Digital Signage Software

The architecture of Web Signage requires a PC for the usage of the Digital Signage software player, so that multimedia-based data can be shown on a display and contents for mobile devices sent via Bluetooth. Small desktop PCs could be a good choice for this task, for example the innovative desktop PC from Asus: the Eee Box.

The features of this mini PC comply with the requirements for the usage of the Web Signage architecture. Especially the low price, the small size (only 27mm x 220mm x 177mm) and the appealing design make this box an ideal choice.

With a few simple updates, it can be used as a player for Digital Signage. The details will be discussed after a short product introduction.

The shipment includes all required items for the usage of the Eee Box:

• Eee Box PC
• Base
• Mounting for the installation at the back of the display; with VESA slots
• Wireless Antenna
• Power Supply
• Power Supply Cable
• Mini-Jack-Adapter S / PDIF
• USB Keyboard
• USB Mouse
• Manual and Installation CD/DVD

The front contains a small panel including the power button, a smart card reader (MMC, SD-HC) a MS (Pro) compatible and two USB 2.0 ports and slots for headset and microphone.

The back contains a slot for the wireless antenna (the EEE has a Wireless Draft n), a power input for 19V, the DVI-out slot, two more USB slots, a LAN port and a 3,5mm audio slot. This additional audio slot can also be used as S/PDIF slot, if a sound system needs to be connected.

The Eee Box uses Windows XP/7 as its operating system, along with a second one called Express Gate. The latter one is a product of Splashtop. It allows the usage of an instant-on version of Linux, enabling a boot in less than five seconds and the implementation of web-services such as Skype. Furthermore, pictures can be seen and modified and as discussed, Windows booted. For our purpose it is enough to allow the automated installation of the Windows operating system. The pre-installed version of Windows is the Home Edition, which is sufficient for the implementation of the Web Signage platform as the Digital Signage player. Let’s find out how this works.

How to configure the Eee Box as the Digital Signage player

A wizard will be started during the first system launch, which will prompt you to complete the Windows installation. Here you will need to insert your credentials. All end devices are already pre-configured therefore no additional and complicated configuration steps are required. Only the network configuration for the internet access needs to be done. The Eee Box offers two possibilities to do this: through the wireless connection or wired with a RJ45 cable. Simply add the parameters for the connection modus and check the internet connectivity.

The connection can also be established through UMTS. Simply use a USB stick including a data SIM-Card. Four USB slots are available for this purpose. If we consider using two of them for the mouse and the keyboard, we have one more left for the Bluetooth features of the platform.

To meet our requirements, we need an automated access without any log-in authentication for the operating system. The only way to enable this feature is to keep only the default user, which is the administrator, without adding any other users (default configuration). You absolutely need to pay attention to this if you want to activate the auto-start of the player with every launch of the operating system (this is the standard configuration for the software settings of the Web Signage Player).

However, if you do add a further user, Windows will prompt you to select a user when starting the system. This will disable the auto-start feature of the player. Consequently, this auto-log-on will have to be executed through a dedicated software. Here, we have got a free tool called Tweak UI, which is provided by Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP.

In order to be able to use the Bluetooth features of the platform, we need to add an external USB adapter to the Eee Box as this is not part of the original Bluetooth hardware shipment.

This, however, is not a real cutback since the adapter is not expensive and the integrated transmitter corresponds to norm class 2, with a range limitation of approx. 10 meters, whereas in our case we have implemented models from Belkin (model F8T012ef1) corresponding to norm class 1 with a range of up to 100 meters.

Next, we would like to draw your attention to the following topic. In order to make Bluetooth work steadily we suggest that you run the software player with the native Microsoft drivers. They offer the basic functions required for a smooth data transfer. For this reason it is crucial to not install the driver supplied by the manufacturer (BroadComm is not compatible with the software player).

Finally some tips and tricks:

• Confirm the option ‚enable suspension‘ within the priorities of the power saving options in the control panel. This function will allow you to remotely switch the player on and off, while being monitored through the Web Signage platform.  
• Apply the changes
• In the same window, activate within the tab “power saving options” the box “never” for the following settings: switch off monitor, switch off hard drives, standby and suspension.
• Also disable the option “ask for password when reactivating from standby” within the tab “advanced” in the power saving options.
• Apply the changes and close the window with the power saving options.
• Disable possible screen savers within the screen settings (right click with the mouse on the desktop) by selecting (none).

Now we can switch over to the installation of the Web Signage software player. The installation process of the software will also include the installation of all plug-ins needed for the remote control of the Web Signage architecture. After having installed the player and registered it on the platform, the Eee Box is ready to be used as Digital Signage player. 

On the following Video Tutorials you will find a video on the configuration of the Web Signage player.

The Asus Eee Box in action 

We have connected the Asus Eee Box to a Samsung 40″ Full HD Monitor (1920 x 1080p) through a VGA slot in order to test it. The Eee Box offers full support for this resolution. The feedback was excellent. After several hours of operating time the temperature only increased slightly and the noise of the ventilation was hardly perceivable. There were no problems or performance issues. The playback of the slides went perfectly well and the full screen modus had no constraint with regard to the quality of the image, although most of the times the audience stands quite some meters away from the screen.

Conclusion

Our impression of the Eee Box has been extremely positive and if you consider that not only the  PC, but also the standard VESA adaptor for the installation behind the monitor is part of the shipment, one could think that the designers from Asus have developed the Eee Box especially for the needs of Digital Signage. Eventually, we would like to bring up the price. The Eee Box costs approx. 250 Euro, being far less expensive than any alternative for the usage of the Digital Signage player.