What is an IP Camera?

Electronic article surveillance products provider Best Security Industries has introduced BSI-Q24IP, a new hemispheric camera designed for the retail security market. The camera is designed and built by Mobotix, a German manufacturer of high-resolution IP video systems.

The new camera comes with 3.1 megapixel image clarity, an internal digital video recorder (DVR), on board software to operate the camera and a two way audio. It is designed to operate locally or be monitored remotely over the retailer’s data network.

The retailers would be able to install this camera by using only computer network cable and can power all cameras through Power Over Ethernet (POE) cable network. It is considered a new IP based surveillance solution to help in retail loss prevention.

The company said that BSI-Q24IP’s 3.1 megapixel colour sensor could transfer images at up to 30 frames per second and work in all lighting conditions. Its on-board recording can be set to record continuously, with chosen frame rate for more storage.

Eric Brotherhood, vice president of Sales at BSI, said: “Our retail customer base was asking for a cost effective, powerful surveillance device that could span the entire chain of stores, provide immediate feedback of events, and can operate on any computer network or in standalone fashion.

“There simply isn’t another product on the market that can provide these unparalleled views, recording format, two way audio and clarity of image. It is the complete package. It is a perfect solution for any retailer, large or small.”

The Q24M impresses with a double frame rate, a distortion-corrected 180° panorama view and integrated video storage.

Langmeil, Germany, 18 May 2009. Mobotix, a manufacturer of complete high-resolution IP video systems, presents the new Q24M hemispheric camera which replaces the Q22M model. Special features include a more powerful microprocessor and an optimized system platform attaining twice the image frame rate as before. Even 3.1 megapixel camera images can now be transferred at a rate of up to 20 frames per second and megapixel images at a rate of up to 30 frames per second. In addition to a 3.1 megapixel color sensor, the hemispheric camera also includes an internal DVR (digital video recorder) with a maximum memory capacity of 32 GB. The DVR is based on Flash memory technology for improved reliability and extended service life. The combination of a high-resolution sensor, hemispheric lens and internal DVR allow you to view an entire room with just one Q24M camera and save the images in the camera as a high-resolution video sequence. The new Q24M hemispheric camera is available either as a basic or secure model. The Q24M Secure comes with a 4 GB MicroSD card that can record about 50,000 panorama images or four hours of video.

Distortion Correction Included

Like its predecessor, the Q22M hemispheric model, the Q24M includes an integrated distortion correction feature. This feature allows the perspective distortion of the image data to be corrected either in real time or during a subsequent search. The correction of the lens distortion automatically provides the viewer with an image that appears natural. One new feature of the Q24M is the “panorama correction”. In just seconds, the user can independently fine-tune the live image in the panorama image generated by the camera.

The full image can optionally be saved for later research purposes: While you closely analyze image sections in the live image using the virtual, digital pan/tilt/zoom feature (PTZ), the camera continues to run in the background and record the entire room internally as a full image