Smart Codec Guide

Author: IPVM Team, Published on Nov 29, 2016

In 2018, smart codecs are now mainstream. Once seemingly a marketing buzzword, now the majority of manufacturers offer smart codecs on at least some of their cameras.

These marketing names vary, including 'Zipstream', 'Smart Coding', 'H.264+', 'Smart Stream II', and others, and critically, these implementations and bandwidth savings vary dramatically.

In this Guide, we explain what smart codecs attempt to do and the most common implementations, covering:

  • Historic static compression, I-frame interval, and FPS techniques
  • Smart codec basic
  • Dynamic compression
  • Dynamic I-frame interval/GOP
  • Dynamic FPS
  • Static compression regions
  • Intelligent DNR
  • VMS/NVR compatibility
  • Manufacturer support
  • IPVM test recommendations
  • Bandwidth risks
  • Smart codec outlook

To understand this, you must have a good understanding of codecs, compression and bandwidth variations. Please first review our:

'Normal' codecs, like 'regular' H.264, set one compression level, one I frame interval, and one frame rate. 'Smart' codecs change one, two, or all of those, reviewed inside.

** ****, ***** ****** *** *** **********. **** ********* * marketing ********, *** *** ******** ** ************* ***** ***** ****** on ** ***** **** ** ***** *******.

***** ********* ***** ****, ********* '*********', '***** ******', '*.***+', '***** Stream **', *** ******, *** **********, ***** *************** *** ********* savings **** ************.

** **** *****, ** ******* **** ***** ****** ******* ** do *** *** **** ****** ***************, ********:

  • ******** ****** ***********, *-***** ********, *** *** **********
  • ***** ***** *****
  • ******* ***********
  • ******* *-***** ********/***
  • ******* ***
  • ****** *********** *******
  • *********** ***
  • ***/*** *************
  • ************ *******
  • **** **** ***************
  • ********* *****
  • ***** ***** *******

** ********** ****, *** **** **** * **** ************* ** codecs, *********** *** ********* **********. ****** ***** ****** ***:

'******' ******, **** '*******' *.***, *** *** *********** *****, *** I ***** ********, *** *** ***** ****. '*****' ****** ****** one, ***, ** *** ** *****, ******** ******.

[***************]

"Normal" ***** ******

** ****** ******, ***** *** ********** *** ********* *** ** fixed ******:

  • *********** ***** (********* ****** ******* ** ************)
  • * ***** ******** (********* ****** *** ** ***)
  • ***** **** (***)

**** ** *** *** *** ***** ** *****, **** ***** with ************* ****** ***** *** ********* ** *** ******** (*.*., see** ****** ************ *********** **********).

Fixed *********** *******

'******' ****** *** * ****** *********** ***** *** *** ****** video, ********** ** **** ** ***** *********. *** *******, ** we **** ** * ***** ** * *******, **** *** moving ******* ** **** ** *** ****** *****, *****, ****, and ***** ********** ***** **** ** ********** ** *** **** level ** **** *****:

Fixed *-***** ******** *******

*** **** *********** ********** ******* *****'* ****** (*.***/*.***) *** ******* codecs **** ***** ** **** **** ** *** **** *** 'same' ***** **** *** **** *****. *******, * ****** **** frame ** **** (****** ** '*-*****'), ******** ** **** ***** updates ** *** ***** ** *** ***** ***** **** *******, called '*-******.' ** ******** ******, *** *-***** ******** ** *****. This ***** **** *** ****** **** ****** ******** ** * frame ************, **** ******** * ******. ** **** ********, ** the ****** ** ** ***, ** **** **** * *-***** followed ** ** *-****** *** **** ******.

*** ******** ** * ***** *-***** ******** ** **** *** activity ** *** ***** *** ****. ********* * ******* *** be ***** *** ** ****. ****** *** '*****' ****, ******* an * ***** **** *** ****** ** ********. ******** **** I ****** ******* *** **** ********* **** * ******, ***** on *** ***** ** *** ****.

*** **** *** ***** ** ****** **** *******, * ***** interval ****** ** ********* ** ****** ********* *** ***** ****** (see****: *.*** * ** * ***** ******).

Smart ***** **********:

****** ******* ******, ***** ****** *********** ****** ***** **********, ***** a *********** ** ***** **********:

  • ******* ***********:******* *********** ** ******* ***** ** *** ***** ******* ** the ****** *****.
  • ******* *-***** ********:******* *-***** ******** ********* ** ****** ** *** *****.
  • ******* *********:******* *** ********* ** ****** ** *** *****.

** **** ** ***** ** **** ****** *****.

Dynamic ***********

*** ***** ********* **** ** ******* ***********, ***** ******* ************ level *** ********* ***** ** *** ***** ***** ** ********. For *******, ******* ** ******* *********** ** '******' *** *** whole *****, ** ***** ** *** ******* ***** *****, *** camera ******* *********** ** *** ****** ******* ** *** (****** quality), ** ******** ******* *******, *** ********* *********** ** ****** background *****.

