One of the latest invention in the field of surveillance technology is the IP security cameras or network cameras. These IP cameras are outdoing the analog cameras that were used before in the majority of the surveillance systems. The main reason behind this is that IP cameras make use of digital imaging along with network communication so that it is capable of sending video recordings directly to your computer from the location you desire, it can be anywhere. Thus you can view the happenings in your home or office even while you are away. This refers that you will be able to scrutinize any area of the world comfortably through your own computer whenever you wish. Therefore these IP cameras have replaced all the older cameras.
Now that you know something about IP security camera, you would certainly like to know how these cameras actually work. IP camera is nothing else but a computer that clicks pictures. It is said to be a computer as every IP camera has its own chip of Ethernet connection, input or output interfaces, memory and CPU. This makes it a functional IP network.
As soon as the camera catches an image, the sensors of the camera transforms the image in to a digital format and then making the use of Ethernet it sends it to the remote network computer. It becomes programmable as well as bi-directorial with the CPU and I/O interfaces. This enables you to send information as well as command and at the same time receive images from IP security camera.
Once you are familiar with the working of IP security cameras, you must be interested in knowing about the benefits as well as features of it. The best thing about these cameras is that they are cost effective mainly because they do not require high installation, running and maintenance cost, do not involve any complicated infrastructure and in case you already posses a communication network you need to install it into this existing one. Another very good thing about this network is that it does not have any additional cables which means that you can place these cameras wherever and also to any far of place without worrying about the image quality. These cameras are able to provide you with the same quality picture irrespective of where you place it. This makes IP cameras more preferable for surveillance purposes.
The key feature of this IP cameras are that they posses high-end security features. Through IP security cameras you can get integrated audio, motion sensors and night or day cameras, detachable infrared filters to get sharper picture during day time and clearer footage of black and white during the night time. The protected signals are capable of providing quite secured communications. The I/O ports an aspect of this camera can give you direct control over the camera related tilt or zoom or pan, along with monitoring alarms, in case the alarm is hampered in any case it provides lights or locks or recorded messages like that of intercom. You can also set the timings for switching on or off the cameras also for what information to be sent as well as to whom.