2016

9/24/2016

Software Architecture

Assignment – 1 Farwa Abdul Hannan

(16F – 9006)

National University of Computer

& Emerging Sciences

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Cloud Video Surveillance as a Service

Introduction:

Cloud Video Surveillance as a service is a cloud based video surveillance that provide a remote

access to the data related to video surveillance. VSaaS is a wireless surveillance system that gives

users a revolutionary level of control and safety through the cloud. This service includes video

recording, video storage, remote viewing, video management etc. Cloud VSaaS transmits video

into the cloud from the user’s IP cameras or web cameras. The transmission of video into the cloud

is made through some streaming protocols like Real Time Streaming Protocol and the user can

access these videos by using Laptop, mobiles, tablets or websites from anywhere in the world.

Using VSaaS the need to store every video from every camera in video servers is eliminated

because now these videos are getting transferred to the cloud and are accessed from anywhere in

the world at any time. VSaaS is an ideal service for those who have multiple businesses at multiple

locations

Video Surveillance service is increasingly becoming an important part of our daily life. It plays an

important role in order to keep an eye on the criminal activity, for law enforcement, for security

purposes etc. Now a days video surveillance applications are working in banks, offices, our homes,

roads, railway stations, airports, shopping malls, shops etc.

System High Level Context View:

Historical background: The term that is most commonly used for Video Surveillance service is closed-circuit television.

Video Surveillance service was introduced almost 30 years ago. The increasing demands of users

drives many changes in this service. These demands includes:

1. Security

2. Reliability

3. Size and scalability

4. Better quality

5. Remote access

6. Costs reduction

To meet these requirements, video surveillance service has experienced a lot of technology

changes.

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In the past when Video Surveillance systems were introduces, they were totally analog based

systems and were connected to a videocassette recorder that is VCR. Now they are moving to

digital based systems that are connected to a digital video recorder shortly abbreviated as DVR.

The analog CCTV system uses analog cameras that were connected to a videocassette recorder for

video recording. The video surveillance system was completely analog at that time. The

videocassette recorder used the cassettes that were sold for a home videocassette recorder also. A

coax cable was required to maintain connection between the camera and videocassette recorder.

The recoding of one tape lasted a maximum of eight hours because video was not compressed and

was recorded at full frame rate. So a time lapse mode was introduced into the VCRs to make the

tape last longer. For the connection of the multiple cameras to videocassette recorder, quads were

introduced. A quad takes input from each camera and creates one video signal output and shows

four different video streams of four cameras on one screen. The introduction of quads increase the

scalability of system but the resolution of video stream was reduced. Because of these limitations

of VCR based systems of recorded video quality and need of manually changing tapes further

working was started in order to remove these limitations and DVR based analog video surveillance

systems were introduced in mid 1990s. DVR replaced VCR and introduced better facilities as

compared to VCR or analog based systems. In DVR systems, there were no tapes and the video

was digitized, compressed and stored as many days as the user wants. With the introduction of

DVR, video quality was increased. Later for remote monitoring and access of video using a

personal computer Network based DVR were introduced. But in DVR 4, 16 or 32 cameras can be

connected not more. So to connect more cameras, to lessen the work load the DVR and to increase

scalability Video Encoder base Network video systems were introduced that contains network

switch and video encoder and they both divides the tasks of DVR and they are connected to a PC

by a local area network.

Later on IP camera based Network video systems were introduced. Introduction of IP cameras

replaced the video encoder that does the digitization and compression of the image captured as the

digitization is done in the camera and it remains digital through the whole process because of

which video/image quality was improved. In IP camera based Network video systems, video is

transferred over an IP network using a network switch and is recorded on a PC server with video

management software installed in it.

Now because of the increasing amount of data and Video Surveillance systems and for more

security concerns, Cloud VSaaS is introduced. In Cloud VSaaS there will be no need of separate

PC server, one can simply transfer his data on to the cloud and can access it from anywhere in the

world. Hence the bandwidth/ increased data size and security issues can be resolved.

Current state of the art: Currently lots of people, for the security of their factories, companies, houses and offices, are

getting benefit from the facilities of cloud VSaaS by using IP cameras that are used for video

surveillance. Currently bandwidth, security are huge concerns due to increasing number of usage

of Cloud VSaaS and all are in consideration.

Future directions: As today many things have been moved to cloud. Some newer companies, like Eagle Eye

Networks founded by cloud expert Dean Drako of Barracuda Networks fame, are already 100%

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cloud based. So in near future everything related to video surveillance will be cloud based. In pure

cloud-based surveillance bandwidth is still a huge barrier but in near future this and all other issues

will be resolved and everything will be managed and stored on the cloud instead of on the local

servers including the Video Surveillance no matter what the data size will be.

In near future, the IP based cameras that are working wirelessly but some of them still need wires

for charging purpose will be charged like solar panels. There’ll be advance in existing technology

and network bandwidth issue will be removed and more security will be provided as today lots of

people trust in online banking system so in coming future a trustworthy Cloud VSaaS will be

provided. The size of cameras used for VSaaS will also be reduced in near future.

There’ll be cameras everywhere in near future that’ll be used for video surveillance and all of them

will be cloud based that is Cloud VSaaS.

The global market for VSaaS, will continue to grow in the coming years as the demands for simple

and affordable solutions that provide exceptional safety and security features, are increasing.

NFR Considerations: The NFRs for Cloud VSaaS are:

1. Scalability – the change in the size of data can’t effect the functionality of system. It can

handle growing amount of data/ work.

2. Reliability

3. Security

4. Portability

5. Usability – large number of cameras can be connected and used for Video Surveillance

with a great satisfaction

References 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VSaaS

2. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.122.1149&rep=rep1&type=pdf

3. http://www.infosectoday.com/Articles/Video_Surveillance_Systems.htm

4. http://cloudastructure.com/services/video-surveillance-as-a-service-vsaas/

5. https://www.eagleeyenetworks.com/vsaas-video-surveillance-moving-to-cloud/

6. https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1512/1512.00070.pdf

7. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.122.1149&rep=rep1&type=pdf

8. http://iwnetworks.com/main/video-surveillance-service

9. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/video-surveillance-service-vsaas-current-information-

paper-masavage

10. http://www.seagate.com/in/en/tech-insights/what-is-video-surveillance-as-a-service-and-

how-can-it-work-for-you-master-ti/

11. https://blog.camcloud.com/video-surveillance-as-a-service-explained/

12. http://www.vsaas.com

13. http://www.pacificcontrols.net/solutions/video-surveillance-as-a-service.html

14. http://www.bikal.co.uk/video-surveillance.html

15. https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-20+-year-future-of-video-surveillance

16. https://www.ioteo.com/the-future-of-video-suveilance.html