Multi-redundant Digital Signage Fallback Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital signage systems often experience interruptions due to server crashes, cable issues, or other faults, leading to potential loss of revenue in environments where continuous information presentation is critical, such as restaurants displaying menu boards.
Innovation Solution
Implementing multi-redundant digital signage systems with video server computers configured to periodically retrieve content from a network-based content server, utilizing desktop backgrounds, and storing content in non-volatile memory for automatic or manual display when primary signals fail.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single video server computer is used to drive digital displays, then the system is simple and cost-effective, but the system reliability deteriorates when the server crashes or video cable is cut
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by configuring the digital display to automatically display previously stored content when it detects that the video signal from the video server computer is unavailable. This pre-configured fallback mechanism ensures continuous information presentation without requiring complex real-time decision-making systems, thus improving reliability while maintaining relatively simple system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by storing content locally in the digital display device in advance. When the primary video signal fails, this pre-stored content acts as a cushion to maintain display functionality, preventing complete system failure and ensuring business continuity during server crashes or cable issues.
2Reliability
If content is continuously retrieved from a network-based content server, then the displayed information is up-to-date, but the system becomes vulnerable to network failures and server crashes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements copying by storing local copies of content directly in the digital display device's memory. This eliminates the single point of failure represented by network dependency, as the display can operate independently using stored content when network connectivity is lost, while still allowing updates when the network is available.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-loading and storing content in the digital display before network failures occur. This ensures that the display has ready-to-use content available locally, maintaining display continuity without requiring active network connectivity during operation.
3Ease of operation
If manual intervention is required to switch to backup content, then system complexity is reduced, but response time increases during failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the digital display to automatically detect video signal unavailability and switch to displaying stored content without requiring manual intervention. This automated response mechanism eliminates the time delay associated with manual switching while keeping the system relatively simple, as the display device itself performs the fault detection and recovery actions.
Data Source
AI summary
Technologies are provided for multi-redundant digital signage. A video server computer connected to one or more digital displays is configured to receive one or more videos and content, such as an image or a video, from a content server. A video player application executes on the video server computer to display the video received from the content server on the digital displays. An operating system executing on the video server computer is also configured to present the content as a desktop background. If execution of the video player application fails, the desktop background is presented, thereby displaying the content received from the content server. Additionally, the content may be stored in a non-volatile memory of the one or more digital displays. If a video signal from the video server computer is lost, the digital displays may present the content automatically or in response to a manual user input.