Digital Signage

LabOne’s Media-iBox DIGITAL SIGNAGE system allows for total control over ingestion and digital delivery of visual content through a network of displays in an out-of-home setting that is centrally managed and controlled by you.

Content acquisition

Media-iBox enables any content publisher to easily upload media into the network using MIB Uploader. Drag and drop any content inside the desktop ActiveX and fill in the metadata. Content is then transformed from RAW or non-digital format into DS specific media (images, flash, audio and video) with or not DRM. Media-iBox’s unique Batch technology allows for multi file, multi type background uploading. Access security is guaranteed by dedicated server login and multi-level system with audit control. (ex: a graphic designer can only upload image and flash files)

Content Management

Media-iBox content management system allows creation of unlimited templates with several screen formats. Templates can be chosen and published on the fly and content automatically verified if it fits and is according to the template. Choosing which display uses which template is also automatically as the system enables the cataloging of types of displays previous to usage of the system.

The same content when acquired can be transformed or encoded in different formats allowing several display and template positioning.

Content can be protected using DRM technology guaranteeing that even if stolen, content stored in servers at remote location could not be used or removed from the machine.

Media-iBox API addresses needs for external content integration, getting information from external Databases (MSSQL, Oracle) XML repositories, RSS, Live streaming or Podcast feeds and adding it as internal content objects.

Two-layer user/group/permissions system enables supports complex access control rules, with users membership defined in two layers: functional and hierarchic. Per-object permission control enables rich and detailed user access restrictions.

Native support for most used content objects, like Texts, Images (jpeg, gif, png, hires formats), media files (windows media, Realnetworks, Quicktime and MPEG), office documents, pdfs, flash files, playlists.

Content Scheduling

Once an advertiser is part of the DS Network it is given a password and “unique” link to the scheduler and allowed to use the MIB uploader. With this tool, content scheduling and publishing becomes faster and easier to visualize both from the agency/publisher as well as DS management crew.

Using its unique content scheduling system, Media-iBox allows third parties that advertise, publish or manage the system to enter into a Scheduler, much similar to a calendar that automatically allows (with access rights control) display of loop time availability within an hour, day, week or month.

System also includes a navigation tool that queries advertiser/publisher preferences before showing available loop times. (ex: A Beer company would be interested in advertising on the beer “aisle” of a supermarket, from 6-9 PM in the southern region of the country/city).

Infrared enabled screens allow for instant playback of content once a display is approached (Ex: On a Gas station once a customer enters/passes by an isle or is around the pumps, content is played on demand).

Using an optional RFID control system integrated with MIB DS package, advertisers/publishers and DS management can “understand” and “map” traffic patterns into a specific location hence giving the capability of deciding the best place to insert advertising or create a loop time.

Content Distribution

Application-level redundancy among media servers enables rational hardware sizing for massive audience operations and multiple playlist management. Excellent hardware cost/publishing capacity ratios using standard PC/PC104 (no need for black boxed solution).

Fault-tolerant and regenerative files distribution agent can handle large amount of different media servers across the network. If connection between central distribution and store servers fails, system sends warning and restarts automatically from last media distribution batch.

Media servers monitoring integration, enabling site administrators to program automatic actions (like setting "priority zero" to servers that fail on the network).

Metadata-sensitive distribution of files. Metadata like content validity or regional restrictions are automatically applied to file distribution agent.

Advanced CDN module enables IP-based distribution maps (Quova compatible), network-sensitive media redirection.

Ability to use both Windows XP embedded or Linux “media player” boxes (normally PC104) reduces cost of connecting a box behind each monitor enabling not only control of media broadcast to a specific monitor but also allowing for monitor fail detection and cleanup (degauss) through DVI interface extending hardware life and monitor turn on/off feature. By connecting a box (media player) behind each monitor, cost of implementation is significantly reduced allowing for use of Wireless or PLC (Power Line Communication, Homeplug compliant hardware up to 200 Mbps) networks.

With the use of media players connected to each monitor a network owner can “micro-manage" its network allowing a different playlist to execute in each monitor placed in a section of a store, store, group of stores by region or state.

Reporting

Easily create reports on ad/content playback, log data, Loop time/playlist distribution data accuracy, hardware functioning and integrity, etc.

Provide proof-of-playback for advertisers from system log or infrared sensitive devices.

Ability to “live preview” a loop time at the moment of playback.

Live hardware status monitoring for fault identification (hardware malfunction, monitor burnout or disconnection (ex: monitor has been removed from station)

View reports online or download them for later use or integration with database systems (XML, PDF, Excel, etc.)