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Cisco’s first surveillance IP camera

Cisco has recently announced its first Video Surveillance IP camera. An IP camera digitizes and compresses video prior to transmission, and uses the Internet Protocol (IP) to transfer video streams to network-connected storage and viewing systems, which may be located anywhere. By contrast, an analogue camera can only be network-connected using a separate encoder for the digitisation and compression.

An analogue closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera provides resolution of 480 to 540 lines; the Cisco IP camera supports up to 720 lines. One can use this IP camera on its own or as part of a video surveillance system, with support for wired and wireless deployments and integrated Power over Ethernet (PoE).

“One can easily migrate the traditional analogue camera to a high-quality digital solution with the Cisco Video Surveillance IP Camera. The level of network integration and security differentiates Cisco IP cameras, which are an important component in a comprehensive network-based video surveillance solution,” says Ranajoy Punja, Vice President, Business Development, Advanced Technologies, Cisco, India & SAARC.

He further adds, “Our mission is to run physical security applications across the network. The Cisco Video Surveillance IP Camera uses techniques such as device authentication and encryption to ensure security.”

The camera complements Cisco’s video storage, viewing, and monitoring platforms and may be deployed with them as part of an integrated surveillance solution.

This camera’s key component is the IP Gateway that includes video encoders and decoders which uses a MPEG-4 video compression technology that allows video streams to be switched over the IP network at up to full D1 resolution, and up to 30 frames per second, while consuming low bandwidth (Its bandwidth requirement depends on the resolution and frame rate of the transmitted video, and the compression method used. For example, at 30 fps, D1 resolution, using MPEG-4, an IP camera will require 4 Mbps of bandwidth).

Controlled by Cisco Video Surveillance Stream Manager software, the Cisco Video Surveillance IP Gateway enables one to connect the analogue surveillance (traditional video, camera, keyboard, monitor) equipment to a digital network.

The video decoder can be installed where there is a need for live viewing or playback of recorded video on an analogue CCTV monitor. Because the gateways fully integrate CCTV keyboards for control of networked video surveillance, almost all camera control functions are accessible. So there is no need to retrain operators on new CCTV keyboard controls, which makes it easier to change to a digital system.

Cisco offers a variofocus lens, but the customers may choose and install their own lens. The sensor used in the camera is highly sensitive (0.8 Lux). In addition, it can be connected to an external infrared illuminator.

According to Punja, the camera could be useful for new campus environment (like new building and infrastructure) to monitor the floor, to see the utilisation and also to help the companies take better business decisions. He feels it would also be useful to provide security at public locations like airports, transports and public department like police.