What is a Network Camera?Answer..

• A network camera, often also called an IP camera, can be described as a camera and computer combined in one unit. The main components of a network camera include a lens, an image sensor, one or several processors, and memory. The processors are used for image processing, compression, video analysis and networking functionalities. The memory is used for storing the network camera's firmware (computer program) and for local recording of video sequences. Like a computer, the network camera has its own IP address, is connected directly to a network and can be placed wherever there is a network connection. This differs from a web camera, which can only operate when it is connected to a personal computer (PC) via the USB or IEEE 1394 port, and to use it, software must be installed on the PC. A network camera provides web server, FTP (File Transfer Protocol), and e-mail functionalities, and includes many other IP network and security protocols. A network camera can be configured to send video over an IP network for live viewing and/or recording either continuously, at scheduled times, on an event or on request from authorized users. Captured images can be streamed as Motion JPEG, MPEG-4 or H.264 video using various networking protocols, or uploaded as individual JPEG images using FTP, e-mail or HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). In addition to capturing video, network cameras provide event management and intelligent video functionalities such as video motion detection, audio detection, active tampering alarm and auto-tracking. Most network cameras also offer input/output (I/O) ports that enable connections to external devices such as sensors and relays. Other features may include audio capabilities and built-in support for Power over Ethernet (PoE). Network cameras can also support advanced security and network management features.

PoE (Power over Ethernet) Explained Answer..

• Power over Ethernet (PoE) is a technology that integrates power into a standard LAN infrastructure. It enables power to be provided to the network device, such as an IP phone or a network camera, using the same cable as that used for network connection. It eliminates the need for power outlets at the camera locations and enables easier application of uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) to ensure 24 hours a day, 7 days a week operation. PoE technology is regulated in a standard called IEEE 802.3af and is designed in a way that does not degrade the network data communication performance or decrease the network reach. The power delivered over the LAN infrastructure is automatically activated when a compatible terminal is identified, and blocked to legacy devices that are not compatible. This feature allows users to freely and safely mix legacy and PoE-compatible devices, on their network. The standard provides power up to 15.4W on the switch or midspan side, which translates to a maximum power consumption of 12.9W on the device/camera side, making it suitable for indoor cameras. Outdoor cameras as well as PTZ and dome cameras have a power consumption that normally exceeds this, making PoE functionality less suitable. Some manufacturers also offer non-standard proprietary products providing suitable power for these applications as well, but it should be noted that since these are non-standard products, no interoperability between different brands is possible. The 802.3af standard also provides support for so-called power classification, which allows for a negotiation of power consumption between the PoE unit and the devices. This means an intelligent switch can reserve sufficient, and not superfluous, power for the device (camera) - with the possible result that the switch could enable more PoE outputs.

Benefits of IP Network Cameras v Analog Camera CCTV solutions Answer..

