IP Camera Features

Industry’s First HD WDR Video Surveillance Chipset
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Altera Corporation, a semiconductor device manufacturer, has announced the development of the industry’s first HD WDR video surveillance chipset:

Government, municipalities, financial institutions, and businesses are driving new uses for video surveillance technologies beyond crime prevention or security into applications such as asset management, risk mitigation, and safety.

The challenge for camera manufacturers, however, is developing “smarter” cameras at lower price points. More and more, digital high-definition (HD) Internet protocol surveillance cameras are replacing analog cameras because of lower installation costs, scalability, and the ability to add intelligence.

Recognizing camera manufacturer challenges and surveillance market demands Altera has enlisted CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensors into their design to help power the next generation of IP cameras.  And for good reason because CMOS …

Don’t Let Cost Be Your Guide
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In an IP camera buyers guide article at Source Security, Simon Nash, Senior Marketing Manager of Sony Europe, stresses:

Don’t let cost be your guiding light. Most people buy surveillance cameras with cost as their highest priority and effectiveness as the second, which results in grainy, out-of-focus images.

A great deal of knowledge and expertise is shared in this article from points to conider when converging from analog to IP, evaluation criteria for IP cameras, and do’s and don’ts when making a selection.

We understand that cost and budgetary concerns are always paramount.  But it’s important to know and hear that the right system for you isn’t simply the cheapest. …

How To Select an IP Camera Lens
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There are several elements that affect an IP camera’s image quality and field of view but the one component that is affected first, the piece that is in the first line of approach for a source of illuminance is:  The IP camera’s lens.

IP camera lenses dutifully perform several key funtions:

  • Defining the field of view:  Defining how much detail and how broad the scope of a scene will be captured and ultimately, displayed.
  • Controlling the amount of light:  Controls how much light gets passed to the image sensor so that an image has the proper exposure.
  • Focusing:  Maintain proper focus by adjusting elements within the lens assembly or, by adjusting the distance between the lens assembly and the image sensor.

When selecting an IP …

Cost of IP Surveillance
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Thanks to the heads up at Security Products, a study has been released by Axis Communications that compares the cost of a traditional analog surveillance system to that of an IP video surveillance system:

Total cost comparison study of analog and IP-based video surveillance

This study was conducted in the Spring of 2010 by the research group Lusax. Some highlights include:

  • There’s a perceived higher cost of IP cameras versus analog
  • Cameras are only one part of a video surveillance solution, and the total cost of a complete system is dependent on a number of factors.
  • Recording is the most significant cost category in the analog alternatives
  • Savings derive from off-the-shelf IT and server recording equipment
  • Scalability and flexibility are mentioned as two main
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Wireless IP Camera Setup – Part III
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In the beginning stages of wireless IP camera setup  there are some simple considerations to be aware of.  As you get deeper into a wireless IP camera system solution other factors such as frequencies, signal strength and security concerns need to addressed.

Wireless networks can be a bit trickier than their wired counterparts so in the final step of this series I’ll talk about the following concerns:

  • Bandwidth
  • Distance and number of cameras
  • Wireless vs. wired networks
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Wireless IP Camera Setup – Part II
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Axis M1031-W

In the first part of the wireless IP camera setup conversation it was noted that because of their easy, quick, and cost-friendly set-up, wireless ip cameras allow fast deployment for immediate or emergency needs.

Wireless IP cameras enable mobility.  Using them in a parking lot, for example, is cheaper than running cables through the ground. 

And while popular in the home and small offices, wireless IP cameras have a slower adoption rate in the corporate setting because of network security concerns and reliable wirless signals – topics that I’ll be touching on in this post.…

Wireless IP Camera Setup
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Axis M3113-RDue to their flexibility and cost savings, wireless IP cameras are an interesting alternative to wired networks. For example, a wireless IP camera, like the Axis M3113-R, in a bus can be accessed live from remote locations. 

Or, historical buildings protected by the Heritage Act may not allow standard network cables to be installed thus only allowing a wireless setup. Wireless IP cameras signals can go through most media such as wood and concrete.…

Power over Ethernet (PoE) and Network Bandwidth
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Data transfer rate standards have increased dramatically enabling today’s Ethernet networks to provide the performance necessary for demanding IP video applications.

Power over Ethernet (PoE) provides the option of powering devices (IP cameras) connected to an IP network using the same cable that’s used for data communication.

While network bandwidth may have been a scarce resource in the past, today bandwitdth is plentiful but there are still a few things to consider when setting up a network for IP video surveillance.…

How To Calculate IP Camera Bandwidth
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In a vacuum IP cameras are more powerful than their analog/CCTV cousins.  However the strength and reliability of a network can bring an IP camera to its knees if the proper amount of bandwidth is not available to handle the information being processed.

A reason why IP cameras are gaining in popularity is because network infrastructures are constantly growing in size and capabilities as are internet speeds.  Just like uploading or downloading images or video to/from the internet, speed plays a crucial role in the quality of that experience.  The same goes for accessing stored or live images from your computer’s network or, accessing them remotely via the internet.…

IP Camera Project – Mix of Fixed and Dome IP Cameras
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Axis Q1755Sometimes a security solution calls for only only type of IP camera such as this high school application that only required Dome IP Cameras.  But in a lot of other applications security needs differ from location to location within a single complex.

When the city of Ningbo in the Zhejiang province of China built a tennis center with the intent to hold international matches and the corresponding daily exercises and daily events, they turned to Axis IP Cameras for their solution.

The Ningbo Tennis Center includes a central court, indoor tennis hall and an outdoor tennis court.  It is a large-scale stadium where, as you can imagine, security is a paramount issue.…