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Cashier Display

The Cashier Display action captures and crops specific views from camera streams. It's primarily used for compliance verification, such as ensuring cashier screens are visible or specific areas are properly monitored.

Overview​

In many retail and service environments, there are compliance requirements to capture specific views—like the cashier's screen during transactions or the service counter during customer interactions. This action automates that capture by:

  1. Connecting to the specified camera
  2. Cropping to the exact area you've defined
  3. Saving high-quality evidence (image and video clip)

The captured evidence can then be reviewed for compliance or attached to incident reports.

What It Does​

1. Connects to Streams​

The action establishes connections to the video streams (cameras) you've selected. Multiple cameras can be processed in sequence.

2. Applies Crop Zones​

Using the Crop Zones (Type 2) you've configured in the Zone Editor, the action isolates the specific area of interest. For example:

  • The Point-of-Sale screen
  • A specific service window
  • A document signing area

The crop is defined as percentage coordinates, so it automatically adapts to different camera resolutions.

3. Captures Evidence​

The action saves two types of evidence:

  • High-Resolution Image: A clear snapshot of the cropped area
  • Video Clip: Approximately 10 seconds of footage showing the cropped area

These files are stored and can be attached to subsequent actions (like Create Violation).

Configuration Options​

ParameterTypeRequiredDescription
StreamsTable SelectionYesSelect the cameras to capture from
Stream ZonesTable SelectionYesSelect the Crop Zones (Type 2) that define the areas to capture

Setting Up Crop Zones​

Before using this action, you must configure Crop Zones in the Zone Editor:

  1. Open the Zone Editor for the relevant camera
  2. Draw a polygon around the area you want to capture (e.g., the cashier screen)
  3. Set the Zone Type to Type 2 (Crop)
  4. Save the zone

The action will only show Type 2 zones in its configuration dropdown.

Understanding Results​

ResultMeaningWhat Happens Next
capturedSuccessfully captured and cropped images/video from all streamsEvidence is available for the next action
capture_failedFailed to capture frames from one or more streamsCheck camera connectivity
no_streams_configuredNo streams were selected in the configurationUpdate the action configuration to select cameras

Common Use Cases​

Transaction Verification​

  • Setup: Camera above checkout counter, crop zone on POS screen
  • Schedule: Run during business hours, triggered by transaction events
  • Use: Capture screen contents for fraud investigation or dispute resolution

Compliance Auditing​

  • Setup: Camera at service desk, crop zone on required signage area
  • Schedule: Daily automated checks
  • Use: Verify that required notices are displayed

Quality Control​

  • Setup: Camera at packaging station, crop zone on label area
  • Schedule: Continuous or triggered by production events
  • Use: Capture product labels for quality verification

Incident Documentation​

  • Setup: Camera at customer interaction point
  • Workflow: Triggered by another detection action (e.g., raised voice detected)
  • Use: Capture context for incident review

Troubleshooting​

Capture Failed​

  1. Check Camera Status: Verify the camera is online and streaming.

  2. Test RTSP URL: Ensure the stream URL is correct and accessible from the ResEngine server.

  3. Network Issues: Check network connectivity between ResEngine and the camera/NVR.

  4. Camera Credentials: If the stream requires authentication, verify username and password are correct.

  5. Stream Load: If multiple actions are accessing the same stream, there may be connection limits. Check NVR settings.

Wrong Area Captured​

  1. Verify Zone Configuration: Open the Zone Editor and confirm the Crop Zone is drawn correctly.

  2. Check Zone Type: Ensure the zone is set to Type 2 (Crop), not Type 1 (Detection).

  3. Review Percentage Coordinates: Crop zones use percentage-based coordinates. If the camera resolution changed, the zone should still apply correctly, but verify visually.

  4. Multiple Zones: If multiple crop zones exist for the same stream, ensure you've selected the correct one.

No Streams Configured Error​

  1. Update Configuration: Edit the action and select at least one stream.

  2. Check Stream Availability: Ensure streams are configured for the current branch.

Poor Image Quality​

  1. Camera Focus: Ensure the camera is properly focused on the area of interest.

  2. Lighting: Improve lighting in the capture area. Screens may need anti-glare treatment.

  3. Resolution: Use a higher resolution camera or adjust the camera zoom.

  4. Compression: Check NVR/camera compression settings. High compression reduces image quality.

Video Clip Missing or Truncated​

  1. Stream Stability: Intermittent stream connections can cause video capture issues.

  2. Storage Space: Ensure sufficient disk space for temporary video storage.

  3. Processing Time: If the action times out, the video clip may be truncated.

Best Practices​

  1. Zone Accuracy: Take time to draw precise crop zones. A well-defined zone produces clearer, more useful evidence.

  2. Camera Positioning: Position cameras to minimize glare on screens and ensure good viewing angles.

  3. Regular Verification: Periodically review captured images to ensure zones are still aligned correctly (especially after camera maintenance).

  4. Appropriate Scheduling: For transaction verification, trigger captures based on events rather than continuous capture to manage storage.

  5. Evidence Retention: Configure appropriate retention policies for captured evidence based on your compliance requirements.