Calipsa, a provider of deep-learning powered video analytics for false alarm reduction, announced that Edmonton, Alberta-based GPS Security Group is using its false alarm filtering platform. GPS, which offers a complete range of security services across Alberta, British Columbia and other parts of Western Canada, is the third Canadian central monitoring station to adopt the cloud-based Calipsa technology.

Calipsa’s software uses artificial intelligence with deep learning technology to recognize genuine alarms caused by human or vehicle movement. More than 90% of notifications resulting from nuisance factors such as animals, lighting, weather or foliage are filtered out, helping operators reduce their response times to genuine threats.

A platform dashboard enables station managers to monitor the software’s performance, including detecting idle cameras that may need replacement or moving to a better position.

Click here to learn more about Calipsa’s false alarm reduction platform.

Micro Key Solutions and the New DICE Corporation have partnered to provide central stations who are using Millennium Monitoring automation software with the ability to add interactive and advanced video services with AI analytics.

While the two companies both offer monitoring and video solutions currently, the partnership allows central stations powered by Millennium Monitoring to take advantage of interactive video services offered by Matrix Interactive.

With the overabundance of cameras and recorded video, the industry is seeing a greater rise in video monitoring. By integrating with Matrix Interactive, Millennium Monitoring meets that demand in a new way.

 The Matrix Interactive engine uses several third party multi-billion-dollar technologies embedded into the platform, providing true AI analytics going beyond motion detection and basic video verification. These technologies include object detection, human behavior detection, and object filtration.

 Verified automated scheduled video tours are another service made possible through Matrix Interactive. The platform analyzes, understands, and prioritizes the video stream in real time. If nothing is detected during the tour, there is no need for operator intervention. The priority level determines if the video is sent to an end user, a central station operator, and/or recorded.

“The change in focus from our video partners, including DICE’s Matrix Interactive, has positioned video monitoring into a more useful and sellable security offering. With analytics being right at the core, DICE’s solution embraces the changing needs in the market and delivers actionable information when dispatchers need it most, separating that data from the deluge of video information that floods a monitoring center,” said Chuck Speck, Executive Vice President of Micro Key Solutions.

“Micro Key continues to partner with best-in-class solutions to provide real revenue and growth opportunities to our customers and help them separate themselves in their competitive markets. Solutions like this fit solidly in that mission and we’re excited to add them as a partner.”

“We are proud to partner with Micro Key Solutions and are enjoying a great working relationship,” said New DICE Corporation Co-President Avi Lupo. “Thanks to an open and generic platform DICE developed for industry players, the solution is an opportunity to add value for Micro Key central stations and their customers by providing them with advanced interactive video monitoring. Plus, it is an excellent new RMR generator with initial minimal investment for Micro Key central stations. The platform is scalable, but they can start off with the entry level package that provides ROI in no time and then add more cameras, services, and modules when ready.”

For more information on the Micro Key Solutions monitoring platform and adding interactive video services, visit www.microkey.com or call 407-870-0040.

On June 8th, COPS Monitoring announced that it has purchased the wholesale monitoring assets of Security Partners LLC at auction on May 27, 2021.

Upon completion of the acquisition and subsequent preparations, the alarm companies and their 100,000+ subscriber accounts will be migrated to COPS and monitored by its network of six UL listed and TMA Five Diamond certified monitoring stations located throughout North America.  The migration of the Security Partners dealer accounts is scheduled to be completed by early fall and will bring COPS’ total monitored account base to more than 3.5 million.

“We are extremely excited about welcoming the Security Partners dealers to the COPS Monitoring family,” said COPS Monitoring’s president Jim McMullen. “We look forward to contributing to each company’s success by delivering exceptional service and a stable foundation on which they can continue to grow their businesses.”

As 2020 draws to an end, it is time to reflect on how our community has contributed to the advancement of TMA’s mission. Our annual achievements (listed below) may not be what we planned for or anticipated, but the list is substantial and we, as a community, should all be very proud.

