Allonis has created a new web template intended to be used in a trade show booth to help display marketing and tutorial information to potential customers.
The goals: a super easy to use system where video walls can be configured and media files can be easily chosen to play on a video wall, on individual TVs within a video wall, or other TVs located throughout the booth.
The system also supports the ability to pre-define playlists to play several preselected movies in a row as a canned presentation.
Custom configurations also include the ability to change the video wall from "1x1 mode" to "2x2 mode" automatically within a script.
Home Page
On the Home page, just select which video source (including Allonis's myMediaPlayers) and then click on the TV it should be displayed on.
You can also configure the Video wall simply by clicking the "1x1" or the "2x2" icon. 3x3 or other custom video walls are also supported.
The "Start" and "Stop" buttons enable the "show mode" that supports a pre-scripted sequence of automating video switching (video wall configuration), sound volume level changes, video source auto selection, playing selected media files according to the pre-scripted sequence.
Even if the Show Mode is enabled, a show presenter (or even a booth visitor) can change what they are watching that meets their immediate interest.
Media
On the Media page, the user simply selects a Video source on the left. Then, the user selects either a Folder of movies, or to choose a Playlist. Once the Folder is chosen from the middle column, then the right side can be scrolled with a finger (on a tablet) to choose the correct movie to watch.
Content Management
Click the "Power" button and the Emby Library management tools are available. Here is where you can create folders or playlists and manage the content. Typically this would be done in advance of the show after all of the content is uploaded to the Allonis content server.
Adding Folders
Here is where the Library folders are managed. Once the content is uploaded, it is automatically added to the database for that folder.
About
Screensaver
When myMediaPlayers are not presenting a movie, we create a custom screensaver to maintain branding
Allonis LLC has been developing content management systems for almost 20 years. The system above is completely customizable for most any content need. Give us a call if you have a project we can assist with.
Installation
Install the two Allonis Rack units into a rack in a cool area that has free flowing cool air.
The single computer rack is called myServer 6 automation controller. The rack unit with the 4 computer devices are myMediaPlayers 1-4 (left to right looking at front face).
Plug each power supply into a power strip. Plug the power strip into a suitably scaled UPS for power backup to prevent short cycling of power to the computers.
Each power supplies USB-C connector plugs into the back of each of the computers.
Plug in Netgear Router power supply into UPS and power this up first.
The Top HDMI port on the front rack face must be connected to a HDMI matrix or monitor BEFORE booting any of the computers. The computer will not fully boot if no HDMI device is connected.
It is recommended that an HDMI monitor and a USB wireless keyboard / mouse is available to access the computer's desktops if any adjustments / fixes are needed at the show especially if there is no Internet connection for Allonis to remotely assist.
Ethernet Connection of the system:
- Optional Internet connected LAN (for Allonis to remotely connect to the system) connects to WAN connector (yellow) of Netgear Router.
- LAN connections of Netgear then plug into devices and / or unmanaged ethernet network switch.
- Connect each device into the ethernet network switch ports.
Wifi connection to the system
To control the system, you can connect to the Netgear Router via Wifi: Allonis / allonis123
Allonis remote connection to the system
The WAN port of the Netgear Router can be connected to an Internet accesible network. The router will get it's WAN IP address from the Internet network's DHCP server. The myServer controller has TeamViewer running on it that will then be accessible by Allonis for programming or troubleshooting assistance. No external dedicated public IP address is required on the WAN.
Updating Content
Connect a laptop with your .mp4 content files via Wifi to the Netgear Wifi Router using the "Allonis" network. Password is Allonis123.
Unzip your content files on the laptop.
Network connect to "\\192.168.2.10"
Copy the content to the "myMedia\2021show" folder. Ensure the file name is lower case, and use underscores in place of spaces.
To create coverart for the movies, use the same filename but use a .jpg file extension and put that file in the same folder as the .mp4 movies.
Once the content is in the system, Emby (the content management software application running on myServer 6 controller) will then automatically index the new content and myServer will then present that to the user interface (running on the iPad / laptop).
Updating wallpaper on the Players
The background image that each player uses is stored in the boot folder on the usb. It requires stopping the players and opening up the folder on the pc and replacing the file in Root\flash. Then, boot and launch Kodi. Go to System Settings. Select TeakSystems at the bottom of the list. Then select background file. Refresh. Then select file in the flash folder.
System configuration
Netgear R6260 router) IP 192.168.2.1 admin / Allonis123 Wifi: Allonis / allonis123
myServer 6) IP: 192.168.2.10/dashboard 192.168.2.10/teakdecking
settings / safari / request desktop website / all website = off
Player1) IP: 192.168.2.11
Player2) IP: 192.168.2.12
Player3) IP: 192.168.2.13
Player4) IP: 192.168.2.14
Cloud9) IP: 192.168.2.8
Boot Order
Booth Wifi Router first. Let it fully get online. It is the DHCP server for all other devices.
Connect Laptop Wifi to WifiRouter (Allonis network / Allonis123)
Boot myServer 6 controller
Connect and turn on Cloud9 and TVs
Boot Player 1-4
You can then start the show via the Laptop browser: http://192.168.2.10/teakdecking