Surveillance cameras are installed not only by owners of huge country plots, commercial premises and other public places. They are helpful for remote monitoring of their property for owners of garages, cars and ordinary summer houses – they will help respond quickly to theft, damage, fire and other emergencies.
What is an IP-camera video surveillance?
Unlike conventional cameras that are used in live games of ड्रैगन टाइगर ऑनलाइन कैसीनो casino, an IP video camera combines a camera and a small computer capable of transmitting data through the network. In modern IP cameras, in addition to optics, installed and the usual processor, a particular processor for image processing and compression, a network module for data transmission over the network and other computer components.
Conventional CCTV cameras in modern conditions are called analog – because the signal undergoes conversion to analog format from digital and then comes to the monitor or other screen via coaxial cable. Modern IP cameras do not convert the digital signal into analog and immediately transmit it through a fibre optic cable connection, twisted pair, or Wi-Fi network. Facilities with heightened fire risk rely on Guards Fire Watch services to maintain a safe environment for employees and visitors. Their continuous vigilance and specialized training play a pivotal role in preventing fire incidents.
Types of IP cameras
The differences in the external part of digital video cameras lie in the area of the housing. It is designed because some cameras are designed for outdoor and some for indoor surveillance.
Designed for outdoor work, IP-camera video surveillance is well-protected from external influences and can work in all weather conditions. It is achieved through a special housing that maintains an acceptable temperature and moisture level for the most sensitive components. Most cameras are protected to a minimum standard of IP55.
Also, cameras for outdoor surveillance often have infrared illumination for filming at night, and some models have additionally reinforced vandal-resistant housing.
Cameras for indoor installation are usually noticeably smaller than those used outdoors. They have plastic housing, and the requirements for protection from external influences and tightness are minimal. However, there are more durable models for installation in swimming pools and other rooms with high humidity.
What are they used for?
First, IP-camera video surveillance is needed to monitor the space and protection of objects. Such cameras are often used in public places: in offices, stores, industrial firms, government agencies, schools, banks, etc.
But cameras are also installed at the cottage, parking lot, house entrance, or yard. Also, many install video surveillance in their apartments to monitor children’s and pets’ behaviour.
Form factors of IP-cameras
Now, you can find video surveillance cameras of different shapes in stores – from classic to the most unusual. Usually, the following form factors of IP cameras are distinguished:
- Cylindrical – has the shape of a cylinder and comes with a mount for vertical surfaces.
- Dome – have the shape of a dome mounted to the ceiling.
- Enclosed – shaped like a parallelepiped, supplied with a mount for vertical surfaces.
- Pivoting – can rotate and comes with a mount for vertical surfaces.
- Panoramic – have a wider viewing angle (greater than 90 degrees).
- Miniature – smaller than standard models by several times.
- Modular – a component that can be incorporated into an electrical circuit.
- IP webcams – similar to a regular webcam for communicating over the Internet.
What to connect an IP camera to?
There are several options for what you can connect the camera to. Still, since the principle of the IP camera implies a digital and network structure, it will be a computer network.
In short, the IP camera can be connected to a particular video recorder (a local server), an ordinary personal computer with pre-installed software, or immediately send the data stream to the cloud, transmitting information via the Internet to a remote server.
If there are many IP cameras, you can use an intermediate link in the form of a router or switch to connect to the DVR or computer, which will already be connected to the final device. For this scheme, the router or switch must support dynamic node configuration protocols to distribute addresses and other network settings to the cameras automatically.
Data transmission mechanism and protocols
In the name “ip-camera” lies a necessary protocol that allows it and the entire Internet. We are talking about the IP standard, which is part of the TCP / IP stack – on this model, TCP and IP protocols and data are transmitted.
In total, the TCP/IP model consists of four levels:
- At the very bottom is the physical layer – thanks to it, manufacturers of different devices know which network cables and communication standards to favour. It includes Ethernet and Wi-Fi – technologies allowing wired and wireless devices to network.
- The physical layer is followed by the network layer, the IP protocol that allows each device to be assigned an address within the network for proper interaction with other participants.
- Then comes the transport layer – most often involved is the TCP protocol, which transmits data between devices by their IP address. In some networks, it is replaced by a more modern standard UDP.
- At the very top is the application layer – it includes, for example, the HTTP protocol with which web browsers work. This layer is designed to interact with the user.
However, all these standards are supported by all IP cameras without exception. When choosing a model, paying attention to two other protocols characteristic of local networks using cameras is worth it.
Benefits of IP video surveillance
Even though there are still enough analog video cameras on the market, there is a reason to choose a modern IP camera instead of outdated technology. First, analog cameras with high-resolution work in interlaced mode – that is, they shoot even and odd frames, which consist of half of the image. It dramatically affects the quality of the final picture, especially when it comes to moving objects.
In addition to improving the image quality, network cameras are easier to manage; they are more flexible in customization and allow you to record video simultaneously with audio, which does not need a dedicated transmission line.