Reolink's Smart Event Detection features, including Virtual Fence, Zone Intrusion, and Zone Linger Alerts, are transforming security monitoring. This guide will walk you through these features and provide step-by-step instructions to make the most of your Reolink surveillance system.
Applies to: RLC-840A, P337, CX820, ColorX Series P335X.
Table of Content
- Introduction to Smart Event Detection Features
- How to Set Up Reolink Smart Event Detection
- How to Set Up Reolink Smart Event Alarm Actions
1. Introduction to Smart Event Detection Features
Smart Event Detection Feature Concept
1. Virtual Fence Alert
- Used to detect activity near the boundary of a specified area. When the camera detects
a target crossing the boundary into the defined area, it triggers an alarm, like record, send
push notifications, or performs other alarm actions. - This feature is primarily used to prevent unauthorized entry into specific areas, such as
private yards or garages.
2. Zone Intrusion Alert
- Used to detect the presence or movement of objects or individuals within a specific area.
Users can select a detection zone within the monitoring. When a target enters or moves within
this zone, it triggers an alarm. - This feature is commonly used to monitor critical areas such as warehouses, stores, and
public spaces to identify potential intrusions or suspicious activities.
3. Zone Linger Alert
- Monitors a designated area and triggers an alarm when a person, vehicle, or object
remains in the area for an extended period, which is considered lingering. - This feature is often used in security monitoring, healthcare, and elderly care to
identify potential abnormal behavior or situations requiring attention.
Concept Distinctions
1. Difference Between Virtual Fence and Zone intrusion:
Virtual Fence focuses on whether a target crosses a predefined boundary into a specified area.
Zone Intrusion focuses on whether a target enters a predefined specific area, without involving boundary lines. Both are designed for security monitoring and protection, but the appropriate feature should be chosen based on specific needs.
2. Differences between Area Intrusion and Zone Linger:
Area Intrusion detection emphasizes the act of entering a zone, with its main characteristics including:
- The target is intrusion: This function is primarily used to protect specific areas by detecting if anyone or anything crosses the boundaries.
- Focus on entry points: It mainly focuses on the entrances and borders of the monitored area.
- Trigger conditions: An alarm is triggered when someone or something enters the preset monitoring area.
Zone Linger, on the other hand, is concerned with the act of lingering within an area, with its main features being:
- The target is lingering: It is mainly used to identify lingering behaviors within a specific area.
- Focus on lingering patterns: Attention is given to whether a person or object moves back and forth, lingers, or loiters within the area.
- Trigger conditions: An alarm is triggered when a person or object remains in a specific area for a certain period of time.
Practical Application Scenarios
| Feature | Application Scenarios |
| Virtual Fence Alert |
1. Yard or Garden Perimeter Protection: Prevents strangers from climbing over walls or fences to enter residential areas. |
| Zone Intrusion Alert | Key Area Protection: Protects areas such as garages, backyards and balconies from illegal intrusion. |
| Zone Linger Alert |
1. Front Door or Driveway Monitoring: Detects suspicious individuals loitering near the front door or driveway for extended periods. 2. Backyard or Garage Monitoring: Prevents thieves from scouting or waiting for an opportunity to commit crimes. |
2. How to Set Up Reolink Smart Event Detection
Step 1: Enter the Camera's Smart Event Detection Interface
Note: This feature is currently supported only on the App when working as a standalone camera and is not available on the Client.
Tap the Settings button and navigate to: Settings > Detection Alarm > Smart Event Detection.
Step 2: Configure Smart Event Detection
1. Enter the corresponding Smart Event Detection Alert interface based on your needs and configure the settings.
2. Detailed Settings Introduction
1) Line: This represents the virtual fence line or zone intrusion/linger area.
2) Edit: Tap to configure the length, shape of the smart event, and crossing direction of the virtual fence alert.
3) Name: Assign a custom name to the virtual fence.
4) Detection Type: Choose the object types (e.g., person, vehicle, animal) that will trigger an alarm when crossing the fence. If all are selected, the camera will detect and alert for any of these objects crossing the fence in the set direction.
5) Sensitivity: Higher sensitivity increases the likelihood of detecting objects crossing the boundary.
6) Alarm Delay: (This setting is only supported for Zone Intrusion and Zone Linger Alert). Alarm will be triggered when a detection object stays in the detection zone longer than the set time.
Tap Edit to enter the Smart Event configuration (Figure 1).
1) Point (●): Tap and drag a point to extend or reposition the line as needed.
2) Arrow (→): (Only available on Virtual Fence Alert.) Defines the crossing direction that triggers an alarm. As shown in the figure 1, crossing the fence from either direction (top to bottom or bottom to top) will trigger an alarm. Figure 2 refers to a scenario where the camera only detects crossing from inside the right-angle area to the outside.
3) "+" Button: Adds additional points (Figure 2), allowing you to shape the fence into right angles or other forms to fit different areas.
4) Expand: Enables fullscreen display for better adjustment.
5) Toggle Crossing Direction: (Only available on Virtual Fence Alert.) Switches the detection direction (Figure 2). You can configure it to trigger only when moving from inside to outside, outside to inside, or both directions.
6) Trash Bin: Deletes unnecessary points. (Note: Virtual Fence Alert requires at least 2 points, while Zone Intrusion Alert and Zone Linger Alert require at least 4 points, which cannot be deleted.)
7) Reset: Resets configured line or zone to default.
3. Completing the Configuration
Once the configuration is complete, tap the Save button in the top-right corner to apply the settings.
If you do not wish to continue configuring, tap Cancel in the top-left corner to exit.
Each Smart Event Detection supports up to three configurations.
4. Event Display in Live View
When the camera detects an event matching the configured Smart Event Detection, the live preview screen will briefly display the detected Smart Event (e.g., Virtual Fence in the example) along with the corresponding event type icon.
5. Delete an Unwanted Smart Event Detection
Go to the Smart Event Detection settings, select the event you want to remove, scroll down to the end, tap "Delete Fence" or "Delete Zone". Confirm the deletion when prompted.
3. How to Set Up Reolink Smart Event Alarm Actions
After configuring Smart Event Detection, you can set up alarm actions such as: recording, push notifications, email alerts, etc.
Step 1: Access Camera Alarm Action Settings.
Go to the camera settings, select the desired alarm action (e.g., recording or push notifications or the other alarm action that your camera supports).
Step 2: Configure Alarm Schedule.
Enter the schedule settings and configure the alarm rules according to your preference. Each alarm action has its own schedule settings. Below are example of SD card recording and push notifications.
Recording
Push Notifications
Step 3: Select and Save Alarm Events.
Check the alarm events you want to trigger recording, push notifications, or other alarm actions, then tap Save to apply the settings.
Note: If a Smart Event Detection feature is not configured, its corresponding alarm option will not be displayed. For example, if only Virtual Fence Alert is set up, only that option will appear (figure 1). If all Smart Event Alerts are configured, all options will be visible in the settings (figure 2).
By configuring these Smart Event Detection features, you can optimize your security system, ensuring timely alerts for any suspicious activity. Follow this guide to set up and customize your alerts for maximum protection. For further assistance, feel free to click "Submit a request" below to contact Reolink support.