Video surveillance Security from A to Z

Automatic Electronic Shutter: Allows the camera to adapt to changing brightness by variable exposure times

Automatic Gain Control: Boosts the level of the video signal to compensate for poor lighting conditions

Auto iris: Automatically adjusts the panel opening to the prevailing light conditions

English term for cashpoint (Automatic Teller Machine). ATM data can be superimposed on the video image of the corresponding camera within the scope of monitoring counters or bank premises by means of the POS function in the recording device

Automatic White Balance: Adjusts the colour temperature of the camera to lighting conditions at the shooting location

Back Light Compensation: Moves the measuring point for the brightness control of the AES from the centre of the image to the edges of the image to compensate for different brightness values in the image

Closed Circuit Television: Common name for video surveillance

Common Intermediate Format: Originally intended for conversion of PAL to NTSC standard. CIF corresponds to a video resolution of 352 x 288 pixels, 2 CIF are 704 x 288 pixels, 4 CIF are 704 x 576 pixels

Specific resolution: 720 x 576 pixels

Digital Noise Reduction: In low light conditions, the use of AGC results in increased image noise. The 3D and 2D function of a DNR camera suppresses this image noise

Digital Signal Processor: This is where the processing of the analogue image and image correction functions (e.g. AGC, AES, AWB, BLC) take place

Dynamic domain name server entry: Network service that keeps and updates the IP addresses of its clients in a database

Electric Light Control: Other name for AES

Electronic Pan Tilt Zoom: Function in megapixel cameras for digital zoom-in and pan/tilt in the image

Colour, picture, blanking and synchronous signal: The standard for colour video signal transmission, also called "composite signal"

Frames Per Second: Unit for the frame rate of video recordings from cameras or recorders

File Transfer Protocol: Network protocol for file transfer

Standard for the highly efficient compression of video signals, also known as MPEG-4 AVC

Describes the degree of protection of equipment with regard to the penetration of foreign bodies and moisture

Infrared LED (Light Emitting Diode): Used for discreet or semi-discreet illumination of the camera field in darkness

Unit of measurement for brightness: Sunlight in summer has a luminous intensity of 120,000 lux, moonlight (full moon) 500 – 1,000 lux

Compression method, predecessor of H.264

Network Attached Storage: Data storage on a network drive

Network Time Protocol: Standard for synchronising clocks in computer systems via packet-based communication networks

On Screen Display: Convenient way of displaying menus and operating via a display

Picture In Picture: Function of monitors to display a picture in the picture

Power Over Ethernet: Function in network cameras that allows power supply via the network cable

Picture Over Picture: Picture is displayed above another picture

Point Of Sale: In the context of video surveillance in the checkout area, the so-called POS data (point-of-sale data) are often integrated into the video image in order to control the processes at the checkout by comparing the video image and the data

Pan Tilt Zoom: pan, tilt and zoom

Real Time Streaming Protocol: Protocol for mobile data transmission to mobile phones or smartphones

Specific resolution of network cameras: 640 x 480 pixels

Wide Dynamic Range: Compensates for strong differences in contrast and brightness in the image. The image is exposed several times with different exposure times. The overall image is digitally composed from the optimally exposed areas in each case