Video CODECs - the Fundamental of Digital Video Recording

Video CODECs are compression / decompression means or choices we used to modify the video that is being digitized. In general, CODECs reduce the amount of bandwidth and storage needed at the expense of using more CPU cycles (which are getting cheaper with the development of technology).

Operationally, a video is made up of a stream of images. When we use a CODEC, we can compress the video in two fundamental ways:

- Compress the individual image by itself (intraframe compression), which is the way MJPEG does.
- Compress a series of images together (interframe compression), which is the way MPEG-4 & H.264 do.

For MJPEG, if we are streaming video at multiple frames per second, we are sending basically the same image over and over again. For MPEG-4 and H.264, often a whole image is sent first, the rest of the times they only send updates describing what parts of the image have changed. The result is a significant reduction in storage and bandwidth but it takes more CPU cycles to examine groups of images and make complex calculations. H.264 uses much more complex and sophisticated rules than MPEG-4 to do the compression and hence consumes even more CPU cycles.

Historically, products move from MJPEG to MPEG-4 to H.264. However, with the rise of megapixel cameras, the huge increase in resolution demands more CPU cycles to be allocated. As such, most commercial megapixel cameras use MJPEG, especially if they are multi-megapixel (more than 1.3 MP). New approaches are being sought to reduce the use of CPU cycles in compressing megapixel camera feeds.

To look for the most updated Digital Video Recorders, please visit http://www.jupisys.com/product.html.

Large Premise Security Communication Technologies

Outlook on Transportation Security Communication Technologies from Frost & Sullivan
Source: Research and Markets
Date: 04/19/2010

Research and Markets announced the addition of Frost & Sullivan's new report "Assessment of Communication Technologies for Transportation Security" to their offering.This research service evaluates the recent trends and emerging technologies pertaining to transportation security.

The research also offers an analysis of drivers, challenges and vendor innovations pertaining to transportation security.This Frost & Sullivan research service entitled “Assessment of Communication Technologies for Transportation Security” analyzes and assesses the diverse factors influencing the developments of communication technologies for the transportation security application segment.

The study reviews the drivers and challenges in the way of greater adoption and commercial success of communication technologies in transportation security. In this research, Frost & Sullivans expert analysts thoroughly examine the following technologies: Wi-Fi ZigBee, ultra wide band (UWB), GPS and converged IP.

If the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 initiated greater concern for aviation security, the Mumbai attacks of Nov. 26, 2008 brought the spotlight on port security. Likewise, the Madrid train bombings of 2004 and the 7/7 bombings of the London public transport system emphasized the pressing need for mass transit security. Over the last decade, the spate of terrorist attacks was a clear pointer to the major lacuna in emergency preparedness of governments worldwide. The inability to detect and communicate potential threats and mission critical intelligence that could have made the difference between crisis and control was apparent.

Fortunately, governments worldwide are stepping up to the plate, equipping their personnel and public alike with the latest communication technologies to counter terrorist activities. "Communication technologies play a key role in ensuring timely delivery of mission-critical intelligence and enhance the situational awareness of decision makers," said the analyst of this research service. "Asset tracking, which relies heavily on wireless communication technologies, closely monitors personnel, vehicles, and cargo to identify potential threats, and typically employs Wi-Fi, Zigbee or UWB in indoor environments."The advent of digital video has contributed greatly to improved transportation security in airports, seaports, mass transit stations, and roadways.

Analog video surveillance has been used for long in the transportation security market, but its usage was restricted owing to the high costs associated with the large amount of point-to-point fiber required for its operations. The introduction of digital video has revolutionized video surveillance in the past few years as it allows more traffic with less bandwidth, and is relatively easier to transport over wireless networks.Although the prospects for the market look upbeat, issues surrounding integration and interoperability have clouded the market landscape. To ensure robust surveillance and real-time information sharing, a disparate set of technologies needs to be integrated into a single platform that could be accessed by security personnel.

"Technologies such as biometric platforms, smart cards, video surveillance platforms, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and other security technologies are widely used for facilitating real-time monitoring and rapidly responding to potential threats," said the analyst. "However, the prospect of integrating inputs from these disparate platforms and streamlining the collected intelligence onto a single communication medium for security personnel to monitor is an onerous task." This limits the extent to which communication technologies can be exploited in the transportation security domain and slows down growth prospects in this segment.

Nevertheless, the recent emergence of converged IP networks is mitigating the effects of this challenge to some extent. As the network is based on the open IP standard, it is vendor-independent and could serve as a single platform on which different types of devices could be unified. Converged IP networks have allowed the integration of security information in the form of voice, data, and video from a diverse set of devices, thereby allowing transportation security stakeholders to achieve increased visibility on assets and respond faster to emergencies.

Jupiter recently completed a Wi-Fi CCTV systems for one of Hong Kong's prestiged private clubs. Contact Jupiter to find out how our Wi-Fi CCTV solutions can help protect large premise with minimal infrastructure investment.

Buckfast Abbey was Protected by Hybrid DVR Surveillance System

Buckfast Abbey, one of the U.K.'s most famous monasteries, integrated existing analogue and new IP cameras into a single hybrid DVR surveillance system. The Abbey selected a HVR for a flexible, easy-to-manage and reliable security system to ensure that its shops, restaurant and conference areas are constantly monitored and protected from theft and vandalism.

