Best Practices
Best Practices
The Best Practices guide outlines the recommended daily maintenance routines for field enforcement handhelds. Its primary purpose is to ensure devices remain connected, up-to-date, and synchronized with the core database for optimal performance in the field. This article is intended for OPS-COM administrators and field enforcement personnel using the legacy Android application.
Setup and Configuration
Maintaining the handheld devices requires minimal backend configuration, but relies on consistent network availability.
Admin Side: Administrators should ensure devices are properly provisioned with Google Play Store access so they can receive regular application updates.
User Side (Enforcement Staff): Enforcement officers must ensure their device has an active internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular data) to successfully download updates and synchronize enforcement data.
Using this Feature
Enforcement personnel should regularly interact with the device's update and synchronization features to maintain system health.
Updating the Application
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Open the Google Play store on your handheld device and search for "OPSCOM".
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Tap the red and black OPSCOM application icon.
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Tap the Update button if there is a new version available. (Note: Prior to updating, be sure to fully close the running OPS-COM application first).
Synchronizing Data
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Ensure the tablet is in an area with a stable internet connection.
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Tap the Synchronize Data option from the main menu to force the tablet to sync all local data with the main database immediately.
Visual Cues and Status Indicators
When patrolling, monitor the top left panel of the Search pages to verify your Database Connection State:
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Green Dot: Indicates a healthy, active connection to the live database systems.
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Orange Dot: Indicates that the system has lost its live connection but is currently operating on cached data. The system is still fully usable, but if the orange dot remains for an extended period, it is best to restart the application to reset the network connections.
Best Practices and Considerations
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Reset handheld units daily: It is good practice to reset all handheld units before each shift. Resetting the unit refreshes network connections and allows any pending auto-updates to be installed. If the app is left running indefinitely, the system cannot auto-update and you will miss out on recent changes.
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Kill background applications entirely: Make sure to completely shut down the app, rather than simply minimizing or switching away from it at the end of your shift. To swipe the app out of memory, access the Recent Apps screen.
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Clear the application cache for persistent issues: If connection or performance issues persist even after resetting the app, try refreshing the app's cache.
Check your version frequently It is important to always be running the latest version of OPSCOM Parking Enforcement. Regularly checking the Play Store for updates prevents unexpected bugs and ensures you have access to the latest field features.
How weak Wi-Fi can affect OPSCOM
The How weak Wi-Fi can affect OPSCOM guide outlines how network connectivity impacts the legacy Android enforcement application. Its primary purpose is to help administrators and field officers troubleshoot Wi-Fi issues, understand how data synchronizes, and ensure offline records are properly uploaded to the main server. This article is intended for OPS-COM administrators and field enforcement personnel.
Setup and Configuration
Data synchronization occurs natively within the application, but administrators can customize how frequently the device attempts to auto-sync when idle.
Admin Side: Administrators or supervisors can adjust the idle Auto-Sync time interval (or disable it entirely) by accessing the System Settings menu on the handheld device.
User Side (Enforcement Staff): Officers must ensure the device's Wi-Fi receiver is turned on and connected to a reliable network when starting a shift, or when returning to a dispatch area to upload offline data.
Using this Feature
Enforcement personnel do not need a constant connection to issue violations, but they must interact with the application's synchronization tools to push that data to the main database.
Testing Connectivity in the Field
If you suspect you have lost your Wi-Fi connection while on patrol:
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Open the native web browser on your tablet device.
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Attempt to load any standard public web page. If the browser cannot connect to the website, the device does not have sufficient signal strength to connect with the OPS-COM server.
Manually Synchronizing Data
When you return to an area with known Wi-Fi coverage (like the main office or a connected vehicle), you can manually push your offline data.
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Tap Synchronize Data from the main menu of the OPS-COM application. The synchronization process will begin immediately.
Understanding Auto-Sync
The application is designed to automatically sync in three specific instances to protect your data:
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Startup: A sync is performed automatically when the app is launched, provided you have connectivity. (Note: If you have poor connectivity upon startup, the app will display an error and will not allow you to log in).
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Logout: The unit will run a final auto-sync when you use the formal logout button.
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Idle: The unit will auto-sync when the device has been completely idle for the duration specified in the system settings.
Idle Timer Behavior The idle Auto-Sync is a precaution to ensure syncing happens when an officer has not manually synced in a while. If your idle setting is 15 minutes, the unit must remain completely untouched for 15 minutes. If the tablet is used for any task during that time, the 15-minute timer restarts.
Visual Cues and Status Indicators
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Data Available Warning: When offline data is waiting to be uploaded, a red flashing message will appear at the top of the screen indicating "Data available to sync:" followed by the number of violations and vehicles stored locally.
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Sync Successful: Once a proper sync has occurred and all data is transferred to the main server, the red data available warning will disappear from the screen.
