Gefen EXT-DSC Hardware manual

®

Digital Signage

Creator

Digital Signage Creator

Hardware Manual

www.gefen.com

Technical Support

:

ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE

Technical Support Hours:

8:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST Monday thru Friday PST

Write To:

Gefen, LLC c/o Customer Service

20600 Nordhoff St

Chatsworth, CA 91311 www.gefen.com

[email protected]

Notice

Gefen, LLC reserves the right to make changes in the hard ware, packaging, and any accompanying doc u men ta tion without prior written notice.

Digital Signage Creator

is a trademark of Gefen, LLC

© 2012 Gefen, LLC. All rights reserved.

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Rev A8

1 Introduction

3 Features

6 Connecting And Operating The Digital Signage Creator

6

7

8

How to Connect the Digital Signage Creator

Accessing the Digital Signage Creator HTTP Server

Using the Digital Signage Creator Web Interface

26 Static IP Confi guration

34

49

50

Administering User Rights

Connecting to the Digital Signage Creator (Mac OS X)

Using the Digital Signage Creator HTTP Server

Content Modes

53 Resetting to the Factory Default Settings

55 Specifi cations

57 Warranty

INTRODUCTION

Congratulations on your purchase of the Digital Signage Creator. Your complete satisfaction is very important to us.

Gefen

Gefen delivers innovative, progressive computer and electronics add-on solutions that harness integration, extension, distribution and conversion technologies.

Gefen’s reliable, plug-and-play products supplement cross-platform computer systems, professional audio/video environments and HDTV systems of all sizes with hard-working solutions that are easy to implement and simple to operate.

The Gefen Digital Signage Creator

The Gefen Digital Signage Creator (Digital Signage Creator) enriches digital signage projects with high quality video, audio, images, animations and text.

All these media types can be retrieved by Digital Signage Creator from local or network resources and can be combined and rendered on any type of digital displays following specifi c graphical layouts and time schedules.

Digital Signage Creator extends the basic functionalities of state of the art media players supporting Hyper Media content. The term hypermedia is used as a logical extension of the term hypertext, in which graphics, audio, video, plain text and hyperlinks intertwine to create a generally non-linear medium of information.

Digital Signage Creator brings hypermedia content to digital displays in several ways.

How It Works

The Gefen Digital Signage Creator simplifi es the publishing and maintenance of your digital signage project.

Connected to digital displays through HDMI and VGA, Digital Signage Creator is capable of rendering combinations of media elements from a rich set of formats: audio, video, vector graphics, pictures and text. Digital Signage Creator natively implements the open standards required to schedule, update, stream, and animate each supported media. Distributing content from a central location onto a specifi c display is as easy as publishing a Web page.

As a network device, Digital Signage Creator offers plug-and-play functionalities that simplify installation, remote maintenance and monitoring. From anywhere, your network of digital displays is under control.

1

OPERATION NOTES

READ THESE NOTES BEFORE INSTALLING OR

OPERATING THE DIGITAL SIGNAGE CREATOR

• This manual covers operation of the Digital Signage Creator hardware.

Please see the Digital Signage Director manual for software operation.

• The Digital Signage Creator uses DHCP by default. The unit is always reachable at http://gef-dsc-xxxxxxxxxxxx.local from Zeroconf enabled computers on the local network. Replace “x” with the MAC address of the unit (without the colons). This is located on a sticker underneath the unit.

2

FEATURES

Features

• Standard and simplifi ed way to schedule and display digital signage video and audio with low operational costs

• User-friendly content creation software has built-in layout templates to get you up and running quickly

• Individual content playback can have multiple time, day, and month settings

• Small size of the DSC product makes for easy installation

• Supports horizontal and vertical displays, direct iCal sync, local and remote publishing

• 1.5 GB internal fl ash memory plus USB 2.0 port for expansion via USB fl ash drive or HDD

• Simultaneously active HDMI and VGA ports, L/R analog audio output

• Natively supports multiple Web-streaming formats including RSS and ASX

• Supported Video Codecs: MPEG-1, MPEG-2, H264, MPEG-4 (Part 2),

Microsoft VC1 (Windows Media 9) and MJPEG.

• Supported Audio Codecs : AAC (HE-AAC, AAC LC), MPEG1/2 Layer 3

(“MP3”), PCM, G.726 and G.711

• Supported Media File Containers: AVI, ASF/WMV, VOB, MP4, MOV, MP3,

WAV, and MP4/M4A

• Streaming media protocol: MMS, RTSP, RTP, SDP, HTTP; Unicast and multicast

• Scripting languages: PHP5, JavaScript

WBMP, PNM bitmap

• Still image formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, SVG

• Serial RS-232 port for two way control of external devices

Package Includes

(1) Digital Signage Creator

(1) 5V DC Locking Power Supply

(1) 6 ft Locking HDMI Cable (M-M)

(1) Quick-Start Guide

3

PANEL LAYOUT

Front Panel

1 2 3 4 5

Back Panel

6 7 8 9

4

PANEL DESCRIPTIONS

1 Mini-Plug to RS-232 Serial Port

This port is used to control functions and features using serial communications.

