Managing Network Video in Large-Scale Surveillance Systems

(29/09/2008)

IP cameras are now on par with the best analog cameras on the market – even surpassing them in some aspects – and as more and more organizations turn to IP cameras for surveillance, the industry is seeking better solutions for delivering, storing and managing all of that digital video data.

A number of challenges face organizations as they move toward IP video surveillance. The biggest challenge is aggregating and managing multiple video streams through a centralized management system.

Other challenges include storage, bandwidth and scalability. The higher resolution video streams offered by modern IP cameras produce huge volumes of traffic over a company’s existing local network, which can strain network infrastructure and, importantly, IT personnel resources. However, new compression technologies like H.264 are helping to alleviate those problems.

Currently, the H.264 AVC standard is far superior to any other compression method because with it, you can achieve much higher resolution at lower bitrates. The H.264 compression format requires approximately one-third to one-half the file size of previous video formats while retaining the same level of image quality. This has several benefits to the user.

First, storage requirements are reduced – video files that used to take huge amounts of storage space can now be handled a lot more efficiently. Second, bandwidth is reduced, which is extremely important for network video surveillance as it lowers the load on network infrastructure and IT resources. And third, you can record much higher quality video than before. This has major implications for surveillance, because, after all, what good is surveillance if you can't make out what has been recorded?

By building a network video recorder based on H.264 technology, Lanner Electronics has developed a surveillance management system that addresses all of these challenges. The VN-3032 is an all-in-one 3U rackmount platform that can be used to simultaneously record, encode, store and transmit up to 32 channels of H.264 video.

In its standard configuration, the VN-3032 comes with two 16-channel BNC video input modules, six hard drive bays for internal storage, four audio input modules and one four-port LAN module. Because of its modular design, it can be customized to fit a wide range of customer preferences. Want more storage and less audio inputs? No problem. Need more network ports? Simple, just add another network module. Its modular design also simplifies maintenance by enabling field replacement of individual components in the event of a failure.

As a fully network ready video platform, the VN-3032 can be easily connected to any IP-based network and conveniently managed through a web browser. And because it is an all-in-one platform including capture, storage and network interface, ISVs will be able to create integrated solutions faster and more efficiently.

Finally, because of its modular design, ISVs will be able to develop software to take advantage of its flexibility to target a range of markets and price points, while providing high resolution, efficient compression H.264 video quality. This makes the VN-3032 the perfect platform for developing integrated solutions for large surveillance systems, such as those used in airports, casinos, government agencies or other large enterprises. And organizations can easily expand their surveillance networks as time goes on, and all the networked devices will still be manageable through a single interface.

Related topics:  CCTV system and accessories   Surveillance 

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