MultiQ DSMS 3 User manual

MultiQ Digital Signage
DSMS 3 User’s Manual

Contents
Introduction.............................................................................................................................................................................................4
Preparations...........................................................................................................................................................................................5
Set up your first physical media monitor or media player ..................................................................................7
Setting up a media monitor........................................................................................................................................................8
Unpacking ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................8
Mounting............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................8
Connections....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................8
Hardware Installation...............................................................................................................................................................................................................9
Control panel buttons and LEDs....................................................................................................................................................................................9
Buttons................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................9
Media players 4 and 5 ............................................................................................................................................................... 10
Connections................................................................................................................................................................................................................................10
Hardware Installation...........................................................................................................................................................................................................10
Front panel LEDs....................................................................................................................................................................................................................10
Configuration..................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Monitor adjustments.............................................................................................................................................................................................................12
To “Auto adjust” the image location on the monitor................................................................................................................................................................................................. 12
To calibrate the touch panel......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Configuration and connection check ............................................................................................................................. 14
Basic configuration ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................14
Stand alone setup ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................15
Centrally managed network setup............................................................................................................................................................................18
Downloading content ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................19
Flash installation............................................................................................................................................................................. 20
Troubleshooting.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................20
Testing the web client and defining your first media player......................................................................... 22
To find confirmation that the media player is connected to the DSMS.................................................. 25
Decreasing the media player report interval.....................................................................................................................................................25
Content Management basics................................................................................................................................................ 27
Organizing playlists into channels.............................................................................................................................................................................28
Image retention ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................29
Exercise 1 – Create a simple full screen digital poster or an in-store TV channel.................... 30
To upload content to the DSMS (Digital Signage Management Server) .................................................................................. 31
Single file upload ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................31
Multiple file upload.................................................................................................................................................................................................................33
Creating playlists.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................34
To add a playlist...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 34
Adding media files to the playlist ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 37
Editing the playlists.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 37
To create a channel (Group Playlist)..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 38
To add playlists to your channel................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 40
To associate the channel with the media player......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 41
To add more playlists and content to the channel.......................................................................................................................................42
To create a second playlist............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 43

To play playlists in sequence.........................................................................................................................................................................................46
Scheduling ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................47
Adding more playlists..........................................................................................................................................................................................................52
Adding a playlist with a movie file .............................................................................................................................................................................52
Using a web link (URL) as a media spot in playlists ..................................................................................................................................55
Add a playlist with an SWF Flash file .....................................................................................................................................................................58
A live stream treated as a media spot....................................................................................................................................................................61
Exercise 2 – To build a web kiosk.................................................................................................................................... 67
Adding a virtual keyboard ................................................................................................................................................................................................69
Exercise 3 – Local interactivity........................................................................................................................................... 74
Build a multi region application...................................................................................................................................................................................76
To build the Dashboard .....................................................................................................................................................................................................83
Making the html dashboard............................................................................................................................................................................................89
Preview the dashboard web page in window................................................................................................................................................101
To publish the dashboard website to a folder on your hard drive ................................................................................................103
To put the dashboard inside the media monitor.........................................................................................................................................106
To upload the Dashboard to the media player...........................................................................................................................................................................................................109
Exercise 4 – Adding a ticker..............................................................................................................................................119
Getting tickers from RSS feeds...............................................................................................................................................................................119
Exercise 5 – The “Stores” feature –Scalability....................................................................................................124
Scalability and how to handle multiple stores...............................................................................................................................................130
To control the display hours in the stores........................................................................................................................................................131
Appendix 1 – Monitoring and logging the units .................................................................................................133
Appendix 2 – Controlling the default playlists.....................................................................................................134
Scheduling default playlists.........................................................................................................................................................................................134
Setting the time to revert to the default playlists.......................................................................................................................................135
Appendix 3 – Mixing local play with web elements in in-store TV channels ...............................137
Building an in-store TV channel including web- and API controlled elements..................................................................137
Building the video mode to fit widescreen monitors...............................................................................................................................138
Appendix 4 – Local insertion.............................................................................................................................................139
Appendix 5 – Interconnected media players ........................................................................................................140
Appendix 6 – Synchronizing media players...........................................................................................................142
Appendix 7 – Rights management...............................................................................................................................143
Appendix 8 – How to secure your media player................................................................................................145
Appendix 9 – Converting PPT to video clips.........................................................................................................146
To use Power Point Presentations for digital signage..........................................................................................................................146

