Before getting the software you need to check the capabilities and limitations of IP camera recording software, it will beneficial first to discuss what IP camera technology is and why it is now replacing traditional close circuit TV (CCTV) systems world wide. In fact it is believed that by 2012, most surveillance cameras will be of the IP type.
The term IP simply stands for internet protocol, indicating that the signals are sent over the internet using the internet protocol packetized system, whereby the signal is broken into small digital packets for transmission and reconstituted to the streaming signal by the receiver. In this way a signal can be viewed in real time at a remote location without the need for the connecting cables of closed circuit systems.
The obvious benefit is that the signal from the IP camera can be viewed anywhere in the world, and so large corporations could have a centralized security unit viewing the camera signals from every camera in the worldwide network. All that is needed is an internet connection at the transmitting and receiving ends, and even a wireless signal can be used. This has potential benefits , not only for corporations with a multitude of offices and sites such as oilfields, but also for the armed forces and national security. Wi-fi IP surveillance has great potential.
There are many other benefits, including cash benefits, in using IP surveillance systems, and a battery camera using wireless technology can save completely on cabling costs, and also be sited in remote locations. There are also no cables that can be cut! This again offers massive potential for security forces such as the police and the army. Airport security surveillance could also be centralized with significant cost savings.
So far so good, but the benefits over CCTV are still not sufficient to warrant the phase shift towards IP camera surveillance systems. The main benefits come from the software that provides a wide range of possibilities to the user. The older closed circuit system basically had no software, and was simply a system that could be viewed live, or recorded. However, everything had to be recorded because there was no event selection, and there was an awful lot to look through when nothing was happening.
Modern IP camera recording software can be used to activate the camera on certain events, such as when movement is detected. This saves a lot of recording space. It can also be programmed to activate illumination or send an alarm. The alarm can be sounded in the area of surveillance, or only to security services so that any intruder can be apprehended without being warned.
It can also control camera movement, such as tilt and pan, and also the zoom level. IP software analytics have been and still are being developed to allow more sophisticated use of IP camera systems, and while it cannot yet pick out a terrorist’s face in a crowd, it can detect unattended baggage in airports, and illegally parked cars. It is useful in perimeter surveillance where it will detect vehicles or people when they should not be there.
Simple motion detection has been evolved to congestion detection, and the software can trigger an event when the volume of traffic reaches a specified density. The software can be programmed to recognize counter flow, when an object is moving against the general traffic, or in a direction counter to what is permitted, and can also trigger an alarm when an object moves across a virtual tripwire: basically a line than can be drawn across the screen.
At least one supplier has added VoIP capability to their IP camera software so that networked cameras can issue an alarm by means of a VoIP call to predetermined telephone numbers. The IP camera software will continue to send the VoIP call until it is answered by means of a PIN number. DTMF tones can be used to trigger events in security devices connected to the software.
The software can also be used to manage the actual recording of live feeds from the IP camera network, since not all feeds might have to be recorded. Feeds can be recorded to network video recorders and specific feeds can be taken from the software if required as evidence.
The beauty of IP systems is that they operate to standardized systems. Unlike stand-alone CCTV systems whereby once you had your system you were forced to purchase spares and accessories from the original vendor, with IP camera systems you can source the individual components from any manufacturer or vendor. Thus you can purchase the video camera software that best meets your needs, and in fact buy any of your individual components from the least expensive source.
IP camera recording software is developing at a great rate, and while license plate detection is a classic example of how software can be used to detect predefined input, it should not be too long before facial recognition can be introduced. In the meantime, IP camera surveillance will continue to grow at the current very high rate.
Milestone XProtect One-Camera License :
http://www.milestonesys.com/Downloads/Free_XProtect_License/Free_License_Form
Axis Camera Station One Licence :
http://www.axis.com/products/cam_station_software/one.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment