Alert Rules

Alert Rules let you configure notifications for specific types of events, cameras, and schedules. Instead of being notified for every event, create rules to filter for what matters most.

Understanding Rules

How Rules Work

1. An event is detected by a camera
2. ArgusAI evaluates the event against all enabled rules
3. If any rule matches, the configured actions trigger
4. Actions can include push notifications, webhooks, etc.

Rule Components

Component	Purpose
Name	Identifies the rule
Conditions	What must match for the rule to trigger
Actions	What happens when the rule triggers
Schedule	When the rule is active
Enabled	Toggle the rule on/off

Creating Rules

Basic Rule Setup

1. Navigate to Alert Rules or Settings > Alert Rules
2. Click Add Rule
3. Enter a Name (e.g., "Package Deliveries")
4. Configure conditions, actions, and schedule
5. Click Save

Condition Configuration

Object Types

Select which detection types trigger the rule:

Type	Detects
Person	Human activity
Vehicle	Cars, trucks, motorcycles
Package	Delivery boxes
Animal	Pets and wildlife
Ring	Doorbell presses

Select multiple types if needed. Leave empty to match all types.

Camera Selection

Choose which cameras apply to this rule:

• All Cameras: Rule applies to every camera
• Specific Cameras: Select individual cameras

For location-specific rules (e.g., "Driveway Vehicles"), select only relevant cameras.

Confidence Threshold

Set minimum AI confidence to trigger:

• 0-49%: Low confidence (more false positives)
• 50-74%: Moderate confidence
• 75-100%: High confidence (fewer triggers)

Higher thresholds reduce false alerts but may miss valid events.

Action Configuration

Push Notifications

Send browser push notifications:

Setting	Description
Enable	Toggle push for this rule
Sound	Play notification sound
Vibration	Vibrate on mobile devices

Push notifications include:

• Event thumbnail
• AI description
• Camera name
• Quick action buttons

note

Push notifications require HTTPS. See Configuration for SSL setup.

Webhooks

Send event data to external URLs:

Setting	Description
URL	Endpoint to receive events
Method	HTTP method (usually POST)
Headers	Custom HTTP headers
Retry	Retry failed requests

Webhook payload example:

{
  "event_id": "abc123",
  "timestamp": "2025-12-25T10:30:00Z",
  "camera_name": "Front Door",
  "description": "Person approaching front door",
  "detection_type": "person",
  "thumbnail_url": "https://...",
  "confidence": 85
}

Schedule Configuration

Control when the rule is active:

Time Range

Set daily active hours:

• Start Time: When rule activates (e.g., 10:00 PM)
• End Time: When rule deactivates (e.g., 6:00 AM)

For 24-hour rules, set start and end to the same time.

Days of Week

Select which days the rule applies:

• Check individual days
• Quick presets: Weekdays, Weekends, Every Day

Schedule Examples

Rule	Schedule
Work hours monitoring	Mon-Fri, 9 AM - 5 PM
Night watch	Every day, 10 PM - 6 AM
Weekend security	Sat-Sun, All day

Managing Rules

Rule List

The main view shows all rules with:

Column	Description
Name	Rule identifier
Conditions	Summary of what triggers
Actions	Icons for enabled actions
Schedule	When active
Status	Enabled/Disabled toggle

Editing Rules

1. Click on a rule name
2. Modify any settings
3. Click Save

Changes take effect immediately.

Enabling/Disabling

Toggle rules on/off without deleting:

• Click the Enable toggle
• Disabled rules are grayed out
• Re-enable anytime

Duplicating Rules

Create a copy of an existing rule:

1. Click the More (three dots) menu
2. Select Duplicate
3. Edit the copy as needed
4. Save with a new name

Deleting Rules

Remove a rule permanently:

1. Click the More menu
2. Select Delete
3. Confirm in the dialog

Deleted rules cannot be recovered.

Rule Examples

Package Detection

Name: Package Alerts
Object Types: Package
Cameras: Front Door, Porch
Schedule: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
Actions: Push Notification

Get notified when packages arrive during work hours.

After-Hours Person Detection

Name: Night Watch
Object Types: Person
Cameras: All
Schedule: Daily 10pm-6am
Confidence: 75%+
Actions: Push Notification, Webhook

Alert for any person detected at night.

Vehicle in Driveway

Name: Driveway Vehicle
Object Types: Vehicle
Cameras: Driveway
Schedule: Always
Confidence: 50%+
Actions: Push Notification

Know when any vehicle enters your driveway.

Doorbell Ring

Name: Doorbell
Object Types: Ring
Cameras: Front Door
Schedule: Always
Actions: Push Notification (with sound)

Never miss a doorbell press.

Webhook Integrations

Slack

1. Create a Slack incoming webhook
2. Add webhook URL to rule
3. Events post to your Slack channel

Discord

1. Create a Discord webhook (Server Settings > Integrations)
2. Use webhook URL in rule
3. Add header: Content-Type: application/json

Home Assistant

1. Use REST API endpoint
2. Configure with long-lived access token
3. Events trigger automations in HA

IFTTT

1. Create a Webhooks applet
2. Use the IFTTT webhook URL
3. Configure what happens when triggered

Tips

Avoiding Alert Fatigue

• Start with high confidence thresholds
• Be specific about cameras
• Use schedules to limit when rules fire
• Create fewer, more targeted rules

Testing Rules

1. Create a rule with your settings
2. Trigger an event in front of the camera
3. Verify notification/webhook received
4. Adjust settings as needed

Rule Organization

• Use descriptive names
• Group related rules logically
• Document complex rules with notes
• Review and clean up periodically