Axis 27756r1 User Manual
34
AXIS Camera Station - Glossary of Terms
Glossary of Terms
ActiveX - A standard that enables software components to interact with one
another in a networked environment, regardless of the language(s) used to
create them. Web browsers may come into contact with ActiveX controls,
ActiveX documents, and ActiveX scripts. ActiveX controls are often
downloaded and installed automatically as required.
AF (Autofocus) - A system by which the camera lens automatically focuses
on a selected part of the subject.
Angle - The field of view, relative to a standard lens in a 35mm still camera,
expressed in degrees, e.g. 30°. For practical purposes, this is the area that a
lens can cover, where the angle of view is determined by the focal length of
the lens. A wide-angle lens has a short focal length and covers a wider angle
of view than standard or telephoto lenses, which have longer focal lengths.
ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) - This protocol is used to associate an IP
address to a hardware MAC address. A request is broadcast on the local
network to discover the MAC address for an IP address.
ARTPEC (Axis Real Time Picture Encoder) - This chip is used for image
compression.
ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) - A circuit designed for a
specific application, as opposed to a general purpose circuit, such as a
microprocessor.
Aspect ratio - A ratio of width to height in images. A common aspect ratio
used for television screens and computer monitors is 4:3. High-definition
television (HDTV) uses an aspect ratio of 9:16.
Autoiris (or DC-Iris) - This special type of iris is electrically controlled by the
camera, to automatically regulate the amount of light allowed to enter.
AVI (Audio Video Interleave) - A video format that supports simultaneous
playback of audio and video.
Bitmap - A bitmap is a data file representing a rectangular grid of pixels. It
defines a display space and color for each pixel (or "bit") in the display space.
This type of image is known as a "raster graphic." GIF's and JPEG's are
examples of image file types that contain bitmaps.
Because a bitmap uses this fixed raster method, it cannot easily be rescaled
without losing definition. Conversely, a vector graphic image uses geometrical
shapes to represent the image, and can thus be quickly rescaled.
Bit rate - The bit rate (in kbit/s or Mbit/s) is often referred to as speed, but
actually defines the number of bits/time unit and not distance/time unit.
Bluetooth - Bluetooth is an open standard for wireless transmission of voice
and data between mobile devices (PCs, handheld computers, telephones and
printers).
Bonjour - Also known as zero-configuration networking, Bonjour enables
devices to automatically discover each other on a network, without having to
enter IP addresses or configure DNS servers. Bonjour is a trademark of Apple
Computer, Inc.
Broadband - In network engineering terms, this describes transmission
methods where two or more signals share the same carrier. In more popular
terminology, broadband is taken to mean high-speed data transmission.
CCD (Charged Coupled Device) - This light-sensitive image device used in
many digital cameras is a large integrated circuit that contains hundreds of
thousands of photo-sites (pixels) that convert light energy into electronic
signals. Its size is measured diagonally and can be 1/4", 1/3", 1/2" or 2/3".
CGI (Common Gateway Interface) - A specification for communication
between a Web server and other (CGI) programs. For example, a HTML page
that contains a form might use a CGI program to process the form data once it
is submitted.
CIF (Common Intermediate Format) - CIF refers to the analog video
resolutions 352x288 pixels (PAL) and 352x240 pixels (NTSC). See also
Resolution.
Client/Server - Client/server describes the relationship between two computer
programs in which one program, the client, makes a service request from
another program, the server, which fulfils the request. Typically, multiple
client programs share the services of a common server program. A Web
browser is a client program that requests services (the sending of Web pages
or files) from a Web server.
another in a networked environment, regardless of the language(s) used to
create them. Web browsers may come into contact with ActiveX controls,
ActiveX documents, and ActiveX scripts. ActiveX controls are often
downloaded and installed automatically as required.
AF (Autofocus) - A system by which the camera lens automatically focuses
on a selected part of the subject.
Angle - The field of view, relative to a standard lens in a 35mm still camera,
expressed in degrees, e.g. 30°. For practical purposes, this is the area that a
lens can cover, where the angle of view is determined by the focal length of
the lens. A wide-angle lens has a short focal length and covers a wider angle
of view than standard or telephoto lenses, which have longer focal lengths.
ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) - This protocol is used to associate an IP
address to a hardware MAC address. A request is broadcast on the local
network to discover the MAC address for an IP address.
ARTPEC (Axis Real Time Picture Encoder) - This chip is used for image
compression.
ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) - A circuit designed for a
specific application, as opposed to a general purpose circuit, such as a
microprocessor.
