Milestone XProtect - ICX-AlphaCom Integration

Milestone XProtect - ICX-AlphaCom Integration

Introduction

The interface between ICX-AlphaCom (or AlphaCom XE) and Milestone XProtect VMS is through an integration module which is available on the Downloads page of Zenitel Wiki.

This integration requires an Zenitel desktop station or intercom client to be associated with the Milestone Xprotect Client, as SIP audio is routed through ICX-AlphaCom.

This article assumes that the reader is:

• familiar with setup and operation of the Milestone XProtect VMS
• that the Milestone XProtect VMS is operational, with all to the system connected cameras configured

Only points which are specific to this integration and to it connected intercom stations are described.

Licensing

Milestone license

The integration interface does not require a specific license from Milestone.

However, note that Zenitel stations are typically registered as ONVIF devices in xProtect, to e.g. stream and record audio/video from stations. This requires separate station licenses from Milestone.

ICX-AlphaCom

ICX-AlphaCom gateways requires the presence of the appropriate API/OPC license:

• 1002602306 - ILI-API64 - API License Supporting 64 Intercom Stations
• 1002602309 - ILI-API512 - API License Supporting 512 Intercom Stations

Note that the licenses are based on the number of intercom stations, not the number of gateways and servers. Thus, 1 API license can be used across multiple networked ICX-AlphaCom gateways and Milestone servers.

With ICX-AlphaCom it is possible to purchase a single Product Key which covers all stations connected to all ICX-AlphaCom's in a network. Licenses can be stacked, i.e. 1x 1002602306 + 2x 1002602309 gives 1088 API licenses which can be used on 2 or more ICX-AlphaCom's.

AlphaCom XE

AlphaCom XE requires the presence of the appropriate API/OPC license, depending on the number of intercom stations connected to ICX-AlphaCom. Note that every AlphaCom XE in an AlphaNet requires such a license.

• 1009649901 - STENTOFON API License Supporting 40 Stations
• 1009649902 - STENTOFON API License Supporting 80 Stations
• 1009649903 - STENTOFON API License Supporting 160 Stations
• 1009649904 - STENTOFON API License Supporting 240 Stations
• 1009649905 - STENTOFON API License Supporting 320 Stations
• 1009649906 - STENTOFON API License Supporting 400 Stations
• 1009649907 - STENTOFON API License Supporting 552 Stations

Installation

This section describe how to install the integration plugin. It is assumed that the Milestone XProtect VMS has been installed and is running. It is also assumed that the Milestone XProtect VMS has been licensed appropriately.

• When installing (or uninstalling) the plugin all Milestone Clients (Management Client and Smart Client) must be closed.
• The plugin is to be installed on the same machine where the Milestone Xprotect Smart client is.

1. Download the msi setup file from the Downloads section on Zenitel Wiki.
2. Run the setup file, and follow the instructions on the screen
3. When prompted for the installation location, select the Milestone/MIP installation folder (e.g. C:\Program Files\Milestone\MIP).
4. Click "Finish" to complete the installation.
   

Configuration

Basic plugin configuration

1. Open the XProtect Smart Client.
2. Open the "Configuration" window by clicking the "Configuration" Icon button in the toolbar.
3. In the "Configuration" window enter the IP address and port number of your Zenitel intercom system in the "IP Address" and "Port" fields, respectively.
4. Click the "Connect" button and wait for the system to retrieve the list of available devices.
5. Select the operator's device by choosing its directory number from the drop-down list.

Zenitel plugin configuration steps

Associating cameras with devices

1. Open the camera settings window.
2. On the left side, there will be a list of devices registered with ICX-AlphaCom. On the right side, there will be a list of cameras registered within the XProtect system.
3. Click on a device in the left list to select it.
4. Click on an item in the right list to preview the video feed from that camera.
5. To associate a camera with a selected device, click on the checkbox next to the camera's name.
6. Repeat steps 3-5 to associate additional cameras with the selected device.
7. Once satisfied with the configuration, close the camera settings window.
8. Click "Save and Close" on the configuration window to save the changes.

Assign camera to a station

Using the Call Handler

The Zenitel Call Handler (ICX-AlphaCom) plugin can be used for two scenarios: initiating calls and answering incoming calls.

Initiating Calls

In XProtect Smart Client on the Zenitel Audio tab select a device you wish to call and click on the green "Answer/Call" button.
A popup window will be displayed showing the active call, along with a video preview from an associated camera.

Popup window displaying the active call and associated camera

Answering Queued Calls

1. When there is an incoming call, a popup window will be displayed showing the queued call, along with a video preview from an associated camera.
2. To answer the call, click the green "Answer/Call" button.
3. If there is an active call, the Call Handler will automatically hang up the active call and answer the incoming call.
4. If there are multiple queued calls, they will be displayed in order of priority. To answer a specific queued call, simply click on the green "Answer/Call" button.

Popup window displaying the active call and his associated camera with two queued calls

Using the Popup Window

• The popup window displays the active call (if it was initiated by the operator) or a list of queued calls, along with a video preview from an associated camera.
• The popup window will display the camera feed from the first associated camera of the active call (if present) or if there are no active calls, the first queued device-associated camera will be displayed.
• To manually switch the camera video feed to any active or queued device, select the desired device from the dropdown list in the popup window.
• To hang up the active call, click the red "Hang-Up" button.
• To answer a queued call, click the green "Answer/Call" button.
• If there are multiple queued calls, they will be displayed in order of priority. To answer a specific queued call, select it from the dropdown list in the popup window.

Previous versions

For configuration of previous versions of the plugin go to:

• Milestone Xprotect - ICX-Alphacom Integration (Zenitel Call Handler) or
• Milestone Xprotect - ICX-Alphacom Integration (VS-Milestone Plugin)