Tutorial: Choosing a Scheduling Options for Video Kiosk


In addition to controlling Content Loop order, you can control the time at which the Content Loop is displayed using a schedule. You can use any one of the following methods:

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Deciding on a Schedule option

When deciding on which schedule option to use, consider three things:

  • How often will the schedule change?
  • How many devices will be impacted?
  • Device constraints. How accessible are the devices – are they difficult to get to because they are mounted overhead on a wall or in another city? Do they have internet access? Is there a cloud service set up?

Which scheduling option best meets your requirements will depend on your configuration. How are the considerations for each option.

  • Android calendar considerations. Since Android Calendar is on the device, you’ll need to enter the schedule events on each of your devices. If you want to modify the schedule, you’ll need to enter the new schedule events on each device.
    Considerations:
    • Doesn’t require the device to have internet access
    • Requires an Android Calendar app to be installed on each device
    • Easy to do, provided the schedule does not change often
    • Easy to do, provided you have only a few devices you would have to modify the schedule of
    • Easy to do, provided the devices are easy to access
  • Google calendar considerations. Using the Internet, you can have many devices share the same Google Calendar. You enter the schedule events on a Google Calendar and then configure all the devices to use the same calendar. To modify the schedule, you just need to enter the new schedule events on Google calendar and all the devices will automatically switch to the new schedule.
    Considerations:
    • Requires that all devices have access to the internet
    • Requires the Google Calendar app to be installed on each device
    • Requires more initial set-up, but allows you to change the schedule on one central location and then have it propagate out to many devices, regardless of their location
  • Local Schedule XML file considerations. Since a local Schedule XML file is on the device, you’ll need to copy the schedule file on to each of your devices each time you change the schedule. This may be cumbersome and time-consuming if the schedule changes often, if you have many devices, or if the devices are difficult to get to.
    Considerations:
    • Doesn’t require the device to have internet access
    • Easy to do, provided the schedule does not change often
    • Easy to do, provided you have only a few devices you would have to copy the new Schedule XML file to
    • Easy to do, provided the devices are easy to access
  • Schedule XML file over the cloud considerations. Using the built-in Cloud Update feature or a Cloud Service, you can synchronize many devices to one Schedule XML File. You create one Schedule XML file and synchronize one or many devices to the file using the cloud. To modify the schedule, you just need to move the new schedule file to the location on the cloud service and all the devices will automatically switch to the new schedule. This will save time over changing the schedule on each device individually, but does require the use of a cloud service and that each device have access to the Internet.
    Considerations:
    • Requires that all devices have access to the internet
    • Doesn’t require a calendar App be installed on each device
    • Requires more initial set-up, but allows you to change the schedule in one XML file and then have it propagate out to many devices, regardless of their location

Playback Schedule Tutorials

Resources

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