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Network IP Camera Glossary
ActiveX - A control (or set of rules) used by a browser. ActiveX controls are often downloaded and installed automatically as required.
ARP - Address Resolution Protocol. A method for finding a host's Ethernet address from its Internet address. The sender broadcasts an ARP packet containing the Internet address of another host and waits for it (or some other host) to send back its Ethernet address. Each host maintains a cache of address translations to reduce delay and loading. ARP allows the Internet address to be independent of the Ethernet address but it only works if all hosts support it. The ARP command can be used to set the IP addresses for your product.
Built in Motion Detection - Cameras equipped with built-in motion detection can identify any motion or change in live video based on user-set sensitivity levels. Advanced cameras can be set to e-mail images or video showing the motion or change detected.
CCTV - Closed Circuit Television. CCTV systems typically involve analog cameras and recorders that are more difficult to utilize and typically more expensive than digital network systems.
CCD Lens or Sensor - Charge-Coupled Device. Electronic memory in which metal oxide semiconductors are arranged so the charge from one semiconductor is the input of the next semiconductor. CCDs can be charged by light or electricity. One use is for storing images in digital cameras, video cameras, and optical scanners. Network Cameras that employ CCD technology typically cost more than $1,000.
CGI - A standard for running external programs from a World-Wide Web HTTP server. CGI specifies how to pass arguments to the executing program as part of the HTTP request. It also defines a set of environment variables. Commonly, the program will generate some HTML which will be passed back to the browser but it can also request URL redirection. A set of rules (or a program) that allows a Web Server to communications with other programs.
C-Mount Lens - C-mount lenses are typically fond in older version cameras. Like CS-mount cameras they can utilize different types of lenses but require a 5mm ring to be fitted between the camera and lens to archive a focused image.
CMOS Lens or Sensor - Technology involving Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) to sense images. CMOS imagers now rival--and in some cases surpass--CCD technology in dynamic range and noise sensitivity and can offer improvements in resolution. CMOS technology is typically found in network cameras priced in the $300 to $500 range.
CS-Mount Lens - now the industry standard for network cameras because CS-mount cameras can utilize a wide variety of different lenses, including specialized wide-angle and narrow-focus lenses.
DHCP - A protocol that provides a means to dynamically allocate IP addresses to computers on a local area network. The system administrator assigns a range of IP addresses to DHCP and each client computer on the LAN has its TCP/IP software configured to request an IP address from the DHCP server. The request and grant process uses a lease concept with a controllable time period.
DNS - Domain Name Service - the system used to match server IP addresses to web site domain names.
DSL - Digital Subscriber Loop, A family of digital telecommunications protocols designed to allow high speed data communication over the existing copper telephone lines between end-users and telephone companies.
Dynamic ISP Accounts - some Internet Service Providers and Online Services, such as AOL, rotate IP addresses so each time a user accesses the internet he or she uses a different IP address. Such systems may prevent the use of Network IP Cameras and other networked devices.
Email Notification - some Network IP Cameras that are equipped with built-in motion detection can also be set to e-mail authorized users images or video of sensed motion or activity.
Embedded Operating System - Network IP Cameras that use an embedded operating system, such as Linux, operate as both cameras and computers. Cameras with embedded operating systems can perform advanced functions, such as the ability to send images to a web site via FTP; simultaneous access by multiple users and e-mail notification.
Ethernet - A widely used networking standard.
Firewall - A virtual barrier between a LAN (Local Area Network) and other networks, e.g. the Internet.
FTP - File Transfer Protocol. Network cameras equipped with an embedded operating system, such as Linux, can use FTP to send images to a web site.
Frame Grabber Card - Plug-in hardware for “grabbing” images.
HTML - A markup language used to structure text and multimedia documents and to set up hypertext links between documents, used extensively on the World Wide Web.
HTTP - A protocol used to request and transmit files, especially WebPages and WebPage components, over the Internet or other computer network.
