The principle of the camera Xiaomi: from shooting to cloud storage

Xiaomi’s security cameras have become an integral part of smart home systems, combining accessibility, high-quality photography and integration with the Mi Home ecosystem. But how exactly do these compact devices convert light into digital stream, transmit it to your smartphone and differ from traditional analog systems? In this article, we will examine the physical principles of operation, data protocol, and nuances of video processing – from the matrix to the cloud server.

Xiaomi’s cameras are designed with Mi Home Security Camera 360.° 2K Xiaomi Smart Camera C400) base-built CMOS-Infra-red-light sensors that allow recording even in complete darkness, but their key difference from competitors is the hybrid storage architecture: video can be stored simultaneously on a microSD card, in the Xiaomi Cloud and on the cloud. NAS-server RTSP. This requires an understanding of not only the hardware, but also network protocols, encryption, and the features of working with artificial intelligence (for example, motion detection or facial recognition in Xiaomi Smart Camera). PTZ).

It is important to note that Xiaomi cameras use a two-step video compression system: first, frames are processed with a Hi3518E chip (or similar), then the stream is encoded in H.265 to save traffic. This affects the choice of quality settings, recording speeds, and even compatibility with third-party programs (such as Blue Iris or iSpy).

1. Hardware base: how the camera "sees" the world around

At the heart of any Xiaomi camera is an optical system consisting of a lens, an IR filter and a matrix. for example, in the model Xiaomi Mi Home Security Camera. 2K lens 130° and aperture f/1.6, And that's what makes it good at light transmission, even at dusk. CMOS-A sensor (usually from Sony or OmniVision) that converts light into electrical signals. 1080p (2 MP) before 2K (4 MP) in top-end models.

Xiaomi’s cameras feature an automatic IR-cut, which blocks infrared light during the day to make color correctly, and shuts down at night, allowing the IR light (850 nm or 940 nm) to illuminate the space, a solution that sets them apart from cheap analogues where there is no filter and nighttime shooting is blurred. For example, the Xiaomi Smart Camera C300 uses a dual IR filter to smoothly transition between modes.

• 🔍 Fixed or varifocal (in zoom models), coated to reduce glare.
• 📷 Matrix: CMOS with a pixel size of 2.9-3.0 μm (the larger, the better the light sensitivity).
• 🌓 IR backlight: up to 10-15 m in the dark (depending on model and number of diodes).
• 🛠️ Processor: a specialised chip (e.g, Hi3518E) for real-time video processing.

Critical: In Xiaomi’s AI-enabled cameras (like the Xiaomi Smart Camera PTZ), the processor analyzes the video stream directly on the device rather than sending raw data to the cloud.This reduces network load, but requires more computing resources from the camera itself.

2. Video processing: from sensor to compressed stream

After the image is captured by the matrix, the signal is sent to the image signal processor (ISP) where color correction, noise reduction, sharpness improvement and the use of WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) algorithms to balance brightness in frames with contrast lighting. For example, in Xiaomi Mi Home Security Camera 360° ISP is automatically adjusted depending on the scene (home lighting, street light, complete darkness).

The video is then encoded into H.264 or H.265 (HEVC), which is used in newer models (e.g. Xiaomi Smart Camera C400) and allows you to reduce the file size by 40-50% without loss of quality. This is critical for recording on a microSD or transfer over a mobile network. Important: H.265 requires more decoding resources, so older smartphones can slow down when viewing.

⚠️ Note: If you plan to use a camera with third-party software (such as Synology Surveillance Station), make sure it supports the camera. H.265. Some programs only work with H.264, You will need to manually change the coding settings in the Mi Home application.

3. Data transmission: protocols and encryption

Xiaomi cameras stream video through two main channels:

1. Local area network (Wi-Fi): stream is transmitted to the router via the protocol RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol, or Xiaomi's proprietary protocol, allows you to connect to the camera directly through the camera. IP-address (e.g, rtsp://192.168.1.100:554/stream1).
2. Xiaomi Cloud: Video is sent to the company’s servers via an encrypted TLS 1.2 connection. Here, intermediate compression is used – the camera sends not raw video, but already processed fragments (for example, only frames with movement).

To connect to the cloud, the camera must authenticate through Xiaomi servers, a process that includes:

• 🔑 Protocol key exchange MQTT (camera-controlled).
• 🔒 Encrypting traffic through the use of AES-128 (new models — AES-256).
• 🌍 Region-specific (Chinese cn servers, global ones – mi.com).

An important nuance: if you buy a camera on AliExpress or in Chinese stores, by default it can be tied to mainland.cn servers. This limits functionality outside of China (for example, there are no notifications in English).

