SMICT compression technique
The SMICT compression technique is an intelligent image compression technique designed for professional surveillance and monitor recording, which uses a hardware compression chip, DSP IC. This supports high resolution full color recording with "Image Contraction" and "Separation of Front and Back Image" - a technique that separates moving objects from the static background. Combined with "recording only when movement is detected", it substantially increases video image transfer quality and extends the recording time for a given hard drive capacity.

System Stability
Compucon Argus is developed for Windows 2000/XP, with its own stable system structure. The Watchdog function automatically restores operation if the computer crashes, by automatically restarting the computer and the surveillance program.

Supports most PTZ and I/O facilities
You can directly control PTZ cameras to go up, down, right, left, turn focus, iris control and zoom in/out. You can also preset Point, Cruise and Auto Pan functions. The system supports 8 I/O connections for alarm and detection equipment.

Security Video Cassette Recorder/Multiplexer Combination vs Digital Video Recorder

	Time Lapse VCR	DVR
Machine Life Expectancy	Around 3 years	More than 10 years
Storage Medium Life	Read and write from 10 to 50 times per tape	Read and write around 10,000 times per HDD
Installation & Setup	Easy - plug video in & out and set initial parameters	Easy - plug video in &, out and set initial parameters
Ability to Extend Storage	No	Yes
Recording Stability	Medium - Tape can jam and will wear	High - No tape to jam or wear out
Operator Error Rate	Medium - employee is required to manage unit at least daily	Low - 365 days automatic surveillance & recording system
User Interface	Simple	Simple
Cost	VCR unit, plus tapes plus maintenance	Initial purchase cost of unit only
Image Quality	Low resolution on VHS. Medium resolution on S-VHS (VCR and tapes). Degradation of video after multiple tape passes	Recording & Playback of high quality images without degradation
Recording	On Video Tape - Manual Replacement of tape at specified times is required	Hard Disk Drive - Auto Disk Full Repeat Function available
Printing of Images	Difficult - requires special printer	Simple - Standard printer can be used
Transmission of Images	Hard copies by mail	Can send by email

Comparison of DVR Compression Technologies

File size analysis of normal JPEG / MPEG / AVI / WAVELET type compression methods:

Compression Ratio 240:1

After each of these frames are compressed:
The 1st frame is 3 Kbytes; the 2nd Frame is 3 Kbytes; the 3" Frame is 3 Kbytes
This stores a total of 15 Kbytes

S.M.I.C.T.:

Dynamic Compression Ratio 20:1 ~ 2400:1

S.M.I.C.T. records the first frame then analyses sequential frames and records ONLY the changes
The 1st frame is 3 Kbytes; the 2nd is only 0.6 Kbytes; the 3rd is only 0.6 Kbytes.
3Kb + 0.6 KB + 0.6KB = 4.2 Kbytes

S.M.I.C.T. = 4.2K versus MPEG/JPEG = 15K
That's for just 3 frames of video.

Specifications

Hardware Specification
Video In	Standard 8 channels video in BNC jack
Audio In	Standard 2 channels audio in RCA jack
Video resolution	NTSC 640 x 480 pixels / PAL 704 x 576 pixels
Compression Technique	SMICT compression chip. Dynamic Compression rate can reach 1:40 ~ 1:2400 max
PC Interface	Standard PCI Slot
Watchdog	Hardware watchdog function
I/O	Each card provides 8 I/O points
Recording Speed	Maximum of 320 fps for 16 channels
OS system	Windows 2000/XP
Software Specification
Recording Mode	Normal Recording mode, Recycle recording mode, Program recording mode
Monitoring Mode	Normal Monitoring mode, Monitoring with detection area triggering alarm mode, Monitoring with detection area triggering recording and alarm mode.
Auto Scan	Automatic enlargement of 1 camera at a time (Recording and Monitoring mode and Monitoring mode).
Image Variation Setting	Brightness, Contrast, Saturation, Hue.
Hard disk space	Indicates available recording space
E-map Function	Provides a map of the premises to locate the camera (e.g. if broken, disconnected or alarm triggered)
PTZ/Dome Functions	Directly control the dome camera to move up, down, left, right, zoom in/out, iris and focus, preset point setting and control, auto pan function and cruise function.
Alarm Functions	Alarm area to be set. When alarm triggered, voice messages can be sent to preset telephone or mobile phones, or the images sent to designated computers.
Alarm log	Will record the alarm activation time - quickly choose the recorded time and playback the image directly.
Snapshot functions	Snapshot at recording, monitoring, remote access and playback.
Authorization setting	The system supervisor can set authorization to restrict computer access.
Image Quality	Adjustable compression quality and recording frames for better efficiency.
I/O Control	I/O ports can connect with external alarm equipment.
Multi-task Capability	Recording, playback, remote monitoring and image view at the same time.
Printing Function	Snapshot can be printed with date, time, place and camera name.
Playback Specification
Intelligent Searching	Video files can be searched rapidly. Up to 4 cameras can be played back at once.
File Mode	All cameras save and manage the files in order of time/date.
Search by Event	Search by alarm triggered mode or alarm mode.
Playback Mode	Provide play, stop, playback clip, dragging, and fast/slow playback functions.
Image Variation Setting	Brightness, Contrast, Saturation, Hue.
Print Picture	Direct printing of the clip.
Backup Functions	Backup files using HDD, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, CD-RW, DAT, DLT, MO, ZIP, RAID devices.
.NET Virtual Central Integration System
Network Function	Provides connections for different networks through LAN or Internet to single or multiple remote systems.
Auto Login Network	System provides the server to auto login network function and auto search when disconnected
Remote Search Function	Search for image information, snapshots and printing function from the remote hard disk.
Remote Live Image	Remote access and record live images from the host system and the remote site can also record images.
Remote Control	Remote control of PTZ, I/O port and set the remote alarm detection area, recording snapshot, activate or disarm the alarm.
Remote Control Transmission	Under TCP/IP, supports PSTN (56K Modem), LAN, Internet, Intranet, PHS.