Connects the Digital Signage Creator to the network using Ethernet cabling.

When connected, the Digital Signage Creator unit can be controlled using the built-in Web interface of the DSD (Digital Signage Director) software.

Connect a USB cable to this port. This port supports USB 2.0 (up to 10

Mbps) and can be used to connect external storage devices and touchscreen controllers.

This LED will fl ash bright green when the Digital Signage Creator is operating normally. If the Digital Signage Creator encounters an error, the LED will fl ash red or orange.

Press and hold this button for about fi ve seconds to reboot the Digital Signage

Creator unit.

6 5V DC Locking Power Connector

Connect the included 5V DC locking power supply to this connector.

Connect an HDTV display to this HDMI port.

8 3.5mm L/R Analog Stereo mini-jack Output

This port is used to connect an external audio amplifi er/device. This port will accept a standard 3.5 mm analog stereo connector.

Connect a VGA display to this port.

5

CONNECTING AND OPERATING

THE DIGITAL SIGNAGE CREATOR

How to Connect the Digital Signage Creator

1. Connect an HDTV display to the output port on the rear panel of the Digital

Signage Creator using the included 6 foot HDMI cable.

NOTE

: A VGA monitor can also be connected to the Digital Signage Creator.

The HDMI and VGA ports are active at all times.

2. Connect an amplifi ed speaker or audio device to the 3.5mm L/R analog stereo output for external audio support.

3. Optionally connect a 3.5mm to DB-9 serial cable to the 3.5mm mini-plug serial port. This port is used to control the Digital Signage Creator using

RS-232.

4. Connects the Digital Signage Creator to the network using Ethernet cabling.

NOTE

: If the Digital Signage Creator is connected directly to the PC, a crossover cable must be used.

5. Connect the 5V locking power supply to the Digital Signage Creator. Do not overtighten the locking connector. Plug the power supply into an available wall outlet. The Status Indicator on the front of the unit will begin fl ashing bright green indicating that the Digital Signage Creator is powered.

USB Flash Drive*

Wiring Diagram for the Digital Signage Creator

®

HDMI CABLE

VGA CABLE

ETHERNET CABLE

Router

Gefen Digital

Signage Creator

*USB Device, used for additional storage, is optional

6

Using VGA

Using HDMI

EXT-DSC



Accessing the Digital Signage Creator HTTP Server (PC)

This procedure is required to access the Digital Signage Creator for the fi rst time, administer the HTTP server, or to publish content on a Digital Signage Creator unit.

Use this procedure only if the default network confi guration has not been modifi ed. See Resetting the Digital Signage Creator to the Factory

Default Settings on page 53 to make sure that the Digital Signage

Creator has the default network confi guration.

1. Connect the PC to the Digital Signage Creator according to the instructions on page 6.

2. Confi gure the network on the PC.

• The PC must be assigned a static IP address by the Network Administrator.

This address must be on the same subnet as the Digital Signage Creator unit.

• An IP address automatically assigned by a DHCP server located on the same network as the Digital Signage Creator unit.

3. Once the PC has been confi gured, verify the following:

• The Digital Signage Creator has completed the boot process (allow about one minute after the Digital Signage Creator has been powered). If the

Digital Signage Creator is connected to an HDTV display, the default screen should be displayed.

• Check that the LED on the front panel of the Digital Signage Creator is fl ashing bright green.

• Open a Web browser and enter the following address: http://gef-dsc-[MAC address].local

Do not include the colons when entering the MAC address.

Example: http://gef-dsc-01c91011132.local

6. The browser will connect to the Digital Signage Creator HTTP Server and display the screen shown on the following page:

7



Using the Digital Signage Creator Web Interface

The Web Interface is divided into two sections:

• Information

• Administration

Information > Status

The Status function returns the status screen which is displayed once the Web interface is launched.

8



Information > Snapshot

The Snapshot function creates a snapshot of the current content shown on the display and displays the image in the Snapshot window.

Click the

Refresh

button to capture the current content displayed on the screen.

The captured image is stored as a .PHP fi le. Clicking in the Snapshot window will display the full-size image in the web browser.

The full path to the snapshot will be displayed in the address bar (e.g. http:// gef-dsc-[DSC SERIAL NUMBER]/snapshot/snapshot.php

)

9



Information > Display Info

Shows information about the display connected to the Digital Signage Creator.

