The Challenge of Multiple Cameras
One of the primary issues with managing a plethora of cameras is their detection and configuration. Cameras, depending on their manufacturer and settings, might have various ways they interact with the network:
1. Dynamic IP Address Assignment: Some cameras are set up for dynamic IP address assignment. This essentially means that, periodically, the camera may be assigned a different IP address by the network. While this method offers flexibility, it can pose challenges. If a camera frequently changes its IP address, software configurations need constant adjustments to keep up.
2. Factory-Set IP Addresses: Certain manufacturers provide their cameras with preset factory IP addresses. While this ensures that the IP remains constant, it poses a different set of problems. If this factory-set IP address clashes with another device on the network, conflicts arise. Every IP address within a network must be unique to prevent these conflicts.
Interactions with ONVIF
The Open Network Video Interface Forum (ONVIF) is a global standard for the interface of IP-based physical security products. Some cameras, however, either do not support ONVIF or do not adhere strictly to its standards. This can create additional challenges in managing and integrating these cameras into a unified system.
The Ideal Software Solution
Given these challenges, it's crucial for surveillance software to be robust and adaptive. A well-designed software should:
Use ONVIF's broadcast request to automatically detect cameras. This allows for a seamless addition of new cameras to the system without extensive manual configuration. Record the MAC address of each device in the system's database. The MAC address, which remains constant regardless of IP changes, can serve as a reliable identifier for each camera. If a camera's IP address changes, the software should be able to identify the camera based on its MAC address and automatically reconfigure the RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) streams.