Ten misunderstandings on IP network video surveillance technology

Today, IP-based video surveillance systems have been around for nearly 10 years. During this period, the IP surveillance solution shattered some of the misconceptions that have long been around network video surveillance.

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1. What is IP video surveillance?

IP is an acronym for Internet Protocol (Internet Protocol), which is the most commonly used protocol for communicating over a computer network and the Internet. IP video surveillance systems (also known as network video surveillance systems) can digitize video information and transmit it over wired or wireless IP networks. This allows features such as real-time monitoring and recording to be extended to all areas with network connectivity, while also allowing such systems to be easily integrated with other security systems such as access control systems.

According to analysis by well-known industry analyst JP Freeman and his company, there are more than 20 million analog cameras installed in the United States alone. Of the 20 million units, more than 15 million were sold in 2002. These numbers are enough to illustrate the popularity of analog cameras, but despite this, network cameras stand out from the market and become the fastest growing category of video surveillance products. The network camera can be directly connected to the IP network and effectively integrated with other applications in the network, allowing users to install cameras at remote locations, view, store and analyze real-time video in one or more other locations via the internal network or the Internet. data. According to Frost & Sullivan, another well-known industry analyst firm, from 2005 to 2010, the annual growth rate of traditional CCTV product sales is only about 10%, and the market capacity will reach saturation in 2008; while the sales of online video products during the same period The annual growth rate will reach about 40%, even if there is still room for growth until 2010. It is not difficult to foresee that as the digital concept gradually deepens into the hearts of the people, it will definitely replace analog products in the near future.

The IP surveillance solution can be composed entirely of network cameras, or it can be composed of analog cameras plus video servers, or a mixture of the two. Either way, IP surveillance has proven to be an attractive solution in a variety of industries. In countless industry applications, this revolutionary technology is gradually replacing traditional monitoring systems to reduce costs and improve safety. At the same time, in other application areas, it is also beginning to be used to create and stimulate the formation of new markets.

Powerful scalability is one of the main advantages of IP surveillance systems, which makes it an attractive technology that is not only suitable for improving and improving existing video surveillance and remote monitoring systems, but also for some applications. New industry applications, including:

· Education: Remote monitoring of school playgrounds, corridors, halls and classrooms, as well as monitoring of some buildings;

· Transportation: remotely monitor the safety of train stations, railway tracks, highways and airports;

· Banking: Bank security monitoring, branch office monitoring and ATM cash machine monitoring on major streets;

· Government: security and surveillance applications, usually integrated into existing systems;

· Retail: used for security and remote monitoring, effectively simplifying store management and improving work efficiency;

Industry: Used to monitor production processes, logistics systems, warehouses, and inventory management.

2. Why is there a misunderstanding of IP surveillance technology?

For any new technology, from its emergence to widespread application, it will inevitably go through a stage of market education. The more complex the new technology is, the more entrenched the original technology and business model are, and the longer the market education period will last. In this process, some knowledge of faults and misunderstandings is a common thing. It is in this environment that some misconceptions and confusions surrounding new technologies will continue to breed and spread.

In fact, IP surveillance technology is not a highly complex technology, but the part of the “IP” category breaks through the traditional security concept and enters an area that is very unfamiliar to most traditional security practitioners—IT field. From this point of view, this new technology and the new application environment it brings will inevitably lead to fear and stimulate support for maintaining the status quo. The emergence of IP surveillance directly formed a situation of direct competition with DVRs. This situation has brought a series of arguments, one of which is that it poses a serious challenge to an industry-recognized view that DVR technology combined with analog cameras It is the ultimate solution for video surveillance systems and is therefore the best video surveillance technology.

After careful analysis, it is not difficult to tell what is wrong: First, the current security industry, from manufacturers to engineering companies, system integrators, to end users and their organizations, are already familiar with DVR and analog camera technology, and They have invested a lot of money, and they are certainly happy to see DVRs become the dominant products in the market to consolidate their vested interests. Secondly, the inherent closedness of the traditional security industry, as well as the prevalence of proprietary technology and single-brand solutions, further pervaded the “rumors” that are not conducive to IP surveillance in the market. In sharp contrast, IP surveillance solutions integrate the best products and services from a variety of different vendors, and the result is the maximization of end-user benefits, and this result is in line with the current market environment. It is very different from market expectations.

