IP Video Surviellance

What is IP Video?

IP video devices use the same communication medium and protocol that most computer systems use, that being Cat5 cabling and the IP protocol, which is the same protocol the 'internet' uses. A video codec in the form of a bitstream is encapsulated into IP packets and sent down this medium to a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) to record the video or to end-users who wish to monitor this video stream, these two video streams are usually configured differently, one is optimized for recording quality & storage restraints, while the viewing stream can be optimized to accommodate for differing bandwidth constraints (i.e. viewed on Wired-LAN, Wireless-LAN, Wired-WAN, 3G-WAN)

Intelligent features

IP NVR's (Network Video Recorders) can be configured to capture and store video at a lower frame rate and then bump up that frame rate automatically on alarm. This allows you to transmit video only upon a specific event, such as motion detected in an office building after normal business hours. In addition, you have flexible options to optimize bandwidth usage, limiting the video streaming along the network to a fixed bit rate to ensure core business data is never compromised.

When video analytics were introduced several years ago, their performance in the field often did not match manufacturers’ claims. Today, however, a number of proven analytics are widely used. These advanced applications represent a competitive advantage for organisations and are increasingly considered essential for critical infrastructure security.

Building a long-term roadmap for your security system

The convergence of voice, video and data won’t happen overnight. The investment in legacy CCTV systems and the resources involved in replacing them will, in many cases, dictate a phased migration to hybrid video configurations that can serve as a bridge to the inevitable all-IP future.

To determine the best path to IP video for your organisation, take the same approach you would with any technology infrastructure. Develop a long-term road map with a phased implementation that takes into account your surveillance infrastructure, future video requirements and budgetary realities. Source: Sony Security

The diagram above illustrates some of the benefits of IP cameras, the following paragraphs elaborate on some of these points.

Image Resolution

Higher image resolution can often mean the difference between just seeing an incident and identifying who was involved in the incident. Keep in mind that in a court of law, if footage is the only evidence you have, the quality of this footage can often mean the difference between getting a conviction or not. Comparing an analogue image to a digital IP based image you can clearly see the difference. Analogue cameras are typically setup for resolutions between 352x288px(CIF) and 704x576px(4CIF) and IP based cameras which are typically setup between 1280x720px and 1920x1080px. These higher resolutions give you the ability to "zoom in" on an area of interest.

So following list outlines the benefits of higher resolution images.

• Have a clearer image of an incident
• Better aid in identification of a suspect
• Ability to zoom in on an area of interest
• Could aid in more successful prosecutions
• Can be used as promotional tool to show potential guests / patrons the attractions at your venue

Network Integration / Scalability

If you have an existing computer network infrastructure, which most organisations now do, an IP based CCTV system can be integrated into this existing network. This often eliminates the need to run extra cables, because cameras can be plugged into a free Ethernet port/panel. This can significantly reduce installation costs when you need to add another camera.

Viewing Options / Remote access

IP systems offer more flexible viewing options both for LAN and WAN environments.

LAN (Local Area Network)

With many organisations integrating wireless infrastructure into their local area networks (LAN), cameras can now be viewed within their sites using iPhones, iPads and 'Windows Mobile' devices without using mobile 3G data.

WAN (Wide Area Network)

Cameras can be viewed remotely over a WAN in numerous ways, which includes:

• Using a static IP address, the cameras can be view directly or embedded into a website & viewed on a PC or Mobile device(using mobile 3G data)
• Using a VPN connection to access the camera or encoder
• Using an existing static IP address port-forwarded to the cameras local IP address

Viewing Options

More intuitive dynamic interfaces can be written for IP cameras. Examples of these can be seen in the images below.

Transitional Upgrading

Upgrading to an IP based CCTV system can be done in stages. Analogue cameras can be integrated into a fully digital IP based systems via the use of an encoder, or you could start replacing your analogue cameras with IP cameras that have analogue outputs, then at a later stage you could replace your DVR with an NVR. Adding an IP camera is like adding an additional computer, just plug it into an existing free LAN port.

Local Storage Options

Many IP cameras now have the ability to record footage locally within the camera itself using storage card options. This type of storage is often referred to as 'Edge Recording', although limited this storage can be used for motion or alarm recording.

Video Analytics

There are three broad classes of video analytics available today. Diagnostic analytics alert system administrators to blocked camera views or scene changes that may be indicative of tampering or obstructions. If a camera is dislodged from its housing, spray painted, moved or blocked, for example, the analytics will transmit an alarm and allow security personnel to rectify the problem with minimal delay.

The second class of analytics is security-related and more complex to set up, but well worth the effort. These tools can automatically alert security staff to suspicious events, such as a perimeter breach, an unattended bag or a person loitering in an ATM vestibule.

The third category is behavioural analytics, such as people counting or queue length monitoring, which provide organisations with valuable operational intelligence and metrics that marketing teams or senior management can use to increase sales and improve customer service.

Many IP cameras now have advanced analytics inbuilt into the camera itself. These features were previously only available on expensive DVR's. The list below outlines some of the uses for video analytics. To learn more about video analytics click here to open another document.

• Motion Detection
• Detect if a targeted object is moved ( Picked up )
• People counting ( How many people went through a door )
• Detect illegal parking
• Detect wrong way traffic on one way street
• Detect Sound
• Alarm triggers can now be used to trigger a voice alert
• Analytic video meta data is also used by 3rd parties to track sporting events (i.e. football)

About Video Codec's

A codec is the software algorithm for encoding and decoding video and/or audio. The end goal of most codec's is to compress the original data into the smallest size possible, while maintaining acceptable quality. Different codec's have different strengths and weaknesses. For example some codec's offer very high compression but not the best quality, others offer really high image quality but the smoothness of motion is not that good, while some require a more powerful CPU to decode the data or larger storage devices to store that data, while others can be decode on lower-end CPU's but consume higher network bandwidth. There are a number of factors that can influence the result you are looking for. The list below will give you an idea of some of the things you need to consider when implementing an IP video system.

• How good do you need the quality to be?
• How long do you need to store this video for, before it is over-written?
• How much storage do I need, using this codec at this quality for recording for this period of time?
• Do you need to view video streams on mobile devices remotely?

High Definition IP Video (the latest trend)

The latest IP cameras offer High Definition quality. The video below outlines Sony's latest HD Security products and innovations.