Infrared Motion Detection - can be added to Network IP Cameras that are equipped with an I/O connector. Infrared motion detection differs from built in motion detection because it can sense motion that is outside the line of sight of the camera.
Intranet - A privately maintained computer network that can be accessed only by authorized persons, especially members or employees of the organization that owns it.
IP - Internet Protocol. The IP part of TCP/IP; the protocol that is used to route a data packets from source to destination over the Internet and IP networks.
IP Address - The unique 32 bit number assigned to each computer connected to the Internet. IP numbers are used by the TCP/IP protocol to route packets of data to their destinations. The address for a host must be unique on the network. When you connect to a web server, for example, you may tell your browser to connect to www.networkipcamera.com, but your computer ultimately has to translate the name to its IP address, 216.142.156.50, before the connection can be made.
ISP - Internet Service Providers - companies that provide internet access and/or web site hosting.
JPEG - A standard image format, used widely for photographs. Also known as JPG.
LAN - Local Area Network. A computer communications system limited to no more than a few miles, usually in the same building, and utilizing high-speed connections of 2 to 100 megabits per second.
Linux - a freeware implementation of UNIX originally written by Linus Torvalds, which can be used with many different operating systems. Work on the kernel is coordinated by Torvalds, who holds the copyright on a large part of it. The rest of the copyright is held by many other contributors and their employers. The kernel as a whole is available under the GNU General Public License. Linux has been used in embedded operating systems used by some advanced Network IP Cameras.
Network - a system of interconnected computers, including hardware and software used to connect them.
Network IP Camera - A stand-alone device which allows users to view live, full motion video from anywhere on a computer network, even over the Internet, using a standard web-browser. Unlike WebCams, Network IP Cameras can include an embedded operating system and advanced features, such as built-in motion detection with notification and the ability to FTP images and work as a web server.
PING
- A protocol that sends a message to another computer and waits for
acknowledgment, often used to check if another computer on a network is
reachable.
Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) or "Active Ethernet" - eliminates the
need to run power to devices on a wired LAN. Using Power-over-Ethernet,
installers need to run only a single CAT5 Ethernet cable that carries both power
and data to each device. This allows greater flexibility and significantly
decreases installation costs in many cases.
PPP - Point-to-Point Protocol. A method allowing one computer to connect to another, usually via a modem over a phone line.
Protocol - A set of formal rules describing how to transmit data, especially across a network. Low-level protocols define the electrical and physical standards to be observed, bit- and byte-ordering and the transmission and error detection and correction of the bit stream. High-level protocols deal with the data formatting, including the syntax of messages, the terminal to computer dialogue, character sets, sequencing of messages etc.
Router - an interconnection device that serves packets or frames containing certain protocols. Routers link LANs at the network layer. A device that finds the best path for a data packet to be sent from one network to another. A router does more processing than a bridge does. A router can be hardware or a combination of hardware and software. Network IP Cameras typically connect to a router, hub or switch.
SMTP - Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
Static ISP Accounts - accounts offered by Internet Service Providers that allow users to identify a "static" IP address that never changes. Such accounts allow the easy use of Network IP Cameras and other networked devices.
TCP/IP - the collection of "protocols" underlying the functioning of the Internet. Each computer connected to the Internet is identified by a unique IP Address.
URL - Uniform Resource Locator. An “address” on the network.
WAN - Wide Area Network. A physical or logical network providing capabilities for a number of independent devices to communicate with each other over a geographic areas larger than those served by local area networks. A WAN typically uses common-carrier lines. WANs typically run over leased phone lines--from an analog phone line to T-1 (1.544 Mb ps). The jump between a local area network and a WAN is made through a device called a bridge or a router. Network IP Cameras can be attached to WAN systems.
WebCam - inexpensive camera devices that must be attached to a dedicated computer and usually utilize software from the dedicated computer. WebCams have limited features and can not be accessed by multiple users. Typically additional software is needed to view Web Cams via an internet connection.
Wizard - A program designed specifically to guide the user through a procedure. Typically used for installation and configuration. Installshield Wizard is required to download ActiveX manually.