A camera unit (12) in particular for surveillance in a transportation means (10) includes a digital camera (30), an electronic control device (32) for controlling and reading out the camera (30), and an interface (34) for outputting image data to a digital data network (16). The camera unit (12) comprises an active network component (36) for data distribution. The control device (32) is adapted to determine an individual identification from an identification means (40) which is provided at the mounting side at the installation point of the camera unit (12), and to determine at least one network parameter from the identification.