The Digital Signage Creator gets this information by reading the EDID of the attached display.

10



Information > Storage

Provides information about the storage media used by the Digital Signage Creator. A link to the Local Storage is also provided. Clicking on this link will display the directories and content on the Digital Signage Creator.

Clicking on the Local Storage Access link (Server Address) will display a Web page similar to the following:

11



The fi le list can be sorted by clicking on Name, Last Modifi ed, Size, or

Description.

Information > Logs

Allows viewing of all Resource, JavaScript, Information, and Warning logs which have been generated by the Digital Signage Creator.

12



Administration > Display Settings > Basic

Allows the resolution, orientation, and other display options to be changed. The

Digital Signage Creator contains seven predefi ned video modes for computer monitors and HD displays.

1 Select the output resolution to activate. For more detailed settings, see

Administration > Advanced > Display Settings

.

The aspect ratio of the connected display will be automatically updated according to the selected resolution. The aspect ratio can be set manually by placing a check mark in the

Force Aspect Ratio

check box and then selecting the aspect ratio (see page 15).

2. Select the display orientation. If the display connected to the Digital Signage

Creator is rotated vertically, make sure to use the correct rotation direction.

3. If audio is being used, place a check the Enable audio output check box.

13



A preview of the current display settings are shown on the Display Settings page.

Click the

Apply

button to save the changes and reboot the Digital Signage Creator.

Display Settings > TV Screen

Sets the output resolution for the HDMI output: 480p or 720p

Display Settings > Computer Monitor

Sets the output resolution for the computer monitor. Select VGA, SVGA, or XGA.

Display Settings > Wide Computer Monitor

Sets the computer monitor output to wide format. Select WVGA or WSVGA.

14



Display Settings > Force Aspect Ratio To

Check this box to force the aspect ratio on the output. Select 4:3 (pan-and-scan) or 16:9 or 16:10 (widescreen).

Display Settings > Screen Orientation

Use the pull-down list box to select: Horizontal, Rotate 90 Right, Rotate 90 Left,

Rotate 180, Flip Vertical, or Flip Horizontal.

Display Settings > Overscan Percentage

This function compensates for the display overscan. Select between 0 - 5. A lower setting ______________. A higher setting ________________.

Display Settings > Enable Audio Output

Enables the audio output on the Digital Signage Creator.

15



Display Settings > Power Mode for VGA Output

Controls the voltage level of pin 9 on the VGA connector.

Setting

Automatic

Always On

Always Off

Description

Turns off VGA monitor when disconnected

VGA monitor is always on when connected

Turns off the VGA monitor

Display Power Save > Enable Display Power Saving

Allows the connected display to be turned off and turned on ___________

Check the box to enable this feature.

Display Power Save > Use Fixed Schedule for Display Power

Check this box to enter specifi c times as to when the display should be turned off and turned on. Enter the times in the Turn Monitor ON and Turn Monitor

OFF text boxes. NOTE: This feature can only be used when the Enable Display

Power Saving option is enabled (see page 18).

16



Administration > Display Settings > Advanced

Allows advanced control of resolution and other display options.

After changing the Display Settings, click the

Check

button to test the video settings.

Advanced > Display Settings > Resolution

Select the output resolution from the pull-down list box.

The list of available resolutions can be found on the next page.

17



Available resolutions:

Resolution

VGA

ED

HD

640 x 480

720 x 480

720 x 576

800 x 500

800 x 600

1024 x 640

1024 x 768

1280 x 720

1280 x 800

1920 x 1080

Advanced > Display Settings > Default Aspect Ratio

Select the default aspect ratio on the output from the pull-down list box.

Default Aspect Ratio

4:3

16:9

16:10

Advanced > Display Settings > Force Standard Video Modes

Check this box to force standard video modes.

18



Advanced > Display Settings > Restrict Video Mode To

Restricts the video mode.

Video Mode

HDMI

VESA

GTF

VESA, GTF

HDMI, GTF

HDMI, VESA

Advanced > Display Settings > Power Mode for VGA Output

Sets the power mode when connecting to a VGA monitor.

Power Mode

Automatic

Always On

Always Off

Advanced > Display Settings > HDMI Display Supports Underscan

Check this box is the HDMI display supports underscan.

19



Advanced > Display Settings > Overscan Percentage

Adjusts the amount of overscan on the display.

3

4

1

2

Overscan Percentage

0

5

Advanced > Display Settings > Force Vertical Refresh

Forces the vertical refresh rate.

Refresh Rate

24 Hz

25 Hz

30 Hz

50 Hz

60 Hz

20



Advanced > Display Settings > Screen Orientation

Sets the Screen Orientation.

