Ring Buffer Storage

One of the important features of MOBOTIX cameras is the capability to save your images on a PC or server in the form of direct ring buffer storage. This means that each camera manages a memory space on the PC, assigned to it in the form of a folder, independently and without the need for a plugin. A camera's long-time ring buffer on a PC can be up to several hundred gigabytes in size; this is set in the camera.

In ring buffer storage, the MOBOTIX cameras automatically and independently delete old images if space is required or once the expiry time for the event image has elapsed. The devices support both PCs and servers with Linux and with Windows operating systems.

Simpler Concept and Higher Performance

This direct and event-controlled recording of video and audio clips of variable length optimizes the storage requirements and constitutes one of the main advantages of MOBOTIX cameras. Having images stored on the PC directly by the camera and without the need to install plugins simplifies the system concept for large video monitoring systems decisively.

MOBOTIX technology boasts the following advantages over classical camera solutions with a central PC and as well as separate video management software:

• lower system costs,
  
  
• higher performance,
  
  
• lower network load,
  
  
• considerably more fail-safe
  
  
• and unlimited scalability of the camera system.
  
  

Furthermore, all the MOBOTIX cameras, apart from the basic model, possess an integrated video management system, including a database for managing the images saved. Designed with this concept, the cameras can perform the following functions independently:

• Saving individual images and video streams within the ring buffer on a PC or server,
  
  
• Deleting the images if the ring buffer is full or if the images have reached a predefined,
  
  
• Playing back recordings from any PC on the network via the browser,
  
  
• Image search by date/time or by events from any PC on the network via the browser,
  
  
• Archiving and downloading (WinZip file) an event area onto any PC on the network via the browser,
  
  
• Display and management of several live cameras (multiview), as well as the images recorded on them, in a single browser window.
  
  

All these functions can be executed in parallel by the MOBOTIX cameras. The integrated video management system is not subject to license and supports multiple users.

Temporary Buffer Protects against Network Overload or Failure

Irrespective of the storage mode, the MOBOTIX cameras always buffer a recording temporarily in their internal ring buffer. This means that network failures lasting a few minutes, short-term maintenance of network components or even exchanging and rebooting the recording PC can be bridged without any loss of data. Thanks to this technology, MOBOTIX cameras offer a decisive security advantage over widespread central recording by means of computer software.

In addition, failures in cameras or the recording PC are registered by the other MOBOTIX cameras on the network, indicated by signal display (LED, voice output) or signaled to the administrator by e-mail or telephone. If the recording PC goes down completely, the cameras automatically switch to a redundant PC. All the PC settings (network address, maximum memory configuration, expiry time) simply take place via the browser in the camera's administration menu.