Aspect ratio - A ratio of width to height in images. A common aspect ratio
used for television screens and computer monitors is 4:3. High-definition
television (HDTV) uses an aspect ratio of 9:16.
Autoiris (or DC-Iris) - This special type of iris is electrically controlled by the
camera, to automatically regulate the amount of light allowed to enter.
AVI (Audio Video Interleave) - A video format that supports simultaneous
playback of audio and video.
Bitmap - A bitmap is a data file representing a rectangular grid of pixels. It
defines a display space and color for each pixel (or "bit") in the display space.
This type of image is known as a "raster graphic." GIF's and JPEG's are
examples of image file types that contain bitmaps.
Because a bitmap uses this fixed raster method, it cannot easily be rescaled
without losing definition. Conversely, a vector graphic image uses geometrical
shapes to represent the image, and can thus be quickly rescaled.
Bit rate - The bit rate (in kbit/s or Mbit/s) is often referred to as speed, but
actually defines the number of bits/time unit and not distance/time unit.
Bluetooth - Bluetooth is an open standard for wireless transmission of voice
and data between mobile devices (PCs, handheld computers, telephones and
printers).
Bonjour - Also known as zero-configuration networking, Bonjour enables
devices to automatically discover each other on a network, without having to
enter IP addresses or configure DNS servers. Bonjour is a trademark of Apple
Computer, Inc.
Broadband - In network engineering terms, this describes transmission
methods where two or more signals share the same carrier. In more popular
terminology, broadband is taken to mean high-speed data transmission.
CCD (Charged Coupled Device) - This light-sensitive image device used in
many digital cameras is a large integrated circuit that contains hundreds of
thousands of photo-sites (pixels) that convert light energy into electronic
signals. Its size is measured diagonally and can be 1/4", 1/3", 1/2" or 2/3".
CGI (Common Gateway Interface) - A specification for communication
between a Web server and other (CGI) programs. For example, a HTML page
that contains a form might use a CGI program to process the form data once it
is submitted.
CIF (Common Intermediate Format) - CIF refers to the analog video
resolutions 352x288 pixels (PAL) and 352x240 pixels (NTSC). See also
Resolution.
Client/Server - Client/server describes the relationship between two computer
programs in which one program, the client, makes a service request from
another program, the server, which fulfils the request. Typically, multiple
client programs share the services of a common server program. A Web
browser is a client program that requests services (the sending of Web pages
or files) from a Web server.
CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) - A CMOS is a widely
used type of semiconductor that uses both negative and positive circuits.
Since only one of the circuit types is on at any given time, CMOS chips
require less power than chips using just one type of transistor. CMOS image
sensors also allow processing circuits to be included on the same chip, an
advantage not possible with CCD sensors, which are also much more
expensive to produce.
Codec - In communications engineering, a codec is usually a coder/decoder.
Codecs are used in integrated circuits or chips that convert e.g. analog video
and audio signals into a digital format for transmission. The codec also
converts received digital signals back into analog format. A codec uses
analog-to-digital conversion and digital-to-analog conversion in the same
chip.
Codec can also mean compression/decompression, in which case it is
generally taken to mean an algorithm or computer program for reducing the
size of large files and programs.
Compression - See Image Compression.
Contrast - Defines the degree of difference between the lightest and darkest
parts of an image or video stream.
DC-Iris - This special type of iris is electrically controlled by the camera, to
automatically regulate the amount of light allowed to enter.
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) - DHCP is a protocol that lets
network administrators automate and centrally manage the assignment of
Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to network devices in a network.
DHCP uses the concept of a "lease" or amount of time that a given IP address
will be valid for a computer. The lease time can vary, depending on how long
a user is likely to require the network connection at a particular location.
DHCP also supports static addresses for e.g. computers running Web servers,
which need a permanent IP address.
DNS (Domain Name System) - DNS is used to locate and translate Internet
domain names into IP (Internet Protocol) addresses. A domain name is a
meaningful and easy-to-remember name for an Internet address. For example
the domain name www.example.com is much easier to remember than
192.0.34.166. The translation tables for domain names are contained in
Domain name servers.
Domain Server - Domains can also be used by organizations who wish to
centralize the management of their (Windows) computers. Each user within a
domain has an account that usually allows them to log in to and use any
computer in the domain, although restrictions may also apply. The domain
server is the server that authenticates the users on the network.
Duplex - See Full-duplex.