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Introduction
This manual is an introduction to MultiQ DSMS 3 (Digital Signage Management System 3) and Media
player 4, 5 and Media monitors 4, 5, 6 and 7. DSMS 3 is backwards compatible with MultiQ Media
player 3, Media player 2 and Media player 1. I.e. that previous Media player 1, 2 and 3 features may be
administrated by DSMS 3 as well. To be able to use the web- and Open API features, Media player 3 or
Media players 4, 5 or Media monitors 4, 5, 6 and 7 need to be used. It is possible to have a combination
of all four generations of media players administrated in the same account.
It is also possible to manage the media monitors and media players in standalone mode without any
central server.
To implement interactive applications for media players 1 and 2, Java script interactivity is used. Media
players 4, 5 and media monitors 4, 5, 6 and 7 support Java script interactivity as well but it is
recommended to use html interactivity instead since this gives access to the features of the API
(Application Programming Interface).
The manual includes a number of exercises that are intended to introduce you to all the features of the
MultiQ DSMS 3 step-by-step. Please do the exercises in chronological order since each exercise is
based on prerequisites gained in previous exercises.

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Preparations
In order to make the exercises you will need the following:
•One Media monitor 4, 5, 6 or 7 or a Media player 4 or 5. If a Media player 4 or 5 is used for the
exercises you will need a touch panel monitor to be able to do the interactivity parts.
•As an option the MultiQ POS (Point of Sale) Pole with rotatable attachment for the monitor can be
used. This makes it easy to rotate the monitor between landscape and portrait orientation (pivot).
Portrait orientation is not used in the exercises but a rotatable attachment is recommended when
developing applications.
•A PC with a web browser.
•Your DSMS 3 content management account address and password*.
•A broadband connection allowing for HTTP- and FTP traffic (see to that there are no restrictions in
your firewall preventing you from using the content management server) **
•The content- and tool files required for your exercises (can be downloaded from the MultiQ
website, www.multiq.com).
•A web page creation tool according to your preferences. Serif Web Plus SE is a suitable choice and
is used in this manual (can be downloaded for free from
http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/software/webplus/index.asp).
•As an option an external website where you can build your own website may be useful.
•If you wish to try the Client Open API interconnectivity features you will need more than one Media
Player (preferable on Media monitor and one Media player with a separate widescreen monitor)
and a gateway router (NAT box).
*) Required for centrally managed mode only
**) Required for centrally managed mode. An Internet connection is also required when using the media
player/monitor as a web kiosk or when retrieving other content from external servers on the Internet.

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Figure 1. MultiQ Media player and Media monitor product range.

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Set up your first physical media monitor or media player
As soon as you have a unit defined in the DSMS we are ready to set up a physical media monitor or
media player for test.
To be able to do all of the exercises (including interactivity), it is preferable to use a Media monitor 5 or
7. Media players 4 and 5 can be used but this requires a separate monitor to be used. To do the
interactive parts of the exercises the monitor needs to include a touch panel with a USB interface that is
to be connected to one of the USB ports of the media player.

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Setting up a media monitor
Unpacking
Please make sure that the following items are included in the package and in good condition. If you find
that any items damaged or missing, please contact your retailer immediately.
•One media monitor
•AC/DC adapter with 12V DC output
•AC power cord
•This user manual
Mounting
Mounting and attachment hardware is not included. The monitor has a VESA 75 x 75 mm interface.
Please contact your MultiQ reseller if you wish to mount your media monitor on the wall or on other
kinds of stands. Mounting instructions are provided with each separate mount.
Connections
The media monitor has connections for Audio (digital and analogue), LAN and USB I/O are to be found
behind the lid on the back of the unit. The knob on the lid is to be turned counter clockwise to release
the lid.
Figure 2. Media monitor back panel connections are located behind the lid.

