XProtect LPR (usage)

LPR in live mode (explained)

In live mode, you can view live video from the cameras that have been configured for license plate recognition (LPR). You can view video from several LPR cameras in a view at the same time. On the right-hand side of the view item, the LPR events appear whenever there is a match. In setup mode, you can change the settings that define how the list of license plate numbers displays.

When you click a license plate in the LPR event list, the live video automatically pauses and changes to independent playback. To go back to viewing live video, either click the license plate again or click the Independent playback icon on the camera toolbar.

LPR on the Search tab (explained)

On the Search tab, you can search for video recordings associated with vehicles.

LPR tab (explained)

On the LPR tab, you can investigate LPRClosed Short for "license plate recognition". events from all your LPR cameras and view the associated video recordings and license plate recognition data. Keep match lists updated and create reports.

The tab includes an LPR event list and an LPR camera preview. In the preview, you can view video associated with LPR event details. Below the preview, information about the license plate appears together with details from the match list and the license plate style that it is associated with.

You can filter the event list according to the period, country module, LPR camera, match list, or license plate style. Use the Search registration number field to search for a particular license plate registration number. By default, this list shows LPR events from the last hour. See also LPR event list (explained).

You can specify and export a report of relevant events as PDF.

You can make updates to the existing match lists by using the Match list function.

LPR event list (explained)

The LPRClosed Short for "license plate recognition". event list displays all LPR events. By default, the list displays LPR events from the last hour and with the newest at the top, but your system administrator can change this.

When you select an LPR event from the list, you can see a preview to the right with the related video sequence for the event. The title bar of the preview shows the name of the LPR camera that the LPR event was triggered from. You also see the:

  • License plate number

  • Country module

  • Time of the event

  • Match list that triggered the event

  • License plate style (see License plate styles)

You can change how the LPR event list displays events; you can sort the columns and you can drag them to different positions. You can use the filters at the top of the list to filter LPR events or use the Search registration number field to search.

The LPR event list only displays LPR events from the time of your search or filter. If you want to see the latest LPR events, click the Refresh button.

License plate styles

A license plate style is a set of characteristics of a license plate, including the:

  • Plate size and shape

  • Text format and font

  • Colors

  • Type of vehicle that the license plate is used on

Your system administrator can group license plate styles and give that group a custom name.

You can only add those license plate styles to match lists that were grouped and named by your system administrator.

Filtering LPR events (explained)

There are several ways you can filter the LPR event list, so it displays just the LPR events that you are interested in; you can click any of the filters at the top of the list to see only LPR events associated with that filter. Any filters you apply are immediately reflected in the list.

  • Period: Select one of the available periods to see LPR events within that particular time
  • Country module: Clear or select country modules to view only LPR events linked to a license plate from a particular country, state, or region
  • LPR camera: Select one or more of the available LPR cameras to view only LPR events for those cameras
  • Match list: Select one or more license plate lists to view only LPR events generated by those lists
  • License plate style: Select one or more license plate styles to view only LPR events associated with those license plate styles

You can combine the filters, for example, for a particular country module on a certain date.

You can also use the Search registration number field to search for a particular license plate. Enter a combination of characters to find results with combinations of those characters. For example, if you enter the characters XY 12 you will get license plates that have both XY and 12 in their number. If you enter XY12 you will only get license plates that have XY12 in their number.

Edit match lists

You can add and delete license plates from match lists.

  1. On the LPR tab, in the top-right corner of the window, click Match lists to open the Match lists dialog box.
  2. In Select match list, select the list that you want to edit.
  3. To add a license plate registration number or a license plate style, click Add. Enter relevant information and click OK.

    You can only add those license plate styles to match lists that were grouped and named by your system administrator.

  4. To edit an existing license plate registration number, you can use the search function to find the relevant registration number.
  5. Double-click a single row to edit or select multiple rows and click Edit.
  6. In the dialog box, enter information and click OK. If the match list contains muliple columns, you can edit the information in all fields.
  7. To remove a license plate registration number, you can use the search function to find the relevant registration number.
  8. Select multiple rows if needed and click Delete.
  9. Click Close.

Alternatively, you can add a license plate to a match list by right-clicking an unlisted LPR event and selecting Add to list. You can also remove a license plate by selecting the relevant LPR event, and on the right, below the preview, clicking the Remove from list icon.

Import or export match lists

You can import a file with a list of license plates that you want to use in a match list. You have the following import options:

  • Add license plates to the existing list
  • Replace the existing list

This is useful if, for example, the lists are managed from a central location. Then they can keep all local installations updated by distributing a file.

Similarly you can export the complete list of license plates from a match list to an external location.

  1. To import a match list:
    1. On the LPR tab, at the top right of the window, click Match Lists to open the Match Lists dialog box.
    2. Select the relevant list.
    3. To import a file, click Import.
    4. In the dialog box, specify the location of the import file and the import type. Click Next.
    5. Await the confirmation and click Close.
  2. To export a match list:
    1. Click Export.
    2. In the dialog box, specify the location of the export file and click Next.
    3. Click Close.
    4. You can open and edit the exported file in, for example, Microsoft Excel.

Supported formats are .txt or .csv.

Export LPR events as a report

You can export a report of LPRClosed Short for "license plate recognition". events to a PDF file.

  1. On the LPR tab, filter or search for the events you want to include in the report.

    If the number of found events is very high, you will receive a recommendation to refine the search and thereby reduce the number of search results.

  2. Click the LPR Report button.
  3. Specify the following values and click OK:
    • Report name
    • Report destination
    • A comment field
    • An option to include snapshots

    A progress bar appears at the top right of the XProtect Smart Client window.

  4. Click Details to view the report.

If you want to change the paper format or font, open the Settings window, select Advanced, and change the PDF report format or PDF report font settings.

LPR on the Alarm Manager tab

On the Alarm Manager tab, you can view and investigate alarms related to LPR. Some customization is required before you can view the information:

In general, read the sections about alarm management for more details on XProtect Smart Client functionality.

View LPR recognitions

You can view LPR recognitions in the alarm list. If you select events as the data source, all recognitions are displayed. If you select alarms as the data source, only the recognitions associated with an alarm are displayed.

Steps:

  1. Go to the Alarm Manager tab.
  2. Click the Setup button to enter setup mode.
  3. To view recognitions associated with an alarm:
    1. In the Data Source list, select Alarm.
    2. Select Setup again to exit setup mode and save your changes. The recognitions are displayed in the alarm list.
    3. To view incoming LPR alarms, enter LPR in the Type field.

      View license plate recognitions in XProtect Smart Client.

  4. To view all recognitions:
    1. In the Data Source list, select Event.
    2. Select Setup again to exit setup mode and save your changes. The recognitions are displayed in the alarm list.
    3. To view all incoming LPR events, enter LPR in the Type field.

The alarm list will display the filtered results only when you leave the field you modified.