Software Design to Tie it All Together
Today, it is not enough to deliver just a network application processor, leaving the embedded designer to figure out the software side for themselves. More and more, embedded designers desire devices that come with a plethora of embedded software solutions to expedite designs. In essence, the market demands complete system solutions from component vendors.
As such, there are various embedded software considerations embedded designers should look for from their network application processor provider of choice. The software should enable simplicity in creating the complete system solution with clear user feature sets. Ultimately, this is so software will enable faster designs and reduced support investments. Embedded software features that add value and reduce use complexities — thus also reducing support investments — can stem from using a Linux Kernel 2.6.15 based Embedded RTOS. With this, one can enable a web server for quick configuration and status reporting and the ability for the web Server UI to be password protected. These are important features to manage and secure digital signage systems.
The software must be designed to manage the media to be used by a digital signage player. It should also hold the database of play lists to control advertisements on each DS player and needs to be able to retrieve and process data feeds for news, announcements, etc. In addition, it is important to ensure the software is designed to hold a mirror of each DS player’s content, ready to be synchronized when the remote DS Player transmits content to other DS players via TCP/IP.
Any good management software will also have a remote management console to tie the system together. When enabling a remote management console, several important features should be enabled. Obviously, it should allow the loading of content into the system from remote locations. It should also allow editing of the database. This includes an ability to edit data about each DS player; an ability to edit records for each advert and resources they require; an ability to edit and assemble play lists of adverts and more. It should also allow users to create a queue of updates to be sent to the DS players.
Conclusion
The design of digital signage players to enable high performing, full-featured digital signage systems is dependent on the selection of the right network application processor. It must support the needed feature sets, performance and design in tools. In addition, it is important that, from firmware to software, the device provider have a good mix of options for embedded designers. The proper mix of components and embedded software tools alongside is vital. The digital display signage market is growing fast and complexity in design — for embedded designers and users of systems — is the last thing needed during the blooming stages of this lucrative market.
About the Author
Vamshi Kandalla is Vice President of Marketing for MosChip Semiconductor. He brings broad experience in product management, new business development; strategic alliances, product strategy and design win management for the consumer, embedded and industrial markets on a global basis. He has Engineering and MBA degrees in addition to Certificates in International Marketing, Trade and Commerce. He can be reached at vkandalla@moschip.com.