4. Video Storage: MicroSD, Cloud and NAS

Xiaomi cameras support three main ways of storing records:

1. MicroSD card (up to 256 GB in new models): video is recorded cyclically (when filling up memory, old files are deleted), file format is.mp4 or.mkv (depending on firmware). Important: not all cards are compatible! SanDisk High Endurance or Samsung Pro Endurance (class V30 and above) are recommended.
2. Xiaomi Cloud: 7 days of storage (with a limit on the number of events) are free; paid rates extend the period to 30 days and add facial recognition; video in the cloud is stored in encrypted form, but Xiaomi employees have access to it at the request of law enforcement agencies (specified in the user agreement).
3. NAS or third-party servers: RTSP can be used to send streams to Synology, QNAP or PCs with iSpy, and you need to turn on ONVIF in the camera settings (not available in all models).

The speed of the recording depends on the settings:

• 📹 Continuous recording: up to 15-20 GB/day in 2K (It requires a powerful microSD).
• 🚨 Traffic: 1–5 GB/day (saving space, but you can miss important events).
• ⏱️ Schedule: Record only at specified hours (e.g. at night).

Insert memory card (FAT32/exFAT)| Format the card via the Mi Home| app Select recording mode (continuous/moving)| Set the clip length (1 to 10 minutes)| Check the free space once a week-->

5.Smart features: motion detection, facial recognition and voice control

Modern Xiaomi cameras are equipped with neural network algorithms for video analysis, for example, Xiaomi Smart Camera PTZ implemented:

• 👤 Facial recognition: The camera distinguishes family members from strangers (requires training through an app).
• 🐕 Animal Detection: Separate Notifications for People and Pets.
• 📦 Packet detection: Notification if a package appears in front of the door (only works at the correct viewing angle).
• 🗣️ Voice control: compatible with Alice (Yandex) or Google Assistant for voice recording.

To work these functions, the camera must be connected to the Xiaomi cloud (even if the video is stored locally). Algorithms are trained on the company's servers, and only ready-made notifications arrive on the device. Exception: in models with an NPU chip (for example, the Xiaomi Smart Camera C400), some analysis is performed locally, which speeds up the response to events.

⚠️ Attention: Facial recognition can give false positives in poor light or if the person is wearing glasses/masks. In camera settings, you can turn off notifications for specific areas (for example, a window where light often interferes).

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If the camera often works in shadows or outside the window, set up detection zones in the Mi Home app. Go to Camera Settings → Motion Detection → Zones and manually circle the areas you need to ignore.

6 Power and autonomy: why the camera can shut down

Most Xiaomi cameras are powered by a 5V/1A or 5V/2A network (depending on the model).However, some devices (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Home Security Camera 2) support Power Bank or battery (complete with street models, such as Xiaomi Smart Camera Outdoor), with a autonomy of 2 to 6 hours with continuous recording.

Frequent causes of outages:

• ⚡ Unstable power supply: if the power supply is not original or the socket is overloaded.
• 📶 Weak Wi-Fi signal: camera reboots when communication is lost (weak signal mode can be enabled in settings).
• 🔄 Overheating: with prolonged recording in 2K The processor may overheat (especially in closed boxes).
• 🛠️ Firmware: software bugs can cause spontaneous reboots (check the relevance of the version in Mi Home).

For outdoor cameras (such as the Xiaomi Smart Camera Outdoor 1080p), it is critical to use sealed power connectors and corrugated cables to avoid short circuits during rain. It is also recommended to install the camera under the visor - direct sunlight can disable the IR filter.

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If the camera turns off at night, check the power supply with a multimeter - often cheap adapters can not withstand a long load and sag on the voltage.

7.Security: How to protect your camera from hacking

Xiaomi cameras, like any IoT device, are vulnerable to hacker attacks.

• 🔓 Weak passwords: By default, many users do not change the standard password from Wi-Fi or Mi Home account.
• 🌐 Firmware vulnerabilities: A protocol flaw was discovered in 2020 MQTT, camera-controlled.
• 📡 Traffic Eavesdropping: If Wi-Fi is not protected WPA3, The attacker can intercept the video stream.

How to secure the camera:

1. Use a complex password for your Mi Home account (at least 12 characters with numbers and special signs).
2. Enable two-factor authentication in your profile settings.
3. Update your camera firmware to the latest version (path: Mi Home → Device → Settings → Software Update).
4. Turn off UPnP on your router so that the camera doesn’t open ports automatically.
5. For local browsing, use RTSP with authorization (login and password).

If you use a camera to watch your house, don’t publish it. IP-For remote viewing, it is better to use the official Mi Home or Xiaomi Home application with encryption enabled.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi cameras