** ********* *********** ****** *** ***** ** *** *****, ** is ******** ** **** ****** ******* ********* ******** *** ********* quality ** ***** ***** ****** ** **** ************* ********* *********** levels ** ******** ***** ** *** *****.

Dynamic *-***** ********

******, ***** ****** *** ****** *-***** ******** ***** ** ******** of ******** ** * *****. ** **** ** *** ***** has ****** ** ******, *** ****** *** **** ** *-***** infrequently (*.*., ***** * ** ** ** ** *******), *** as **** ** *********** ******** ** ********, ** *-***** ** generated, **** *** ******** **** ***** ** **** ** ******** continues.

*** ***** ***** ***** ******** ** * ******** *.*** ****** versus *** ***** ******* *-***** ******** (***). ***** *** ******** codec ******* ***** ** ** ******** ** **, *** ******* GOP ******, ********** ** **** ** **** ***** ** ** motion ** *** *****. **** **** **** ******* ***** ***** were ** ***.

***** ******* *-***** ******** **** *** ******* *******, ******* ****** remain *********** *** ****, ***** ************* ******** *********. ** *** tests, ******* *** ** *** ******* ****** ** ********* ******* in ***** ******.

Dynamic ***

****** **** *****/**** **** ******** ******* ***, ****** '****** ***** *********' *** ******* *****, *** ************ ** ** ******* ** more ******. **** *-***** ********, ******* *** ******* ******* ** simply ******* ***** ****** **** ***** ** ** ******** ** the *****.

***** **** *** *********** ****** ******* (********* ***** ** **/* was ******** ** *** *****), ***** ****** ****** ** ******** frame **** ** **** ****** ******* *** ** ****** ** rare *****, **** ** ******** ** ******* *****, ******* ******** in ***** *****, ***. ************, ** **** ***** *********** *** prohibit **** ***** **** *********.

Not-So-Smart: ****** *********** *******

**** ******* ***** ***** ** *** ***** ***** ** ********** and **********. **** *** ****** ******* ** **** ***** *** introduces ********** ***** ******** ** ***** ******:

  • ************* **** ***********:** ******* *** *** ********* *** ***** ** ****** *** of *** **** ***** ********, ****** ******* *** **** **** higher *********** "**********" *****, *********** ****** ****** *******.
  • ******** ******** ** ********** ******:** *** ***** *******, ***** **** ******** ****** ***** ****** regions ** ******** ******* *** ** *** *****. ** ********** is ******** **** ***** ***** ******.

Related ***** **********: ***** *********

****** ****** **** ******* **** ******* *****, ****** ** *** light ******. **** ***** '*****' ****** *** ****** *** ********* tricks ******** **** ******** ** ** **** ********. ******* *** camera ******** ** ** ********, ** ***** **** ********* (***** a *** **** *********). ******* / *** *** ***** ************ *****

************ ******* *** ****** ************ ** *********** ******* **** ******** (a ****** *******, * *** *******, ***.) *** ******* ***** which *** ****** ********* *************. *** ****, *** ********* *** (******* ***** *********) *****.

Works **** ******** *****/****

******* ***** ****** **** ****** *** ******** ********* ** *.***/*.***, additional ******* ** ********* *** ******** ** ***** *** ****, in ******** ** **** *********** ****** ***** ***** ** ****** bandwidth (**** ********* ************** ********' *******) *** ******* ****** ***********.

**** ***** *** ********** ****** **** ***** ******** ** ******* not *******, *** **** *** ********** **** ******** ******* ***** smart ******' ************ *** ******* ***** ******.

Manufacturer ****** *******

******* *********, **** ******* * ****** ****** *** ******* *********** levels, **** *** **** ** ******* **** ** ****** *** smart *-***** ********* ** ******* ***. **** ******* **** ******* one ** *** ***** (**** ******** ******* ***********), ***** ****** support *** *****.

*** ***** ***** ******* ***** ************* ******* ***** ***** ***** features:

Manufacturer *********** ******

**** *** ****** * ****** ** ***** *************** *********:

**** *****, ** **** ***** * *** *** ******:

  • ***** * ***** ******** *** *** ******* ******, **** **%+ savings ******, ****** ******* **** ************ ****** *** ****** *** long **** *******, ******** ***** ******* **** **** * ******.
  • ******* ***** *********** *** *** **** ******* ******, ****** ** much ***** ********* *******.
  • ***** ***** *********** *** *** ***** ******, ***** ** **** 10-20% *******, ******* ** ****** ** **** ***** ** ******.

