Ip camera definition

What is IP camera?

An IP camera is a networked digital video camera that transmits data over a Fast Ethernet link. IP cameras (also called “network cameras”) are most often used for IP surveillance, a digitized and networked version of closed-circuit television (CCTV).

Benefits of IP camera over analog technology include:

• Remote administration from any location.
• Digital zoom.
• The ability to easily send images and video anywhere with an Internet connection.
• Progressive scanning, which enables better quality images extracted from the video, especially for moving targets.
• Adjustable frame rates and resolution to meet specific needs.
• Two-way communication.
• The ability to send alerts if suspicious activity is detected.
• Lower cabling requirements.
• Support for intelligent video.

Disadvantages of IP surveillance include greater complexity and bandwidth demands. One alternative for organizations with substantial investment in analog technology is to use a video server to, in effect, turn analog CCTV cameras to IP cameras. A video server is a small standalone server that converts analog signals to a digital format and provides the analog cameras with IP addresses.

Nevertheless, because it offers much more sophisticated capabilities, IP surveillance is increasingly replacing analog CCTV.