ONVIFi

ONVIFi is a proposed open standard developed by the Open Network Video Interface Forum (ONVIF) to extend cross-vendor interoperability from IP cameras to broader Internet of Things devices. It aims to standardize how devices discover each other, exchange control commands, stream media, and share analytics data across vendors and platforms, including on‑premises networks, edge devices, and cloud services.

The specification envisions a modular architecture with core services for device discovery, device management, media streaming, event handling, and metadata exchange, plus optional modules for analytics, cloud integration, and edge orchestration. The design emphasizes extensibility to accommodate a range of devices—from surveillance cameras to environmental sensors—while maintaining a cohesive framework for interoperability across ecosystems.

The protocol stack is intended to support both modern REST/JSON interfaces for new devices and compatibility with existing SOAP‑based services, offering a migration path from ONVIF’s earlier profiles. This dual approach is meant to ease integration for developers while preserving access to legacy deployments.

Security and governance emphasize strong authentication and encryption, including TLS, OAuth 2.0, and role‑based access control, along with device attestation and secure firmware updates. A certification program would verify cross‑vendor interoperability, speeding deployment in mixed environments and helping to reduce integration costs.

Profiles define common use cases; for example, Profile D covers discovery and device management, Profile S covers streaming, Profile A covers analytics, and Profile C covers cloud and orchestration. As a draft specification, ONVIFi remains under industry review, with participation from manufacturers and integrators. Widespread adoption will depend on final release, certification, and real‑world interoperability.

See also: ONVIF, IP camera, IoT.