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System Architecture

This document describes the architecture of the CameraInspect system, detailing its components, their interactions, and the underlying technologies.

Overview

CameraInspect is built on a modern, microservices-based architecture that provides scalability, resilience, and flexibility. The system is designed to handle environments ranging from small installations with a few cameras to enterprise deployments with thousands of devices across multiple locations.

System Components

The following diagram illustrates the high-level architecture of CameraInspect:

graph TB
    UI[UI Layer] --> |API Requests| API[API Gateway]
    
    API --> |Routes Requests| MS1[Diagnostics Service]
    API --> |Routes Requests| MS2[Configuration Service]
    API --> |Routes Requests| MS3[Monitoring Service]
    API --> |Routes Requests| MS4[Reporting Service]
    API --> |Routes Requests| MS5[User Management]
    
    MS1 --> |Reads/Writes| DB[(Database Cluster)]
    MS2 --> |Reads/Writes| DB
    MS3 --> |Reads/Writes| DB
    MS4 --> |Reads/Writes| DB
    MS5 --> |Reads/Writes| DB
    
    MS1 --> |Events| MQ[Message Queue]
    MS2 --> |Events| MQ
    MS3 --> |Events| MQ
    MS4 --> |Events| MQ
    
    WS[WebSocket Server] --> |Subscribes| MQ
    UI --> |Real-time Updates| WS
    
    MS1 --> |Integrations| EXT[External Systems]
    MS2 --> |Integrations| EXT
    MS3 --> |Integrations| EXT
    
    AGENT[Device Agents] --> |Device Data| API
    AGENT --> |Direct Device Communication| DEVICES[Cameras & Network Devices]

Core Components

1. UI Layer
   • Web-based interface accessible via browsers
   • Mobile application for iOS and Android
   • Admin dashboard for system management
   • Command-line interface for advanced operations
2. API Gateway
   • Central entry point for all client requests
   • Request routing and load balancing
   • Authentication and authorization
   • Rate limiting and throttling
   • Response caching
   • API versioning
3. Microservices
   • Diagnostics Service: Network analysis, device discovery, problem detection
   • Configuration Service: Device configuration, templates, bulk operations
   • Monitoring Service: Real-time device monitoring, alerts, health checks
   • Reporting Service: Data analytics, report generation, scheduled reporting
   • User Management Service: Authentication, permissions, user preferences
4. WebSocket Server
   • Real-time event delivery to client applications
   • Status updates and notifications
   • Live device data streaming
5. Message Queue
   • Asynchronous communication between services
   • Event processing and propagation
   • System state changes broadcast
6. Database Cluster
   • Primary data storage for application data
   • Distributed and replicated for high availability
   • Sharded for performance at scale
7. Device Agents
   • Lightweight software running on network segments
   • Direct communication with network devices and cameras
   • Local buffering during network interruptions
   • Edge processing capabilities

Deployment Models

CameraInspect supports multiple deployment models to meet various customer requirements:

Cloud-Based Deployment (SaaS)

graph TB
    CLIENT[Client Network] --> |Secure Connection| CLOUD[CameraInspect Cloud]
    AGENT[Device Agents] --> |Device Data| CLOUD
    AGENT --> |Direct Device Communication| DEVICES[Cameras & Network Devices]
    CLOUD --> |Notifications, Dashboard| CLIENT

• All CameraInspect services hosted in secure cloud infrastructure
• Automatic updates and maintenance
• Elastic scaling based on demand
• Globally distributed for low latency
• Data stored in region-specific data centers for compliance

On-Premises Deployment

graph TB
    CORE[CameraInspect Core] --> |Local Network| DEVICES[Cameras & Network Devices]
    CORE --> |Management| DASH[Dashboard & Reporting]
    ADMIN[Admin Workstation] --> |Configuration| CORE
    OPT[Optional Cloud Services] -.-> |Backup, Advanced Analytics| CORE

• All services deployed within customer’s network
• Data remains within customer’s infrastructure
• Customizable hardware requirements
• Optional cloud connections for specific services
• Manual or scheduled updates

Hybrid Deployment

graph TB
    LOCAL[Local Components] --> |Device Management| DEVICES[Cameras & Network Devices]
    LOCAL --> |Secure Connection| CLOUD[Cloud Components]
    CLOUD --> |Advanced Services| LOCAL
    LOCAL --> |Critical Data| DB[(Local Database)]
    CLOUD --> |Analytics Data| CLOUD_DB[(Cloud Database)]

• Business-critical components deployed on-premises
• Advanced analytics and reporting in the cloud
• Selective data sharing between environments
• Resilient operation during internet outages
• Flexible scaling of cloud resources

Security Architecture

Security is a fundamental aspect of the CameraInspect architecture, implemented at multiple layers:

Network Security

• TLS 1.3 for all communications
• IP-based access controls
• Network traffic encryption
• Segmented network design with strict access controls

Authentication & Authorization

• Multi-factor authentication support
• Role-based access control (RBAC)
• OAuth 2.0 and OpenID Connect
• Fine-grained permission model
• JWT with short expiration times

Data Security

• Encryption at rest using AES-256
• Encryption in transit for all data flows
• Data anonymization capabilities
• Strict data retention policies
• Regular security audits and penetration testing

Operational Security

• Automated vulnerability scanning
• Containerized services with security isolation
• Principle of least privilege
• Comprehensive audit logging
• Automated threat detection

Storage Architecture

The system employs a multi-tiered storage architecture to optimize for different access patterns:

```mermaid graph TB HOT[Hot Storage] –> |Aging| WARM[Warm Storage] WARM –> |Aging| COLD[Cold Storage]

HOT --> |Recent Data| QUERY[Query Service]
WARM --> |Historical Data| QUERY
COLD --> |Archive| BACKUP[Backup Service]

HOT --> |Fast Access| DASH[Dashboard]