Each day, Buckfast Abbey welcomes the public to visit its grounds, totaling more than 20 acres, for both leisure and business. Due to the sheer size of the site, however, security is an issue. After experiencing a series of thefts and vandalism, the Abbey sought to upgrade its analog surveillance system to a networked system for improved crime detection as well as system reliability, performance and simplicity.

The HVR, which supports a variety of cameras at Buckfast Abbey, allows for digital images to be recorded from the Abbey’s existing analog cameras and new network cameras in a single Digital Video Recorder. HVR provides the future option of introducing further high resolution network cameras in the future when the IP network infrastructure is complete.

Among the key features of the HVR installed at Buckfast Abbey are continuous, motion-based and event recording. Footage can be searched from up to eight channels simultaneously to include time and date, specified events, motion and activity. Media can be exported to CD/DVD with one-click media clip and data watermarking, and media clip authentication with the player software is also included.

For additional security on criminal incidents, LPR was incorporated into the Abbey’s surveillance system. Now, a motion sensor triggers license plate image capture whenever cars enter through the service and main entrances. The DVR makes access to such footage faster and easier than before, dramatically improving incident response-time and helping police investigations.


To learn how Jupiter HVR can help you obtain the same benefits and upgrade your premise security, contact us at (852) 2537 7255 or enquiry@jupisys.com.

為何視像監察系統又被稱為閉路電視？

閉路電視的英文是 Close-Circuit TeleVision（簡稱 CCTV），顧名思義，所傳送的視頻是被限制在一封閉的迴路上（即特定的區域內）播放的電視訊號，這類的播放與廣播電視有別，閉路電視的訊號並不公開傳輸給大眾，只有迴路上適當的設備才能播放。

除了視像監察系統外，以前人們也會稱錄影機播放節目這類不公開播送視頻的系統為閉路電視，但隨著錄影機的普及，已經很少人會把錄影機叫做閉路電視了，而閉路電視逐漸地成為視像監察系統的專用別稱。

今天，視像監察系統被各行各業廣泛應用，其中以物業保安、預防失竊、場地監察及營運管理最為普遍 。有興趣可參考一下網頁：

http://www.jupisys.com/zh/applications.html

保安小知識：閉路電視錄影帶已經過時了！

蘋果日報新聞：「係佢啦！」　四刀手圍斬　青年臂幾砍斷

＂大埔公路燒車停車場現場，環保署安裝有閉路電視，監察泥頭司機非法棄置泥頭情況，警方正翻看閉路電視錄影帶，了解有否拍下燒車過程，同時尋找車主協助調查。＂

摘自2010年4月11日＜蘋果日報＞

http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/template/apple/art_main.php?iss_id=20100411&sec_id=4104&art_id=13917284

偶爾從新聞報導或電視劇集都會讀到或看到警方翻看閉路電視錄影帶來尋找破案線索，但其實這可能只是記者及編劇的口頭禪，又或者大家真的不知道，閉路電視系統的存取方式在最近十年間已經起了根本性的變化。

自 Jupiter 於1999年推出市場上第一個數碼錄影系統（Callisto™）開始，傳統的閉路電視錄影帶已經逐漸被能存取數碼視像檔案的硬盤取代。數碼視像檔案的存取速度及搜尋的方便程度，都是傳統錄影帶難以媲美的，只要輸入日期及時間，便能立即重播要查看的片段，無須像從前般翻帶，再用肉眼搜尋，找不到，又要再翻帶，費時失事。

如今絕大部份的閉路電視系統已經數碼化了，如果你還在用錄影帶系統，盡快找 Jupiter 研究一下有甚麼好的系統更新方案吧！（網站：http://www.jupisys.com，電郵：enquiry@jupisys.com，電話：852-2537-7255）

要進一步了解Callisto™數碼錄影系統，可參考

http://www.jupisys.com/solutions_surveillance_professional.html。

系統欠維修，遇突發事件閉路電視形同虛設

紐約地鐵 半數閉路電視失靈

"紐約地鐵站早前發生一宗乘客在站內被兇徒刺死的案件，經調查後發現站內四千三百個閉路電視攝像頭，僅半數正常運作，兇案現場正處裏閉路電視失靈的盲點，以致無法攝得兇徒外貌，令紐約地鐵成為罪惡溫黑點..."

摘自 2010年4月1日＜頭條日報＞

http://news.hkheadline.com/dailynews/content_hk/2010/04/01/106754.asp

Jupiter 留意到不少裝有閉路電視系統的學校、大廈、貨倉，甚至工商機構都欠缺維修保養意識，當遇上突發事件，才發現多年前安裝的閉路電視系統已經不能正常運作，好像近年的高空擲鏹水事件，當警方要求部分大廈管理處提供進出大廈的視像記錄時，才發現部分閉路電視攝影機根本不能運作。所以，如果各管理或保安單位真的重視轄下物業或場所的財物及人身安全，記緊定時為閉路電視系統進行保養檢查及維修。如有任何疑問，不妨聯絡 Jupiter，參考一下保安系統專家的意見。（網站：http://www.jupisys.com/ ，電郵：enquiry@jupisys.com，電話：852-2537-7255）

經濟實用 All-In-One 閉路電視系統只售 HK$2,288