General
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| General
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Q: Is "Wave Reader" a component of IP Video Surveillance?
A: Scott Thomas - Wavereader is a form of video compression technology, like .mpeg4 or MJPEG. It's an older compression but still in use in Some DVRs today. The Genetec video management system - Omnicast actually supports this technology for integration into those DVRs. |
Q: Our IT group won't let us on the company network, so we have to use dsl to connect to our DVR. How can IP video help that?
A: Scott Thomas - IP video allows for total control of each IP camera or encoder on the network. Additionally these devices send separate video streams; one to the hard drive storage the other which can be designated for remote viewing. This allows complete control of the bandwidth used to transmit the video while optimizing the view for remote users. IT departments are far more likely to share bandwidth with video when they are sure the video won't bottleneck or bring the network down. |
Q: What is multi-casting and what is the advantage?
A: Scott Thomas - Multi-casting is a bandwidth saving technology developed and provided exclusively by Genetec. In simple terms, it replicates any video stream that is requested by more than one user (client). An example would be Loss Prevention, Operations and merchandising all request video from the same store. Instead of opening 3 separate video streams when the video arrives at the corporate server, Omnicast replicates the first reducing the bandwidth needed by 66%. |
Q: What is the maximum CAT5/6 cable length switch/router camera?
A: Patrik Pettersson - Maximum cable distance with CAT5/6 cable is 328ft or 100m. Cables can be extended further with inline repeaters. |
Q: I saw the remote connection going to the switch, should it not be connected to the NAS?
A: Patrik Pettersson - Topologies can have many different designs, and while network administrators follow common design concepts, each can look and function differently based on his or her experience and expertise. My schematics in the presentation are simplified for the sake of showing capability and could very well be designed with your suggested remote connectivity to the NAS (Network Attached Storage). Each deployment should be properly designed by the integrator working closely with the end users Loss Prevention team and Information Technology teams. |
Q: On average what is the average memory size for your servers and how many cameras do you support?
A: Joe Fryar - The following is what we are running to meet our requirements. The server has fifteen 750 gig hard drives. We typically run thirty two (32) 1.3 megapixel cameras and four three (3) megapixel cameras. This easily exceeds our 30 day storage requirements. I have one store running forty eight total with the breakout being four three (3) megapixel, two (2) megapixel and the rest being 1.3 mega pixel cameras. The server handles this fine but we really push to get 30 days storage.
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Q: If there are more cameras on the network wouldn't that increase the bandwidth?
A: Scott Thomas - Inside the store is considered the local area network (LAN). If you are on the stores network it would increase their bandwidth but switches would be added so the added video would not bring it down. An alternative is to create a virtual LAN (V-LAN) where the cameras are on their own network inside the store going back to their own server. The wide area network (WAN) is what connects the store to the corporate office, remote users, etc. That is controlled by the amount of users requesting video (clients) and the camera's video stream settings.
Patrik Pettersson - Naturally more cameras on the network does increase bandwidth. There are ways to manage this bandwidth and Axis offers the necessary tools for doing this. We provide QoS (quality of service) capability, on camera motion detection and alarm triggers to transmit video. Leveraging these various technologies will reduce overall bandwidth. It is also important to understand that switching and network infrastructure available today has such high bandwidth throughput (backplane/processing in switches) that network video does little to impact the performance. Consider this, a standard resolution camera today ships with 100mbit capable network interface card. If a user configures the camera to stream 30 frames per second, at highest image quality and max resolution, the camera will use less than 10% of the cards capability. Network issues on the LAN (Local Area Network) are rarely due to bandwidth from the cameras, but rather improper configuration and poor network capabilities of the camera. Axis products support key network protocols, allowing proper design and configuration to function properly within the network environment. |
Q: I hear what you are saying, but...what are the bandwidth considerations?
A: Joe Fryar - To try and answer the question about bandwidth considerations and is bandwidth a problem, well, yes, no, maybe, it depends. The following is from our experience.
