*Commend Plugin Capabilities

Owned by Tom Polman
Last updated: Sept 21, 2022
3 min read

Technical Article | TA-20201002-TP-25

VDG Sense | VDG Integrations | Commend

The Commend Intercom plugin enables Sense to interface with a Commend System via the ICX protocol. It provides the ability to lip-sync record conversations using Sense videostreams and audio send by Intercom Stations.
The ICX protocol is used to retrieve the Commend configuration, signal Sense that a conversation has started or stopped and to control several functions in Sense using the macro engine. It also provides the ability
to control functions in the Commend System.

This documents describes the functions and requirements of the Commend Intercom plugin. It applies to Sense version 2.1.6 and higher.

See below for a simplified schematic of basic Sense-Commend installation. 

Capabilities
This section explains the capabilities of the Commend Intercom plugin in Sense.

Audio recording
Audio is recorded in the original G.722 codec. This results in superb HD audio quality within a frequency range of 7kHz. The audio stream is recorded together with the assigned video stream. This means that the Commend Station (subscriber)needs to be linked to a camera.

The following recording profiles are available:

  • Record video and audio on a call request (recording off by default)

  • Record video and audio when a conversation starts (recording off by default)

  • Record video and audio using Sense recording profile

In Sense there are two ways to record the audio, using True Lip Sync recording or Near Lip Sync recording.

True Lip Sync
Video and audio are linked using timestamps from the audio and videostream.

Near Lip Sync
Video and audio is not linked using the timestamps from audio and video. This is supported on cameras supported by Sense

Using the META search (DivaSearch layout) capabilities in Sense the user can quickly find recorded conversations from or to specific stations in a certain time frame.

ICX interface
All communication to and from the Commend Server is done via the ICX interface. Sense supports the following features provided by the ICX interface:

  • Send and receive (auto) configuration messages (see next paragraph on ’Auto Configuration’)

  • 8 digit call number support

  • Receive and interpret call requests

  • Receive and interpret conversation started messages

  • Receive and interpret conversation ended messages

  • Send start conversation command

  • Send stop conversation command

  • Send and receive generic/custom messages

The Sense macro engine can use ICX messages to automatically execute actions supported by Sense. For instance:

  • Popup camera

  • Trigger dome preset

  • Start or stop conversations (using layout buttons)

  • Send custom commands (using layout buttons)

  • Trigger other supported actions in Sense

Auto configuration
Configuring Sense to use the Commend System is made easy by automatically retrieving all essential information from the Commend Server when connecting to the Commend System. It supports the following auto configuration options:

  • Find Commend Servers in the LAN

  • Find Commend Cameras in the LAN

  • Automatically import Station list on adding Commend Server to Sense

  • Automatically configure audio recording channels (RTP ports)