Feature comparison table of Digifort software versions - Video Recording; Video Playback; Video Search and Export; Web Server

Digifort software developed for managing and integrating IP cameras, as well as for recording the video data, is offered in four versions: Explorer, Standard, Professional, Enterprise. They differ in the maximum number of cameras and the set of available functions. Each version can be expanded by buying additional licenses. The differences between the versions are tabulated in the following sections:

Recording on motion detection. All Digifort versions support recording triggered by motion detection. Video motion detection is based on comparison of consecutive frames. In the case of a significant change, the system will treat it as a movement and record the images. In this recording method the system needs more computing power, but consumes much less disk space. This mode of operation is highly recommended for most applications.

Setup of motion detection areas. In the mode of recording on motion detection it is possible to select areas of the image which are to be analyzed (or not). The software allows selection of the areas according to the two criteria: Selection and Exclusion. With the Selection method, the administrator selects areas "sensitive" to movement; with the Exclusion method, the administrator chooses areas that should be "insensitive" to movement, e.g. a fan.

Recording on events. In this mode the video from a selected camera (or cameras) is recorded after an event has happened. Events can be generated by cameras or alarm devices and include the following categories: Detection of Movement, Communication Failure, Recording Failure, Manual Event, Timer Event and Alarm Event. It is possible to make the system devices interact with each other, exchange messages of events to start and stop the recordings etc.

Pre/post alarm buffers. When the system is in the mode of recording on motion detection or on events, the images are recorded only in the case of movement or event. Pre/post alarm buffers allow to include short periods before and after the main recordings. It may be especially useful for analysis of the situation before the occurrence of the movement/event.

Digital certificate (watermark). To guarantee the authenticity of the recorded images, Digifort software uses the algorithm of digital certificate which generates and records a unique identification for each recorded image, in connection with the previous ones. In this way, should any image be altered or removed from the recording, the digital certificate would be rejected, showing that the images being reproduced are not the original images that were recorded by the cameras.

Archiving of recordings. The purpose of this feature is to allow backup of video recordings onto external storage media (CD/DVD/DAT TAPE) in order to keep them for longer periods of time (for months or even years). This feature is essential for all projects that need recordings for long periods of time. Generally, most applications do not require long-term archives (typically, most of the video data should be stored for periods up to one month). In the case of systems requiring long-term archiving, Digifort can cooperate with adequate backup software.

High-performance storage. Digifort software ensures high efficiency of the video storage system ("data bank"), allowing quick access and total recording speed up to 1,000 frames (from all cameras). The system can simultaneously record video streams from cameras and play back archives, without loss of performance.

Disk management system. Digifort has an advanced system of disk management, responsible for video data recording and managing. The disk manager offers three types of configurations: recording with limit of days, recording with limit of hours, and recording with limit of disk space. Details are provided in the user manual.

Hard disk allocation for the disk management system. Digifort software offers the possibility of allocation of disk space for video data recording. After activating this option, the cameras share the maximum space allocated by the administrator and the video data can be simultaneously recorded in network servers.

Video recording in file servers (via network). Digifort's mapping of network devices is different from that of Windows, and therefore, must be performed using an internal tool provided by the Professional and Enterprise versions.

Daily limit of recordings. Digifort software does not limit the volume of recorded video.

Motion detection indicator. This tool helps in the configuration of the motion detection function. The green areas in the image show that motion has been detected there.

Searching video by date and time. Digifort has the ability to access its storage resources and playback the video recorded from any camera by selecting date and time. It allows to find the required footage easily and quickly.

Video export formats. Digifort can export video files in two formats, Digifort and AVI. It is necessary to select the camera, provide the date and time, choose the export format, and specify the size of the backup medium. If the size of the video file(s) is larger than the size of the medium, a new directory will be created for the continuation of the video export, thus making it possible to use several media (in the case of the Digifort format). In the Digifort format, which is the format of the data bank, the video will be exported together with Digifort Player, allowing to apply various effects to the image. In the case of AVI format it is possible to choose codec and use any suitable video player available on the market.

"Screenshot" function during video playback. The Digifort Player offers the option of saving still images as common JPG files that can be viewed in any image viewer.

Playback schedules. Digifort offers the option of video export during fixed time periods that can be defined independently for different users.

Advanced search based on motion detection. This is one of the most interesting features of Digifort software. The user can search the recorded video within specified periods, which is additionally "indexed" by motion detection events. Digifort also enables the user to specify the areas to be search for a movement. Once this process is finished, another video file will be created with only the images with detected motion in the selected areas. The file can be played back by the Digifort Player or exported to a CD, DVD or any other backup medium.

Digital zoom during video playback. During the playback of video files, the Digifort Player offers some functions for image adjustment. One of the functions is digital zoom, which allows to magnify any part of the image.

Video deinterlacing. Generally, when recording high-resolution images, quickly moving objects become "jagged". Using the deinterlacing feature, Digifort software is able to remove this "jaggedness", improving the image quality.

Image printing during video playback (with event description) The Digifort Player offers the feature of printing images with descriptions of the event.

Multi-camera video playback. Digifort enables simultaneous and synchronized playback of video recorded from multiple cameras.

Multi-camera video export Digifort enables export of simultaneous, synchronized video files recorded from multiple cameras.

Built-in web server. Digifort offers built-in web server, allowing any person using any browser to monitor any camera registered in the system, from any place in the world. For more security, the access to the cameras can be configured in such a way that the user enters an access password. In addition to live monitoring of the cameras, the web server also allows to play back the recorded material.

Posting pictures on websites. The Digifort web server allows to post pictures, being still still images from the cameras, on any websites on the Internet. For this purpose, it is enough to carry out a simple command for the Digifort server which will capture the current image from the camera specified in the command.