NETWORK CAMERAS Technical Q&A AXIS Panorama PTZ Network Camera Questions & Answers Last updated: February 28th, 2003 Rev: 1.1
1 Q&A - Axis Panorama PTZ Network Camera 1.1 Topics covered Applications Features Bandwidth & frame rate Connection Network cameras vs. Web cameras Accessories Technical General 1.1.1 Applications Q: What software do I need in order to use Axis Panorama PZT Network Camera? A: All the necessary software is included in the cameras. To configure the cameras and view the images, you only need a standard Web browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. Q: I need to set up some cameras for outdoor use. What do I need? A: The AXIS Panorama PZT Network Cameras are equipped with lenses for bright light conditions. Note that you will need a weatherproof enclosure from a third party vendor. See also Using the camera outdoors. Q: How can I store images for playback? A: The network camera can be programmed to automatically send images to a file server using FTP. Q: How can I use the motion detection function of your cameras? A: You can attach motion detectors to the cameras to generate an alarm whenever movement occurs within the area that the detectors cover. If an alarm is triggered, a buffered image stream can be uploaded to a target server and an optional e-mail notification be sent. Please note that a motion detector (or two detectors, depending on their detection angle) has to be connected to both cameras to enable motion detection in the entire panorama. Rev: 1.1, Last updated: 2003-03-03 2
Q: Can I restrict access to the cameras? A: To prevent any unauthorized use, the camera supports multi-user password protection and access is restricted to defined users only. The Administrator has exclusive access to the Administration Tools and can determine the registration and access rights for all users. 1.1.2 Features Q: Do the Axis network cameras have their own IP addresses? A: Yes, they act as standalone Web servers, including some limited memory space reserved for customer applications. Q: Which are the main features? A: There are several: 180 degrees horizontal field of view, in which the user can pan, tilt and zoom in digitally The entire panorama is constantly being monitored even if a user is zoomed in on a particular part of the view, images are being streamed on the full view, which is beneficial if you are recording from the cameras and something happens out of your current view you can go back and have a look at the section you weren t looking at the time of the event. Multiple users can browse the viewing area simultaneously, even looking at different sections independently Pan, tilt, and zoom is done either with an intuitive interface that allows the user to either click at a certain part of the image to go there, or by using scroll-bars in the interface to move around Snapshot functionality enables the user to save a JPG-image by simple means of clicking Take snapshot button or right clicking with mouse and choosing save snapshot 16 preset positions allows the user to predefine positions that then easily can be accessed through a drop-down menu Image quality. Axis network cameras offer very high image quality and high sensitivity in dark light conditions Price/performance ratio. The AXIS Panorama PTZ list price of $999 in the US (Euro 999 in Europe), yet offering digital pan, tilt and zoom, is probably unique! 1.1.3 Bandwidth & frame rate Q: How much bandwidth does an Axis Network Camera require? A: This depends on the number of users and the image quality you have decided to use. The Axis Network Cameras have configurable bandwidth usage, which gives you complete control of how much bandwidth you want to use. Rev: 1.1, Last updated: 2003-03-03 3
Q: Why does the frame rate slow down in dark conditions? A: Axis network cameras are using an algorithm just like a film-based camera with increased exposure time when there is limited light. This method gives significantly better low-light performance than cameras based on video signals (which have a maximum exposure time of 20 ms). Q: Can an Axis network camera transmit only the changes between two pictures in order to reduce bandwidth? A: No. As the Axis network cameras are compatible with standard Web browsers, who have no support for such a format, this is not possible. This also ensures high quality on every single still image. 1.1.4 Connection Q: How can I connect the network camera? Can I use a wireless connection? A: You can connect the network video device to a LAN or wireless adapter. See examples of system configurations. Q: I have a DSL line with only one IP address. How can I connect several cameras? A: See description on how to map port numbers in technical note. Q: My ISP only provides a dynamic IP address to my network. What can I do to be able to access the camera from outside without having to use a new IP address every time it has changed? A: You can register for a personalized domain name for your camera using e.g. the DYN DNS service www.dyndns.org which offers a free basic service. 1.1.5 Network cameras vs. Web cameras Q: What makes an Axis network camera different from a Web-camera solution? A: An Axis network camera is a directly network connected camera with its own IP address. This means that the camera has intelligence and can be connected without the need for a PC. The PC-less solution generates a significantly lower total solution cost compared to a PC + software + frame-grabber card + Web-cam solution. See also Why a network camera? Q: I have seen Web cams at $50 USD, your network cameras is 10 times as expensive, why? A: Axis network cameras are not Web cams. A Web cam requires a PC to operate, an Axis network camera does not. As it does not need a PC or any additional software, it provides a total networked camera solution at a significantly lower cost then a Web cam would. Rev: 1.1, Last updated: 2003-03-03 4
1.1.6 Accessories Q: Can I replace the standard lens with another lens? A: Yes. Any standard C or CS type lens can replace the lens supplied with your camera, but changing the lens is not recommended, since the cameras and the tripod have been calibrated to the specific type of lens that is supplied with the products from AXIS. 1.1.7 Technical Q: Why is it running Linux, and how can I see it? A: The fact that the unit is running Linux is something that is not visible from outside. But some of the benefits of running Linux include: Well-known and well-documented and reliable OS. Easy to employ new developers and they will get up to speed very quickly Small footprint system, it does not take a lot of flash or ram memory Longer term decentralized development, which we as a multinational company will benefit from Much functionality available for "free" The source code for Linux is freely available to everyone. Axis posts source at www.developer.axis.com Developed under the GNU General Public License Our future OEMs will have faster and easier development. Instead of Axis doing all the work we will be able to focus on assisting them during their development Q: I don't understand the principle for how the images are being sent. Single-cast or can they be multi-casted and/or do I have to request each image from a browser? A: Axis network cameras are sending streams of JPEG images (called motion JPEG). This method has native support in Netscape or Internet Explorer for Mac. Using Internet Explorer on Windows requires an ActiveX component or a Java applet (both automatically downloaded by IE from the Axis network camera). The transmission method is single-cast, but we do support up to 10 simultaneous clients. 1.1.8 General Q: Is Axis a well-known player for network cameras? A: Research firm Frost & Sullivan awarded Axis the 2001 Market Engineering Leadership Award for the global network camera market. Q: Where can I find pricing? A: Please find a reseller in your region. Rev: 1.1, Last updated: 2003-03-03 5