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Playing Content based on External Triggers

J Fleck

January 23, 2013 18:07

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I have reviewed several forum entries about playing content based on day of week etc, but what I am interested in is playing dynamic content based on external triggers.  We run in store specials the day after one of our local sports teams wins.  So the default set of slides that plays in a loop.  A, B, C, D, E then loops back to A.  From midnight to midnight after the local team wins, it would play A, B, F, C, D, E, G then loop back to A.  Currently the only way I can see to do it is by updating the dynamic playlist at midnight each night and re uploading it.  I would like to find a solution to automate this so that I don't have to have someone awake every night at midnight to update for the following day.

 

I am a newbie, so if there is something I am totally overlooking, please don't hesitate to let me know.

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7 comments

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  Alex January 24, 2013 16:16

  You can create 2 separate dynamic playlists (or 2 separate media rss feeds), and add them to a presentation. Switch playlist type to interactive. For example:

  Dynamic Playlist 1 (Media RSS feed 1) contains slides A, B, C, D, E

  Dynamic Playlist 2 (Media RSS feed 2) contains slides A, B, F, C, D, E, G

  Then you can add UDP input event, for example, or whatever interactivity supported by your brightsign unit, to transit from Dynamic Playlist 1 (Media RSS feed 1) to Dynamic Playlist 2 (Media RSS feed 2). Thus, when your local sports teams win, you can send udp message from mobile phone or laptop to the unit over network, or press a button that is attached to the unit, or send serial command to the unit from laptop, and the unit will switch playback to Dynamic Playlist 2 (Media RSS feed 2) immediately. You can also attach a timeout event = 24 hours (24*60*60=86400 seconds) to Dynamic Playlist 2 (Media RSS feed 2), set transition to the next state which is Dynamic Playlist 1 (Media RSS feed 1). Unit will loop Dynamic playlist 2 24 hours since you trigger it using the interactive event, and then go back to Dynamic Playlist 1 and loop it until the next trigger. See the attached example.

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  J Fleck January 29, 2013 01:52

  Thank you for the explanation and the example .jpg.  Couple questions.  Anyway to tell it after the UDP event not t actually change the slideshow until midnight?  That way the alternate runs from midnight to midnight not just 24 hours from the occurrence of the UDP event?  Also is there any official training for  Bright Author?  Interested in learning about the more complex features, even how to set up a UDP event is currently beyond our knowledge.

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  J Fleck January 29, 2013 06:07

  OK, I was able to send the UDP and the presentation changed.  Thank you.  Whate I am wondering is if there is a way to use the time clock event to tell the system that after the udp even is received to not change until midnight.  Thoughts?

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  Alex January 29, 2013 23:07

  Yes, we can build such a presentation in BrightAuthor. We need to add Audio Only zone, add 2 Event handlers to Audio Only zone. First Event handler will listen for udp input. Once you send udp message "win" to the unit, Event handler 1 will switch to Event handler 2. Event handler 2 will wait for midnight (attach time/clock event to Event handler 2). As soon as midnight comes, time/clock event will send Zone Message command (double click on time/clock event, go to Advanced - Add command - Link - Send Zone Message). In VideoOrImages zone you need to listen for this Zone Message command (attach Zone Message Event to Media RSS feed 1) to switch playback from Media RSS feed 1 to Media RSS feed 2. Unit will play Media RSS feed 2 for n-amount of seconds, and will go back to Media RSS feed 1. I'm attaching a sample presentation created in BrightAuthor 3.5.0.22. Please download, unzip, open, publish to SD card and test on your HD220 device.

  In the attached presentation:

  Media RSS feed 1 contains 4 videos.

  Media RSS feed 2 contains 4 images.

  Unit will loop Media RSS feed 1 (videos). When you send upd command "win" to the unit, it will wait for midnight. When midnight comes unit will start playing back the Media RSS feed 2 (images). Unit will loop Media RSS feed 2 for 300 seconds (5 minutes), then it will go back to Media RSS feed 1 (videos) and loop them until next udp "win" command is sent to the brightsign unit. Timeout value 5 seconds is adjustable. You can set 10000 seconds for example.

  We have tutorial videos and recorded webinars on the web, BA user guide, faqs and forums that walk you through various features. We also do webinars on different topics. You can signup on our website for those notices http://www.brightsign.biz/about/contacts/

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  J Fleck January 30, 2013 03:14

  I greatly appreciate the information and the very thorough examples.  I have this set up in my presentation.  In reviewing the logs, it has changed to the waiting for midnight event and I will check logs again tomorrow to verify that it changed and returned correctly.  Thank you so much.....

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  Yatin Baluja April 26, 2018 17:02

  Is there any code to run for managing triggers externally like if I want to run a presentation at a particular time and then switch to another automatically like without any app or something

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  Yatin Baluja April 30, 2018 13:21

  Our idea is to just do a simple looped playlist but also cache one separate piece media and trigger that file to play from our server (not on the LAN).  I can see how this might be accomplished by using the Media Properties > Advanced > Other commands > Show/Hide zone, but is there a tried and true way of doing this? also what is the method to send these commands?... custom plugin? UDP?

  We are just getting familiar with brightauthor but I would have to believe that the engineers at BS would have built a method for this already.