Automatic License Plate Recognition systems are currently being deployed in many advanced surveillance installations throughout the world and are proving highly successful in security, speed-enforcement, traffic management and access-control applications.

Among the many advanced features offered by the DiBos Hybrid Recorder is the possibility to easily integrate with external devices. This makes it an excellent candidate for integration with Bosch's powerful REG-Sentry vehicle access control system.

REG-Sentry is one of the first automated vehicle access control systems based on Automatic License Plate Recognition. Users can configure the system with specific number plate black/white lists, barring or enabling access for any vehicle attempting to enter a secure site. It offers a flexible, user-friendly solution for a wide range of access-control applications, including access roads, car parks, gated communities, factories, warehouses, ports, offices and schools.

The integration solution offered by Bosch uses the company's ATM/POS Bridge originally introduced to allow financial transaction data to be recorded and linked to specific camera images. The principal function of the bridge is to interface between the serial outputs of Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) or Point-of-Sale (POS) equipment and a digital video recorder. The serial input ports of the ATM/POS Bridge can operate in several modes including a 'transparent mode' in which it is able to act as an interface between the REG-Sentry control box and the Bosch DiBos Hybrid Recorder. Such a system allows License Plate Recognition functionality to be integrated with a Bosch video surveillance system. Once integrated into the network, the REG-Sentry can be used, for example, to automatically alert the control room when a vehicle approaches a barrier, log the license plate number and display a CCTV image of the vehicle on one of the control room monitors.

Retrospectively, license plates can be searched automatically in the DiBos, which will bring up the corresponding video of the vehicle captured by the DiBos together with associated meta data giving the date and time the video was recorded.

To provide greater flexibility, Bosch can deliver different firmware versions, providing matching formats and content of the REG-Sentry data output to suit almost any vehicular-based access-control application.

The DiBos Hybrid Recorder is part of Bosch's recorder range which also includes its latest addition - the Bosch Divar XF Hybrid H.264 Recorder targeted at medium to large CCTV system solutions.