PTZ Auto-Tracking Setup and Troubleshooting

A camera that supports auto-tracking can follow a person or vehicle using its own onboard analytics, without needing a second (spotter) camera. Supported target types and tracking controls depend on the camera's capabilities.

This guide covers IVS tracking and IMD tracking. For a separate stationary camera that sends a PTZ to a preset when it detects an event, see PTZ Spotter Linkage, Activation, and Tracking.

Table of Contents

1. Before You Start
2. Choose Your Tracking Method
3. Set Up IVS Tracking
4. Set Up IMD Tracking
5. Return to a Home Preset or Resume a Tour
6. Viewing Angle, Target Size, and Rule Placement
7. Test Tracking
8. Quick Troubleshooting Reference
9. Recording Tracking Events
10. Getting More Help

Before You Start

• Confirm that the camera supports auto-tracking and the target types you want to track. Check its specifications if you're unsure.
• Log in to the camera's own web interface using its IP address. Some tracking settings aren't available through the NVR.
• Menu names and available settings vary by firmware and camera capabilities.
• Some older camera web pages require Edge in Internet Explorer compatibility mode with an ActiveX plugin. Newer HTML5-based interfaces work in most browsers.

Choose Your Tracking Method

Set Up IVS Tracking

1. Create the Preset Positions

1. In the camera web interface, open the preset menu, commonly under PTZ > Function > Preset.
2. Use the PTZ controls to position the camera at the view where you want the IVS rule to detect targets.
3. Save that position as a preset.
4. If you're tracking across multiple views, create a preset for each view.

For a single viewing position, you can use this preset as the Home position. For multiple viewing positions, configure each preset's analytics separately.

2. Enable the IVS Smart Plan for Each Preset

1. Open Event > Smart Plan or the corresponding AI menu.
2. Add or select the preset you want to configure.
3. Enable IVS for that preset. The IVS icon commonly looks like a lightbulb.
4. Save the configuration. Repeat for each preset that needs IVS tracking.

3. Create the IVS Rule and Enable Tracking

1. Open the IVS settings and select the preset you configured.
2. Create a Tripwire rule (a line) or an Intrusion rule (a closed region).
3. Draw the rule where you want the event to trigger. Leave room around the rule for the camera to recognize approaching targets. See Viewing Angle, Target Size, and Rule Placement.
4. Choose the trigger options for the client's intended coverage:
   • Tripwire: select the crossing direction you want to detect.
   • Intrusion: select Appear, Cross, or both. For Cross, choose the entry/exit direction. Using both Appear and Cross covers targets appearing inside the region as well as targets crossing its boundary.
5. If target filtering is available, select Human and/or Vehicle as supported by the camera.
6. Enable Alarm Track or Auto Tracking in the rule.
7. Set the tracking duration to the client's desired maximum tracking time.
8. Confirm the rule is enabled and its working period/active schedule covers the times when tracking is wanted.
9. Save the rule. Repeat for each preset that needs tracking.

Set Up IMD Tracking

Use these instructions only if the camera supports tracking through Intelligent Motion Detection (IMD). IMD detection support alone doesn't establish that a camera can track.

1. Open the camera's Motion Detection settings and confirm Motion Detection is enabled. It's normally on by default. Configuring a detection region isn't required for this setup.
2. Open IMD and enable it.
3. Select Low, Medium, or High detection sensitivity.
4. Select the supported target types you want to detect using the Human and Vehicle checkboxes.
5. Save the settings and test tracking.

Return to a Home Preset or Resume a Tour

Idle Motion controls what the camera does after it becomes idle. Choose one action: return to a preset or restart a tour. For screenshots and menu instructions, see PTZ Idle Motion Setup.

Option A: Return to a Home Preset

A Home position is useful when operators manually move the camera or when a spotter camera sends it to another preset.

1. Create and save the preset you want the camera to return to, if it doesn't already exist.
2. Open Idle Motion and enable it.
3. Select Preset as the action and choose the saved Home preset.
4. Set the idle time for the client's desired return delay, then save.

Option B: Resume a Tour Across Multiple Presets

For IVS tracking across multiple views, use a Tour that pauses at each configured preset. Continuous Scan or Pattern movement can prevent preset-based IVS rules from becoming active.

1. Create the presets and configure the IVS Smart Plan and tracking rule for each preset.
2. Create a Tour containing those presets.
3. Set a dwell time at each preset that allows the camera to stabilize and establish what's normal in the scene before detecting targets. Don't treat the minimum selectable dwell time as a recommended value.
4. Enable Idle Motion, select Tour as the action, and select the configured tour.
5. Set the idle time for the desired restart delay and save.
6. Start the tour and test tracking at its presets.

The tour stops when tracking begins. Idle Motion must be configured to restart the tour after tracking ends and the idle time is reached.

Optional startup behavior: If you want the camera to return to a preset or start a tour after a power cycle, configure the corresponding Power Up action where available.

Viewing Angle, Target Size, and Rule Placement

The preset's position and zoom establish the field of view. The IVS line or region determines where the event triggers. These are separate from the size of the person or vehicle in the image.

• Viewing angle and distance: Position the camera so the target is visible at a suitable angle and large enough for detection. A mounting height of roughly 15–22 feet often provides a useful angle, but it's a typical range, not a requirement or cutoff. Higher mounting positions are also usually farther from the target.
• Target size: Avoid a view so wide that the target appears as only a few pixels. Reposition the camera or adjust optical zoom where available. Use the camera's documentation for applicable detection-size requirements.
• Rule placement: Cover the relevant area and leave room for the camera to recognize approaching targets before they reach the line or region boundary. Avoid placing rules directly against the image edges or obstructions.
• Rule count: We recommend around 2–3 distinct, non-overlapping IVS rules per channel for tracking reliability. This is a practical recommendation based on field experience, not the camera's maximum supported rule count. Overlap doesn't itself interrupt tracking.
• Lighting and obstructions: Reflections, high-contrast shadows, rapid lighting changes, and objects blocking the target can reduce tracking reliability.

Test Tracking

1. Save all settings. If the IVS configuration page shows a PTZ configuration lock, release it before testing automatic tracking.
2. For IVS, call the configured preset or start the tour. For IMD, position the camera at the view you want to test.
3. Walk or drive through the intended detection area using a target type the camera supports and you've enabled.
4. Confirm the camera begins following the target. For IVS, confirm the chosen trigger and tracking-duration limit work as intended.
5. After tracking ends, wait for the configured idle time. If Idle Motion is enabled, confirm the camera returns to the selected preset or restarts the selected tour.
6. For a tour, repeat the test at each configured preset.

Quick Troubleshooting Reference

Recording Tracking Events

Storage settings control how footage is saved. They don't enable or disable auto-tracking.

• Recording to an NVR: configure the channel's recording settings, schedule, and storage on the NVR.
• Recording to an SD card: configure recording settings, schedule, and storage on the camera.

Getting More Help

If tracking still isn't activating, follows the wrong target, or loses the target after these checks:

• Dealers/installers: contact IC Realtime Technical Support through the dealer support line.
• End users: contact your installing dealer, or IC Realtime end-customer support if your dealer is unavailable.