Intelligent Network Cameras are an exciting new technology. This article will help you understand the basics of intelligent network cameras (or smart cameras), enabling technologies, and available design tools.
Intelligent network cameras -- the basics
Video security systems today, thanks to technology, are far more efficient than just a few years ago. Modern digital video surveillance systems record video directly to a rewriteable media such as hard disk or flash drive. Cameras can be connected to standard data networks and the Internet for monitoring and control via secure communications anywhere in the world.
Adding intelligence to the surveillance camera makes the entire system more economical. As an example, to record video when nothing of interest is going on in the scene is pointless. Modern electronics can easily discern movement in a scene and trigger recording only during those moments, reducing the amount of storage capacity needed.
A more significant cost reduction comes in the form of automatic monitoring which reduces the need for human video scanning and has the additional effect of a more reliable system by reducing human error.
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Figure 1: Intelligent network security system
I offer the following table to illustrate the benefits of modern technology in intelligent network cameras.
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Table 1: Technologies in intelligent network cameras
Next: Essential network camera ingredients -- digital image capture, image sensors
