IP camera

IP Camera

A selection of IP cameras
Date invented 1996
Invented by Axis Communications
First product Axis Neteye 200
Introduced 1996
Type Centralized or Decentralized
Slots SD Card (optional)
Ports Ethernet, Audio, I/O block

An Internet protocol camera, or IP camera, is a type of digital video camera commonly employed for surveillance, and which, unlike analog closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras, can send and receive data via a computer network and the Internet. Although most cameras that do this are webcams, the term "IP camera" or "netcam" is usually applied only to those used for surveillance.

An IP camera is typically either centralized (requiring a central network video recorder (NVR) to handle the recording, video and alarm management) or decentralized (no NVR needed, as camera can record to any local or remove storage media). The first centralized IP camera was Axis Neteye 200, released in 1996 by Axis Communications.

IP cameras are available at resolutions from 0.3 (VGA resolution) to 29 megapixels.[1] As in the consumer TV business, in the early 21st century, there has been a shift towards high-definition video resolutions, e.g. 720p or 1080i and 16:9 widescreen format.

History

First IP camera

The first centralized IP camera, the Axis Neteye 200, was released in 1996 by Axis Communications and was developed by the team of Martin Gren and Carl-Axel Alm.[2] The camera was not capable of streaming real-time motion video, instead being limited to showing a snapshot image each time the camera was accessed. At the time of launch, it was considered to be incapable of operating as a motion camera due to what would conceived as "enormous" bandwidth requirements, thus was aimed primarily at the tourism industry.[3] The Axis Neteye 200 was not intended to replace traditional analogue CCTV systems however, given it's capability was limited to just a single frame every 17 seconds, yet was promoted on its ability to be directly accessible from anywhere with a connection to the internet.[4] Axis used a custom proprietary web server named OSYS, yet by the summer of 1998, had started working on a software port towards Linux to operate its cameras.[5] Axis also released documentation for its low-level API called "VAPIX", which builds on the open standards of HTTP and real time streaming protocol (RTSP). This open architecture was intended to encourage third-party software manufacturers to develop compatible management and recording software.

Decentralized cameras

The first decentralized IP camera was released in 1999 by Mobotix. The camera's Linux system contained video, alarm, and recording management functions, thus the camera system did not require licensed video management software to manage the recording event, or video management.[6]

The first IP camera with onboard video content analytics (VCA) was released in 2005 by Intellio. This camera was able to detect a number of different events, such as if an object was stolen, a human crossed a line, a human entered a predefined zone, or if a car moved in the wrong direction.[6]

Standards

Axis dome cameras 212PTZ and M3005-V respectively

Previous generations of analog CCTV cameras use established broadcast television formats (e.g. Common Intermediate Format (CIF), NTSC, PAL, and SECAM). IP cameras may differ from one another in features and functions, video encoding (compression) schemes, available network protocols, and the API to be used by video management software.

In order to address issues of standardization of IP video surveillance, two industry groups were formed in 2008: the Open Network Video Interface Forum (ONVIF) and the Physical Security Interoperability Alliance (PSIA). While the PSIA was founded by 20 member companies including Honeywell, GE Security and Cisco, and ONVIF was founded by Axis Communications, Bosch and Sony, each group now has numerous members. As of January 2009, each group had released version 1.0 of their specification.

Considerations

Axis 214 PTZ Camera

Potential benefits

IP cameras differ from previous generation analog cameras which transmitted video signals as a voltage, whereas IP camera images are sent using the transmission and security features of the TCP/IP protocol. Some advantages to this approach include:

Potential concerns

Hacking

As with a CCTV/DVR system, if the video is transmitted over the public Internet rather than a private network or intranet, the system potentially becomes open to a wider audience including hackers. Criminals can hack into a CCTV system to disable or manipulate them or observe security measures and personnel, thereby facilitating criminal acts and rendering the surveillance counterproductive. This can be counteracted by ensuring the network and device is secured and staying informed on new security methods. In 2012 users of 4chan hacked into thousands of streaming personal IP cameras by exploiting a vulnerability in some models of Trendnet home security cameras.[12] In 2014 it was reported that a site indexed 73,011 locations worldwide with security cameras that were unprotected by using default usernames and passwords.[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Avigilon Launches Powerful 29 MP HD Surveillance Camera". Avigilon Corporate.
  2. ↑ "Axis Communications - History". Axis Communications. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  3. ↑ "Fast and Faster". PC Magazine. 3 December 1996. p. 9. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  4. ↑ "IP security camera and network video surveillance visionary". Security News Desk. 29 September 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  5. ↑ "Making MPEG Movies with Axis Network Cameras". Linux Journal. 1 March 2001. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  6. 1 2 "An Incredibly Unboring History of IP Cameras". Protect America. 12 September 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
  7. ↑ Cornett, Ben. "Intro to Surveillance Camera Technologies". EZWatch.com. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  8. ↑ Alexandr Lytkin. IP Video Surveillance. An Essential Guide, 2012, ISBN 978-5-600-00033-9.
  9. ↑ "Home Security". Wireless IP Cameras. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  10. ↑ "The Best Home Security Cameras of 2016". PCMAG.
  11. ↑ David Braue (21 June 2012). "DIY: home surveillance with IP network cameras". CNET. CBS Interactive.
  12. ↑ Notopoulos, Katie (3 February 2012). "Somebody's watching: how a simple exploit lets strangers tap into private security cameras". The Verge. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  13. ↑ Smith, Ms. "Peeping into 73,000 unsecured security cameras via default passwords". Network World. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
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