Screen Orientation

Horizontal

Rotate 90 Right

Rotate 90 Left

Rotate 180

Flip Vertical

Flip Horizontal

Advanced > Display Settings > Enable Audio Output

Check this box to enables the audio output on the 3.5mm stereo mini-jack (see page 4).

Advanced > Interactivity Settings > Enable Events

Enables events.

21



Advanced > Interactivity Settings > Maximum Rendering Latency

Allows the rendering latency to be changed.

Rendering Latency

250 ms

500 ms

1000 ms (1 sec)

1500 ms (1.5 sec)

The rendering latency can be reduced to 60 ms when events are received by checking the check box.

Advanced > Touchscreen Calibration

Calibrates the Digital Signage Creator for use with a touchscreen display.

22



Advanced > Splash Screen Confi guration

Allows each of the default Splash Screens to be changed. Use the

Browse...

buttons to select a different splash screen. The splash screens can all be the same or can all be different images.

Click the

Apply

button to have the Digital Signage Creator use the custom

Splash Screen(s).

Click the

Reset to Default

button to restore the default Splash Screens.

23



Administration > Network Settings > Basic > Identifi cation

Displays the Digital Signage Creator Device Name and Multi-screen ID. By default, these two identifi cation numbers are the serial number of the Digital

Signage Creator. The Device Name and Multi-screen ID can be renamed.

Click the

Apply

button after renaming either of these IDs.

Administration > Network Settings > Basic > Network Settings

24



Network Interface

Ethernet

3G Modem

The Digital Signage Creator can connect to a network using an Ethernet cable or using a 3G Modem.

By default, the Digital Signage Creator will use DHCP to acquire the network information. The MAC address is used for the network ID. Clicking the

Static

radio button will allow manual entry of the network information.

DHCP Confi guration

1. Connect to the Digital Signage Creator using the HTTP server (see page 6).

If the network confi guration of the Digital Signage Creator unit has already been modifi ed, see

Accessing the Digital Signage Creator

HTTP Server

on page 7.

2. Select on the left menu (see page 13).

The current network confi guration of the Digital Signage Creator unit is displayed: IP address, Host Name, and MAC Address.

3. Select from the menu on the left.

Click the

DHCP

radio button.

the button.

The changes will take affect once the Digital Signage Creator unit has rebooted.

5. Re-connect to the Digital Signage Creator.

• If the DHCP server is confi gured to register the new computer with a

DNS, access the Digital Signage Creator using the following address: http://gef-dsc-[SERIAL NUMBER]

This can be done using the Discover Device feature in the Digital

Signage Designer software.

25



Static IP Confi guration

Make sure that the Digital Signage Creator HTTP server can be accessed over Ethernet before continuing with the following instructions.

1. Collect information on the network confi guration.

The following information should be available about the network:

• A range of free IP addresses that can be allocated to the Digital Signage

Creator unit(s) without network confl icts.

• The correct Subnet mask.

2. Access the HTTP server of the Digital Signage Creator unit.

If the Digital Signage Creator is being set up for the fi rst time, see page 12 for instructions on how to connect the Digital Signage Unit.

3. Select on the left menu (see page 13).

The current network confi guration of the Digital Signage Creator unit is displayed: IP address, Host Name, and MAC Address.

4. Select .

the radio button.

6. Set the Server attributes (IP address, Net Mask, Gateway, DNS, etc) to the proper settings used by the network. Also, make sure that the subnet mask corresponds to the network confi guration.

the button.

The changes will take affect once the Digital Signage Creator unit has rebooted.

26



Selecting 3G Modem for the network interface will list a new set of options:

After the network information has been modifi ed, click the

Apply

button to apply changes to the current settings.

27



Administration > Network Settings > Advanced > Network API

Enables the API server. Enter the port number of the server and click the

Apply

button.

Administration > Network Settings > Advanced > Proxy Settings

Changes the proxy server settings. The proxy can be bypassed for connections within a Local Area Network and at the same time restricting access to IP addresses outside the network.

NOTE

: Proxy information is pulled from Internet Explorer.

Click the

Apply

button to apply the changes.

28



Administration > Network Settings > Advanced > SNMP Settings

Allows changes of the SNMP settings. Click the

Apply

button to apply the changes.

29



Administration > Media Sources > Basic > Media Sources

Allows confi guration of media sources. Both the Primary Source and the

Fallback Source can use Local Storage (e.g. USB drive, etc) or Network Storage.

It is recommended to set up a Fallback Source when using the Digital Signage

Creator to prevent any possible interruption when accessing the content on the primary source.

Confi guring a USB Drive with the Digital Signage Creator

1. Make sure that the Primary source is set to “Local Storage”.

the check box.

3. Press .

4. Insert the USB storage device into the USB connector on the Digital Signage

Creator. Wait a few seconds and then press the

Reload

button. The page should indicate that the local storage is currently set to USB storage.

