IP Camera

An IP camera is a digital video camera that captures and transmits footage over IP networks — typically Ethernet (PoE) or Wi-Fi — using standard protocols like RTSP, ONVIF, and HTTP. IP cameras replaced analog CCTV cameras and are the foundation of virtually all modern AI video analytics deployments.

How It Works

An IP camera combines four core components:

1. Image sensor — captures light and produces digital video, usually at 1080p, 4K, or higher.
2. Encoder — compresses the raw video using H.264 or H.265 codecs to fit on the network.
3. Network interface — streams the video to a VMS or analytics server over Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
4. Optional on-camera AI — modern cameras include neural processing units (NPUs) that run analytics directly on the device.

IP cameras typically expose streams via RTSP URLs and are discovered and managed via ONVIF.

Why It Matters

IP cameras enable everything that analog cameras could not:

• Networked recording — no analog runs to the DVR; footage lives on standard storage.
• High resolution — multi-megapixel capture at long distances.
• Remote access — view and manage from anywhere.
• AI analytics — provides the digital input stream required by any modern analytics engine.

IncoreSoft's VMS platform is ONVIF-certified and works with IP cameras from virtually every major manufacturer.

Use Cases

• Public safety — city street and intersection cameras
• Retail — in-store, entrance, and parking lot monitoring
• Industrial — perimeter, production floor, and safety zones
• Transit — platforms, concourses, and on-board vehicle cameras
• Private property — access, parking, and perimeter monitoring

Frequently Asked Questions

What resolution should I choose?

1080p is the practical minimum for analytics like face recognition and ALPR; 4K gives better accuracy at distance and allows digital zoom during investigation. Higher resolutions need more bandwidth and storage.

PoE or Wi-Fi for IP cameras?

PoE (Power over Ethernet) is preferred for fixed installations — more reliable, more secure, and delivers power and data over one cable. Wi-Fi is useful for temporary or hard-to-wire locations but has more interference and security risks.

Do I need special IP cameras for AI analytics?

No. Any ONVIF-compliant IP camera can feed server-side AI. Cameras with on-board AI (edge cameras) allow some analytics to run locally, but are not required.