Axis Communications, the market leader in network video, has introduced the latest release of Zipstream compression technology that now automatically adapts to pan, tilt and zoom (PTZ) camera movements, offering further storage and bandwidth savings. By analysing and optimising a network camera’s video stream in real-time, scenes containing interesting details are recorded in full image quality and resolution while other areas are filtered out.
Drastically reduces bandwidth and storage needs
The Zipstream technology allows users to drastically reduce bandwidth and storage needs without compromising on important image details. Forensic details such as faces, tattoos or license plates are isolated and preserved, while irrelevant areas such as white walls, lawns and vegetation are sacrificed by smoothing in order to achieve better storage savings.
The best video surveillance evidence is of no value if the system is configured to automatically overwrite the footage before it is needed and by reducing bandwidth, more video can be stored on any given system. Also, it makes little sense to invest in high quality cameras when reducing the video bit rate, resolution or frame rate to a level where important details are not captured and footage no longer provides clear evidence.
“Axis’ Zipstream technology has been a huge market success since its introduction a year ago. It has received several industry awards confirming it is a true game changer,” says Johan Paulsson, Chief Technology Officer, Axis Communications. “The latest release is able to adapt to PTZ camera movements in real-time, offering further storage and bandwidth savings and making bitrate peaks a thing of the past.”
Adapts to PTZ camera movements
Most IP-based video surveillance systems today are based on the H.264 video compression standard lowering bandwidth and storage requirements. Fully compatible with existing H.264 network infrastructure and video management software (VMS), Axis’ Zipstream is a significantly more efficient H.264 implementation, lowering bandwidth and storage requirements by an average 50% or more. This is achieved by adding a new module inside the video compression engine of a network camera that ensures important details in the image get enough attention in the video stream while unnecessary data can be removed.
PTZ camera movements can cause bandwidth peaks resulting in frames being skipped, both in live operator viewing as well as in recordings. Axis’ Zipstream compression technology is now able to adapt to these camera movements. Bandwidth peaks can be avoided thanks to a new dynamic rate controller that is automatically enabled when the camera is being panned, tilted or zoomed.