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Hardware Installation
The audio outputs may be connected to analogue or digital inputs on external audio systems. The LAN
port must be connected to a LAN with Internet access.
During setup a USB keyboard should be connected to one of the USB ports. Do all connections before
powering up by connecting the external power supply.
Control panel buttons and LEDs
On the back of the Media monitor there are three buttons and 4 LEDs.
Figure 3. Media monitor control panel with operating buttons and indication LEDs.
Buttons
Power on button
+ / – buttons to adjust brightness
LED indications:
Power – This led will be lit when the media monitor is on (Blue).
Status – This led indicates activities and result of activities
•Flashing between red and green: ongoing activity as starting up, shutting down or download in
progress.
•Green: download succeeded
•Red: communication with digital signage management server failed or download failed
HDD – Flash memory activity (Yellow).
LAN – Flashes when there is activity on the LAN port.
•Not lit: no network access
•Constantly lit in green: Link up at 100 Mb/s or 1000 Mb/s
•Flashing in green: Network activity at 100 Mb/s or 1000 Mb/s
•Constantly lit in red: Link up at 10 Mb/s
•Flashing in red: Network activity at 10 Mb/s

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Media players 4 and 5
The Media players 4 and 5 are operated in very much the same way as the Media monitors. If you intend
to use a separate Media player to do the exercises you will need an external monitor. To do the
exercises including interactivity you will need to use a monitor with a touch panel. The touch panel
needs to have a USB interface that is connected to one of the media player USB ports. In the sections
below the controls and indications of the media players 4 and 5 are described.
Connections
The media player has connections for DVI-D (digital only), Audio (digital and analogue), LAN and USB I/O.
Figure 4. Media player back panel connections.
Hardware Installation
Connect the DVI-D output to the monitor to be used. If the monitor has an HDMI input a conversion
cable should be used. A monitor must be used when configuring the media player.
The audio outputs may be connected to analogue or digital inputs on external audio systems. The LAN
port must be connected to a LAN with Internet access.
If a touch panel monitor is to be used, one of the USB ports should be connected to the touch panel
interface of the monitor.
During setup a USB keyboard should be connected to one of the USB ports. Do all connections before
powering up by connecting the external power supply.
Front panel LEDs
On the front of the media player there are 4 LEDs.
Figure 5. Front panel with indication LEDs.

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Power – This led will be lit when the media player is on (Blue).
Status – This led indicates activities and result of activities
•Flashing between red and green: ongoing activity as starting up, shutting down or download in
progress.
•Green: download succeeded
•Red: communication with the digital signage management server failed or download failed
HDD – Indicates hard drive activity (Yellow).
LAN – Flashes when there is activity on the LAN port.
•Not lit: no network access
•Constantly lit in green: Link up at 100 Mb/s or 1000 Mb/s
•Flashing in green: Network activity at 100 Mb/s or 1000 Mb/s
•Constantly lit in red: Link up at 10 Mb/s
•Flashing in red: Network activity at 10 Mb/s

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Configuration
To perform initial setup of a media monitor either the touch panel (Media monitors 5 and 7) or an
attached mouse can be used (Media monitors 4 and 6 that do not have touch panels).
Monitor adjustments
To “Auto adjust” the image location on the monitor
Reboot the media player once more. After the media player has booted a white sign with two MultiQ
logos is shown on the screen. If the image is not correctly centered on the screen this may be corrected
by simultaneously pressing the “+” and “-“ buttons on the back of the monitor. It is crucial that this
adjustment is done before calibrating the touch screen. This adjustment will secure that the content is
presented at the correct location on the screen and the setting will be automatically stored in the
monitor.
To calibrate the touch panel
Next step is to calibrate the touch panel to ensure that a touch on the screen is detected at the correct
location on the screen.
During reboot of the media player a test pattern is shown. By touching the test pattern the calibration
process will be initiated.
Figure 6. The calibration process is initiated by pressing the test pattern that occurs when booting up.

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When calibration is done it is automatically stored in the media player and no further calibration is
needed as long as the same media player is connected to the monitor. If the monitor or the media player
is replaced the calibration procedure has to be done once more.
Figure 7. Follow the instructions at the center of the screen to calibrate the touch panel.

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Configuration and connection check
Basic configuration
After the test card has been shown, the monitor orientation setting will appear. By pressing the centre
button you can rotate the menu system to fit the orientation of the monitor.
Figure 8. By pressing the centre button the configuration menu can be rotated.
When the proper orientation of the menu system has been chosen the language setting menu will
appear. By choosing the language, also the language keyboard setting is selected.
Figure 9. The language settings menu.
Next is the setup menu login page. You will find see the virtual keyboard at the bottom of the page. By
default the username is “admin” and the password is “admin”.

