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Push content updates via network

alan.price

January 11, 2010 08:27

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I'm evaluating various digital signage controllers for deployment on our college campus. The BrightSign HD210 seems to fit most of our needs at a price that's more resonable than many competitors'.

One of our possible use scenarios for our signs is as an emergency notification system. As such, we would need a way to remotely and immediately push content to a networked player. Does the HD210 support this functionality? I've seen references to scripted scheduled updates from a web server (which seems odd if the HD210 doesn't have a built-in clock), but nothing about pushed content.

Thanks!

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5 comments

• 0
  
  RokuLyndon January 12, 2010 23:12

  
  
  The 210 can set and maintain its time over the network. That's how scheduling is supported.
  
  
  
  The units don't currently support pushing content to the player. All connections are initiated by the unit and it pulls content down to the player. You can increase how often the unit checks in.
  
  
  
  Will will have a firmware update this quarter (current schedule) that adds a web server to the units. So, in a local network environment, you can push content to the player using BrightAuthor.
  
  
  
  This could be done using an MRSS feed.
  
  
  
  Or, content could be already present on the unit, and a UDP command could be sent that would trigger that content to play.
  
• 0
  
  tmloving January 13, 2010 02:27

  
  
  Perhaps have an already configured .xml file with all the emergency info in it, and when needed just replace the default .xml file on your web server with the emergency .xml file.
  
  
  
  As RokuLyndon pointed out, the unit checks in every "x" seconds and if the published date inside the default .xml file has changed, then the unit updates it's content as specified within the new .xml file. Hopefully the network doesn't go down during the emergency.  <!-- s:shock: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_eek.gif" alt=":shock:" title="Shocked" /><!-- s:shock: -->
  
  
  
  This would allow you to braodcast important information depending on the emergency. Example create different .xml files for each emergency type:
  
  - fireAlarm.xml
  
  - intruderLockdown.xml
  
  - severeWeather.xml
  
  - etc.
  
  
  
  Just replace the default .xml file with one of these files depending on the emergency situation when the need arises.
  
  
  
  
  
  Hope this helps.
  
• 0
  
  alan.price January 16, 2010 08:35

  
  
  Lyndon,
  
  Thanks for the info.  I figured that the players set their time somehow.  Do they use external NTP for that?  Is it fixed or configurable?  I ask because we currently block outbound NTP requests for some reason, and I'd need to initiate a firewall change to correct it.  Other than that, your information was quite helpful.
  
  
  
  tmloving,
  
  I thought about that.  The reality is that that's probably exactly what we'd do, so that there was no need to make something as an incident occurs (talk about a problem).  Now the trick will be determing who will be in charge of updating the content in an emergency.
  
  
  
  Thank you both for your help!
  
• 0
  
  alan.price January 16, 2010 08:39

  
  
  Nevermind on the NTP questions, I just noticed a thread asking the same things.
  
  
  
  Glad to see that the HD210 will be browser-configurable in the firmware release, too.  That will make it much easier to use, I think.
  
• 0
  
  Ashley Baker July 21, 2023 14:56

  Can I please check as of 2023 and using XD1035 expanded players. Whether there is easy, functional control to upload files to a range of players on the same network. For example. Can a pre-uploaded JPG be pushed out as an emergency broadcast notice immediately to the public? Would this be using a script or other ways like MRSS?

   

  Thank you.