Network video recorders

	Plustek has released model NVR4000, a standalone NVR that features a DHCP server.

NVR solutions developed in Taiwan work with hybrid systems and video analytics. Embedded NVR systems offer stability.

The network video recorder (NVR) industry is no doubt still in its infancy, grappling with untapped technologies, a fairly fragmented knowledge base and issues that so far remain unresolved.

Despite the challenges, more and more Taiwan makers are jumping into the NVR bandwagon, offering either hardware or software solutions, expecting the line to grow alongside IP surveillance. Leading NVR makers in the region include ACTi Corp., Vivotek Inc., AVerMedia Technologies Inc. and AV Tech Corp.

Hardware and software solutions have different characteristics, triggering conflicting opinions on their respective strengths and benefits. Although software solutions are more visible in the market today, buyers are increasingly discovering the advantages of hardware NVRs, prompting makers to build up production of this particular line.

New entrants come from four vertical markets, specifically those specializing in IT networking devices, PC cameras, CCTV cameras and IP network cameras. CCTV makers are more inclined to develop NVR software solutions, believing that these will work more efficiently with hybrid systems. Some design houses and solution providers also offer NVR software/embedded systems for IP network camera makers. Suppliers from the IT industry, on the other hand, prefer hardware manufacture.

Hardware NVRs are more suitable for smaller implementations that require high stability with the least system alterations or changes.

Software NVR solutions are ideal for larger system installations as they are easier to redesign and integrate, and equip with new features.

Some Taiwan makers believe that IP solutions will achieve remarkable growth in the next five years. In 2007, the NVR market was valued at $404 million, which is approximately 30 percent of the market value of traditional DVRs (over $1.3 billion), according to research firms JP Freeman, Frost & Sullivan, and the Topology Research Institute. In 2008, NVRs are expected to figure prominently on makers’ R&D agendas, with market value projected to reach $1.6 billion by 2010.

As the software applications are bundled, however, a clear disadvantage is that the software cannot be changed easily. Each NVR can also manage about four cameras only, making it expensive to implement in large surveillance systems that require more NVRs.

Still, some makers choose hardware NVRs for their stability and convenience. Plustek Inc., an image solution provider, launched its new model, NVR4000, in April. The product features a DHCP server and full network function. Scalable and easy to install, NVR4000 supports MJPEG compression, 1280x1024-pixel resolution, user-friendly interface, quick search/installation and multi-language functions. It also supports UPnP, pre/post alarm recording and network-enabled software upgrade. It comes with one IDE or Ultra ATA133 HDD with up to 750GB capacity (standard model is 320GB), and is compatible with Axis and Panasonic IP cameras.

NVR4000 can manage up to four cameras, while larger systems can cascade more units, if needed. This can be viewed as a distributed management system from which small- to medium-sized IP surveillance systems can benefit.

Plustek’s NVR series is currently targeted at system integrators and installers but will eventually be offered to distributors, to enable consumers to buy directly from shops and install the NVRs themselves. Plustek conducts OEM business with buyers of scanners, IP network cameras, servers and imaging products. The company’s R&D teams are located in Hsinchu, Taipei, and Qingdao and Shenzhen in mainland China, and account for 60 percent of the company’s total work force. Its two ISO-certified factories can manufacture 600,000 units of scanners every month.

Fitivision Technology Inc., a Foxconn-invested company, currently offers model NVR1100, which supports a 2-bay 3.5in SATA HDD, 4ch IP camera recording and video server function. The product has two USB 2.0 ports, and features 10/100/1000-Mbit Ethernet, schedule download, FTP server and device finder program. Its HDD configuration supports stand, RAID-0, RAID-1 and JBoD modes. NVR1100 utilizes DHCP and static IP techniques, and can support both new and old technologies such as realtime clock, UPnP for Windows XP, iTune server and printer server.

Benefiting from Foxconn’s substantial manufacturing resources, Fitivision operates an 11,000sqm facility within Foxconn’s mainland China factory, on top of its 4,200sqm factory in Taiwan. The company has a maximum monthly production capacity of 4 million sets and a vertical assembly facility that includes lenses, tooling, plastic cases, PCBs, cables and connectors. It also owns five SMD and four DIP assembly lines. It supplies IP solutions, and manufactures IP network cameras and NVRs for OEM buyers.

