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.

1. 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