Modern CCTV cameras are mostly digital, IP, or internet protocol, based. When you are looking for a system that will thoroughly protect your home or office, you will want to start with a high resolution, IP based camera. Then you will want to provide with a software, based on a PC for instance, that will take full advantage of such camera. Often people are looking for such software because only a feature-poor version is included with the camera. A feature-rich IP camera recording software should include:

• motion detection capability - issue alarms and start/stop recording based on motion detected


• alarms - issue alarms based on pre-programmed criteria


• scheduling - allow different system response at different times


• disk space management - intelligently decide what to do when the disk space is low, for instance


• controlling of motion and zoom abilities of the cameras, follow the motion


• remote access - allow video streams to be watched over the broad band connection remotely


• multi-monitor support - for modern multi-monitor computers


• image enhancement - to improve contrast and the detection ability


• capability to record sound

and more.

Other uses of IP camera recording software

Home and business are not the only locations where IP camera recording software is used with success. The cameras and the software are increasingly used at school where network cameras and the IP camera recording software operate over the school's existing network, normally idling at night, to monitor school premises for vandalism and general security when noone else is there. If an event occurs, the footage is quickly the next day to identify what and when it happened and the video clips sent to the police. Another example is use on a factory floor. In an event of anything falling off the conveyor belt, an automated notice is sent to the manager.

Keep this in mind

Here are some tips on using smart IP camera recording software to maximize its use and minimize false alarms:

• Reduce the number of false alarms by masking out irrelevant areas in the image and paying attention only to areas of the image where no movements are expected.


• Be sure to automatically receive a text message or email alert with an image when an event occurs.


• Take advantage of the scheduling: Switch from monitoring the images to motion detection and alarms according to a schedule that is set in advance.