How to Setup License Plate Detection (LPR)and Recognition on a Speco Blue Recorder

This guide will go over the steps required to setup and configure license plate detection and recognition.

Please note - Not all cameras are capable of license plate detection and recognition.

This guide will only for camera models: O2BLP1M / O2BLP2M / O4BLP2M 

• First, access the Settings menu of the Speco Blue Recorder.

• Once the Settings menu appears, please select the LPR option within the AI / Event section.

• This will open to the LPR section of the recorder. Please ensure that Detection is selected at the top of the screen.
  • Select a camera at the top with the Camera Name option.
  • Put a Checkmark in the Checkbox for Enable below. This will activate the feature.
  • On the cameras image, click and drag with the left-mouse button. This will create a box over the image. Any license plates entering or exiting this box will be detected.
    • Select Clear/Clear All to erase the box if a mistake was made.
  • To the right of the image, an option for Schedule can be seen. It is set to a 24/7 schedule by default. This can be changed as per user preference.
  • The Area option allows the user to choose exactly where they want the detection to occur.
    • There is only one Detection Area able to be configured. That is the green box that is drawn over the image.
    • Due to the lack of customization with a square/rectangular zone, a Blocked Area can be configured. Selecting Blocked Area 1-4 will allow the user to click on the image to create points. Creating multiple points will connect the points to produce a shape. Any license plates that enter the shape will not be detected, even if the license plate falls within both the Detection area and Blocked area.
  • The Plate Detection Area will determine what type of license plates are detected.
    • Depending on the LPR camera model, options may be limited to a select few countries.
  • The Plate Exposure option will help increase or decrease the images brightness to help detect license plates as lighting in the scene changes.
  • Selecting Capture Plate Absence Vehicle will allow the camera to detect a vehicle even if it does not have a license plate.
  • The Plate Size (Range) option will determine how big or small the license plate needs to be before it can be scanned. Selecting the Display range option will show the user the approximate size the plate needs to be to be detected.
    • Select Apply once all options are set.

• At the top of the screen, select Recognition.
  • Put a Checkmark in the Checkbox to Enable both Successful Recognition and Strange Plate.
    • Make sure Successful Recognition is selected below.
  • Plate Group allows the user to select which Plate Groups trigger this event.
    
    • Multiple Plate Groups can be selected for one event. The + button towards the top-right of the menu will allow for an additional Successful Recognition group to trigger separate Plate Groups if need be.
      • CLICK HERE for a guide on how to configure Plate Groups.
  • The next option below is Schedule. This can be set as per user preference.
  • The next option is Text Prompt. The inserted text will appear on the camera's Live view interface when a captured plate is successfully recognized.
  • Voice Prompt will trigger an audio message at the camera when a captured plate is successfully recognized.
    
    • This function requires an external speaker to be connected to the camera as well as a custom audio file to be uploaded to the recorder.
  • Selecting Enable alarm output pulse (Access Control) will have the camera trigger a Wiegand relay in order to open a gate.
    • Function is only available for the O4BLP2M
• The next bottom half of the menu will tell the recorder unit what to do upon a Successful recognition event.
  • The left-most column is titled Trigger General. These are the main functions of a triggered event.
    
    • Push will send an event notification to the Speco Blue Mobile app.
    • Buzzer will trigger the physical recorder unit to sound an alarm.
    • Pop-up Video will have a small video appear of the event on the screen.
    • Email will send a notification email to a registered email.
    • Pop-up Message Box will have a text box appear on the screen notifying an event occurred.
  • The Record column will determine which camera starts recording upon recognition. By default, it is set to the selected camera, but multiple cameras can be set to recorder from one triggered event if the need arises.
  • The Alarm-out column will determine which, if any, external relays get triggered. This option is for any external sensors attached to the recorder/camera.
  • The Snapshot column will determine which camera takes a picture of the event and save it to the database. Multiple cameras can be triggered.
  • The Camera Name - Preset Name column will determine which camera preset gets triggered from the event, if any were previously configured.
    
    • Select Apply once the desired settings have been set.

• Towards the top of the same menu page, select the option for Strange Plate.
  • If the recorder unit fails to recognize a license plate, it will be labeled as a Strange Plate. By not enabling this setting, Strange Plates will be chosen to be ignored by the system. Enabling this setting will allow the recorder to respond to these detections. 
    • The same rules apply as when configuring a Successful Recognition.
  • The first option below is Schedule. This can be set as per user preference.
  • The next option is Text Prompt. The inserted text will appear on the camera's Live view interface when a captured plate is successfully recognized.
  • Voice Prompt will trigger an audio message at the camera when a captured plate is successfully recognized.
    
    • This function requires an external speaker to be connected to the camera as well as a custom audio file to be uploaded to the recorder.

• The next bottom half of the menu will tell the recorder unit what to do upon a Successful recognition event.
  • The left-most column is titled Trigger General. These are the main functions of a triggered event.
    
    • Push will send an event notification to the Speco Blue Mobile app.
    • Buzzer will trigger the physical recorder unit to sound an alarm.
    • Pop-up Video will have a small video appear of the event on the screen.
    • Email will send a notification email to a registered email.
    • Pop-up Message Box will have a text box appear on the screen notifying an event occurred.
  • The Record column will determine which camera starts recording upon recognition. By default, it is set to the selected camera, but multiple cameras can be set to recorder from one triggered event if the need arises.
  • The Alarm-out column will determine which, if any, external relays get triggered. This option is for any external sensors attached to the recorder/camera.
  • The Snapshot column will determine which camera takes a picture of the event and save it to the database. Multiple cameras can be triggered.
  • The Camera Name - Preset Name column will determine which camera preset gets triggered from the event, if any were previously configured.
    
    • Select Apply once the desired settings have been set.

License Plate Detection & Recognition cameras require certain parameters to be met before it is able to properly and correctly detect and recognize license plates. Please CLICK HERE to review Best Practices when installing LPR cameras. Camera's outside of these parameters may have detection issues.

CLICK HERE to see a demo of License Plate Detection and Recognition in action.

Initial submission Date: June 24, 2024
Article authored by: Frank Bondietti