Currently, in security surveillance, the application of intelligent analysis technology has two approaches: front-end intelligence and back-end intelligence.
Front-end intelligence
Front-end intelligence is typically implemented within the video surveillance camera itself, integrating AI edge algorithms into the camera. Its advantages include: acquiring video in real-time and performing video analysis and feedback results immediately.
Benefits
- No consumption of network resources like bandwidth;
- Offers real-time and highly efficient analysis;
- Obtains results immediately; relatively low cost;
- Highly flexible deployment.
Disadvantages
Due to the small physical size of cameras, hardware expansion space is limited. AI edge algorithms are often confined to a fixed few types, such as perimeter intrusion detection, tripwire, abandoned object detection, etc. It cannot flexibly load customised intelligent functions.
The other approach is back-end intelligence, which usually requires installing an intelligent analysis server in the monitoring centre, integrating AI edge algorithms into this back-end server.
- Advantages: Hardware components can be flexibly expanded based on project requirements, thereby enhancing the server's overall analytical capability. It can also flexibly customise and load various intelligent algorithms according to project needs, capable of loading dozens or even hundreds of algorithms.
- Disadvantages: Because back-end intelligence requires first collecting the video stream from the front-end cameras in real-time before analysis, it consumes significant resources like bandwidth. It cannot provide immediate feedback of intelligent analysis results like front-end intelligence, lacks flexible deployment options, and the cost is very high.
Development of intelligent analysis technology
AI edge analytics boxes have emerged in the security surveillance market, defining another front-end
With the development of intelligent analysis technology, AI edge analytics boxes have emerged in the security surveillance market, representing another front-end intelligence product. These boxes themselves can integrate dozens of AI edge algorithms, enriching the variety of AI algorithms available for front-end intelligent cameras while maintaining flexible deployment.
Users can freely choose to deploy the box at the front-end (near the camera) or at the monitoring centre end to function as a small intelligent analysis server.
Front-end (camera side)
When deployed at the front-end (camera side): There is no need to dismantle existing video surveillance equipment. The real-time video stream from the original camera can be analysed directly within the AI box, and results are fed back. Since the camera and AI box are usually on the same network, this consumes minimal bandwidth resources, offering excellent real-time performance, timeliness, and efficiency.
After the AI edge analytics box analyses the video, the results can be transmitted to the monitoring centre video management platform server via the internet, VPN dedicated line, 4G, 5G, etc., for storage, real-time display, and retrieval.
Monitoring centre end
When deployed at the monitoring centre end: The AI edge analytics box can function as a small video analysis server. Individual AI analytics boxes can be stacked to aggregate their analytical power, enabling the analysis of large volumes of video streams transmitted from the front-end.
Since the cost of the AI edge analytics box itself is significantly lower than that of a full intelligent analysis server, using AI analytics boxes to implement intelligent solutions is often more economical and practical for small to medium-sized intelligent security surveillance projects.
 |
| AI box application. |
AI box deployment application
Edge AI Box does not require changes to existing video surveillance kit deployments
Since the Edge AI Box does not require changes to existing video surveillance equipment deployments and only upgrades the original system to enable intelligent applications for existing monitoring devices, it can save significant labour costs associated with on-site deployment personnel.
After the Edge AI Box and AI-powered cameras transmit intelligent analysis results to the platform, what can the platform do? Taking the video surveillance management platform SVMS Pro as an example.
SVMS Pro video surveillance management software
First SVMS Pro provides centralised management for multiple AI Boxes across diverse networks (LAN, WAN, VPN, 4G/5G). This flexibility enables users to deploy AI Boxes anywhere project requirements demand.
With the AI Box and cameras connected to the SVMS Pro video surveillance management software, users can select video channels for analysis. The AI Box automatically analyses the chosen channels, transmits the results, and triggers alarms back to SVMS Pro. This seamless integration provides a unified platform for users to:
- Configure event settings
- Define alarm-triggering actions (such as alarm recording and alarm video pop-up). Alerts originating from the AI Box can trigger video recording via the SVMS Pro platform. These recordings are then stored long-term within the SVMS Pro platform. This capability resolves the limitation of the AI Box itself, which cannot store recordings for extended periods due to constraints imposed by its physical size.
- Search historical alarm events
- Manage active alarms
- View alarm statistics
Additionally, SVMS Pro facilitates pushing the analysed results to third-party platforms via the network.
 |
| SVMS Pro provide various AI intelligent solutions for different scenarios. |
AI intelligent solutions for different scenarios
AI box + video surveillance management software SVMS Pro provides various AI intelligent solutions for different scenarios. For example: In smart construction site applications, AI box can provide not wearing safety helmet and reflective vest detection, fight detection, area intrusion detection, wandering detection, fire detection, etc., and display real-time results in real-time on SVMS Pro.
Users can watch real-time video from different places, store the recordings, playback, get the real-time AI alarms, put the video on the video wall, etc., all in one platform.
SVMS Pro and AI Edge Boxes
Combined force of SVMS Pro and AI Edge Boxes presents a truly unified and intelligent solution
In essence, the combined force of SVMS Pro and AI Edge Boxes presents a truly unified and intelligent solution, effectively overcoming the inherent limitations of both traditional front-end and back-end surveillance intelligence.
The AI Edge Boxes deliver powerful, real-time analytics at the edge or as scalable micro-servers, offering unprecedented flexibility and cost-effectiveness – particularly vital for small to medium-sized projects.
SVMS Pro elevates this capability by providing centralised command and control, seamlessly integrating diverse AI Boxes across any network to offer comprehensive video management.
Advanced AI surveillance
This synergy enables robust features like intelligent event configuration, alarm-triggered recording with long-term SVMS Pro storage, historical event search, and cross-platform integration, all within a single, cost-optimised platform.
From construction sites to broader security networks, this unified solution transforms raw video into actionable intelligence, democratising advanced AI surveillance by making it accessible, practical, and economically viable. SVMS Pro and AI Edge Boxes together redefine intelligent video management for the modern era.
Understand how AI can transform business security strategies with our insights and analysis on AI in security.
