Intelligent Transportation Systems

CCTV Surveillance Over IP

Baltimore Regional Traffic Signal Forum
December 14, 2005
Diederick VanDillen

Intelligent Transportation Systems USA

Your Success is Our Goal
 Presentation Outline

z What is CCTV over IP?

z Sample Architectures

z CCTV over IP Components

z Advantages over Traditional CCTV Systems

z CCTV over IP Challenges

z Summary

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What is CCTV over IP (CCTVoIP)

z Traditional analog CCTV (NTSC video) typically runs over coax cable,
wireless, and fiber along dedicated point-to-point channels

z CCTV over IP sends information (video, status and control) as packet

data onto an IP (Internet Protocol – 10.1.1.1, 192.168.2.254) network
which may already be used for other computer network purposes

z Data packets are interleaved with other traffic on the same medium
and routed/switched to their destination using common networking
hardware

z IP networks are typically run over copper TWP (Cat 5/6), fiber, and
wireless 802.11a/b/g

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What is Digital and Compressed Video

z Digital refers to the process of digitizing or sampling the CCTV analog

video to transform an analog signal to a digital format

z Digital (uncompressed) 8-10bit video used by some CCTV fiber

transceivers – this is not IP video

z Compressed (or encoded) video removes some of the redundant

information in order to reduce data rates
„ Lossless – removes redundant information without affecting picture quality –
45-90MB data rate
„ Lossy – results in some reduction in video quality (resolution, frame rate,
color depth) over uncompressed image – 56kbps to 10MBps

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Analog vs IP Cameras

z NTSC (Analog) cameras

„ Still dominant in traffic industry
„ Provide support for NTCIP

z IP Cameras (i.e. Webcams)

„ Camera digitalizes and encodes image within camera – IP output
„ Typically consumer and security type cameras not suited for harsh
environments

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CCTVoIP – Distribution Architecture
Field TMC
Analog Matrix Analog
Cameras Switch Displays

Analog Traffic Management System

Encoders Network Video

Server

Internet / Intranet WAN LAN

Web
Browsers Distribution System
Digital IP

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CCTVoIP – End-End Architecture
Field Traffic Management System
Analog Encoders
Cameras

TMC WAN LAN TMC

Large
TMC Network Video Video Display Screen
Workstations Server Processor Displays

Internet / Intranet WAN LAN

Analog Web
Digital IP Browsers Distribution System

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CCTVoIP Components - Encoder

Serial Control Digital IP

Encoder
Analog Video

z Digitizes and compresses analog video using standard encoding

format (MJPEG, MPEG2, MPEG4) over IP

z Digitizes serial control channel over IP (i.e. terminal server)

z Functions as video server – some have built in browsers

z Ethernet/IP interface compatible with any fiber, cable (Cat 5/6),

or wireless IP (802.11) network
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CCTVoIP Components – Encoder Formats

z Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG)

„ Encodes each picture separately (intra-frame) sends in a series to
create motion (Motion JPEG) – low latency
„ High quality still images (snapshots) – Web standard

z Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG 2, 4)

„ Supports both inter-frame (motion compensation) and intra-frame
encoding – more efficient compression than MJPEG
„ Better streaming and motion video performance at lower bandwidth

z Encoders generally not interoperable - formats are

standardized, but not the transport

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CCTVoIP Components – Decoder

z Hardware decoder
„ May be needed for displaying analog video
„ Interface with legacy equipment or to workstations and display
processors that do not support a software decoder

z Software decoder – more prevalent with improved processor

capability

z Compatible with the Encoder

„ Encoding formats are standardized but not the IP transport – most
encoders are not interoperable
„ Some interoperability testing has been done (TxDOT, SwR)

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CCTVoIP Components – TMC Network

z Typically a dedicated high bandwidth GigE (gigabit Ethernet) network

z Use of MPEG2, MPEG4 high resolution encoding formats

z Managed Ethernet switches – do not use hubs

z Supporting Protocols
„ TCP/IP UDP (video) and TCP (control) transport
„ Device management - SNMP
„ Video multicast support – IGMP
„ Traffic priority if bandwidth/loading restrictions – QoS
„ Traffic separation if shared network - VLAN

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CCTVoIP Components – TMC Workstation

z High Performance workstation with large monitor to enable

displaying 1-4 video streams simultaneously

z Video decoding in software is processor intensive

z Optionally decode in hardware using a dedicated decoder and

video capture card for each workstation

z Software based video switching (point and click) routes

encoded video to desired decoder port

z Software based camera control

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CCTVoIP Components – Network Video Server

z Distribution of video for external internet/intranet users with user

authentication and access control
z Typically supports back-end video serving processes for a front-end
web server
z Supports video multicasting to manage network loading
z Supports transcoding to translate between video encoding formats, or
reduces frame rate of current format for external users
z Camera control arbitration
z Video record and playback

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CCTVoIP Components – Video Display Processor

z Manages the information display of large screen display

systems and stand alone monitors

z Able to manage multiple different computer, data, and video

input formats

z Some have ability to directly decode standard digital video

encoded formats

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CCTVoIP Components – Internet/Intranet

z Typically characterized by limited or restricted bandwidth

access (1.5 – 100MB)

z Supporting 100s-1000s of simultaneous users

z Shared network with limited or no multicast or priority support

z MJPEG or other Web video formats

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CCTVoIP Components – Web Browser
z Any authorized user with a web browser and access to the Network
Video Server can access video and control – point browser to http
video server address
„ External agency users video and limited control
„ Public – viewing only

z Does not require special application software – minimizes

administration

z Video quality adjusts to network bandwidth capability

„ Intranet users ~ 1-15 frames per second
„ Internet users ~ <1 frame per second

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CCTVoIP Advantages over Traditional Systems

z Improved system scalability

„ Adding cameras is similar to adding another computer to your network – no
additional TMC equipment
„ Video switching is handled at the packet level by the network – no more
matrix switch expansion modules

z Network convergence - CCTV can integrate with other Ethernet/IP

field network devices (i.e. traffic controllers) over the same backbone –
no additional communications infrastructure required

z Reliability – IP networks support alternate routing and redundant

network links

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CCTVoIP Advantages over Traditional Systems

z Open standards support

„ Encoding/Decoding formats are standardized – open source
software decoders exist, hardware decoder interoperability
improving
„ Ethernet/IP network transport
„ Compatible with NTCIP

z Software based control eliminates dedicated and proprietary

hardware – switch matrix, multiplexers, sequencers

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CCTVoIP Technical Challenges

z Latency – control response times can be greater – consider

encoder/decoder performance and network latency

z Lossy compression artifacts – resolution (image pixelization

and smearing) and frame rate
„ Greater at higher compression ratios
„ Dependent upon image scene, size and motion

z Network loading can have a negative effect on image quality or

availability – requires proper network design and monitoring

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CCTVoIP Institutional Challenges

z Policy for supporting video over shared networks

z Maintenance demarcation points when using shared facilities

z Requires IT skills and tools for maintenance/support

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CCTVoIP Summary

z CCTV security industry is migrating to IP

z Traditional analog systems may be more cost effective for

smaller deployments

z CCTVoIP may be more cost effective for:

„ Systems with large number of field cameras
„ Systems with existing Ethernet/IP infrastructure – leverage existing
hardware
„ Multiple distributed control points or centers

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