At this point, we have already understood why there are many misunderstandings about IP surveillance in the market, and we have initially discussed some facts about IP surveillance. Next, we will further analyze some misconceptions that are widely circulated in the market.

3. Ten misunderstandings about IP video surveillance

At present, there are many misunderstandings about IP video surveillance technology in the market. Here, we have selected 10 of the most common viewpoints and divided them into two categories: non-technical related and technology related. We will first analyze those non-technical misunderstandings and then delve further into those technology-related topics.

Misunderstanding #1: DVR is the latest and most powerful CCTV security technology

Reality: Not only do some people think that digital video recorder (DVR) is the latest and best technology, but there are people who mistakenly believe that DVR is already a fully digital, networked technology - and in fact, it is not.

Compared to traditional video cassette recorders (VCRs), DVRs do have many advantages, such as no need to change tapes, consistent image quality, and fast search capabilities. But you still can't get rid of the complicated analog video cables, which will greatly reduce the image quality and increase the cost of the entire system. IP surveillance not only has all the advantages of the above DVR, but also has more advantages that DVR does not have, such as:

Scalability: In an IP surveillance system, there is no need to extend the system's limit on a 16-way scale like a DVR. Users can extend their system from containing one camera to include only one at a time. Thousands of cameras. At the same time, it also allows the user to freely choose any camera and its frame rate without any time or frame rate limitations.

More cost-effective infrastructure: In many cases, most of the user's original equipment has been connected via IP network, so no additional wiring work is required to build an IP surveillance system (wiring costs are usually one of the major construction costs of CCTV systems). ). In this case, the user's data, video, audio and other information will be transmitted and managed through the same network, making the management of the entire system more cost-effective.

Remote access: Users can securely access and control all video information in any corner of the world via wired or wireless networks, whether it is a live video stream or recorded video data.

Smart Camera: The network camera has a series of intelligent functions, including motion detection, event processing, sensor input, relay output, time and date, etc. These functions enable the camera to make intelligent decisions based on monitoring requirements. The correct time will send the correct alarm message to the correct recipient, and the video information can be sent to the specified user at the specified time according to the specified frame rate and resolution.

Lower system construction costs: It turns out that IP surveillance systems are a lower cost option for many video surveillance projects. IP surveillance solutions can use open, standardized networks, servers and storage devices, allowing users to make cost-effective choices from more vendors, while most DVR solutions subject users to a single Or a few suppliers. In addition to the above hardware selection factors, IP surveillance systems have lower installation and maintenance costs and higher performance advantages, all of which clearly show that IP surveillance systems will save users considerable construction costs.

It can be seen that the DVR is not a final solution as most people think, but only one of the milestones in the development of CCTV technology. After further careful evaluation by the market, it is not difficult to find that DVRs actually represent outdated, "black box" solutions, and IP surveillance is quickly proved to be an update and superiority over DVR. technology. In fact, there are a lot of differences between IP surveillance systems and DVRs, and the current market is just realizing this.

Misunderstanding #2: IP technology is an immature technology. If it is more advantageous, why are security solution providers failing to achieve more relevant sales?

Reality: The problem that this misunderstanding touches is, to a greater extent, related to the structure and buying habits of the current security market, and not related to the performance and reliability of IP surveillance systems.

IP surveillance is a relatively new technology, and many existing and powerful security companies have a direct DVR solution that they want to protect their existing DVR-oriented solutions. Very natural thing. In addition, for any new technology and new thinking, in order to replace the original thinking mode and behavior mode, it is necessary to first build relevant integrators, industry consulting organizations and other institutions that have influence on related industries. The knowledge background and the necessary infrastructure, these preparations will take some time to complete. I believe that few people will remember that in the era when typewriters were popular, we used to think that this kind of machine was enough for us to do word processing work, and we didn't need those elf word processing software. Time is too long? Then think about the old video cassette recorders (VCRs). Have you been inspecting them for a long time before replacing them with the now popular DVD players? Even you still use it? Obviously, the alternation of old and new technologies takes a certain amount of time to complete.