By default USB storage devices are formatted using the FAT fi le system. This has the advantage that the USB storage is readable both by the Digital Signage

Creator and any PC. However such a USB device can only be used for reading mode by the Digital Signage Creator. If you need to use the USB storage permanently, you might want the Digital Signage Creator to be able to write to the

USB device. To do so, the USB must be formatted by the Digital Signage Creator.

30



1. Plug the USB storage device to the Digital Signage Creator the button.

All content of the USB storage device will be erased.

3. When the formatting is complete, unplug the USB storage device from the

Digital Signage Creator

4. Plug the USB storage device to the Digital Signage Creator.

NOTE:

at this point content must be uploaded to the USB storage device using the Digital Signage Creator WebDAV server.

If you are using a USB storage device in write mode, it is recommended to press the

Disconnect

button before removing the device from the Digital Signage

Creator.

Administration > Media Sources > Basic > Detected USB Storage Devices

Click the

Reload

button to re-read the USB storage device. If the USB has been hot-swapped (exchanged with another USB device), clicking the

Reload

button will update the information on the new USB device.

31



Administration > Media Sources > Advanced > Network Credentials

Used to add usernames and passwords for network access. The

Add Server

Row

button can be used to add another to this page.

Confi guring Network Credentials For Remote Servers

1. For each remote server protected by a password, enter the following information:

• The server URI. The URI can also include a path on the server if different users are set up for different parts of the server.

Multiple usernames and passwords can be specifi ed for the same server but only within different realms.

2. If additional servers are required, press the

Add Server Row

button.

the button to save the changes.

32



Administration > Security > Administrative Server

Used to change the password. Click the

Apply

button to save the changes.

Administration > Security > Content Server

Confi gures the Content Server password. Click the

Apply


33



Administration > Security > Monitoring

Confi gures the Monitoring password. Click the

Apply


Administering User Rights

The Digital Signage Creator offers three levels of security:

• Administrative Server: Controls the access to all pages of the HTTP administration server. It is recommended to always protect this area.

• Content Server: Controls the access to all content displayed by the

Digital Signage Creator. A username and password will be needed to upload content on the Digital Signage Creator.

• Monitoring: Controls the access to the logs and snapshots of the Digital

Signage Creator.

1. On the main page of the HTTP server, select

Administration > Security

in the left menu.

2. Select the type of access to be confi gured.

3. Enter the password and confi rm it in the second text area.

It is recommended to always set a password for the Administrative area. By default no password is set and the administrative area is not protected.

34



the button to save the changes.

The

Apply

button must be pressed for each password that is changed.

Passwords can only be changed individually. To confi gure a password for a remote server, go to

Administration > Media Sources > Advanced > Network

Credentials (see page 37).

Administration > Date / Time > Current Settings

Display the current Local Time and the Time Zone.

Administration > Date / Time > Change Time Zone

Allows the Time Zone to be changed. Each Time Zone selected in the fi rst pull down list box will display a list of specifi c areas within the Time Zone. Select the

Time Zone for the area then select the specifi c area from the second pull down list box. Click the

Apply


Time Zone

Africa

Asia

Australia

Europe

Pacifi c Ocean

Time Zone

America

Atlantic Ocean

Canada Time Zones

Indian Ocean

US Time Zones

35



Administration > Date / Time > Change Time

Allows manual setting of the time or confi guration of NTP Servers to provide the time information. Click the Manual Time Settings checkbox to manually set the time.

Click the

Apply

button to save changes.

36



Administration > Date / Time > NTP Statistics

Press the

Refresh

button to update the NTP server information.

37



Administration > RS232 / USB IO > Settings

Allows confi guration of the RS-232 and USB settings. There are four built-in

RS-232 device protocol options.

By default the serial port control is disabled. It is enabled by selecting a protocol fi le in the Protocols drop-down box. Choose either pre-loaded fi les designed by

Gefen (identifi ed by the prefi x [sys] before the name of the protocol), or fi les that have been uploaded using the Upload function (see page 40).

Pre-loaded Protocols

[disabled]

[sys] LG LF65

[sys] nmea-gps

[sys] panasonic-plasma-ps

[sys] sharp_aquos

Click the

Apply


38



Once a protocol fi le is selected, the serial port should be confi gured for the attached device.

Checking the Control monitor power check box will force the Digital Signage

Creator to send the PowerOn and PowerOff commands at specifi ed times (in 24 hours format) regardless of the content uploaded on the device.

For example, the Digital Signage Creator can be confi gured to use the LG LF65 protocol, and automatically turn the screen ON at 8:00 and OFF at 20:00.

Administration > RS232 / USB IO > Upload Protocol File

Use this option to select and upload a custom RS-232 protocol fi le.