On our first install we completed without any issues (so I thought). As we sat at the manager's desk admiring our work, the manager came in and placed a phone call for service. The store registers were slowing down and the store radios for ordering had quit working. I asked our IT guys if there was any way this could be the IP systems fault to which I received an absolute not. Just for kicks I instructed them to take our IP server down. The store communication issues went away. If we hooked the server back up the communication issues returned. Being the quick thinking person I am, I decided we had created the problem. They call it issues but when registers slow down and customers are inconvenienced I call it a "problem". After some research we found out that the switch we used was not adequate to completely isolate the traffic and our video traffic bled over into other network traffic. Can I give you a technical reason why? No. Did changing to a different POE switch fix the problem? Yes.
Another observation, we can run a couple of 640 x 480 cameras running MPEG4 for covert inside the store without isolating the video traffic (using the existing switches) without issues. Because of the large amount of network traffic created we cannot run full IP systems on the installed wireless infrastructure.
We can use existing ports and cat5 cabling (if it exists) inside a location as long as we use a switch that is POE and will let you isolate the video traffic (V-LAN). I feel you could run limited cameras on the plane existing cat5 without isolating the video traffic. This would depend on factors such as camera resolution, compression type etc.
We have no issues inside the store with bandwidth. Again we isolate our video through the switch.
We have no trouble viewing a stores live video from an offsite location. This includes three megapixel cameras. Our current software provider provides us two types of remote client viewers. The first is a full blown version with all the systems features. The second is a remote client "web" viewer for live video. The remote site web viewer is awesome. With the remote web viewer, you are allowed to change the setting on the live video (viewing only, does not affect archiving at all) and look at good quality "live" video without any problems.
Pulling archived video back to a remote location, this is a different animal. Remember from the presentation my first priority was to obtain better video quality. When you go to 1.3 megapixel and 3 megapixel cameras the file sizes are larger than a standard 640x480 analog camera (IP cameras at 640x480 at MPEG4 are not a problem for us). Larger file sizes do affect bandwidth and how long it takes for us to retrieve archived video from a remote store site. So, yes for us, it does take longer to pull archived video from a remote site location as you are pulling the full file size of the archived video at full video resolution. We have adjusted to this by a couple of methods. On small video clips such as a POS exception normally it does not matter a whole lot. On short video clips, we will multitask and perform other duties or retrieve as we are gone to lunch. If we need and associates full eight hour shift we will let the remote client retrieve overnight or have the store burn the video to DVD and send it in the company mail. I consider this a minor inconvenience because of the exceptional video quality.
I will end this question with a case involving the theft of money from a cash register. The store burned the associate's shifts to DVD and sent it to my Loss Prevention Manager. He received the video the next day. When looking at the video he found a cashier rolling up the money with his fingers while talking to a customer after a transaction with the till drawer open. This was such a small action on the associate's part and we would have never picked up on it without the exceptional video quality of the IP camera system. When You need archived video it is for a reason and it typically is not for anything good. |
Q: What POE switches provide the ability to cycle power? Is this on a port or by port basis?
A: Patrik Pettersson - Yes, layer 3 POE switches (those switches with management interfaces) allow the ability to power cycle individual ports. Even midspans or POE injectors with management capability allow for the cycling of power. A majority of switch manufacturers offer this capability on their managers switches. |
Q: Is there a camera count that makes the cost of the system neutral?
A: Scott Thomas - We are seeing 17 cameras as the number at which a new IP installation comes close to an analog CCTV system. And that doesn't factor in longer term costs of ownership like replacement or system maintenance. But big picture, any number of cameras can prove a justification based on video quality, remote accessibility, search functions and integrations of other applications. An IP video management system is the most "future proof" investment a company can make in loss prevention technology because it is constantly upgraded as hardware changes.
Patrik Pettersson - From a camera perspective, the broad range of products available, can be both less and more expensive depending on product selected. One could select the least expensive Axis network camera resulting in a very cost effective solution, while selecting the most expensive product naturally would not. The balance is based on the features and functions required by your organization. |
Q: Typically does the budget of CAT5 cable for each camera during a Prewire fall on the IT dept or Loss Prevention?
A: Patrik Pettersson - This varies between different organizations. We have typically seen this fall under IT or facilities during new store builds and removed from LP budgets. Leveraging one cable infrastructure partner reduces cost and project management complexity. |
Q: To your knowledge are there any compatibility or effectiveness issues with 3rd party exception reporting systems?
