What is Background Capture for an Image Sensor?
The Background Capture feature is designed to give the customer a collection of images that would cover things that are not scheduled events or are unexpected. It can be used to capture motion after a period of inactivity and during periods of constant activity to create a repository of images the customer can upload from.
Background Captures are a possible alternative to constant video surveillance if reliable internet is not possible at the location and the customer still desires a potential for visuals from the property. Unlike video surveillance, Background Captures is not able to capture every motion and would not be suitable if constant or all motion needs to be captured.
Compatibility
Background Captures are only available on Version 2 and Version 3 Image Sensors. To determine the version of the Image Sensor, look at the model number of the device. Version 2 is the 200 series (i.e., ADC-IS-221-LP, ADC-IS-220-GC, etc.) and Version 3 is the 300 series (i.e., ADC-IS-300-LP).
If an account has compatible Image Sensors and incompatible Image Sensors (i.e., Version 1), Alarm.com denotes which sensors background capture is available on. Version 1 Image Sensors (i.e., ADC-IS-100LP) are not compatible with Background Captures.
How Background Captures work
Background Captures works solely based on motion to create a repository of images. The idea is to catch things that might not be on a regular schedule or last-minute developments. Background Captures are programmed to take the next motion capture after around 20 minutes of inactivity and periodically during constant motion. If the Image Sensor does not detect motion, it does not take a background capture.
Example: If the customer wants to verify a last-minute contractor who is visiting the premise or if they have a few visitors expected to visit through the course of the day – they can get background captured images of the different visitors as opposed to Daily View images, which only takes one image within the scheduled time frame.
These images do not automatically upload. To build the repository, the Background Capture feature takes a larger number of Image Sensor captures than the customer’s monthly limit which is why images are not automatically uploaded. The user must specifically request which background capture image to upload using the Alarm.com customer website or Alarm.com app. For more information about uploading images, see Upload captured images to the Image Sensor Gallery.
Configure Background Captures
Background Captures can only be managed using the Alarm.com customer website. The Background Capture rule cannot be removed, but it can be enabled and disabled.
To configure Background Captures:
- Log in to the Alarm.com customer website.
- Click Automation.
- Click
on the Background Capture Image Sensor rule.
- Click the toggle switch to enable or disable the rule.
Note: If Background Capture is unable to be enabled on an Image Sensor, the Image Sensor may be incompatible with the feature. For more information about compatibility, see Compatibility.
- Click the toggle switch to enable or disable the rule.
- In Capture next motion detected by after period of inactivity by, click to select the desired devices.
- Click to select any desired privacy periods. Privacy periods are times when the Background Capture rule is not active so captures are not taken. This further enhances the customer's privacy.
- In Arming state, click to select the desired arming state. This allows the customer to configure the rule to not capture when the system is disarmed and/or armed stay.
- In Geo-Services, click to select the desired Geo-Device. This allows the customer to configure the rule to not capture when specific Geo-Devices are within a specified Geo-Fence.
- In the Time frame table, select the desired days/hours. This allows the customer to configure the rule to not capture during selected times on days of the week.