39



Administration > Pull Mode > Content Pull Scheduling

Pull Mode is the method in which the Digital Signage Creator pulls content from the server based on a specifi c time schedule. This permits automatic updating of the content during specifi c times.

Click the

Apply


40



Pull Mode can be used bidirectionally to:

Each time the Digital Signage Creator has been scheduled to update the content of its local storage, it will connect to the specifi ed server, check for changes, and download all modifi ed fi les.

• Upload logs and previews to a remote WebDAV server.

Pull Mode can be used with a WebDAV server or with standard HTTP servers.

When using HTTP servers, the XML fi les describing the content of the server must be available. Pull Mode timings can be confi gured either directly from the

HTTP interface or using iCalendar fi les.

There are two ways to confi gure the Pull mode on a Digital Signage Creator unit:

• Using the simple HTTP interface. This option is easy to confi gure, but has some limitations. For example, it forces daily project publishing at specifi c times. Moreover, the options for uploading logs are limited.

• Using iCalendar schedule fi les: Provides full control over the Pull mode of the Digital Signage Creator, but requires an external tool to create the iCalendar fi les (Mozilla Sunbird for instance).

41



Administration > Firmware Update > Current Versions

Displays the current version of Digital Signage Creator fi rmware and updater.

Administration > Firmware Update > Update Server

Allows the fi rmware update server to be changed. Click

Apply

to save the changes. Click the

Reset to Default

button to restore the default server address.

42



Administration > Firmware Update > Automatic Update

The Digital Signage Creator will automatically check for updates using the address listed in the

Update Server

box (see page 39). The pull-down list box can be use to select the hourly Update Time from 0:00 (Midnight) to 23:00 (11:00

PM).

Click the

Apply


Administration > Firmware Update > Manual Update

Allows the Digital Signage Creator to be updated manually. The update source can be selected from the pull-down list box.

Update Source

From Server

From USB Key

Click the

Check for Updates

button to begin the update process.

43



Administration > Firmware Update > Updater Info

Displays the last update log. The latest update log is also available under the

Logs menu (see page 15).

Administration > Maintenance > Basic > System Restart

Click the

Restart Now

button to reboot the Digital Signage Creator unit.

44



Administration > Maintenance > Basic > Restore Default Content

Click the

Restore Default Content

button to restore the default Digital Signage

Creator content.

Administration > Maintenance > Basic > Reporting

Click the

Get Report

button to generate a Digital Signage Creator status report.

The status report is helpful to technical support when troubleshooting the Digital

Signage Creator.

Administration > Maintenance > Advanced > Diagnostic Mode Restart

Pressing the

Restart Now

button will place the Digital Signage Creator in diagnostic (recovery) mode. This may be necessary if the Digital Signage

Creator does not boot properly.

45



Administration > Maintenance > Advanced > Installation Mode

Click the

Enable

button to place the Digital Signage Creator in Installation Mode.

This feature will prevent the Digital Signage Creator from automatically rebooting when confi guration changes are made.

Administration > Maintenance > Advanced > Extended Reporting

Generates an extended report which is useful to the Gefen technical support team when troubleshooting the Digital Signage Creator.

Administration > Maintenance > Advanced > Clear Data

Clears the selected data. Clearing of any data will restart the Digital Signage

Creator.

46



Finding the Digital Signage Creator on the Network (Mac OS X)

Make sure that the Digital Signage Creator is powered and connected to the Mac using an Ethernet cable.

1. Open the Terminal program, located under Applications > Utilities.

2. In the terminal window, type the following command: ping -c 3 224.0.0.1

3. Press the Return key.

Multiple responses will be displayed in the terminal window:

47



4. Type the command: arp -a

5. Press the Return key.

A list of known network names, IP addresses, and MAC addresses will be displayed in the terminal window.

The network name is listed in the fi rst column. The IP address is listed in the second column and the MAC address is listed in the third column:

Network Name IP Address asterix.spinetix.local

192.168.0.1

MAC Address (serial number)

0:18:f3:4a:f9:4d lpcolor.spinetix.local

192.168.0.126

0:0:48:ba:e7:0

6. In the terminal window, fi nd the Ethernet MAC address that matches the serial number located on the bottom of the Digital Signage Creator. For example, a MAC address of

0:1c:91:0:0:6e

represents the serial number

01c91006e.

48



Connecting To The Digital Signage Creator (Mac OS X)

the menu, click

Connect to Server...

2. Type the IP address or network name of the Digital Signage Creator in the

Server Address text box, followed by the port number.

Example: http://192.168.1.10:81 the button.

Uploading Content to the Digital Signage Creator

1. Go to the Finder.

2. Select the Digital Signage Creator unit on the list of connected servers.

3. All content is listed in the right pane of the window.

from the Finder window to the right pane window.

