Legal

ISONAS Expands Patent Protection Within Pure IP Access Control

Posted by dtaitano 5:52 am Categories: Access Control, Legal. Tags: , , , , .

In August 2010 ISONAS was issued a patent pivotal to the fast growing and emerging market of IP access control.  Patent 7,775,429 covers aspects relating to one or more of the following features: 1. The ability for a reader/controller to make decisions “locally” at the edge, while still having the ability to program permissions for all access points “centrally”.   This allows the completely panel-less access control system to continue working when the network is down, and it allows a large number of readers to have their permissions determined by rules set up centrally, often by Microsoft Active Directory.  2. Powering the reader, electric strike and other devices at the door via Power over Ethernet.   PoE dramatically reduced cost and complexity of installation because no additional electricity is required at the access point. 3. Managing system configuration via a web interface.   Decentralizing credential management, and creating lock-down scripts accessible to more than just a system administrator requires access via the internet.  We are proud to announce that ISONAS was issued patent #8,662,386 in early March 2014 that significantly expands the reach of our patented Pure IP solution.  ISONAS is the leader and innovator in Pure IP access control.  Visit our website at www.ISONAS.com to learn more about how your organization can be part of the proven revolution. ISONAS.  We’re revolutionizing access control with one simple solution. Come see us at ISC West .  We will be exhibiting and presenting with Milestone in booth 20060 and IP Video in […]

Biometrics May Be Banned In Florida Schools, But Flourish Elsewhere

Posted by dtaitano 6:20 am Categories: Biometrics, Legislation, Privacy. Tags: , , , .

Breaking Tampa Bay, Florida and national news and weather from Tampa Bay Online and The Tampa Tribune | TBO.com Politics Boca Ciega High School in Gulfport is one of 10 schools in the nation using biometric scanning technology. LUKE JOHNSON/STAFF BY JAMES L. ROSICA Tribune/Scripps Capital Bureau Published: March 9, 2014 TALLAHASSEE — State lawmakers are moving speedily to ban its use on schoolchildren, but the use of biometric identification isn’t going away. Biometrics uses physical characteristics that can be measured — fingerprints, irises, voices — to identify a person. At its most basic, even a photo ID badge is a biometric identifier. The example now causing a ruckus is in Pinellas County. Schools there use palm scanners to authorize withdrawals from pre-paid accounts, moving lunch lines faster and giving students more time to eat. That ruckus, however, so far has been stirred by legislators, not parents. State Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, says she caught wind of the practice and grew alarmed. She also knew about Polk County schools scanning children’s eyes to track comings and goings on school buses. “What are we doing in government in terms of taking biometric information?” she said, mentioning her concern that the information could be breached and used for identity theft. “I think a ban is definitely the way to go,” she said, “I want to protect school kids.” Beyond the security fears and Big Brother-type anxiety, advocates say biometric authentication simply exists to answer the question: Are you who you […]

Camera Facial Recognition Program Put On Hold For Osaka Train Station

Posted by dtaitano 5:56 am Categories: Privacy, Video Analytics.

2014-03-07 23:33:08 National Mar. 08, 2014 – 06:40AM JST ( ) OSAKA — A plan by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NIICT) to implement high-tech camera software inside the Osaka train station building sometime next month has been delayed due to opposition from a local civic group Follow-up report to me Any reported complete Just news photo Just video . NHK reported Friday that the group opposes the use of software capable of tracking individuals’ movements, and facial recognition photography because it is an invasion of individual privacy. According to the plan, 90 cameras were scheduled to be installed in Osaka Station City with the object of tracking pedestrian traffic and congestion inside the station, and even assisting in evacuation efforts during times of disaster over a two-year period.  The NIICT said it had informed the public that the cameras’ photographic capabilities will only be used to capture overall pedestrian traffic, never any one person’s facial features, in particular. Any information outside of those parameters would not be stored or used in any way.  Despite this assurance, however, many university professors and other members of the civic group said that filming passersby in crowded public areas without their permission is something they could not support. The group submitted petitions to both JR West and the NIICT. The NIICT said it has taken the widespread opposition and criticism into consideration and a committee of specialists is being formed to conduct an investigation into how the camera software […]

Troy NY Proposal Says Cops Can’t Stop People Videotaping Them

Posted by dtaitano 4:09 pm Categories: Law Enforcement, Privacy. Tags: , , , .

Troy City police officers would face a fine and jail time if they to stop people from legally photographing or filming them under an ordinance created by the City Council’s Public Safety Committee . Councilman Robert Doherty , the committee chairman, said the law would be drafted and presented in the months ahead. The proposed ordinance arises from two police brutality lawsuits filed against the city in U.S. District Court by James Fahey and Brian Houle . "No longer will we have citizens brutally attacked for photographing or witnessing police activity, such as happened with Mr. Foley and allegedly, Mr. Houle," Doherty said in a statement at the committee meeting Wednesday. "The administration and police leadership are now on notice that any citizen is authorized and encouraged to witness, photograph and attest to police conduct at any time they choose without interference," Doherty said. "To assure this right is advanced with enthusiasm in a clear, enforced policy, I will seek to enact an ordinance to affect this in Troy," Doherty said. The city settled its lawsuit with Foley for $90,000. Houle’s $3 million lawsuit against the city is stilling pending. An attempt to resolve Houle’s suit in February through mediation was unsuccessful, according to federal court records. The proposed ordinance would carry a maximum $5,000 fine and a jail term of up to 15 days for an officer found guilty of violating it. The proposed law comes as the city deals with the fallout of the melee between police […]