Question 1

Does the HPC168 bus passenger counter device support HTTP POST to a custom URL to send count data in real time？What is the data format sent - JSON or hexadecimal string?

Accepted Answer

The HPC168's RJ45 interface uses the HTTP POST method for uploading and retrieving data. The server response must specify UTF-8 encoding and disable the Accept-Charset response header. All POST field values are hexadecimal strings of the actual data.

Please refer to HPC168 protocol document for details, which contains complete parameter introductions and practical transmission examples for your integration testing.

Question 2

How does the software for HPC008 people counting camera operate and allocate devices?

Accepted Answer

The matching management software for our HPC008 people counting camera is permanently free of charge. It supports two deployment modes: local deployment for on-site device management, or cloud server deployment to centrally control all distributed devices.

After you add devices on our software, you may set a custom name for each unit, and every device will be assigned an exclusive unique data ID automatically.

For system integration access, two options are available:

1. Direct connection with hardware devices: We will supply complete underlying communication protocols for your development.

2. Connection via our management software: Open standard API interfaces are built into the software for seamless third-party docking.

Question 3

Does the base station need to be plugged into an electrical outlet or is it powered via PoE (Power over Ethernet)?

Accepted Answer

Our base stations run on power supplied by PoE adapters instead of direct wall outlet connection.

We supply matching PoE adapters and corresponding power cables together with the base station.

This powering solution makes field wiring straightforward and convenient for supermarket installation.

Question 4

How to integrate the HPC168 bus passenger counter with your system?

Accepted Answer

Our HPC168 bus passenger counter supports two communication protocols for integration.
1. When the bus has on-board network access, you can connect via RJ45 interface using HTTP protocol (TCP connection).
2. If no network is available, the passenger counter device needs to connect a GPRS module via RS485 interface using RS485 protocol. The RS485 protocol requires the server to actively query, and the queried data is the total number. When reading, the current time is directly recorded. For example, at 10:00, a read shows 10 people entering and 10 people exiting; at 10:05, a read shows 15 people entering and 15 people exiting. This is the data for those 5 minutes: 5 people entering and 5 people exiting. The maximum total number that the device can store in RS485 mode is 999,999. Please refer to the details of our two protocols for further information.

Question 5

Is the ESL management software interface available in English?

Accepted Answer

Yes, our ESL software supports multiple preset languages: Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English, Japanese, German, Spanish, Korean, Ukrainian, Russian, French, Italian, Polish, Czech, Portuguese, Hindi, Persian and Hebrew.

Custom language packs can also be developed per your specific demands if you need extra local languages.

Question 6

What operations need to be completed after powering on the HPC168 bus passenger counting system?

Accepted Answer

After power supply connection, just connect the HPC168 passener counter device to a PC and log into the device's web backend for configuration. We recommend mounting the HPC168 bus passener counter at 2.1 meters height for testing.

HPC168 bus passenger counter supports DC 12V to 24V input. Turn off your PC's Wi-Fi and set its wired IP to the 192.168.1.xxx subnet. Connect the passenger counter device to your PC via an Ethernet cable, then open the backend at http://192.168.1.253:8191 on a browser to set the parameters.

If using a router, ensure it uses the 192.168.1.x subnet; reconfigure its network segment if not. You may also skip the router and connect the passenger counter directly to your PC with a matching static IP.

Question 7

Does remote price update require static IP, port forwarding, or special router settings in the supermarket?

Accepted Answer

The base stations deployed in supermarkets work fine with regular internet access and need no custom network tweaks.

Only the server side requires a public IP address, and most clients opt for cloud servers for remote price update.

Question 8

How do I power up the HPC168 bus passenger flow counter after I receive the unit?

Accepted Answer

The terminals labeled V+ and V- on the device are the power connection ports, which support a DC input range of 12V to 24V. Simply connect the positive power wire to V+ and the negative wire to V- correctly. Once wired properly and supplied with compatible DC power, the counter will start operating right away.

Question 9

For remote management of ESL digital price tags, what are the server requirements for our own cloud server?

Accepted Answer

For self-owned cloud servers used in remote management of the ESL Server, fixed static IPv4 addressing is mandatory. A recommended network bandwidth of 100Mbps is needed, with fees calculated based on actual data consumption. In terms of hardware, equip at least 4-core CPU, 8GB RAM (16GB preferred) and 100GB disk space under CentOS7.5 or 7.6 Linux systems.

Question 10

What is EAS?

Accepted Answer

Electronic Article Surveillance is a system that protects merchandise from theft. An EAS system has three components:
1) Labels and hard tags-electronic sensors that are attached to merchandise by pins or lanyards;
2) Deactivators and detachers-used at the point of sale to electronically deactivate labels and detach reusable hard tags as items are purchased;
3) Detectors that create a surveillance zone at exits or checkout aisles.
The EAS process begins by attaching labels or hard tags to merchandise. When an item is purchased, the label is deactivated or the hard tag is removed. However, if merchandise with an active label or hard tag is carried past the detector, an alarm sounds.
Over 800,000 EAS systems are installed worldwide, primarily in the retail market. This includes Apparel, Drug, Discount, Home Centers, Hypermarkets, Food, Entertainment, and Specialty stores.