Ethernet - Ethernet is the most widely installed local area network
technology. An Ethernet LAN typically uses special grades of twisted pair
wires. The most commonly installed Ethernet systems are 10BASE-T and
100BASE-T10, which provide transmission speeds up to 10 Mbps and 100
Mbps respectively.
ETRAX (Ethernet Token Ring AXIS) - Axis' own microprocessor.
Factory default settings - These are the settings that originally applied for a
device when it was first delivered from the factory. If it should become
necessary to reset a device to its factory default settings, this will, for many
devices, completely reset any settings that were changed by the user.
Firewall - A firewall works as a barrier between networks, e.g. between a
Local Area Network and the Internet. The firewall ensures that only
authorized users are allowed to access the one network from the other. A
firewall can be software running on a computer, or it can be a standalone
hardware device.
Focal length - Measured in millimeters, the focal length of a camera lens
determines the width of the horizontal field of view, which in turn is
measured in degrees.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) - An application protocol that uses the TCP/IP
protocols. It is used to exchange files between computers/devices on
networks.
Frame - A frame is a complete video image. In the 2:1 interlaced scanning
format of the RS-170 and CCIR formats, a frame is made up of two separate
fields of 262.5 or 312.5 lines interlaced at 60 or 50 Hz to form a complete
frame, which appears at 30 or 25 Hz. In video cameras with a progressive
used type of semiconductor that uses both negative and positive circuits.
Since only one of the circuit types is on at any given time, CMOS chips
require less power than chips using just one type of transistor. CMOS image
sensors also allow processing circuits to be included on the same chip, an
advantage not possible with CCD sensors, which are also much more
expensive to produce.
Codec - In communications engineering, a codec is usually a coder/decoder.
Codecs are used in integrated circuits or chips that convert e.g. analog video
and audio signals into a digital format for transmission. The codec also
converts received digital signals back into analog format. A codec uses
analog-to-digital conversion and digital-to-analog conversion in the same
chip.
Codec can also mean compression/decompression, in which case it is
generally taken to mean an algorithm or computer program for reducing the
size of large files and programs.
Compression - See Image Compression.
Contrast - Defines the degree of difference between the lightest and darkest
parts of an image or video stream.
DC-Iris - This special type of iris is electrically controlled by the camera, to
automatically regulate the amount of light allowed to enter.
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) - DHCP is a protocol that lets
network administrators automate and centrally manage the assignment of
Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to network devices in a network.
DHCP uses the concept of a "lease" or amount of time that a given IP address
will be valid for a computer. The lease time can vary, depending on how long
a user is likely to require the network connection at a particular location.
DHCP also supports static addresses for e.g. computers running Web servers,
which need a permanent IP address.
DNS (Domain Name System) - DNS is used to locate and translate Internet
domain names into IP (Internet Protocol) addresses. A domain name is a
meaningful and easy-to-remember name for an Internet address. For example
the domain name www.example.com is much easier to remember than
192.0.34.166. The translation tables for domain names are contained in
Domain name servers.
Domain Server - Domains can also be used by organizations who wish to
centralize the management of their (Windows) computers. Each user within a
domain has an account that usually allows them to log in to and use any
computer in the domain, although restrictions may also apply. The domain
server is the server that authenticates the users on the network.
Duplex - See Full-duplex.
Ethernet - Ethernet is the most widely installed local area network
technology. An Ethernet LAN typically uses special grades of twisted pair
wires. The most commonly installed Ethernet systems are 10BASE-T and
100BASE-T10, which provide transmission speeds up to 10 Mbps and 100
Mbps respectively.
ETRAX (Ethernet Token Ring AXIS) - Axis' own microprocessor.
Factory default settings - These are the settings that originally applied for a
device when it was first delivered from the factory. If it should become
necessary to reset a device to its factory default settings, this will, for many
devices, completely reset any settings that were changed by the user.
Firewall - A firewall works as a barrier between networks, e.g. between a
Local Area Network and the Internet. The firewall ensures that only
authorized users are allowed to access the one network from the other. A
firewall can be software running on a computer, or it can be a standalone
hardware device.
Focal length - Measured in millimeters, the focal length of a camera lens
determines the width of the horizontal field of view, which in turn is
measured in degrees.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) - An application protocol that uses the TCP/IP
protocols. It is used to exchange files between computers/devices on
networks.
Frame - A frame is a complete video image. In the 2:1 interlaced scanning
format of the RS-170 and CCIR formats, a frame is made up of two separate
fields of 262.5 or 312.5 lines interlaced at 60 or 50 Hz to form a complete
frame, which appears at 30 or 25 Hz. In video cameras with a progressive