What is an IP home security camera system, and why should you consider it? [1]
NOTE: You can jump to any part of this post by clicking the links in the table of contents
Table of Contents
There are a few defining characteristics of an IP home security camera that you need to know about:
Here’s where things can get a little confusing. I won’t go too deep into internet protocols as it’s not necessary, but product descriptions do refer to them. I will attempt to explain the internet protocols (IP) in non-technical terms.[3], [4], [5], [6]
Protocols (communication language): The way to describe a protocol is as a set of technical rules. Not all internet technologies are the same and different types of home security surveillance cameras use different protocols (rules) to operate. What protocol they use depends on which set of rules allows them to function to best effect. An IP home security camera can use HTTP (web), TCP/IP, and FTP. So whenever your security system communicates, it follows a set of rules based on its protocol.
IP Address: An IP address stands for “internet protocol address.” It’s a unique kind of number separated by dots or periods. An example might be: 101.1.123.234. All you really need to know about IP addresses is that they’re an advanced way to enable things to happen online (interactions). They make two-way communication fast and easy, irrespective of the device or the distance between devices. In short, the Internet Protocol lets devices ‘talk to each other’ over the network.
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol): A set of rules used for transferring text, video, sound, graphic images and various other multimedia files on the internet.
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol): This is the basic communication protocol of the internet. It’s a protocol that private networks use, i.e. intranet (totally private network) or an extranet. The extranet allows some access to authorized users outsider its network).
FTP (File Transfer Protocol): Transfers (uploads & downloads) data between computers on a network (remote server to local computer and local computer to remote server). It’s more robust than HTTP. Academic and corporate settings often use FTP, as do webmasters to upload and download files to and from their websites.
One of the major plus points for the IP security cameras is that any authorized user can view it from any computer. Many of the newer systems even allow remote access (outside your home network) via the internet. The beauty of this feature is that you could be on holiday and still check in on your home.
Another important consideration when choosing IP home security cameras is whether to opt for a centralized or decentralized system. The centralized options are the older technologies, and decentralized are the way forward in newer systems. To keep things simple, a centralized setup relies on a single box, or brain, as some refer to it. This is the central processor, the main part of the system that controls and executes various operations. The central processing unit (CPU) stores all the data and delivers it to the devices that need it to function, in this case the cameras.
Here’s what a typical centralized Setup consists of:
The main disadvantage to a centralized platform is that it relies completely on the central processer (brain) to store all its data and carry out all functions. If the central processor freezes up or malfunctions for whatever reason, it can no longer talk to your cameras.
The major advantage of a decentralized IP video surveillance system is that it doesn’t rely on a single box like the centralized setup. Each of the IP cameras is VMS-enabled. VMS stands for Video Management Software, and it’s inside the actual individual cameras. This means the cameras can record independently of a centralized platform, direct to hard disk. You can record to PC, Network-attached storage (NAS), SD Card or the cloud. These systems are also operating system (OS) agnostic. This is a term that means the ability to record to either Windows or LINUX.[7]
Here’s what a typical decentralized IP video camera setup consists of:
The advantages of decentralized systems may seem obvious, but you still need to weigh up the pros and cons to meet your own security needs. Just remember that there can be no central point of failure with decentralized systems as each of the security cameras operate independently. There are also no video management software (VMS) licences to worry about. Click the link to read about all your video storage options.
You will also need to consider other features before you make a decision. These are the standard considerations that apply to all kinds of modern home camera systems.
Main features to consider in an IP home security camera system include:
You can click the links above to read about what these features are, how they work and what you need to consider.
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