What is DVNP?

For many years, organisations have shared CCTV systems using legacy TV Network Protocol (TVNP) designed around sharing analogue CCTV signals. However, this is being replaced by Digital Video Network Protocol (DVNP), which supports IP-based CCTV system interoperability. DVNP is the new protocol allowing organisations to share access to their surveillance systems.

How does DVNP differ from TVNP?

TVNP was originally developed by Transport for London (TfL) to allow the Metropolitan Police, Highways England and TfL control rooms to share CCTV. While it is widely used, it is only suitable for sharing analogue footage.

However, the rise of IP cameras and initiatives like the Open Network Video Interface Forum (ONVIF) improved digital video standardisation has opened the door to a standard protocol for sharing digital CCTV. This is how DVNP was born.

Why do we need it?

Open architecture protocols allow different technologies to talk to each other, regardless of the manufacturer. For example, organisations can combine legacy equipment with new technology, even from a different manufacturer. More than this, it enables integration with external systems.

Organisations often want to share their CCTV streams and even allow some control over cameras but don’t want to share access to their entire security and surveillance solution. For situations like this, DVNP allows different organisations to work more closely together to enhance public safety and security.

How does it work?

The organisation sharing its CCTV is known as the broadcaster. It can share video streams or video streams and control cameras with the receiving system. The broadcaster can also choose which cameras to share and for how long. For increased collaboration, an organisation can both broadcast and receive footage at the same time.

What are the benefits?

DNVP is scalable and secure and can be implemented at a lower cost than previous network protocols. The broadcaster can share as many cameras with stakeholders’ systems as they choose, providing they have enough bandwidth.

Has DNVP been used before?

Synectics’ Synergy security and surveillance software integrated DVNP during the 2022 Commonwealth Games to give the traffic-focused surveillance team access to live footage from approximately 450 cameras operated by Highways England. This ensured that critical routes for events and incoming visitors were closely monitored as part of the wider event management.

Inter-agency collaboration is critical to major event security, and DNVP enables this. In one of the first collaborations of its kind, Synergy brought together video streams from numerous disparate systems. It provided the framework and specific tools needed to help keep the millions of participants and spectators safe.