Question 11

How EAS Systems Work?

Accepted Answer

EAS systems operate from a simple principle regardless of the manufacturer or the specific type of technology used: a transmitter sends a signal at defined frequencies to a receiver. This creates a surveillance area, usually at a checkout aisle or an exit in the case of retail stores. Upon entering the area, a tag or label with special characteristics creates a disturbance, which is detected by the receiver. The exact means by which the tag or label disrupts the signal is a distinctive part of different EAS systems. For example, tags or labels may alter the signal by using a simple semi-conductor junction (the basic building block of an integrated circuit), a tuned circuit composed of an inductor and capacitor, soft magnetic strips or wires, or vibrating resonators.

By design the disturbed signal created by the tag and detected by the receiver is distinctive and not likely to be created by natural circumstances. The tag is the key element, for it must create a unique signal to avoid false alarms. The disturbance in the electronic environment caused by a tag or label creates an alarm condition that usually indicate someone is shoplifting or removing a protected item from the area.

The nature of the technology dictates how wide the exit/entrance aisle may be. Systems are available that cover from a narrow aisle up to a wide mall store opening. Similarly, the type of technology affects the ease of shielding (blocking or detuning the signal), the visibility and size of the tag, the rate of false alarms, the percentage of detection rate (pick rate), and cost.The physics of a particular EAS tag and resultant EAS technology determines which frequency range is used to create the surveillance area. EAS systems range from very low frequencies through the radio frequency range. Similarly, these different frequencies play a key role in establishing the features that affect operation.

Question 12

How Acousto-Magnetic Technology Works?

Accepted Answer

Acousto-magnetic EAS systems use a transmitter to create a surveillance area where tags and labels are detected. The transmitter sends a radio frequency signal at a frequency of 58 kHz (thousands of cycles per second), but the frequency is sent in pulses. The transmit signal energizes a tag in the surveillance zone. When the transmit signal pulse ends, the tag responds, emitting a single frequency signal like a tuning fork.

The tag signal is at about the same frequency as the transmitter signal.While the transmitter is off between pulses, the tag signal is detected by a receiver. A microcomputer checks the tag signal detected by the receiver to ensure it is at the right frequency, occurs in time synchronized to the transmitter, at the proper level, and at the correct repetition rate. If the criteria is met, an alarm occurs.

Question 13

How Electromagnetic Technology Works?

Accepted Answer

The electromagnetic EAS system creates a low frequency electromagnetic field (fundamental frequencies between 70 Hz and 1 kHz are typically used) between two pedestals at an exit or checkout aisle. The field continuously varies in strength and polarity, repeating a cycle from positive to negative and back to positive again. With each half cycle, the polarity of the magnetic field between the pedestals changes.
In response to the changing magnetic field created by the transmitter, the magnetic field domain of the tag material abruptly "switches" as the field strength varies past a particular point, whether positive or negative, during each half of the transmit cycle. This abrupt change in the magnetic state of tag material generates a momentary signal that is rich in harmonics (multiples) of the fundamental frequency. Using electronic signal processing techniques, the system identifies that the harmonics are at the right frequencies and levels, and that they occur at the proper time in relation to the transmitter signal. If the criteria are met an alarm occurs.

Question 14

How Swept-RF Works?

Accepted Answer

ALike other EAS technologies, swept-rf uses a transmitter to create a surveillance area where tags and labels are detected. The transmitter sends a signal that varies between 7.4 and 8.8 MHz (millions of cycles per second), which is why it is called swept; it sweeps over a range of frequencies.
The transmitter signal energizes the swept-rf tag or label, which is composed of a circuit containing a capacitor and an inductor or coil, both of which store electrical energy. When connected together in a loop, the components can pass energy back and forth or "resonate." The frequency at which the circuit resonates is controlled by matching the storage capacity of the coil and capacitor. The tag responds by emitting a signal that is detected by a receiver.In addition to the small tag signal, the receiver also responds to the much larger transmitter signal. By detecting a phase difference between these two signals, and other properties of the tag signal, the receiver recognizes the presence of a tag and generates an alarm.

Question 15

Can the HA169 base station work normally if we connect it to the internet through a 4G/5G router with a SIM card and Ethernet LAN output?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the HA169 base station can run smoothly when linked to the internet via a 4G or 5G SIM-based router with wired LAN output. It also works well with wired connections converted from WiFi repeaters. The core requirement remains stable network connectivity; as long as consistent internet access is secured, the base station functions as intended without extra configuration adjustments.