The truth behind the misunderstanding is that the number of engineering projects using IP surveillance technology is growing rapidly, and the number of system integrators and distributors involved in IP surveillance is also increasing. Before long, the security market will truly realize the superiority of IP surveillance technology. After that, the IP surveillance system will be rapidly promoted and adopted, and there will be more infrastructure to support it.

If you think these things are not very convincing, let's take a look at some of the industry's giants' attitude toward IP surveillance: IBM has entered the networked security market, and Cisco and Proxim are also working hard on IP video. Monitor the market for guidance and education. At this point, I believe we no longer need more arguments.

Misunderstanding #3: The IP surveillance solution cannot meet the actual requirements of enterprise security applications.

Reality: The larger the system, the higher the performance required, and the stronger the competitive advantage of IP surveillance solutions.

Among the advantages of the IP surveillance system summarized above, scalability is one of the most prominent advantages recognized by all high-end users. Systems with more than 200 to more than 300 cameras are some of the most common engineering projects for Axis, and some even include thousands of webcams. Some of these systems are used in applications that require a high level of security, such as international airports and prisons. So this misunderstanding is easy to clarify: the fact that the IP surveillance system is fully capable of enterprise security applications. In fact, we have seen some large government and airport video surveillance applications designate IP surveillance solutions as the preferred solution, a phenomenon that never happened a decade or two ago.

Misunderstanding #4: The quality of the networked video image is not as good as the quality of the simulated image.

Reality: High-performance network cameras use the same quality image sensors (CCDs) and optical components as high-end analog cameras. In addition, professional video cameras or already installed analog cameras can be easily integrated into IP surveillance systems by using a video server. When comparing network cameras and analog cameras, it is important to note that the network cameras mentioned here refer to professional-grade products for video surveillance, not those low-end cameras for video chat, those cameras and fully functional networks. Cameras can't be compared.

In the near future, network cameras and IP surveillance technologies will generally support megapixel resolution, which can provide super image quality. Analog cameras are always subject to the NTSC/PAL standard, limiting their maximum resolution to around 400,000 pixels.

Misunderstanding #5: Network cameras are more expensive than analog cameras, making the construction cost of IP surveillance systems very expensive.

Reality: The price of a network camera is indeed higher than that of a comparable analog camera because it integrates more advanced features than analog cameras, such as information digitization, image compression, and other intelligent features. If you analyze the overall hardware cost of the system (including cameras, cables, video storage, etc.), you will find that the hardware cost of the IP surveillance system is usually equivalent to the hardware cost of the DVR-based monitoring system, and then considering the system installation cost, then IP. The advantages of a monitoring system are obvious, because the cost of building an IP-based infrastructure is much less than building a coaxial cable-based infrastructure. In addition, if PTZ control is required, the analog system must also perform additional control line construction, while the IP surveillance system does not have this additional expenditure. Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology is another advantage that IP surveillance systems can save on construction costs. This technology enables network cameras to receive working power and data simultaneously through the same network cable, thus enabling users to save special resources. The wiring cost required for powering the equipment and can be used in conjunction with an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to further increase system reliability.

Misunderstanding #6: If a large number of analog cameras have been installed, users can no longer use IP surveillance technology, but only DVR.

Reality: Perhaps DVR vendors really want users to believe this, but VideoServer technology can make a powerful response to this misunderstanding. Leading IP surveillance vendors are able to offer mature video server products to their customers, and their costs are within reasonable limits. The video server converts an analog video signal into a digital video stream that can be transmitted over a network, transforming an analog camera into a network camera with basic functions. Most of the current IP surveillance systems incorporate analog cameras and network cameras that are networked through video servers. Existing analog systems and devices do not pose any obstacles to users' advanced IP surveillance technology.

