The first centralized IP camera was released in 1996 and the first decentralised IP camera was released in 1999, so although these systems are technically new on the market they have been able to make a massive impact on the CCTV industry in this short period. The IP Camera has many advantages over the analogue system however there are also potential disadvantages, this article will be looking at both sides of the spectrum.
The IP camera systems appeals not only to the business owner needing to monitor many locations but it is also used by homeowners on a smaller scale who wish to watch a part of the house, the Ip camera system is versatile to a large demographic.
Most people choose IP Camera systems because of the high resolution however there are two more very important elements of an IP camera, which is the compression method and frame rate, below is an explanation of these three important elements:
- Compression method: Compression Method refers to the computer software technique the codec in a DVR video recorder or IP Camera uses to convert the video signal to digital information so it can be compressed and stored on digital media like a hard disk drive, DVD, or CD
- Resolution: The camera’s resolution is usually described as the number of megapixels captured. A higher number will produce a sharper image. There are many different levels of pixel-count settings producing varying degrees of quality.
- Frame Rate: Frame rate, or frame frequency, is the frequency (rate) at which an imaging device produces unique consecutive images called frames
The IP which stands for (Internet protocol) camera system exceed the ever-evolving demands placed on video security systems with high-definition megapixel, unparalleled functionality, high-resolution image quality and full frame-rate video to name a few. While Society has digitized and network development is growing at a rapid rate the CCTV industry needed to make sure they kept up with the market and the increase in safety awareness throughout the world. The IP Camera has given them the necessary means to keep up with our technology advanced society, with functions such as video noise filters, lens distortion correction, face detection and real-time transmission of HD video.
There are two kinds of IP cameras:
- Centralized IP cameras, which require a central Network Video Recorder to handle the recording
- Decentralized IP cameras, which do not require a central Network Video Recorder as the cameras have recording functionality built-in.
A few potential disadvantages to be aware of when looking at an IP camera system are; the higher initial cost per camera, higher network bandwidth requirements and as with a CCTV/DVR system, if the video is transmitted over the public Internet rather than a private IP LAN, the system becomes open to a wider audience of hackers.
IP-based camera surveillance system allows you to monitor your home or business on a 24/7 basis, it allows you to have access to whatever it is you are monitoring with as little effort as possible and in today’s society a task that requires as little effort as possible is the biggest advantage of them all.
