In recent years, with the deepening of research and application of Internet of Things technology, Internet of Things applications have expanded to multiple fields in the security industry. The increase in materials and types of sensors for various systems such as CCTV monitoring, security alarm, access control, and smart home, as well as the improvement of technology, have led to an increase in the application of RFID sensors. So, what is the relationship between the Internet of Things and security?

1 What is the Internet of Things?

The Internet of Things is to connect all items with the Internet through information sensing equipment to achieve intelligent identification and management. Its meaning is a network that connects any item to the internet for information exchange and communication according to the agreed protocol through information sensing equipment such as radio frequency identification technology, infrared sensor technology, global positioning system technology, laser scanner technology, to achieve intelligent identification, positioning, tracking, monitoring and management. The Internet of Things is not about understanding the vast world, but about allowing you to touch and feel the vast world.

In real life, telephone communication networks are networks where people communicate and connect with each other. A sensor network is the interconnection of sensors between objects, and it is a network of perception. The internet is a virtual information space and a network for information sharing. These three are the networks for information transmission, information perception, and information sharing. The Internet of Things is the integration of the three. It combines sensors, network intelligent terminals and the internet to realize the perceivable interconnection of the world. By embedding and equipping various sensors such as image, temperature, humidity, infrared, smoke, gas, etc. into various objects or environments, the information of objects and environments is combined with the internet system through intelligent networked terminals to achieve the integration of human society and physical systems.

2 Is the Internet of Things born for the security industry?

From the above definition of the Internet of Things, we can see that it seems to be born for the security industry. For example, the Internet of Things has a wide range of applications, covering multiple fields such as intelligent transportation, environmental protection, government work, public safety, smart home, intelligent fire protection, industrial monitoring, elderly care, personal health, etc. Any of these concepts seems to be closely related to the word “security”. The Internet of Things will undoubtedly bring endless business opportunities to the security industry, which is almost beyond doubt.

3 Security does not equal the Internet of Things

The security industry has undergone an upgrade from the traditional analog era to digital security, and has gone through the integration of IP, as well as communication and IT technologies. The security system has gone through a growth process from several devices and wires connected to local networking, to multi-level networking and remote management. Today’s security system is no longer just a simple video surveillance system. The security system has expanded into an intelligent comprehensive management platform that can integrate business management, data transmission, video, alarm, and control from various industries, and can store, intelligently analyze, and call massive amounts of data. The open, scalable, and inclusive characteristics of the security intelligent comprehensive management platform determine that the security industry will definitely undertake the mission of achieving the development of the Internet of Things.

The relationship between the Internet of Things and security is so close, but security does not equal the Internet of Things. Existing security companies may not necessarily be able to smoothly upgrade to Internet of Things security. The core of the Internet of Things is perception and application. Security needs to meet the perception needs of the Internet of Things, and must also innovate in multiple aspects. Without innovation, it cannot be deeply and widely applied in the Internet of Things. The innovation of security in the era of the Internet of Things mainly includes the following aspects:

• Technological innovation. To achieve intelligent recognition, analysis, and retrieval of videos.
• Program innovation. As the core application part of the Internet of Things, security technology must be integrated with other sensor technology, network transmission technology, computer and storage technology. Cloud storage and cloud computing also need to be designed at the top level according to the application of the Internet of Things.
• Software platform innovation. Implement multiple access, data integration analysis and presentation, being able to provide analysis and implement event forwarding, can provide early warning, early detection, early processing, reduce risks, and even provide some contingency plans through analysis and judgment.
• Application innovation. Integrate security and other information subsystems to achieve new applications.

4 Intelligent Security and Internet of Things

(1) Intelligent security is based on the development needs of the Internet of Things. The application of its products and technologies in the implementation process of the Internet of Things is a high-end extension of the security application field. It can be said that the essence of the Internet of Things is intelligence. The Internet of Things provides applicable technological connotations for intelligent security at the three levels of application, transmission, and perception, which means it provides a comprehensive and systematic solution to an industry that was not very standardized. Intelligent security has the following characteristics:

• Perceived networking. We need to set up networking to achieve data collection across all regions, objects, and features.
• Data integration. When collecting data, compare the data.
• Satisfy applications with a large amount of information.
• Association fusion. This is not only achieved through technology, but also by improving correlation and enhancing the overall application level of users.

(2) Internet of Things security refers to the security system with intelligent and integrated terminal products, which can connect multiple wireless sensors, transmit alarm images and information through the internet, and monitor and alarm services on the network platform. The new generation of Internet of Things security products have small size, low cost, and integrate various functions such as monitoring, image analysis, intelligent processing, front-end storage, alarm sound, and active alarm. They can connect multiple sensors and operate independently of the computer. Therefore, the implementation of Internet of Things security technology is reflected in the intelligence of security.