49



Using The Digital Signage Creator HTTP Server

When accessing the HTTP server for the fi rst time, read the previous sections fi rst. Make sure that a PC is connected to the Digital Signage Creator unit using an Ethernet cable. The network confi guration for the PC and the Digital Signage

Creator will need to be confi gured correctly and be on the same network.

There are few ways to access the HTTP server of a specifi c Digital Signage

Creator unit.

1. If the IP address of the Digital Signage Creator is known, type: http://<ip address>

in the address bar of the Web browser.

2. If the Digital Signage Creator unit has been registered on the DNS server, the registration can be done manually by typing: http://<DNS name of the unit>/

in the address bar of the Web browser.

3. If the Digital Signage Creator unit is confi gured using DHCP, type: gefdsc-<MAC Address>

where <

MAC Address

> is the 12-digit serial number located on the label under the Digital Signage Creator unit.

NOTE:

If any of this information is unknown, both the IP address and the network name of the Digital Signage Creator can be retrieved using the Digital Signage

Director software.

If the connection to the HTTP server is successful, the following screen will be displayed:

50



Using A Network Server With the Digital Signage Creator

The Digital Signage Creator can use an HTTP server as the source for multimedia content. The Digital Signage Creator will frequently check for new or modifi ed content on the server. The internal storage will be used to cache some of the media fi les from the server. If the Digital Signage Creator will be downloading content from a network server, refer to the Content Pull Mode on page 40.

1. On the main page of the HTTP server, click

Administration > Media Sources

.

The current settings will be shown in the browser.

2. Change the Primary Source to

Network Project

.

3. Enter the URI of the network project.

The Digital Signage Creator will open the index.svg fi le in the root of the URI.

the button.

Both HTTP and HTTPS servers can be used.

It is recommended that a fallback source be set up, in case the network server cannot be reached by the Digital Signage Creator unit. See page 30.

If the server requires a username and a password, enter them using the

Advanced dialog page as described in Network credentials.

51



Content Access Modes

When connected to the network, Digital Signage Creator can be used to access content to be displayed in three different modes:

• Push

Files are pushed to the Digital Signage Creator using a

WebDAV server. For example, the DSD uses the push mode to publish an Hyper Media Project to an Digital Signage Creator unit.

• Client

The Digital Signage Creator accesses fi les from a remote

HTTP server. The internal storage will be used as a cache. Confi guring the client mode is explained in Use network servers.

• Pull

Files are copied periodically from a remote server to the local storage of the Digital Signage Creator.

If the Push and Client modes are simpler publishing mechanisms they might not be suitable for all network architecture needs. In particular, when network security constraints are introduced, it may be necessary to request the Digital Signage

Creator units to retrieve content or publish logs at specifi c timings. In this case the Pull mode must be used.

To be activated, the Pull mode requires specifi c actions. In this section and its subsections we document specifi cally this mode.

52



Confi guring the RS-232 Serial Interface

The Gefen Digital Signage Creator can control external appliances using its serial port (RS-232) interface. This type of interface is supported in particular by most professional monitors to allow switch on/off operations or image confi gurations.

To control a device through the serial port interface the following is required:

• Testing and debugging of the protocol fi le can be done on a PC using the

Serial Port Protocol Studio application.

abled.

• Serial port cable to connect the device to the Digital Signage Creator.

• Special Gefen elements (e.g. <auxCmd>) need to be included into the content in order to control the RS-232 device.

For more information on controlling device with the serial port, check the online documentation for the serial port or the RS-232 section of the Forum (http:// forum.gefen.com/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=31).

Resetting the Digital Signage Creator to the Factory Default Settings

The following procedure will delete all the content and user settings on the Digital Signage Creator unit.

To reset the Digital Signage Creator unit to its factory default settings, do the following:

1. Unplug the power connector from the unit.

2. Push and hold the

ON/OFF

button on the front panel.

3. While pressing the

ON/OFF

button, reconnect the power cable.

4. Continue to hold the

ON/OFF

button for at least eight seconds after the power cable has been reconnected.

the button.

