CCTV, Close Circuit Television. This used to be (and still is) the most widely used descriptive word for video surveillance. Originally, that is what video surveillance was, cameras running to a central location being viewed on special monitors and at times having the video recorded. Then came the PC, video compression and capture cards and we entered the DVR age. Adding audio recording features, digital processing (which is supposed to be better… it’s not), alarm inputs and network connectivity. Now the DVR age is coming to an end… IP Video Surveillance is all the rage with IP cameras, virtual matrix, megapixel, open platforms, NVRs… etc. Yet we still use CCTV to denote video surveillance. At first I would argue that we need to change how we describe video surveillance, however, if one were to take a hard look, beyond the flashy advertisements, glossy brochures, and the sales reps pitch, one will find that the truth is, it is still CCTV. It just now costs more… follow my thoughts if you dare.
Traditional CCTV systems connected first with a camera -> to a coax cable -> to either a multiplexer or matrix switch -> to a DVR or VHS for recording. The feed from the multiplexer and matrix switch goes than to the monitors. The only way to access the system, view the cameras or manage the video is by sitting at the DVR. The system is closed.
Now, we are in the technology age, IP Video Surveillance. We now have an IP camera -> to a CAT5 cable -> network switch -> to a NVR. Tell me, what is the difference from this and the system above? All we have done is change the mode of transmission from Analog to IP, from coax to CAT5 and instead of a DVR we now use a NVR (it is the same thing!). We now charge for software upgrades, licensing fees, and only have a small handful of cameras that can integrate with any given software package.
Yes, there is network connectivity, but that is performed the exact same way on both systems. The CCTV system is connected to the network, when a user wants to access the system, they log into it like they would log into a server on their network. Between Analog and IP CCTV systems there is no difference. I ask you, how is this different? What advantages are there to go to IP and yet continue to use this topology?
I like IP Video Surveillance, there are true advantages to it. But there are only a small handful of manufactures that are get it. So over the next couple of weeks I will attempt to describe what a TRUE IP, Video Surveillance system should look like.
- System Redundancy
- Distributed Topologies
- Large Enterprise Deployments
- Video Analytics
- True Scalability
- Service and support
