AVUTEC: The Benefits of Cloud-To-Camera Whitelist Synchronization

Picture a barrier that only opens after checking each recognized license plate against a whitelist managed in the cloud. How can cloud-managed ANPR access still work when the internet goes down?

With AVUTEC, each ANPR camera can be configured to store a local copy of the latest whitelist. The list of authorized license plates is still managed, monitored, and updated via the cloud, but once synchronized, the camera doesn't need to request permission for every vehicle — it already knows which license plates are authorized.

Comparison to a fully cloud-based system

Whitelist management solutions that are fully dependent on the cloud require every license plate to be sent to a separate server before an access decision is made, and sometimes even for the image analysis and plate recognition itself.

In such a setup, no internet = the barrier doesn't open.

We use an edge-computing approach: license plate recognition, whitelist matching, and the decision to open the barrier can all take place on the camera itself, based on the whitelist currently stored on it.

The role of CortexConnect

AVUTEC's platform, CortexConnect, is a management layer built on top of the camera's intelligence.

Its role is to add convenience for users and keep the local whitelist up to date, not to approve access in real time.

Without it, managing access across multiple sites would mean handling every camera and every plate individually. CortexConnect makes this manageable at any scale — whether you're running a single site or coordinating access across different zones.

What happens during an internet outage?

Whitelist synchronization pauses when the camera loses its internet connection.

Any changes made in CortexConnect — adding, removing, or changing the validity schedule of a plate — can't reach the camera until the connection is restored.

Meanwhile, recognition events are logged locally, ready to upload to the cloud as soon as the camera is back online.

Real-world examples

The examples below show how this plays out in practice: once with plates managed directly in CortexConnect, and once with CortexConnect sitting between a third-party reservation platform and the cameras.

1. CortexConnect

At a residential complex using multiple whitelists managed in CortexConnect, the router hit its monthly mobile data cap. The AVUTEC camera went offline. For a couple of hours, nobody noticed — residents kept driving in and out of the shared parking area without interruption, because the camera continued working with the plate data already stored locally.

When the internet connection came back, two things happened automatically:

• up to 5,000 stored recognition events were uploaded to CortexConnect, where they appeared in the historical overview;
• the camera's whitelist synchronized with any changes that had been made in the meantime.

2. CortexConnect + third-party cloud platform

A hotel uses AVUTEC cameras to automate parking access for its overnight guests, as well as day visitors using its meeting spaces and restaurant. Guest license plates are managed through the hotel's cloud-based reservation platform, which automatically sends them to CortexConnect.

An additional whitelist for hotel staff was created directly in CortexConnect, enabling the same cameras to also handle staff access.

When the cameras temporarily lost their internet connection due to a network hiccup, they kept granting access based on the whitelists already stored locally. Meanwhile:

• new reservations kept coming in through the hotel's platform and were sent to CortexConnect as usual;
• once the cameras’ connection to CortexConnect was restored, the new plate numbers were synchronized to the cameras.

Access continues, even offline

In both cases, there was no gap in access for plates that had already been authorized, even when the cameras temporarily lost their connection to the cloud.

Whether license plates are added directly to the CortexConnect platform or pushed there automatically from a third-party cloud system — a parking app, a reservation platform, an access control system — the result is the same: CortexConnect keeps the local whitelist current, and the camera continues working independently between syncs.

Want to learn more about reliable ANPR access control? Contact sales(at)avutec.com.

About AVUTEC

AVUTEC manufactures and markets all-in-one ANPR camera systems. Our expertise encompasses both the development of sophisticated recognition software as the production of the camera systems themselves, ensuring a seamless integration between the hardware and software components.

Our ANPR systems are designed to ensure seamless integration with any system you can imagine. Our cameras are delivered to end-users through a dedicated network of partners, ensuring a smooth transition from production to practical use. Beyond delivering high caliber accuracy, we are committed to sharing our expertise with our partners, playing an active role in the success of their projects.

We warmly invite you to reach out to us and discover how our expertise and innovative ANPR systems can contribute to the success of your projects.