IP cameras differ from previous generation analog cameras that transmitted video signals as a voltage, whereas IP cameras send images digitally using the transmission and security features of the TCP/IP protocol. Advantages to this approach include:
Two-way audio via a single network cable allows users to listen to and speak to the subject of the video (e.g., a clerk assisting a customer through step-by-step instructions)
Use of a Wi-Fi or wireless network.
Distributed artificial intelligence (DAI)—as the camera can contain video analytics that analyze images.
Secure data transmission through encryption and authentication methods such as WPA or WPA2, TKIP or AES
Remote accessibility that lets users view live video from any device with sufficient access privileges.
Power over Ethernet (PoE) to supply power through the ethernet cable and operate without a dedicated power supply
Better image Resolution, typically four times the resolution of an analog camera.