	Nuuo offers software NVR solutions that can manage up to 64 cameras. It also offers embedded NVR systems.

As they are more flexible in terms of software redesign, NVR software solutions can easily adapt to video intelligence features or comply with more protocols. In general, software solutions are suitable for larger surveillance system installations.

Nuuo Inc. is positioning itself as a surveillance solution provider in the NVR industry. Located within the National Taiwan University (NTU) Innovation Incubation Center, the company has access to the latest technologies developed by NTU’s scholars.

Nuuo’s R&D engineers, most of whom carry doctorate degrees in IT, are experts in video compression, image processing, pattern recognition, networking and DSP platform development.

Nuuo offers an IP-series NVR software solution that can manage up to 64 network cameras simultaneously. This solution can be installed in any PC or embedded in NVRs.

Some special features include dual monitor realtime A/V display, intelligent detection, instant response, PTZ distance operation, GUI recording, realtime reviewer and filter, video enhancement and multi-I/O support. The product is compatible with most PC surveillance devices and supports 15 languages.

Topica Technology Co. Ltd is the only CCTV maker in this report, and probably one of the few makers that have the capability to offer both CCTV and IP surveillance devices. Focusing on hybrid CCTV solutions, the company offers both analog and IP surveillance products. Its CCTV line includes analog CCTV cameras, lenses, standalone DVRs, PC-based capture cards, monitors and CCTV accessories. Its IP surveillance line consists of IP cameras, NVR remote control software, IP servers and IP decoders.

Topica underscores the importance of system integration, and offers its IP surveillance customers free NVR software solutions that can control up to 64 cameras. The company’s NVR software can be installed at the camera site and/or at the control center to support local and remote recording. Multiple NVRs can back each other up through the Internet to make sure all recorded files are well managed and protected.

Topica can also add various video intelligence modules to its NVR solutions, such as video panorama, motion tracking, dwell time detector, unattended object detector, missing object detector, intrusion detector, PTZ auto tracking, video stabilizer, duress detector, people counter and critical object selection. Some of these features are still under development, and will be available in the latter part of 2008.

Topica’s IP surveillance system comes with four major features: multi-site management, megapixel resolution, simplified cabling and video intelligence. Its product roadmap for the IP surveillance line will focus on two enhancements, namely, higher resolution and support for more compression formats.

Topica’s IP surveillance products feature full D1 resolution at 25/30fps, with megapixel resolution devices in the pipeline. Two 1.3MP IP cameras are already available, but the company is still keen on releasing more new models.

Topica provides MPEG-4/MJPEG switchable solutions for good image quality under limited bandwidth, and dual video streaming solutions that support H.264, MPEG-4 or MJPEG. The software supports dual monitoring, different frame rates on live view and recording, motion detection and digital I/O event from the hardware. It can also manage on-screen 8-direction PTZ control, and perform 4ch simultaneous synchronized playback.

Basic filter functions, such as searching video clips by date, time and event, are available. The E-Map Manager is also a useful tool for planning camera locations directly from the construction blueprint.

Topica offers OEM/ODM services and exports to midrange and high-end markets in over 50 countries.

Although most Taiwan makers are optimistic about the future of the NVR industry, they admit that technology in this line is quite new and remains unexplored.

According to Jack Chuang, assistant manager for marketing at Plustek, NVR makers still need to deal with some technological hurdles that are hampering the product line’s development. One of the challenges is developing larger and more powerful HDDs. Another is insufficient IP knowledge.

Compatibility among IP network cameras from different suppliers can become an issue for system integrators, while bandwidth becomes a problem when data is uploaded or downloaded through the Internet. At present, Internet service providers still charge expensive rates for data transmission. Manufacturers insist that this will affect market acceptance of IP surveillance systems and hinder NVR development in the long run.

Chuang believes that, for makers to be able to design an IP surveillance structure, familiarity with IP is crucial.

“Makers from the IT industry are equipped with strong IP know-how, but may not have surveillance experience. On the other hand, CCTV manufacturers, especially DVR makers, are familiar with surveillance and data storage, but may lack IP knowledge. This somehow slows down NVR product development efforts,” he concluded.