Hardware Specification
Video (BNC) In	8
Audio (RCA) In	2
Max. Recording / Monitoring Speed (Frames/second)		NTSC	PAL
	1 Channel	30	25
	4 Channels	80	67
	8 Channels	160	133
	16 Channels	320	266
Max. Resolution		640 x 480	704 x 576
Compression Technology	Background and Foreground Separation Compression Technology
	SMICT (Super Motion Image Compression Technology) Software + Hardware Compression
Image Compression Rate	Dynamic Compression Rate = 40:1 ~ 240:1 (Automatically changes depending on the image's moving situation)
	Average Dynamic Compression rate = 40: 1 ~ 2400: 1
Image Motion Detection	Depends on the movement of detected images to activate recording and image compression, and to trigger the alarm function.
Watch dog	Automatically restarts the computer and surveillance program if the system crashes.
I/O Functions	8 I/O controlling ports (TTL Compatible Signal).
Software Functions
Recording Mode	Recycle recording mode, Program recording mode (Schedule recording per each camera), Detection area alarm triggering recording and alarm mode.
Auto Scan	Under Recording or monitoring mode, automatic enlargement of each camera image for better monitoring. Other cameras still under recording mode.
Number of hard disks	Supports all hard disks plugged into the computer
Alarm Functions	Motion Image trigger alarm / Sensor input trigger alarm / Video lost trigger alarm
Alert Alarm	Each Camera can be self-defined: Sound Alert (support self-recorded) and its alarm sound, activate recording, changing recording speed, snapshot, remote alert (real time image transmission, phone or mobile phone sound alert, pager number alert)
	Support E-Mail alert (transmission of pictures and images)
	Pre-Alarm Function
	Record the images before motion image activated recording.
Alarm Log	Record the alarm activated time. Playback the images by choosing the recorded time directly.
Multi-task Capability	Recording, playback, remote monitoring and image viewing at the same time.
Audio Recording	(Synchronized with Video Recording) 24K bps ADPCM Audio Recording Mode. Also supports mic-in recording on the sound card
Image Files Search	Can be searched by time, date, host name and alarm log mode.
Camera Security	Each camera can be set screen confidentiality individually, to hide the camera(s) at sensitive locations. System supervisor can set the authorizations for different users for local or remote uses and monitoring.
PTZ/Dome Functions	RS422/RS485 for direct control of the dome to move up, down, left, right, zoom in/out, iris and focus, preset point setting and control, auto pan function, and cruise function.
I/O Function	RS422/RS485/VGIO to provide multi input sensor / output port for I/O control
E-Map	Provides a controllable e-map to locate cameras
Trigger/Camera Location/Capture	Combines the sensor input trigger alarm function with Dome camera's preset point to capture alarm images.
Operating System	Windows 2000/XP
Remote Only Version	Windows 2000/XP/NT/98/ME
Watermark	Yes
WebCam Function	Remote access using IE browser
.Net Virtual Central Integration System
Remote Control Transmission	PSTN / LAN / Internet / Intranet
	Transmission speed depends on the number of transmission images and its signal condition
Remote Control	Remote access and record live images from the host system and the remote site can also record images. Can also remote control PTZ, Output Port and set the remote alarm detection area, recording snapshot, activate or inactive the alarm.
Network Functions	LAN or Internet to monitor remote systems. Also provides one-to-more and more-to-one monitoring function.
	By using Server to Server functions through Static IP (no need for 2 network cards) at each end, it can remote monitor the Virtual IP to Virtual IP from a different network (under Router or IP share). Can simultaneously remote access more than one system, and also support more-to-more remote monitoring functions.
My Channels	Can monitor (monitoring and recording) multiple hosts simultaneously on the same computer screen. Can also split the cameras in different systems into different pages.