Bandwidth ***** ** **** ****** ******

****** ***** ****** *** ******* ****** ********** *******, ***** ****** ****** **** *********** ********* ***** ** **** ****** scenes *** *** ****** ** ** ******* **** ***** ******** codecs. *** *******, ** * **** ****** ******* *****, ******** of ****, *********, *** ********* ******* **** **** ***** **** with ***** ****** ******** ****** ******* ** **** ******, *.*., heavy *******:

*******, ** *******, ********** *** **** ***** ******* *** **** traffic ******* ****** ******* *******, ******* **** ***** ** **% on *** *******.

******* ***** ****** *** **** ****** ****** ** **** ****** periods, ********* ***** **** ** ********** *** ***** **** ********,*** *******, ******** ***** ***** *******. ******* ** ** ** ***** oversaturate *** **** ******** ** ***** ***** ** ******** *******.

Smart ***** *******

** ****, ****** *** ***** ************* ******* ***** ****** ** at ***** **** ** ***** *******, **** **** ************ **** in *** ******** ** ***** ****. ***** ******* ****, ** using ***** ********** (**** ** ********* *** ** ******** ***** depth) **** ** ** * *********** ************ ****** *******.

******* ****** ********** ***** **** ******** ** ********, *** ******* the ********* ******** *** ** ***********, ** ****** ******** ** offer ***** ****** *** ** ******* *** ************ ** ***** processes *** ******* *******, *** ******* **** **** *.*** ** the ***** ***** ********** **********.

Comments (15)

Undisclosed #1

07/23/15 02:25pm

What’s the impact of new smart CODECs on existing surveillance systems? Is the enhanced compression transparent to existing VMSs?

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 07/23/15 03:19pm

We have not seen any issues integrating with VMSes to date. The changes are primarily on the encoding / camera side with decoding remaining the same for the VMS.

John Honovich

IPVM | 09/29/15 02:14am

Panasonic is now announcing 'smart coding technology'. Here is how they describe it:

"Smart Coding Technology that modifies the encoding compression algorithm in standard H.264 video streams, yielding up to 70 percent improvement in bandwidth reduction to reduce bandwidth has been released.
Available as a free firmware upgrade to all new Panasonic 3, 5 and 6 Series Models, the technology offers significant decreased overall bandwidth usage to effectively lessen the amount of storage needed for recorded images.
Smart Coding technology encoding deploys Group of Picture (GOP) Control; Frequency Divided Filter (FDF); and 3-D Multi-Process Noise Reduction (3D-MNR) to achieve a lower bit rate for recorded images without degrading the captured and transmitted video stream. Combined, these features can effectively provide a substantial bit rate reduction (the number of bits per second that can be transmitted along a digital network) in the recorded video."

We expect to see more and more manufacturers to do similar as the bandwidth benefits are obvious and significant.

Undisclosed #2

08/24/16 08:51pm

Undiclosed Manufactuter brings up an interesting point here about switching between streams with a high GOP ratio:

To decode the current frame, the Client UI would have to decode the previous I-frame and all the subsequent p/b frames, and if the gap between I-frames is 5 to 8 seconds, this could be between 50 to 200 frames depending on the frame rate. I doubt the VMS would send these previous frames to reduce the delay, and will just expect the client to wait. Keep in mind that traditionally, I-frames are every second or two so the wait is not normally that long. Again, smart codecs can cause the delay to be much longer in some cases - it is the price you pay for increased storage...

When using a VMS to switch between streams have you noticed any unusually long delays? If UM is right, one might be waiting 20 seconds before seeing a live picture, which might be considered unacceptable by many.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 08/24/16 10:01pm

Some Cameras & VMS allow for I-Frame insertion request to be sent to demand an I-Frame immediately. This can mitigate waiting 200+ frames for the next regularly scheduled I-Frame.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #3 | 08/24/16 10:48pm

Is this an out-of-band request that operates on an existing RTSP stream, or is this made when creating a new socket?

Undisclosed Integrator #4

12/21/16 02:53am

We had a site where we installed a brand new Q6000 + Q60 PTZ and decided to try Dynamic GOP on the VMS. We leaned the hard way that VMD does not work when your I-frame interval is too high, we had an incident and no video because there where not enough frames to compare for VMD to kick off recording.

Dynamic GOP is great for continuous recording but be very careful on motion based recording.

Thumbnail profile pic

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #4 | 12/21/16 03:08am

That's a terrible side effect! What VMS were you using? Server side or camera side VMD?

Undisclosed Integrator #4

In reply to Ethan Ace | 12/21/16 03:37am

its one of the Top 5 VMS's, Cam side VMD.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #4 | 12/21/16 03:43am

If its Cam side VMD then it's not the VMSes fault, right?

Undisclosed Integrator #4

In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 12/21/16 03:52am

It's hard to say. Because the cam is doing the detection but the VMS is getting the metadata to tell it to records. It still needs to get enough frames to compare.