6. The Digital Signage Creator unit will now boot in the factory default mode and will have the default IP setting.

53

SPECIFICATIONS

Digital Display Compatibility

Aspect Ratio 16:9, 16:10, 4:3 (horizontal & vertical)

Maximum resolution 1280x720 (16:9), 1024x640 (16:10), 1024x768 (4:3)

Video output

Video connectors

720p (HD-Ready), 576p, 480p, VGA; 50 or 60 fps

HDMI (incl. digital audio), DVI via adapter. VGA (DB15

HD connector). Simultaneous use of HDMI and VGA possible

Media Format

Description language

Media synchronization

SVG Tiny 1.2+ (Scalable Vector Graphics)

SMIL 2.1 (Synchronized Multimedia Integration

Language)

JPEG, PNG, GIF, SVG Still image formats

Supported video codecs MPEG-1, MPEG-2, H264, MPEG-4 (Part 2),

Microsoft VC1 (Windows Media 9) and MJPEG

MPEG2: Main level at Main profi le (ML@MP)

MPEG4 (Part 2): Simple and Advanced Simple

( SP/ASP ) up to level 5

WMV9 : Simple and Main profi les

H.264 (aka MPEG4 Part 10) Constrained Baseline or Main up to level 3 (e.g. SD resolution)

Supported audio codecs AAC (HE-AAC, AAC LC), MPEG1/2 Layer 3

(“MP3”), PCM, G.726 and G.711

Media container formats Video and Audio: AVI, ASF/WMV, VOB, MP4 and

MOV.

Audio: MP3, WAV, MP4/M4A

Streaming media protocol MMS, RTSP, RTP, SDP, HTTP; Uni- & multicast

Import fi lters provided for Flash 9, Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, BMP,

TIFF, XPM, WBMP, PNM bitmaps

Scripting language

Content scheduling

PHP5, JavaScript iCalendar (RFC2445)

Graphic Effects Engine

Graphic effects language SVG Tiny 1.2+

Vector graphics primitives Rectangles, polygons, paths with lines, elliptical arcs and Bezier curves, text areas, linear and radial gradients

International text support Unicode standard compliant with bidirectional text support

54

Font fi le formats

Animation capabilities

SPECIFICATIONS

TrueType and OpenType

Color, gradients, transparency level, audio volume, motion along a path, translation, scaling, rotation, clipping

Discrete, linear, paced and spline interpolation Animation modes

Interactivity events

Time synchronized

Specialized Applications

Touch screen, keyboard and mouse via USB 2.0 port, user defi ned serial port

Millisecond accuracy, for unconstrained video wall confi gurations

Network

Connectivity Ethernet 10/100 Mbit/s (RJ-45), IEEE 802.3u, 802.3x

Protocols IPv4, DHCP or fi xed address

Remote confi guration HTTP confi guration server, password protected

Content administration WebDAV server, password protected

Other protocols SNMPv1/v2c, NTP

Content updates Pull mode, push mode, server based

Storage

Internal storage 2GB solid state

External storage Flash drives and hard disks via USB 2.0 port

Physical Specifi cation

Size

Storage temperature

Real time clock

Serial

Analog audio output

105(W) x 26(H) x 83(D) mm 4.13’(W) x 1.02’(H) x

3.27’(D)

Weight

Power Consumption

190g / 6.7 oz

5V DC, typ. 0.4A (2W)

Power supply input 100-240V 50-60 Hz, max input current 0.6A

Operating temperature 0ºC to 40ºC / 32ºF to 104ºF; 10% to 90% RH

-25ºC to 45ºC / -13ºF to 113ºF; 10% to 90% RH

Min. accuracy 1 minute/month free running, battery backed

RS-232, up to 115200 bauds, mini-jack 3.5mm

Line level, stereo, mini-jack 3.5mm

55

WARRANTY

Gefen warrants the equipment it manufactures to be free from defects in material and workmanship.

If equipment fails because of such defects and Gefen is notifi ed within two (2) years from the date of shipment, Gefen will, at its option, repair or replace the equipment, provided that the equipment has not been subjected to mechanical, electrical, or other abuse or modifi cations. Equipment that fails under conditions other than those covered will be repaired at the current price of parts and labor in effect at the time of repair. Such repairs are warranted for ninety (90) days from the day of reshipment to the Buyer.

This warranty is in lieu of all other warranties expressed or implied, including without limitation, any implied warranty or merchantability or fi tness for any particular purpose, all of which are expressly disclaimed.

1. Proof of sale may be required in order to claim warranty.

2. Customers outside the US are responsible for shipping charges to and from

Gefen.

3. Copper cables are limited to a 30 day warranty and cables must be in their original condition.

The information in this manual has been carefully checked and is believed to be accurate. However, Gefen assumes no responsibility for any inaccuracies that may be contained in this manual. In no event will Gefen be liable for direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages resulting from any defect or omission in this manual, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. The technical information contained herein regarding the features and specifi cations is subject to change without notice.

For the latest warranty coverage information, refer to the Warranty and Return

Policy under the Support section of the Gefen Web site at www.gefen.com.

PRODUCT REGISTRATION

Please register your product online by visiting the Register Product page under the Support section of the Gefen Web site.

56

Rev A8

20600 Nordhoff St., Chatsworth CA 91311

1-800-545-6900 818-772-9100 fax: 818-772-9120 www.gefen.com [email protected]

Pb

This product uses UL listed power supplies.

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