5 The difference between the Internet of Things and security

Among the three major elements of the Internet of Things, the most core is perception, which is the front-end sensor part. In general, sensors include devices such as RFID, various sensing detectors, data acquisition devices, etc. Video capture devices with intelligent video analysis capabilities are essentially more intuitive and intelligent sensors. It can perceive the targets and their behaviors within the video scene through intelligent video analysis technology. With the development of intelligent video analysis and automatic recognition technology, video perception will become the most important perception technology and one of the most important technologies in the information perception layer of the Internet of Things.

However, in the core system of intelligent security – the video monitoring system, the video perception system is the most important component of the Internet of Things perception system. The Internet of Things collects data through front-end perception systems, aggregates data through transmission networks, and realizes the application of massive perception data. At the same time, it also promotes the gradual transformation of security systems from simple security monitoring to industry security and visual management. The system architecture has also evolved from a simple isolated system to a comprehensive management platform closely related to the business.

From the current perspective, several major categories of intelligent security products involve sensor technology. For example, cameras are essentially the collection points of information, while encoding devices are the transformation points of information digitization. Together, they complete the first step of the Internet of Things, which is the application of CCD sensor technology. Alarm products mainly use infrared sensor technology. The comprehensive IT and internet based security industry, that is, after the IP based architecture, technology and system, will also use the internet, 3G, 4G and other methods for signal transmission, corresponding to the transmission layer of the Internet of Things.

When facing Internet of Things applications, intelligent security solutions need to solve the problems of analyzing, storing, and transmitting massive video data. They will combine intelligent video analysis technology, cloud computing, and cloud storage technology to develop solutions suitable for Internet of Things architecture. In the construction of the Internet of Things, only building a basic application platform is not useful, and only building an operation platform is also not useful. Large operators and platform suppliers all do things that are common, personalized can achieve specific applications, and basic application subsystems must also be built. Intelligent security achieves local intelligence, local sharing, and local feature sensing. It is precisely because of the current locality that this local information provides a space for the application of Internet of Things technology in the field of intelligent security.

So far, the vast majority of understanding and applications of intelligent video analysis are still focused on motion object detection (perimeter intrusion prevention), with a small number of applications involving target recognition and video optimization, and the application has not yet achieved breakthroughs. What kind of application is the market space for intelligent video analysis technology? From the perspective of Internet of Things applications, it is easy to get an answer to this question. The data and information that intelligent video analysis technology can perceive can be used to expand the application direction of this data and information. The massive information contained in video data is not only used in the field of security, but can also be used in many areas of people’s livelihood services such as city management, traffic guidance, commercial analysis, smart homes, etc. We will continue to explore the expansion of intelligent video analysis technology from the security field to the service field, and there have been many successful applications.

It takes video information as the “object”, and by assigning IP addresses, the video information originally scattered in various departments and units is transmitted through the Internet of Things and centralized on a city management platform, forming a unified “person” (platform operator) and “object”. It integrates the smart city video monitoring system, intrusion alarm service platform, access control, fire alarm system, smart home, smart building, remote healthcare, remote care, and other industry applications, including finance, education, justice, environmental protection, etc. into the business management platform. The city intelligent monitoring service platform based on the Internet of Things will bring opportunities to the industry, not just security.

6 Intelligent security applications based on the Internet of Things

There are many entry points for the Internet of Things and intelligent security, and data collection is the most basic work of intelligent security and the Internet of Things. How to make the collected data have intelligent perception in the environment of connected objects is a hot topic in the field of security. It will take time to delve deeper into the application, but one thing is certain: many intelligent security applications are not within the scope of the Internet of Things. However, looking at the Internet of Things in intelligent security applications, there are still some trajectories to follow.

At present, the main application directions of the Internet of Things include the application of security products in smart homes, intelligent transportation, remote healthcare, smart campuses, and many other areas, and even many applications are achieved through traditional security products. For example, intelligent transportation. Currently, the main application of the Internet of Things is parking payment, and vehicle flow management and vehicle violation management are all achieved through video surveillance systems in security systems. Video surveillance plays a major role in intelligent transportation applications, and the Internet of Things is only an auxiliary role. However, in the future, with the popularization of the Internet of Vehicles, the Internet of Things will gradually occupy a dominant position in intelligent transportation, and video surveillance will still transform into an important auxiliary role.

As for the intelligent security of buildings, the Internet of Things has great potential. At present, many cities have started to adopt Internet of Things technology security systems for new anti-theft windows. Unlike traditional fence style anti-theft windows, ordinary people can hardly see this anti-theft window from a distance of 15 meters. When they approach, they will find that the window is covered with a thin net, composed of thin steel wires spaced 5 centimeters apart, and connected to the network alarm monitoring platform. Once the steel wire is strongly impacted or cut, the system will immediately sound an alarm. From a firefighting perspective, this new type of anti-theft window is also convenient for residents to escape and receive assistance. In fact, it is also the perimeter prevention of the security system. The difference is that the front-end product manufacturing adopts new technologies and materials, and the handling of alarm events still requires the alarm monitoring center to achieve.

