Specifications

Copyright © 2009, 2010, 2011 Black Box Network Services
724-746-5500 | blackbox.com 101
Channels and Signage Networks
How
Description
When would you use this?
On the publishing
iCOMPEL
Channel files are stored on the publishing
iCOMPEL itself and are available to subscribers via
HTTP, HTTPS or FTP.
Typically when you only have a small
number of subscribers (less than 5), that
won't slow the publisher down.
This method requires no extra hardware.
Using a USB memory
stick
Channel files are published onto a USB memory
stick (not included). This stick is then taken to
each subscriber which automatically reads the
channel from it.
This process has to be done each time the
channel is updated.
This would be useful when your iCOMPEL
players are not connected to any network or
you don't want the channel to be published
through the network.
Using an external
server
The publishing iCOMPEL uploads the channel
content via FTP to a separate server which then
makes the files available to the subscribers, either
via FTP, HTTP or HTTPS.
An external server is recommended for
channels with a larger number of iCOMPEL
players or when there are larger media files
in the channel.
This method takes the load from the
publisher iCOMPEL.
This method does not require any special
FTP or web server to function and you tie
this into your existing server hardware or
your web host.
Note: HTTPS is recommended over HTTP when transferring channel content.
Network and Bandwidth Considerations
Network based channels will require both the publisher and subscriber to be able to connect to the CCS either via a local
network or the internet.
Any network based channel will not work if there is a problem with network connectivity or the supplied credentials for either
the publisher or subscriber for an external server are incorrect.
How much bandwidth will be used will depend on the layouts and media being used as well as the number of iCOMPEL
players subscribing to the channel. If there are large media files such as videos, then they will need to be transferred and
this can increase the time it takes for the subscribing iCOMPEL to begin playing the channel. However, once the media is
downloaded, it will not need to be downloaded again and only new or updated items will be transferred.
The subscribers will also periodically check the publishing source for updates to the channel. If your channel does not
update frequently, then you decrease the rate at which the subscribers check for new content. On the other hand if you do
this, it will take longer for the subscribers to notice when the channel has changed.
7.3 Publishing
Content can be published either manually or automatically.
In automatic mode, the currently active channel is always published at the specified time of day.
Channels can be published manually from channel publishing page.
After you have published Channel contents to a file store or Channel Content Server (CCS) you can configure another
iCOMPEL to subscribe to the Channel. The Subscriber iCOMPEL must be able to access the CCS over a network.
100
106