Secure video streaming for real-time airborne mission monitoring

In service with the naval forces of several countries, Thales’s Amascos maritime surveillance and patrol system now incorporates a video platform for live mission monitoring via a standard web browser. Extensively proven in consumer applications, web-based video streaming and teleconferencing technologies have now been adapted to the needs of defence and security services around the world.

This multimedia building block enables Thales to provide a new service for naval forces operating the Amascos system. Using the system’s satellite links, the platform provides teams on the ground with live coverage of missions as they unfold, via a mosaic of real-time video feeds displayed on a web portal. Any of these feeds can be selected and displayed in full-screen mode. Previously, operators could only view mission imagery in non-real time by replaying the onboard recordings.

Simple and flexible

To implement this innovative solution, numerous constraints had to be overcome. The user interface needed to be intuitive, and it needed to be compatible with all types of fixed and mobile Windows workstations. Browser-based real-time video streaming technology fitted the bill perfectly.

Next, the ability to manage user rights on the portal for each mission was a key factor. The Thales system can manage two missions at the same time and allows different viewing rights and permissions to be granted to individual users — and if necessary modified while a mission is ongoing. For example, some video streams may be accessible to all users, whereas others may be restricted to specific user profiles.

Using Liferay open-source technology, Thales built the solution in just four months by optimising the architecture and re-using software components from the field-proven Thales Video Platform solution.

Secure and mobile

Security is crucial for military missions and is built into every aspect of the system, which relies on secure satellite links, secure transmission networks on the ground and secure facilities for operators. And by definition, the use of video streaming technology means that no video files need to be transmitted outside the system.

With large numbers of video feeds available in a web browser, Thales's innovative video platform solution is also ideal for security applications. For example, it can be readily coupled to a videosurveillance system so that operators can use a familiar browser interface to monitor feeds from a whole set of cameras either at the control centre or on a mobile device while out on patrol.

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Secure multimedia platforms