With your support and participation this year, TMA has advanced the following initiatives:

• With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, TMA initiated many efforts to assist and protect our members:
  • When members contacted TMA about the potential impact of stay-at-home orders and social distancing on their UL-listings if their operators worked from home, TMA quickly and actively engaged with UL on the creation of virtual work-from-home guidelines. TMA and UL continue to collaborate on the development of a permanent emergency work-from-home standard.
  • As strict travel restrictions began to impact members’ capacity to provide service, TMA took immediate action to have Electronic Security and Life Safety Industry personnel declared as Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce. An appeal submitted to the White House and to the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) by TMA and its Alarm Industry Communications Committee (AICC) was successful and the industry was explicitly included in CISA’s “Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce: Ensuring Community and National Resilience in COVID-19 Response.” TMA continued to work with other industry associations to advocate incorporating the CISA Guidelines in States’ Stay-at-Home Orders.
  • TMA set up an expansive repository of COVID-related resources on our website in February 2020 to provide timely information and actionable tools to support TMA members in sustaining their businesses during these unprecedented times.
  • We initiated weekly Virtual Town Hall Meetings on March 24, 2020. Critical topics included virtual workplace guidance, government loans, insurance, and legal issues, among others. Coming ahead is a series of six Town Halls on CO and fire codes.
• Almost 31,000 alarm professionals have now registered for the TMA Online Operator Courses. TMA launched six brand-new modules for the Online Operator Course Level 2, focusing on leadership, conflict resolution, advanced call handling, standards, enhanced technology, and cybersecurity. After presenting a webinar on Demystifying AI: How it Works and the Benefits for Video Monitoring in February, the TMA series of regular webinars was put on hold due to COVID. In production is a recruitment assessment tool to assist managers with screening operator candidates.
• The ASAP-to-PSAP service continued to surge with 72 active municipalities, 22 ready for implementation and 27 alarm companies connected with five more in testing. These alarm companies recognize the value of the service’s heightened efficiency and accuracy.
• TMA reviewed and updated of TMA CS-V-01-2020 Alarm Confirmation, Verification and Notification Procedures standard which was then approved by
• TMA embarked on the development of a new ANSI standard, CS-AVS-01, Alarm Validation Standard, that will provide time-sensitive information to assist in determining the response level of a Call-for-Service and information that will support with real-time incident management through situational awareness.
• Five new companies have joined TMA’s distinguished Five Diamond Program so far this year, and is on track to surpass 2019’s total designated companies, showing overall growth in the program.
• TMA became the owner and administrator of the Installation Quality (IQ) Program at the end of December 2019. The newly-formed IQ Committee reviewed and updated the IQ Guidelines and other IQ materials and the program has just been relaunched.
• Since both organizations have complementary missions, TMA is exploring a closer collaboration with the Partnership for Priority Verified Alarm Response (PPVAR).
• With the support of TMA Committees, our staff converted the format of TMA’s Annual Meeting into a virtual event. TMA has also created OPS-TECH, a new event merging its Operations Management Seminar and Tech Summit. OPS-TECH will also be virtual and will include a first-time video surveillance day.
• The Alarm Industry Communications Committee (AICC) continues to represent member interests on many issues on Capitol Hill and to the FCC, including Net Neutrality, TCPA, 3G Sunset, robocall legislation, and the FirstNet initiative.
• TMA continues to exercise its FirstNet certification role for the security industry, providing access to the FirstNet network to qualified alarm and monitoring companies.
• Working with TRG Associates, TMA published its Wage & Compensation survey, now available for purchase.
• TMA recognized Affiliated Monitoring for its technological innovation with our Marvel Award and Securitas Electronic Security with the Monitoring Center of the Year Excellence Award. Staff from AvantGuard Monitoring Centers and Alarm Detection Systems also received individual Excellence
• TMA Dispatch, our quarterly print publication, took on a whole new magazine-like look and feel. We expanded editorial content to provide a broader scope of topical and timely news for TMA members.
• TMA launched a new website in the summer of 2020, offering visitors an appealing new look and feel with streamlined navigation.
• TMA Signals e-newsletter provided weekly TMA and industry news updates, along with professional development articles.
• Our NextGen group continued to grow in numbers and increase its engagement, with a new column highlighting members in the TMA Dispatch, along with a dedicated webpage. One successful meet-up was held at an industry event earlier this year.
• Our relationships with Public Safety organizations have continued to thrive in 2020 through our joint engagement in the development of TMA-AVS-01 and an informational panel presentation delivered to TMA members as part of TMA’s Virtual Town Hall series. Organization leaders provided insights into how our industry can best support their members.
• TMA members re-elected four Board members whose terms were expiring — Justin Bailey, Brandon Niles, Joey Rao-Russell and Kevin Stone. Each will serve a second two-year term.

TMA would like to acknowledge and thank the many volunteers that allow us to succeed in elevating the professional monitoring industry. We look forward to another productive year with your continued support and engagement.