the following app versions:

Ajax Security System 2.20.1 for iOS
Ajax Security System 2.23.1 for Android
Ajax PRO: Tool for Engineers 1.14.1 for iOS
Ajax PRO: Tool for Engineers 1.14.1 for Android
Ajax PRO Desktop 3.2 for macOS
Ajax PRO Desktop 3.2 for Windows