Glossary
Key terms explained: pet monitoring, privacy, and video streaming technology.
End-to-End Encryption (E2E)
A method of secure communication where only the communicating users can read the messages or view the video. In the context of pet cameras, end-to-end encryption means video is encrypted on the sending device and can only be decrypted on the receiving device — no server in between, including the app provider's servers, can read the content.
Peer-to-Peer (P2P)
A communication architecture where devices connect directly to each other without routing data through a central server. In pet monitoring, P2P means your camera phone streams video directly to your viewing phone, rather than uploading to a cloud server first. This significantly improves privacy and reduces latency.
WebRTC
Web Real-Time Communication — an open-source technology that enables direct peer-to-peer audio, video, and data sharing between devices without requiring an intermediary server for the media stream. Originally developed for browser-based video calls, WebRTC is now widely used in privacy-focused communication apps. Call Pet uses WebRTC for all video streaming.
X25519
A modern elliptic-curve Diffie-Hellman key exchange algorithm used to securely establish a shared encryption key between two parties over an insecure channel. X25519 is widely considered one of the most secure and efficient key exchange algorithms available. Call Pet uses X25519 to establish the encryption key between your two devices before any video is transmitted.
AES-GCM
Advanced Encryption Standard with Galois/Counter Mode — a symmetric encryption algorithm that provides both confidentiality and data integrity. AES-GCM is the gold standard for stream encryption and is used by HTTPS, TLS 1.3, and many secure communication systems. Call Pet uses AES-GCM to encrypt all video streams after keys are exchanged via X25519.
Cloud Storage
A model where data is stored on remote servers maintained by a third party and accessed over the internet. Most pet camera services use cloud storage — video from your camera is uploaded to the company's servers, where it can be accessed through their app. This creates privacy risks: the company can access your footage, and server breaches can expose your data.
Separation Anxiety (Pets)
A behavioral condition in pets — most commonly dogs — where the animal experiences significant distress when left alone or separated from their owner. Symptoms include excessive barking, destructive behavior, house soiling, and refusal to eat. A pet camera allows owners to monitor symptoms, identify triggers, and track improvement during behavioral training.
Spare Phone Camera
The practice of repurposing an unused or old smartphone as a dedicated security or monitoring camera. Rather than purchasing dedicated hardware, a spare phone camera uses an existing device with its built-in camera, battery, and Wi-Fi. Apps like Call Pet are specifically designed to optimize old phones for this use case — keeping the screen off, minimizing battery usage, and enabling secure peer-to-peer streaming.
Pet Monitor App
A mobile application designed to enable remote monitoring of pets using a smartphone camera. Pet monitor apps typically provide live video streaming, two-way audio, and motion alerts. They differ in how they handle video — cloud-based apps route footage through external servers, while privacy-focused apps like Call Pet use peer-to-peer streaming to keep footage on the owner's devices.
Transport Encryption
Encryption that protects data as it travels between your device and a server, but not beyond. With transport encryption (like TLS/HTTPS), the server can decrypt and read the content once it arrives. This is different from end-to-end encryption, where only the intended recipient can decrypt the data. Most pet camera apps use transport encryption — meaning the camera company can technically access your video on their servers.