The more it's discussed the more questions arise on the technicalities.

I am trying bench test a similar cam but have. It had a chance to do so.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #4 | 12/21/16 04:01am

Its hard to say. Because the cam is doing the detection but the VMS is getting the metadata to tell it to records. It still needs to get enough frames to compare.

so maybe the I-frame associated with the P-frames that have motion in them has already been discarded by the VMS when the meta-data comes in? What was the pre-record amount set to?

Maybe you can set that to a large enough value to cover the GOP length.

Undisclosed Integrator #4

In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 12/21/16 04:05am

We believe that is precisely what happened. GOP length was get to ~300.

I think pre/Post was set to 15 Seconds

Undisclosed End User #5

05/20/18 05:59pm

Good write-up.

Undisclosed End User #5

05/27/18 02:50pm

A great write-up.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

IP Camera Cable Labeling Guide on Sep 14, 2018
Labeling cables can save a lot of money and headaches. While it is easy to overlook, taking time to label runs during installation significantly...
October 2018 Camera Course - Save $50 - Last Chance on Sep 13, 2018
Today is the last day to save $50 on the October 2018 Camera Course, register now. This is the only independent surveillance camera course,...
VMS Export Shootout - Avigilon, Dahua, Exacq, Genetec, Hikvision, Milestone on Sep 13, 2018
When crimes, accidents or problems occur, exporting video from one's video surveillance system is critical to proving incidents. But who does it...
Door Fundamentals For Access Control Guide on Sep 12, 2018
Assuming every door can be secured with either a maglock or an electric strike can be a painful assumption in the field. While those items can be...
IP Camera Cable Termination Guide on Sep 06, 2018
Terminating cables properly is critical to network performance, but it can be a tricky task with multiple steps. Fortunately, this task is easy to...
Dell Launches IoT for Surveillance on Sep 05, 2018
Historically, Dell has been a PC and server provider (e.g., "Dude, you're getting a Dell") and widely used for surveillance storage. However, in...
Drain Wire For Access Control Reader Tutorial on Sep 04, 2018
An easy-to-miss cabling specification plays a key role in access control, yet it is commonly ignored. The drain wire offers protection for readers...
IP Camera Cabling Installation Guide on Aug 29, 2018
IPVM is preparing the industry's first Video Surveillance Installation book and our upcoming Video Surveillance Installation Course. We have...
Exit Devices For Access Control Tutorial on Aug 28, 2018
Exit Devices, also called 'Panic Bars' or 'Crash Bars' are required by safety codes the world over, and become integral parts of electronic access...
Inputs/Outputs For Video Surveillance Guide on Aug 24, 2018
While many cameras have Input/Output (I/O) ports, few are actually used and most designers do not even consider them. However, a good understanding...

Most Recent Industry Reports

25% China Tariffs Finalized For 2019, 10% Start Now, Includes Select Video Surveillance on Sep 18, 2018
A surprise move: In July, when the most recent tariff round was first announced, the tariffs were only scheduled for 10%. However, now, the US...
Central Stations Face Off Against NFPA On Fire Monitoring on Sep 18, 2018
Central stations are facing off against the NFPA over what they call anti-competitive language in NFPA 72, the standard that covers fire alarms....
Hikvision USA Starts Layoffs on Sep 18, 2018
Hikvision USA has started layoffs, just weeks after the US government ban was passed into law. Inside this note, we examine: The important...
Chinese Government Praises Hikvision Following Xi Jinping on Sep 17, 2018
The Chinese government council responsible for managing China's state-owned companies praised Hikvision’s obedience to China’s authoritarian leader...
Amazon Ring Spotlight Cam Tested on Sep 17, 2018
Amazon's Ring has released their latest camera entry, the Spotlight Cam, which we bought and tested in our Consumer IP Camera Analytics...
European Mega Security Firm Verisure Pushing Security Fog on Sep 17, 2018
The European mega security firm Verisure (Securitas Direct), with a reported 2 million customers, is pushing security fog, as shown in this BBC...
IP Camera Cable Labeling Guide on Sep 14, 2018
Labeling cables can save a lot of money and headaches. While it is easy to overlook, taking time to label runs during installation significantly...
Favorite Intercom Manufacturers 2018 on Sep 14, 2018
Intercoms are certainly increasing in popularity, driven by the integration of video and IP networking. But who is the favorite? On the one side,...
Vivotek 4MP Camera Tested (FD8379-HV) on Sep 13, 2018
Next in our series of updated 4MP testing, we bought and tested Vivotek's FD8379-HV, and entry level 4MP model claiming "top-notch quality video in...
Ascent / MONI Faces Lender Lawsuit and Debt Crisis on Sep 13, 2018
ASCMA, aka Ascent, aka Brinks Home Security, aka MONI, aka Monitronics is being sued by a group of their lenders who allege: As of June 30,...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact