ACTi Corporation belongs to the leading manufacturers of monitoring equipment based on IP technology. The offer includes IP cameras, IP speed dome cameras, videoservers, video transcoders. Below there are outlined the principles and examples of practical monitoring solutions with the use of ACTi equipment.

IP cameras encode video signal to MPEG-4 data stream, which can be further transmitted within whole computer network, received and processed by any "entitled" network device. It means that the image can be viewed and recorded in any place where there is a PC connected to the network and equipped with adequate software delivered by ACTi.

IP speed dome cameras, aside from all features of regular IP devices, are equipped with PTZ (Pan, Tilt, Zoom) capabilities. They allow to direct the camera to any point in the range of operation, turn it in horizontal (pan) and vertical (tilt) planes, zoom the image. It is possible to watch wide area - instead of a whole set of fixed devices it is enough to install single PTZ camera.

The next source of video data stream is videoserver. This device converts video signal from any type of analog camera to IP format. It enables the previously used cameras to be utilized in IP systems. From the network side a videoserver is handled the same way as IP camera.

PCI video card is designed for viewing and recording on computer hard disk images from analog cameras. It turns the PC, through running adequate software, into digital video recorder.

Transcoder allows for receiving MPEG-4 stream and decoding it in real time to analog video signal. Due to that operation, it can still be used standard CCTV monitors for viewing images from IP cameras or videoservers.

The diagram above shows the example of employing ACTi equipment in IP surveillance video network. The area of operation has been divided into two parts: the part undergoing observation and the center of monitoring and managing. In the first part, cameras are the fundamental elements of the system. There is no essential difference in performance of the system as regards applying IP or analog cameras, because the offer of ACTi includes videoservers enabling conversion of analog video into MPEG-4 stream.

It is also possible to use standard CCTV recorders and monitors since every IP device of ACTi is equipped with analog video output. Such approach to the issue allows for utilization of existing older systems as the base for modern IP solutions, and makes the whole undertaking much cheaper. Of course, there is the possibility of using new IP DVRs that have the great advantage of free location within the network. Monitoring center exemplifies one of conceivable solutions of managing the whole system.

With IP networks, unquestionable advantage is possibility of location such a center in any, freely remote place. The communication is ensured by local (LAN) or wide area network (WAN).

As the basic tool for managing IP monitoring system it can be used a PC with Windows OS. Software pack needed for running monitoring is the part of ACTi equipment, and the customers have access to current updates that are available at the manufacturer's web site.

The above example realization, based on ACTi equipment, is especially suitable when there is a need of modernization of existing analog surveillance system. To "upgrade" the system to modern IP video network one needs videoservers linking analog CCTV cameras with IP network. The videoservers are equipped with analog video outputs enabling recording of images on DVRs or direct viewing of them on standard TV monitors.

To get pictures from the cameras in any remote location, it is enough to apply transcoders that will decode MPEG-4 data stream into analog video, in any place of the LAN or WAN network. This way it is still possible to make use of the monitors that have worked in the analog system.

The solution shown in the above chart gives the idea of using nDVR server of ACTi. The server allows for viewing, recording and playing back images coming from both analog and digital systems. Besides the possibility of connecting analog and IP cameras, the device features alarm capabilities.

The alarm functions can be triggered by various sensors that supplement video surveillance, such as fire detectors, ultrasonic or IR sensors, door sensors etc. These functions may be used for activation of previously preprogrammed actions. The actions consist in e.g. switching on recording of images from the violated or endangered zones, or simply turning on burglar alarm, lighting, blockade of exits, etc. and/or notifying given e-mail addresses.

Similarly to other IP-based solutions, this case also allows for remote control of the system from any place. For managing the monitoring system it can be used a PC with Windows OS and the included with ACTi equipment dedicated software. Through LAN/WAN network one can fully control the whole system.