A: Scott Thomas - No. With open Arichitectur4e Video Management Systems like Omnicast, integration of other applications can be done via a software development kit (SDK) that's available. This links third party applications like POS exception reporting to the corresponding video. |
Q: When will your cameras have H.264 compression?
A: Patrik Pettersson - Axis new generation cameras supporting H.264 are now available in our product offering. |
Q: Where is a good resource to understand and research mjpeg, mjpeg4 and h294?
A: Patrik Pettersson - Axis provides much information on our web site in regards to MJPEG, MJPEG4 and H.294 (MJPEG-part10). I highly encourage visiting the web site by clicking here. Where you can find information in regards to H.264. In addition, the Axis Technical Guide to Network Video offers much detail on MJPEG and MJPEG4-part2. It can be located here. A hardcopy can also be ordered for free here. |
Q: We must have live monitoring for our plain clothes agents to use at retail, with PTZ capability...what are your options?
A: Scott Thomas - With IP Video Management Systems you can use IP PTZ cameras at the store, or with an encoder, use your existing analog PTZ cameras. Most major brands (Sensormatic, Pellco, etc.) have already been integrated into Omnicast to u se at store level with a mouse or by using the existing analog joystick.
Patrik Pettersson - I am interpreting your questions as a mobile application with plain clothes agents walking the floor and will base my answer from that perspective. Axis offers a free tool to be downloaded to mobile devices allowing connection to our cameras. Axis Installation Monitor, while this tool is mainly used as a technical tool during installation, it could also work well for mobile review of cameras. Cameras can be live viewed and PTZ's can be controlled with touch screen PDA's. However we highly encourage using the VMS (Video Management Software) specific mobile applications, allowing for roaming individuals to connect to the overall system. |
Q: Scott mentioned that for "Ease of installation that: No low voltage permits required". Does this pertain to POE applications as well?
A: Scott Thomas - Yes, power over ethernet (POE) switches and structured cabling do not require low voltage permits to install.
Patrik Pettersson - Network cameras using POE (Power Over Ethernet) qualify under UL (Underwriters Laboratories) specified products powered via a Limited Power Source output (LPS) or Class 2 of the NEC (national Electrical Code). The powersupplies shipping with cameras when not using POE do require and are UL certified. In POE the powersupply is the POE Switch which requires UL certification. For Power over Ethernet these requirements are typically 48 V and max 15 W (per IEEE 802.3af). Even network PTZ cameras are rated as LPS class 2 equipment based on their already UL rated power supplies. UL does however make clear that local code officials might freely interpret the requirements. |
Q: What is the best way to learn more (get a better understanding) about IP video?
A: Joe Fryar - The first thing I did was go to Axis's web site and looked under the Related Links section. It has a wealth of information. I also searched the internet and looked at numerous briefs on the topic. I looked at the sites of about every legitimate supplier of cameras, software, etc. (watch out, everybody is an expert). I also ordered a couple of cameras and downloaded numerous free one camera demo video management software programs and requested other full demo video management software. We put a 1.3 megapixel camera in the lab and measured how it would affect our network. A lot of information will come out of a lab test of the camera. On the storage end, I spent a lot of time with our IT guys learning the different options, the good, bad, and ugly of each and how the different storage methods would fit into what I wanted to accomplish (note, learn the lingo before going to IT). There are a lot of options on storage. Our first server we built is a PC with three terabyte of storage. It is still running strong at our Distribution Center and has ten (10) 1.3 megapixel cameras running MPEG4, one (1) 1.3 megapixel running MJPEG and one three (3) megapixel running MJPEG. It has never missed a beat.
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Be sure to do a final test of your cameras and video management software in a single field location before moving forward to additional locations. Things tend to pop up in the field more than they do in a lab. Do not rush this test. Let it run, put it through its paces. Do not be afraid to test different cameras and Video Management software in this location before you settle on your system.
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Q: What changes did you have to make to your current infrastructure to be able to adapt the bandwidth requirements?
A: Joe Fryar - We changed the type of switches we use to POE with the capabilities to isolate traffic (V-LAN). We are also limited to remote site viewing to 512K. There are no restrictions inside the store. |