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Figure 10. Use the virtual keyboard to enter username and password.
Stand alone setup
As default the “Basic” setup menu is chosen. If you intend to use the media monitor as a standalone
unit (without access to a central managing system) press the “Standalone” button (default).
In most cases media players are connected to a local network that provides an IP address automatically.
If so, press “DHCP”. Then press “Test connection”.
Figure 11. Standalone setup with DHCP selected.

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Before proceeding to the next menu a Test connection should be made. Clicking the test connection
button will provide you with the IP address that the unit has acquired from the DHCP server.
Figure 12. The connection test will provide you with the IP address of the media monitor.
After pressing the “Next” button you will find yourself in the digital signage management system main
menu.
As an alternative to acquiring an IP address automatically, the IP address can be set manually. In such
case you must obtain IP addressing parameters from your network administrator.
Figure 13. As an alternative the IP address of the media monitor can be set as static.

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Most features of the media monitor can be handled using the onscreen menus. However in order to
upload content files and for more practical handling of the unit, you are recommended to log in to the
media monitor from your PC. To log in to the unit you need to know its IP address.
To be able to log in to the unit you also need to remove the web server lock. For security the web server
is by default locked from inbound requests. To remove the web server lock you need to click the “Users”
icon to the left. The “Disable remote access to web server” check box should be unchecked. Then click
“Save”. After a while the media monitor will be available for inbound requests.
Figure 14. In the “Security menu” (reached by clicking the “Users” icon to the left), the web server lock
can be removed and the password can be changed.
Another thing that should be done at an early stage is to change the administrator password. In the
“Security” menu (Figure 9) tick the “Admin” checkbox and then click the “Modify” button to change the
administrator password. After entering the new password, press “Save”. Finally press “Done” to leave the
onscreen menu system.

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Figure 15. The administrator password can be changed by ticking the “Administrator“ checkbox and then
clicking the “Modify” button.
By connecting your PC to the same subnet as the media monitor it is now possible to log in to the
server from your PC or MAC. Just put the IP address of your media monitor on the address line of your
web browser and log in to the media monitor web server using the password that you have chosen.
Using your web browser you can now manage the content that is to be used in the media monitor.
A more detailed manual on how to manage content in standalone mode is included in appendix 1. If you
intend to use your unit in standalone mode, please go there now.
The remaining part of this manual describes how to handle a centrally managed system.
Centrally managed network setup
If the media monitor is to be used in a centrally managed digital signage network you should choose
“Managed” in the configuration menu. Add the media monitor ID and the URL of the server (Account
URL) along with the username and the password that have been provided by the network administrator.
Then click the “Test connection” button to verify that a script file is received from the management
server. In order to get a successful connection test the media player or media monitor needs to be
defined in the central management system. How this is done is described in the “Testing the web client
and defining your first media player” section.

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Figure 16. Centrally managed setup of the media monitor.
If you are successful you will get a sign on the screen telling you that the unit has received a script file
and that the connection is up. It also confirms that the media monitor Unit ID is defined in the digital
signage management system.
If the connection test fails, start by checking the parameters once more to see that everything is
correctly set. Also check the LAN cabling.
When everything is working correctly press “Next” to save the settings. After the reboot the media
monitor will automatically start downloading the files decided by the digital signage management
system. While downloading files the “Status” LED will flash between red and green.
Downloading content
After the reboot the media monitor will automatically start downloading the files decided by the digital
signage management system. While downloading files the “Status” LED will flash between red and
green.
If a touch panel (Media monitor 5 and 7) or separate monitor with touch panel, the touch panel must be
calibrated according to before use.

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Flash installation
If the media monitor is to use Flash files a Flash plug in has to be installed. This is done by pressing the
“Plug-ins” button in the configuration menu. Follow the instructions to install Flash. Also other plug-ins
will become available in this menu.
Figure 17. Plug-ins such as Flash are available in the “Plug-in” menu.
Troubleshooting
The media monitor doesn’t power up
•Check the LED on the power supply. If not lit, make sure it’s properly connected to a wall socket.
•If the power supply LED is lit, but the media monitor still doesn’t power up. Check the cable between
the power supply and the media monitor.
The media monitor shows an “IDLE” message
•Check the status LED, if flashing between red and green, the media monitor is downloading content.
Wait for download to complete.
•Check the settings in the configuration menu and make a connection test.
•Check the Ethernet connection. Make sure that the outbound ports 21, 80 and NTP 123 are left
open in the firewall.