So far, we have clarified some of the misunderstandings about IP surveillance systems that are often heard. They are all non-technical related topics. Next, let's take a thorough analysis of those technology-related misunderstandings.

Misunderstanding #7: Transferring all of this video data over the network will inevitably lead to network overload, so this technique is actually not feasible.

Reality: A single network camera usually only takes 0.2 to 2 Mbps of bandwidth, and the actual bandwidth usage depends on the image compression level, image size, and frame rate. If there are only a few network cameras in the system, the existing 100M office network can fully meet the video data transmission requirements. For systems with more webcam and video servers, we recommend that users create a dedicated network for video data. Just like rail transport, once the existing railway is congested, you only need to build some new rails.

For enterprise applications, the core network can usually reach Gigabit capacity. With the support of existing switches and routers, users can easily divide network bandwidth resources to reserve dedicated bandwidth resources for video applications. . In addition, some special configurations can be used to ensure that the network camera does not occupy excessive bandwidth resources when integrated into the corporate network.

On the other hand, the network camera itself is intelligent, and it can determine the frame rate and resolution used to send the video stream over the network according to different time, event or picture activities. Therefore, in most cases, the camera will only use 10% of the time to send video information worth recording and archiving, and in the remaining 90% of the time, no data will be transmitted over the network.

Misunderstanding #8: It is not safe to transmit important video information over an IP network.

Reality: Although the Internet is mainly used to convey some public information, it can also be used to carry out some sensitive services with high security requirements, as long as the correct network security measures (such as firewall, VPN and password protection) are adopted. As we all know, many banks and financial institutions often carry out various types of financial services on a global scale through the Internet. For video surveillance applications with relatively low security requirements, the Internet can obviously become a reliable bearer medium. Correspondingly, the analog surveillance system cannot adopt any security encryption or authentication mechanism. Anyone can easily obtain the video information transmitted on the line by means of a line, and even send the fake video information that is forged to the monitoring center. On the monitor, the video surveillance system is completely ineffective (just like the plot in many movies). This situation is unlikely to occur in IP surveillance systems that employ effective security measures.

Misunderstanding #9: The reliability of IP surveillance technology is not as high as other technologies. For example, when the network is down, the system will not be able to continue working.

Reality: As early as the 1960s and 1970s, when the infrastructure of IP networks was first developed, how to ensure network redundancy has become the primary factor that must be considered when building IP networks. IP network technology has developed to the present, the transmission link, application server, storage device, and switching and routing devices used in the network can be configured with backup resources. When the primary link or the primary device fails, the backup link and device can still be used. Maintain the normal operation of the system. In an IP network-based system, storage devices can be deployed in remote, secure locations, servers can use alternate power supplies, and systems can use hot-swappable RAID drives, self-healing memories, and dual-NICs to ensure reliability. . Although all of the above security measures may not be used for small network systems, solutions based on high quality IT components will be more reliable than traditional CCTV or DVR solutions anyway. In addition, due to the use of standard servers and network equipment, the time and cost required to replace a failed device for an IP surveillance system will be much lower than that of a closed DVR system.

Misunderstanding #10: It takes at least five years for IP surveillance to become popular.

Reality: This is undoubtedly the biggest misunderstanding! Since Axis launched the world's first network camera in 1996, it has sold more than 500,000 such "future" products around the world, and the focus and demand for IP surveillance systems is increasing. Whether measured from the overall cost of the system, overall performance, reliability, or other criteria, IP surveillance systems have proven to be mature solutions today. With the continuous improvement and popularization of IP surveillance technology, IP surveillance systems will also become the main force in the future security market.

4. Conclusion

In this article, we delve into some of the long-standing misunderstandings surrounding IP surveillance technologies and systems. In fact, IP surveillance is indeed a mature solution that is highly scalable, can effectively utilize existing network resources, and achieve superior system performance at a lower overall cost. Its outstanding flexibility, reliability and intelligence will surely win the favor of the market.

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