The Cleavage: Enterprise IP video surveillance

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Enterprise IP video surveillance is a video surveillance architecture that manages and records large quantities of IP-based surveillance cameras using Enterprise Software Architecture while based on commercial off-the-shelf cameras, software, servers, and switches. This model is quickly becoming the preferred means of managing enterprise video surveillance systems while traditional surveillance manufacturers continue to lose market share with their black box "proprietary" solutions.

The first IP based video management systems emerged in the late 90's and early 2000's from companies such as Aimetis, ipConfigure and Milestone Systems. Today, IP open platform video surveillance integrates with both networked and non-networked (analog) systems.

Reduced system and management cost and added functionality due to general-purpose IP networking infrastructure.

Unified integration with other IT environments.

Choice of open-platform video recording hardware and software through commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) selection.

Reduced system cost due to low-cost cabling in large installations (CAT5e instead of RG-58 coaxial cable).

Easy to add, move or change cameras.

Flexible and seamless support for standard and multi-megapixel image resolutions beyond NTSC, PAL and SECAM.

Transmission of power, video, and PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) control over a single network cable.

Support for different streaming media and compression formats to relieve transmission bandwidth and data storage requirements (MJPEG, MPEG4, H.264).

Support for intelligent video motion detection.

Integration of video surveillance with other systems and functions such as access control, alarm systems, building management, traffic management, etc.