The vocabulary of smart video surveillance.

The terms, from A to Z.

DPIA

Data protection impact assessment: a study required by the GDPR (Article 35) before processing likely to result in a high risk to individuals. The operator of an installation checks whether theirs is concerned. See also

On-site analysis (edge)

The AI runs in equipment installed on site, as close as possible to the cameras (IA-N box, or Intel N-series mini PC with the software alone), rather than on a remote server or in a cloud. See also

AI video analytics

Automatic processing of a camera's images by an artificial intelligence model, to recognise categories (person, vehicle, animal) and trigger an action. With IA-N, this processing takes place on site. See also

IP camera

A camera that transmits its video over a computer network and can be configured remotely. It is the type of camera IA-N analyses, most often via RTSP or ONVIF. See also

Contact ID (ADM-CID)

Legacy format for encoding alarm events, with three-digit codes, still read by many receivers. IA-N boxes can send their alerts in this format. See also

ONVIF discovery

Automatic search for the ONVIF cameras present on the local network. IA-N uses it to suggest the cameras to add; a remote camera is entered by hand. See also

Retention period

The time during which images and events are kept before automatic deletion. In IA-N, it is adjustable; 30 days by default for alerts and plate reads. See also

Recorder (NVR)

Network Video Recorder: a device that records the streams of a site's IP cameras. With IA-N, the existing recorder stays in place. See also

False alert (false positive)

An alert triggered without a real event: foliage, shadows, headlights. By retaining only useful categories (person, vehicle) within chosen zones and schedules, AI analysis aims to reduce their number. See also

Main stream and sub-stream

An IP camera often provides two streams: the main stream, in high definition, and a lighter sub-stream. IA-N analyses the sub-stream when it is available and reads plates on the main stream. See also

ANPR (LPR)

Automatic number plate recognition: the software reads the number of the vehicles filmed. In English, both LPR and ANPR are used. It is a processing of personal data, governed by the GDPR. See also

Alarm verification

Verification by an operator that an alarm corresponds to a real event before taking action. With IA-N, the monitoring centre receives a video link valid for 15 minutes. See also

Camera licence

With IA-N, one licence per analysed camera; it includes the detection of people, vehicles and animals. Modules are added by licence. See also

Privacy mask

An area of the image that is masked so as not to show what should not be shown, such as the public road or the neighbours' windows. In IA-N, masks also apply to the photos of alerts and plate reads. See also

ONVIF

An industry forum that publishes interoperability specifications for IP-based security products (cameras, recorders, software), grouped into profiles; only its members can declare a product conformant to a profile. IA-N uses ONVIF services (discovery, streaming, events) to communicate with cameras; it is not declared conformant to an ONVIF profile. See also

Isolated camera ports

On the IA-N box, Ethernet ports reserved for cameras: they have no access to the Internet or to the customer's network, and only the box communicates with them. See also

Data controller

Within the meaning of the GDPR, the person or organisation that decides why and how personal data is processed. For video surveillance, this is generally the site operator, the installer's customer. See also

RTSP

Real Time Streaming Protocol: a protocol standardised by the IETF that allows a camera's video stream to be played from its address. Most IP cameras offer it. See also

SIA DC-09

A Security Industry Association standard for transmitting alarm events over IP to a receiving centre, with optional encryption. IA-N boxes use it, with optional AES-128 encryption. See also

Alarm monitoring

A service provided by a centre that remotely receives alarms from sites and organises the response. IA-N boxes send their alerts to the centres using the SIA DC-09 and Contact ID protocols. See also

VMS

Video Management Software: software that displays, records and plays back the cameras of one or more sites. IA-N can send its alarms to it (alarms tested with Nx Witness, other software to be validated case by case). See also

Detection zone

Part of the image, drawn by the installer, in which a detection can trigger an alert. Combined with schedules, it avoids unnecessary alerts. See also