CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1. 1. Background of the Study

Nowadays, surveillance is becoming important, so CCTV (closed circuit television) cameras are being used widely. CCTV cameras are a type of television system which is generally used for surveillance. CCTV cameras capture video signals and try to monitor it. CCTV cameras are generally very costly as it has various components camera for viewing the area to be captured, wiring to connect it with the TV and other components, TV for viewing the streamed video. But for some purposes where surveillance is required only for homes, not at larger extent, like surveillance of the child sleeping in another room and working on the laptop in other room, then use of the CCTV camera shall not be desirable for this operation as it will cost high. Now surveillance is required not by using the regular CCTV cameras but by some cheaper means i.e. by using the things already present generally at homes (Arun et al., 2016).

Smart home automation system has become very common of technology and especially with fast development in internet. Various smart home systems with improved technologies have been implemented. Most of the technologies are based on controlling home automation systems in android application which gives user interface for monitoring and controlling their home electronic appliances from local network or the internet, the number of networks enabled digital devices at homes has been increasing fast. With the rapid increase of the internet, the owners have been requesting remote control and monitoring of these in-home appliances. This leads to networking these appliances to form a kind of home automation system. In this research, an Android based home security camera system is been proposed (Yashodeep et al., 2016).

1.2     Statement of the Problem

Due to the security challenges which includes things like property theft in our homes, this project deals with the development of an android application by which an old android phone can be used as a CCTV camera. So that it can be used to survey our rooms in homes, in other to assuage our home security challenges.

1.3     Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of this research work is to Design and Develop an Android Based Home Security Camera System.

The specific objectives include:

i.        To review related literatures pointing to Android based Home Security Camera System.

ii.       Design an Android based Home Security Camera System using UML controls.

iii.      Create a database for the system using SQLite database.

iv.      Implement the system designed in (ii) using Java and XML on the android platform.

v.       Test the system implemented in (iv) above for performance.

1.4     Significance of the Study

This study will serve as an avenue for monitoring home appliances using an android device.

The software is also relevant in the following ways:

1. Provide basic and vital security to homes.
2. Reduce the cost of buying a CCTV Camera.
3. Reduce the installation technicalities.
4. Improve the home security of the average person.

1.5     Scope of the Study

This research work covers the installation of a home security CCTV system using android device camera.

1.6   Limitation of the Study

The researcher faced some limitations during the course of this research. Some of this limitations/constraint includes;

i.        Time constraint: Time factor was the major factors as the timeframe to submit the project was too short for a rigorous research.

ii.       Financial constraint:  Lack of adequate finance to fund the researcher as to the purchase of data to review related works online was another major setback.

1.7     Definition of Terms

1. Android: Android is a mobile operating system based on a modified version of the Linux kernel and other open source software, designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.
2. Camera: A camera is an optical instrument used to record images. At their most basic, cameras are sealed boxes with a small hole that allow light in to capture an image on a light-sensitive surface. Cameras have various mechanisms to control how the light falls onto the light-sensitive surface.
3. CCTV: Closed-circuit television, also known as video surveillance, is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, on a limited set of monitors
4. Home: A home, or domicile, is a living space used as a permanent or semi-permanent residence for an individual, family, household or several families in a tribe. It is often a house, apartment, or other building, or alternatively a mobile home, houseboat, yurt or any other portable shelter.
5. Installation:  The act or process of making a machine, a service, etc., ready to be used in a certain place or condition.
6. Network Programming: Computer network programming involves writing computer programs that enable processes to communicate with each other across a computer network.
7. Network: A network is defined as a group of two or more computer systems linked together.
8. Security: Security is freedom from, or resilience against, potential harm caused by others. Beneficiaries of security may be of persons and social groups, objects and institutions, ecosystems or any other entity or phenomenon vulnerable to unwanted change.
9. Setup: The way in which something, especially an organization or equipment, is organized, planned, or arranged.
10. Socket Programming: A socket is one endpoint of a two-way communication link between two programs running on the network. A socket is bound to a port number so that the TCP layer can identify the application that data is destined to be sent to. An endpoint is a combination of an IP address and a port number.
11. Television: A television set or television receiver, more commonly called a television, TV, TV set, telly, or tele, is a device that combines a tuner, display, and loudspeakers, for the purpose of viewing and hearing television broadcasting through satellites or cables, or using it as a computer monitor.