Best Practices and Considerations
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Understand environmental signal interference: Be aware that structural objects, concrete, brick, and load-bearing walls severely affect signal strength. Keep this in mind if patrolling interiors such as parking garages or underground levels, as you will likely lose connection and need to sync later.
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Perform an end-of-shift sync: Always return to the main menu and allow a sync, or force a manual sync, before logging out for the day at the end of your shift. This guarantees all field data is securely uploaded.
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Log out properly: Do not simply put the app in the background, close it from the recent apps menu, or power off the unit while it is running. You must log out of the application properly using the interface to trigger the final logout auto-sync.
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Consider electrical interference: Be aware that devices operating on the 2.4GHz frequency (such as certain appliances and older electronics) can interfere with Wi-Fi signals. While not the most common cause of complete signal loss, it is worth considering if you repeatedly fail to sync in a specific indoor location.
Don't Panic! If you cannot sync immediately due to a dead zone, it is not a critical issue. The OPS-COM app is designed to store your work locally. As long as you perform a manual sync when you return to an area with better connectivity, your data is safe.
Working in Low and Bright Light
The Working in Low and Bright Light guide outlines how to manage device screen brightness and optimize camera settings for nighttime patrols. Its primary purpose is to ensure field officers can operate their handheld units comfortably without eye strain and capture clear violation photos regardless of ambient lighting conditions. This article is intended for OPS-COM administrators and field enforcement personnel using the legacy Android application.
Setup and Configuration
Managing light settings is performed directly on the mobile device operating system and native camera application. It does not require any backend adjustments within the OPS-COM administrative portal.
Admin Side: Enforcement officers must familiarize themselves with their specific Android device's quick settings shade and native camera application preferences to make on-the-fly adjustments during their shift.
Using this Feature
Field personnel can quickly adjust their screen brightness for viewing comfort and modify camera settings to ensure optimal photo evidence collection in low-light environments.
Adjusting Screen Brightness
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Swipe down from the top edge of the Android device screen to reveal the quick settings menu.
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Drag the brightness slider left to manually dim the screen for low-light conditions, or right to increase brightness for daylight visibility.
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Tap the Auto checkbox (or equivalent auto-brightness toggle) to allow the device to dynamically adjust the screen brightness based on available ambient light.
Taking Photos at Night
To capture the highest quality photo evidence when working with the camera flash in low-light situations, adjust the native Android camera settings:
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Open your device's native camera settings menu.
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Select Matrix for the metering option (rather than a centered reading).
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Set the flash option to Always On.
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Enable the Low Light Detection option if your device supports it.
Brightness Overrides Depending on the manufacturer, some Android handheld units feature a specialized brightness override within the camera settings. Enabling this can significantly improve image processing, yielding much better evidentiary photos during night patrols.
Best Practices and Considerations
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Utilize auto-brightness: Enable auto-brightness to preserve battery life. Manually leaving the screen at maximum brightness during a full shift will rapidly drain the device battery. Allowing the system to manage brightness automatically ensures optimal visibility while conserving power.
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Test your camera configurations: Always take a few test photos in your patrol environment after modifying camera settings. Because native camera applications vary heavily between different Android tablet manufacturers, taking test shots ensures your matrix metering and flash settings are producing clear, legible license plate captures before you begin issuing active violations.
OPSCOM on the Web
The OPSCOM on the Web feature provides a convenient shortcut from the mobile application directly to the main administrative web portal. Its primary purpose is to allow administrators and field staff to seamlessly transition from the mobile app to a full web browser to access backend tools and manage tasks. This article is intended for OPS-COM administrators and field enforcement personnel using the legacy Android application.
Setup and Configuration
This feature utilizes the device's default web browser and requires no specialized backend configuration within the OPS-COM portal.
User Side (Enforcement Staff): No manual setup is required within the application. However, the handheld device must have an active internet connection and at least one standard web browser app (such as Google Chrome) installed to load the page properly.
Using this Feature
Enforcement personnel can use this shortcut to quickly jump from their active mobile session to the full OPS-COM login page.
Accessing the Web Portal
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Tap OPS-COM on the Web from the main menu of the mobile application.
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Tap your preferred web browser (e.g., Chrome) from the pop-up list when prompted by the Android operating system to choose an application.
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Tap Just Once or Always to confirm your browser selection and execute the launch.
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Log in to the standard OPS-COM web portal using your credentials once the browser redirects you to the login page.
Best Practices and Considerations
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Select a default browser: Tap Always when selecting your preferred web browser to streamline future access. Setting a default browser skips the OS prompt, allowing the login page to launch immediately during subsequent uses.
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Maintain active connectivity: Ensure your device is connected to a reliable network before attempting to use this shortcut. Because this feature redirects you to a live, external web page, it will not function if the device is currently in a dead zone or operating offline.
Network Requirements In order for this feature to work properly, the tablet must be in an area in which it is connected to the internet via Wi-Fi or cellular data. If the device is offline, the browser will open but display a connection error.