Advantages of IP Cameras

The fact is that traditional CCTV cameras have reached the end of their evolution and companies switch to HD cameras and dedicated network video recorders (NVRs) for all their video surveillance needs.

Here are 6 causes to select between the analog cameras and IP security cameras.

Image quality

Image quality is clearly one of the most important features of any camera. In a fully digital IP surveillance system, images from a network camera are immediately converted into a digital stream before transmission and they stay digital with no unnecessary transformation and no image degradation due to distance traveled over a network.

High resolution

IP security cameras offer sharp, crisp video images, as compared to analog systems. Moreover, digital images can be more easily stored and recovered and provided better resolution, expanded surveillance environments, and more detailed images.

Ease of installation

IP cameras provide a high level of integration with other equipment and functions, making it a continually developing system. On the other hand, an analog system rarely has an open interface for easy integration with other systems and applications.

Scalability

Network based IP cameras can be located anywhere they are needed, at any time, and they can share the same wired or wireless network that’s already in use for communicating data. And also they have ability to add to an existing analog cameras system.

In an IP cameras system, any number of network video products can be added to the system without significant or costly changes to the network substructure.

Remote accessibility

One important of IP camera’s feature is the ability to access and view video files from any location in the world. With network video, users can access individual cameras from within their local network, or over the internet.

Power over Ethernet (POE)

Increasing reliability and providing substantial savings, Power over Ethernet (PoE) enables IP cameras to receive power from the very same Ethernet cable that transports the video and audio data.

Network Camera Types

Network cameras, also called IP cameras, are cameras with an IP network connection. The main components of a network camera include a lens, an image sensor, one or several processors, and memory. The processors are used for image processing, compression, video analysis and networking functionalities. Captured video is transported over an IP network via network switches and is recorded to a PC server with video management software.

Generally, network cameras can be classified in terms of whether they are designed for indoor use only or for indoor and outdoor use.

An Outdoor camera requires an external, protective housing unless the camera design already incorporates a protective enclosure. Outdoor network cameras often have an auto iris lens to regulate that the amount of light the image sensor is exposed. Outdoor cameras offer more durable and weather resistant enclosures, with components designed to capture wider views and appropriate to outdoor lighting conditions.

Network cameras, whether for indoor or outdoor use, can be further categorized into fixed, fixed dome, PTZ, speed dome, and Day & Night network cameras.

In Fixed cameras the viewing angle is fixed and it is permanently mounted to monitor a specific area always. Because the camera and its direction of coverage are also pretty visible to everyone, in some cases, it can deter vandalism and crimes. Fixed cameras can be installed in housings designed for indoor or outdoor installation.

With Fixed Dome cameras, mostly designed for indoor surveillance, are fixed in a small dome type housing to cover a certain area always. Fixed dome network cameras are also weather and vandal resistant and hence suitable for outdoor applications. With a 3-axis mechanism, images can remain in an upright orientation when it is installed either against the wall or on the ceiling.

Compared with fixed dome type, a Speed Dome camera is integrated with pan, tilt and zoom capabilities, enabling a far greater field of view. With these abilities, a speed dome camera is mainly used for professional applications, such as airports, banks or city security.

A PTZ Camera refers to Pan/tilt/zoom camera where the camera’s view can be remotely controlled either manually or automatically for tilting up and down, panning side to side and zooming in and out.

A Non-Mechanical PTZ camera can zoom in to any part of the image with no mechanical movement but by using wide angle lens and megapixel sensor. But here, the pan, tilt and zoom actions are limited.

Day/night cameras compensate for varying light conditions to allow the camera to capture images. As light reduces below a certain level, the camera can automatically switch to night mode to make use of near infrared (IR) light to deliver high-quality, black and white images.

History of Video Security System

Security camera systems have had a fascinating timeline, growing as quickly as all of the technologies in many other areas. The earliest video system, Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) is first used in Germany. German scientists developed the technology to monitor the launch of V2 rockets. Later, this kind of video surveillance was used in the United States during the testing of Atomic Bombs. But later this technology began to use in surveillance in the 1970s.

These systems were built from cameras, multiplexers, time-lapse video camera recorders (VCR) and monitors. They were Video Tape Recorder (VTR) and required a lot of coaxial cable. These analog systems were based on the original TV standards from the mid-1900s that are becoming obsolete in the new century due to HD (High Definition) TV.

Due to the problems experienced with the VCR, people began installing digital video recorders (DVRs). Digital makes video surveillance faster, clearer, and more efficient. In a DVR, a digital storage media such as a computer hard drive has compression capability and low cost. The most recent recording overwrites the oldest, allowing uninterrupted and continuous recording.

From 1997 on, police departments across the country installed more and more video surveillance cameras in public buildings, housing projects.

In 2003 there were new DVR could support multi-camera inputs and provide more functionality such as alarm handling, scheduled activation of cameras, control of pan/tilt/zoom cameras, activity detection and remote access.
During these years computer software for network video surveillance management has also become more widely offered in the industry.

All the improvements in technological innovation through the years, has actually led to IP cameras. IP cameras are actually the most powerful form of surveillance and security camera device around. An IP surveillance camera to be instituted virtually anywhere and be watched from anywhere in the world. IP video surveillance systems uses NVR (network video recorder) to records video in a digital format to a disk drive, USB flash drive, SD memory card or other mass storage device. Video on a DVR is encoded and processed at the DVR, while video on an NVR is encoded and processed at the camera, then streamed to the NVR for storage or remote viewing.

Over time, the cameras will improve, like panorama camera, and they would be a better option for surveillance and security camera. It’s clear that with digital technology and streaming video we’ve moved into the era of being able to conduct comprehensive video surveillance and store the resulting evidence indefinitely. We can reach around the world or across the street with surveillance equipment.

Introduction

This site is designed to educate you on basic video surveillance system design and application. It can be a help for anyone to make right choices when designing a video surveillance system.

Video surveillance systems are very important in our daily life. Video surveillance applications exist in airports, banks, offices and even homes. Compared to the traditional analog video surveillance systems, a digital video surveillance offers much better flexibility in video content processing and transmission. At the same time, it also can easily implement advanced features such as motion detection, facial recognition and object tracking.

During the years the technologies range from traditional “Analog” DVRs and Cameras to HD megapixel cameras and NVR (Network Video Recorder) system.

In this site, towards our mission, we will introduce available and new technologies of video security systems and their applications, useful articles and tutorials in addition to knowledge sharing around video surveillance via discussions.