7 Internet of Things and smart home

Smart home is an efficient, comfortable, safe, convenient, and environmentally friendly living environment that combines architecture, network communication, information appliances, and equipment automation, integrating systems, structures, services, and management. Smart home can also be defined as a process or system that utilizes advanced computer technology, network communication technology, and comprehensive cabling technology to organically integrate various subsystems related to home life. Through coordinated management, it makes home life more comfortable, safe, and effective.

Smart home connects various devices in the home (such as home appliances, lighting systems, curtain controls, home security system, etc.) through Internet of Things technology to solve problems such as safety precautions, environmental regulation, lighting management, health monitoring, home appliance control, emergency services, etc. Compared with ordinary home applications, smart homes not only have traditional living functions, but also provide comfortable, safe, high-quality, and pleasant home living spaces. It has also transformed from a passive static structure to a tool with active intelligence, providing comprehensive information exchange functions, helping families maintain information exchange with the outside world, optimizing people’s lifestyles, helping people effectively arrange time, enhancing the safety of home life, and even saving various energy costs.

As one of the applications of Internet of Things products, automated homes are no longer passive buildings. On the contrary, they have become tools to help owners make the most of their time, making homes more comfortable, safe, efficient, and energy-efficient.

The composition of smart home systems cannot be separated from four major product combinations: home automation, home networking, network appliances, and information appliances. Home automation refers to the use of micro-processing electronic technology to integrate or control electronic and electrical products or systems in the home, such as lighting, coffee ovens, computer equipment, security systems, heating and cooling systems, video and audio systems, etc. The home automation system mainly uses a central microprocessor to receive information from related electronic and electrical products, such as changes in external environmental factors such as changes in light caused by the sun’s initial rise or sunset, and then sends appropriate information to other electronic and electrical products through a predetermined program. The central microprocessor must control electrical products in the home through many interfaces, which can be keypads, touch screens, buttons, computers, telephones, remote controls, etc. Users can send signals to or receive signals from the central microprocessor. Home automation is an important system in smart homes. When smart homes first emerged, home automation was even equivalent to smart homes, and today it remains one of the core components of smart homes.

When you are outside, a text message can make your home automatically cook or turn on the air conditioning and water heater. In a smart home environment, when you return home, as the door lock is opened, the security system in the house automatically disarms, the corridor lights up, the air conditioning and fresh air system automatically start, and your favorite background symphony plays softly. At home, all electrical appliances can be controlled with just one remote control. Every night, all the curtains will automatically close at a scheduled time. Before falling asleep, on the panel next to the bed, you can touch the “Good Night” mode to control all the indoor lights and electrical equipment that need to be turned off. At the same time, the security system will automatically turn on and be in an arming state.

So why is smart home smart? Technically speaking, the main function that smart homes need to achieve is to control, adjust, and monitor white household appliances and other devices, such as microwaves, washing machines, lighting, electric curtains, intrusion alarms, automatic door, smoke detectors, harmful gas detection devices, temperature and humidity controllers, air volume regulators, various manual switches and remote controls, etc. The information channel for communication between black appliances and other video devices, as well as with the external world, including desktop/handheld computers, televisions, recorders/cameras, VCD/DVDs, and digital cameras. At the same time, they can also be controlled and monitored. All of this is achieved through external interfaces for remote control and information exchange, such as telephone lines, cable TV cables, power supply lines, twisted pair cables, and wireless communication methods.

In terms of security, the application of Internet of Things in smart home functions involves:

• Wireless smart locks linked with smartphones
• Wireless door contacts for protecting doors and windows
• Wireless smart drawer locks for protecting important drawers
• Wireless PIR motion sensors for preventing illegal intrusion
• Wireless gas detectors for preventing gas leakage
• Wireless smoke and fire detectors for fire prevention losses
• Solar powered all wireless electronic fences for preventing wall climbing
• Wireless flood detectors for preventing water leakage.

8 Widely used, the current benefits for integrators are not significant

The Internet of Things, as a new term, has attracted public attention, but in reality, it is just a different term. It is understood that many software developers have long been working on software related to the Internet of Things.

Industry experts analyze that the benefits of the Internet of Things to sensor manufacturers and Internet of Things system solution providers are quite significant. From the perspective of the industry chain, in the application of the Internet of Things, two types of manufacturers benefit the most significantly: one is the underlying sensor manufacturer, and the other is the Internet of Things system solution provider. Sensor manufacturers benefit mainly due to the huge demand for sensors in the promotion of industry applications.

Experts believe that the application of the Internet of Things still faces bottlenecks such as cost, technology, policies, and user barriers. From the current situation, environmental protection, security, intelligent transportation, agriculture, and medical promotion are the most likely, while the popularization of Internet of Things applications for enterprises and individuals still requires a relatively long time. Experts say that if everyone is working on this architecture, the “quantity” of the Internet of Things will gather, and informatization will be easier to achieve. With the development of the Internet of Things, system integrators are facing a new round of opportunities and challenges.