• When choosing a video surveillance system, you want to go with the best video quality for the buck, and with a Network IP camera, there are 10 reasons why you should consider them over 20th century analog CCTV cameras. 1. End Your Interlace Issues: When you move to a Network IP camera, you get rid of the interlace problem with moving video. If you have seen a moving image with lines in it, that is interlace, where two fields make up one complete frame using interlace scanning. With a network camera, one complete frame is used during a progressive scan, so your moving images are much clearer than with a CCTV camera. 2. Power Your Cameras Over Ethernet: When you power your cameras over your Ethernet network, you save money, and increase the reliability of your network. You can't power your CCTV camera over your Ethernet network, and this is beneficial because you don't need a power outlet to power a network camera. This will save money on electricity, and lets you perform centralized backups. All network cameras can be powered over Ethernet, whether they have built-in support, or not. If the support is not built in, you can purchase an injector/splitter, which will add the electricity to the Ethernet cable, then peel it off to power the camera. 3. Megapixel Resolution: CCTV cameras are limited in their resolution, and most can't give you megapixel resolution. 1 megapixel is 10x the resolution of CIF, which is 352 x 240 pixels. With a network camera, you get better resolution, making for easier identification when you review the video. No longer will you get blurry video, especially when the subject is moving. CCTV cameras are limited to 4CIF, or 704 x 480 pixels, while IP cameras are well past to 3 megapixel, or 2048 x 1536. 4. Smart Cameras: CCTV cameras are dumb; they just send video to a DVR. A network IP camera is smart, as it offers alarm management, image enhancement, license plate and facial recognition, and is built with the latest technology, and is really a little computer with a camera lens. This allows you to have more detailed video, which helps in identifying suspects, and you can have alarm or motion activation, and unlimited scalability. This allows you to set up specific motion detection areas that you want to watch, within your cameras image, and if no one comes in those areas, even though they are in the field of view, it will not be recorded. Examples are a door in a hallway, or a specific part of a hallway. 5. Integrated PTZ Control: With a CCTV set-up, you need separate cables to control the PTZ feature of your camera. With a network camera, it's all done over the network. With integrated I/O, it can trigger anything, and be triggered by anything. This results in less labor, cabling, cost, and increased functionality and integration than with a CCTV camera system. 6. Built-in Audio: With a CCTV camera, very few have built in audio. It requires a separate cable, and a DVR that can accept an audio file. With a network camera, audio is usually built in, and is captured at the camera. You can integrate it with the video feed, or keep separate. You can also have two way audio, to and from the camera. This allows you many possibilities like ease of installation, cost savings, synchronized audio with video, and two-way audio; duplex, half duplex, simplex. With integrated audio, you can have remote dialog and allow gate or door access, as well as listen in on the location. This is a great way to help with surveillance scenes. 7. Your Communications Are Secure: CCTV video cameras are easy to tap into the video and replace it with a signal from another source. In the film, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Brad Pitt changed the video in an elevator camera before it was destroyed. With IP cameras, they require authentication, and with their encryption, you cannot tap into the signal, giving you complete privacy, secure image capture and transmission, and an evidence trail. 8. Flexible And Cost Effective Infrastructure Choices: With CCTV cameras, you have expensive coax cable, fiber, and unreliable wireless installations. The further you go from your DVR, the worse the images. When you add power or audio, it just makes things harder. With a network camera you have an established IP address, giving you clear digital pictures with no loss of quality. You can send many streams of video from dozens of cameras at one time, giving you a single wire network that allows hundreds of simultaneous full frame video streams. This gives you better image quality, flexibility and scalability in a lower cost to operate than traditional CCTV cameras. 9. A True Digital Solution: A network video surveillance system will give you much clearer video due to the images being digitized on the spot. With a CCTV camera, you loose image quality every time you transfer the video from the analog signal when it is digitized in the cameras Digital Signal Processor, which is then converted back to analog to run up the coax cable, which is again digitized at the DVR for recording. With a network camera, the images are digitized once, and they stay digital with no more conversions, resulting in the clearest video you can get from a video camera. 10. The Lowest Total Cost Of Ownership: When you compare the cost per camera, and the flexibility and performance a network camera gives you, it makes sense to go with the Network IP camera. Things to consider are the back end applications and storage costs, as well as using open-system based servers, vs. proprietary hardware like a DVR. The software that comes with the camera is usually functional enough for basic viewing, though control center software allows you to watch multiple locations at one time. Also, you are using your current network infrastructure, which can save you money in the long run.

What is Port Forwarding?Answer..

• Port forwarding allows remote computers, for example, the Camworx servers, to connect to a specific computer or service within a private Local Area Network (LAN), for example a network camera. In a typical network Internet access is obtained through a DSL or cable modem connected to a router or network address translator (NAT/NAPT). Hosts (cameras or other network devices), on the private network (LAN), are connected to an Ethernet switch/hub or communicate via a wireless LAN. The Router's external interface is configured with a public IP address. The network cameras behind the router, on the other hand, are invisible to hosts on the Internet as they each communicate only with a private IP address on the LAN. When configuring port forwarding, the network administrator sets aside one port number on the gateway (Router), for exclusive use of communicating with a service (e.g. RTSP or FTP), in the private network (LAN), located on a specific host (e.g. network camera or other network device). External hosts must know this port number and the address of the gateway (router's public IP address), to communicate with the network-internal service. The external host will also need to know the network camera's unique username and password for added security, to access the camera. Often, the port numbers of well-known Internet services, such as port number 80 for web services (HTTP), port 554 for Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP), or port 21 for File Transfer Protocol (FTP) are used in port forwarding, so that common Internet services may be implemented on hosts within private networks.