Scalability of the system: multiple streams go over a single cable.
Pictures with high detail.
Wide range of digital and hardware image enhancement functions (WDR, BLC, HLC, EIS, DIS, DNR etc.).
Stable image quality in broadcasting.
Low interference.
Transmission security provided by encoders and encryption technologies.
High speed – up to 50 fps and higher, which significantly increases the information value of the image.
Transmission of the signal without loss of image sharpness.
Alarm processing systems for timely notification to e-mail or smartphone.
Configuration and control of the camera from a distance.
Video analytics
IP-cameras include analytical functions – from simple motion detection, which analyzes changes in the frame, to face detection, license plate recognition and behavior analysis.

With built-in motion detection or virtual line cross detection, an IP camera starts recording only when the sensor signal (if configured) – reducing the load on the network, creating significant savings in archive space, bandwidth resources, equipment depreciation and operator time for viewing.

Compression
Unlike traditional CCTV cameras, IP cameras compress the stream – they process it on-board with video codecs. Traditional ones transmit an uncompressed signal, straining the server and requiring high capacity. The uncompressed analog signal needs to be converted – with inevitable losses in quality. IP cameras are not limited to analog video standards.

The most common video codecs are JPEG for static images, MJPEG for dynamic (in motion) images and H.264 and H.265 for proprietary (paid) images. The strongest compression is demonstrated by H.265, but it is most effective at high resolution, and it is practically unnecessary for 2 megapixels. Developers continue to improve codecs and intelligent compression technologies.

Edge Storage internal video archive
Edge Storage – local storage of information, recording video on the internal memory card, creating a double archive for insurance in case of connection failure. If necessary, IP-camera works independently – without connecting to a video recorder or PC. The IP-camera has a slot for microSD/SDHC/SDXC memory card or USB port for USB flash drive connection.

Multistreaming
IP cameras broadcast not a single stream, but several streams – at least two: the main stream in full resolution for recording and a sub-stream of a smaller resolution for the monitor. Most IP cameras support three streams – to record, to monitor, to mobile device, and some models support up to ten streams. Separate streams are allocated to different detectors to reduce the load on the server and network.

Corridor Mode
Many IP cameras support corridor mode – a vertical display of video, 9:16 instead of 16:9. In this mode, it is convenient to view footage of corridors, tunnels, and so on. The support of the mode is specified in the specification of the IP camera. If the corridor mode is not specified, you cannot get the function programmatically – the required resolution is set on the hardware level.

Audio
In general, IP-cameras are equipped with one or more audio inputs and audio outputs, transmit audio files to the recorder and receive the audio signal. Some models already have a built-in microphone, but if necessary, each IP camera with an audio input can be connected to a professional omnidirectional, bi-directional or unidirectional microphone (depending on the application).

There are analytic functions that work specifically with sound, identifying over or under the sound threshold (the threshold is set by the user in the settings), scream, glass breaking, gunshot, explosion and other harsh sounds and create alarm events to be sent to the system.

CMOS sensor IP camera
Matrix – the main element of the camera, converts light into electricity, is a specialized integrated circuit, consisting of light-sensitive photodiodes and operates on a particular technology. The importance of the matrix is great: even with a powerful processor, if the sensor produces a bad image, it is impossible to improve it.

Advantages of CMOS matrices:

Lower cost than CCDs, especially at larger sizes.

Progressive scan technology.

Unity of technology with other digital devices; possibility to combine digital, analog and processing parts on one chip.
High quality color rendering.
Low power consumption, which is especially important in IP-cameras, which start shooting by the signal of the detector, in non-volatile devices of video surveillance and ACS.
High speed frame reading, which increases the speed of recording, the possibility of high-quality manual focus.
Increased sensitivity in low light conditions due to the amplified stages (placement of circuits in any place in the signal path), the possibility of changing the gain for each color, improved white balance.
High performance.
Low bandwidth requirements, ability to reduce bit rate.
Progressive scan – a method of displaying, transmitting, and storing moving images with all lines of a frame in sequence. This requires twice the bandwidth of interlaced scanning, but the advantages of the method far outweigh the disadvantage.

Benefits of Progressive Scan:

No “combing” or flickering on the moving object, no need to apply picture anti-aliasing, introducing distortion.
Quality enlargement of the image to a higher resolution.
Safeguarding each frame in one piece (no separation into two fields).
Matrix size is also important. The size is given in inches, as a fraction. The smaller is the denominator, the bigger is the sensor size, the better (but more expensive and heavier) is the IP camera base: optimal color rendering, higher is the signal/noise ratio, higher is the image quality, larger is the viewing angle with a lens with the same focal length.

The most popular formats are:

1/2″ – sufficient light sensitivity in most cases.
1/3″ – good performance in low light and high frame rate.
1/4″ – minimum size and low sensitivity.
Multi-sensor cameras are built with multiple sensors – to get a panorama or several scenes from one IP camera.