Technology - May 2006

New IP Video

A High-Tech Solution to Business Needs

by Russ Goeckner

It’s no secret that the Internet has dramatically changed the way we conduct business on a daily basis. From email to instant messaging to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), the Internet has revolutionized the way we communicate, and the trend continues today. The latest innovation spawned by the Internet is IP (Internet protocol) video, which is rapidly gaining in popularity. This phenomenal tool connects IP cameras to the Internet so we can view just about anything we want from any location around the world in real-time. As you might imagine, IP video is having a tremendous impact on the video security surveillance industry.

Here’s how it works. A digital camera broadcasts the video images as a digitized signal over a LAN (local area network) line, where it’s then transmitted to a server that manages the information. The software gives the company the ability to record, display or retransmit the images anywhere in the world. Depending on the type of software installed, it may analyze data and select specific items to monitor, making it a customizable security tool. True IP-based digital surveillance uses signal processing that sends packetized video streams over the LAN, utilizing greater bandwidth and standard TCP/IP communication. It also provides greater data mining features and information retrieval. If security is an issue, full digital surveillance offers the added advantage of data-encryption opportunities to protect against image tampering.

A complete IP-based system offers the best bang for your buck, both monetarily and in terms of security. TCP/IP transmittal of surveillance makes sense for remote monitoring of multiple locations and for remote recording of data onto back-up servers and hard disks for long-term storage. Since most businesses already have a high-speed IP network, adding IP video simply leverages the same infrastructure to include video functionality. The only action required is to set the IP address of the network cameras, and the system is then up and ready for configuration. Implementation of an IP-based video system is easy if you partner with the right provider who understands your business needs.

Who can benefit from IP video surveillance systems? The real question is what company can’t use this cutting-edge technology. In the banking and finance sector, institutions can easily and effectively manage multiple locations. IP-based technology is ideal for trouble spots such as ATMs and drive-up windows. Manufacturing and industrial companies can utilize the tool to manage quality, safety and control. IP video is being used to focus on critical points of the production line to increase productivity and avoid problems. Businesses from small family-owned stores to large retailers rely on this tool to reduce the potential for damage and theft, as well as to capture evidence of workplace injury and employee harassment. Daycare centers are utilizing the technology to ensure the safety of all children. These are just a few examples of how IP-based surveillance systems can increase an organization’s profitability, reduce costs and increase productivity.

Advances in IP-based technology are turning video surveillance into one of the most valuable loss prevention, safety, security and management tools available today. Those companies incorporating it into their daily activities will have a greater chance of meeting their business objectives.

Russ Goeckner
Russ Goeckner is president of Amtec Communications, a telecommunications provider based in Las Vegas.