Digital signage can often be too expensive for a small college to install and maintain. There is not simply the initial costs of the media players (and any other additional software costs) to consider, but the resources required to maintain a digital signage network can often be costly too. Many colleges simply don't have the personnel dedicated to maintaining a large and complex digital signage system.

Mott Community College chose Cilutions digital signage to install it's 60 screen network across its campus. [something more here] The features provided by Cilutions include:

		Local user controls to update fields on the screen
		Real-time, graphical weather display
		Multiple RSS feeds playing on the screen
		Plug-and-play capability so the end user needs to know nothing about the network. The user just plugs the set-top box in and powers it up
		Automatic detection of each set-top box when it comes online

ConneC-TV is a central Massachusetts focused television network for local advertisers. They deliver focused marketing messages to specific locations, within the community. ConneC-TV enables local businesses to deliver a personal "out of home" message to potential customers. The message will be viewed by consumers who live, shop, dine and obtain services from local businesses. A business is showcased in one of ConneC-TV's local Advertisement Viewing Locations (AVL’s). ConneC-TV will work with a business to help develop the most effective video and/or audio-video message for that customer. These messages serve to assist the local business by providing a direct focus to the customers who they are marketing to most; local customers.

Cilutions
After having worked with other digital signage providers, ConneC-TV chose Cilutions digital media platform. Our set-top box solution provided ConneC-TV with the right combination of price and feature set. Plus, our highly trained support staff is always available to help customize ConneC-TV's digital signage offering as new advertisers are added. The features provided by Cilutions include:

		Local user controls to update fields on the screen
		Real-time, graphical weather display
		Multiple RSS feeds playing on the screen
		Plug-and-play capability so the end user needs to know nothing about the network. The user just plugs the set-top box in and powers it up
		Automatic detection of each set-top box when it comes online

Click here to see an example Connec-TV digital signage screen.

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Background
The Automotive Broadcasting Network (ABN) is the first in-dealership, private television network controlled by the dealer. ABN, which is fueled by the CBS Television Network, was formed to leverage existing dealership assets to assist automobile dealerships with selling more products and services in an entirely unique and professional manner.

ABN serves captive customers inside the automobile dealership with high-quality, fast-paced, family-friendly entertainment - prime time programming not available during normal business hours.

ABN helps reduce customer perceived wait times by providing entertaining content, thereby improving customer satisfaction and enhancing customer loyalty. More importantly, ABN eliminates competitor advertising from playing in the dealership.

ABN is based in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

ABN Network Diagram


Requirements
ABN recognized that dealers wanted to take advantage of the increased amount of time customers were spending at their facilities. With customers coming back to trusted dealerships more often than in the past for service work, dealers saw a unique opportunity to market to their best customers.

In addition, dealers wanted to make a customer visit to their dealership more pleasant by providing quality television programming rather than the traditional daytime TV that customers were being forced to watch.

ABN also wanted a system that allowed dealers to control the advertising content being shown on TVs throughout their facility. Thus, ABN decided to feature three types of "out of home" content:

		Entertainment - screening popular, family-friendly CBS shows
		Advertising - showing customers a dealer's upcoming vehicles for sale
		Educational - providing customers with technical tips on the importance and benefits of routine auto maintenance

Most importantly, ABN required a private network that would send custom programming straight into the dealer's waiting areas, to be aired on the dealership's own televisions or flat panel monitors.

To do all of this, ABN selected a private satellite data network as the transport mechanism for delivering content to automotive dealerships nationwide.

Cilutions
ABN chose Cilutions DMB Media Player and DMB Content Distribution software products to manage and control video distribution and playout to the various automotive dealers on the network. Some ABN network features provided by Cilutions include:

		Reliable storage of all dealer content at ABN's central sending hub in Detroit, Michigan
		Easy registration of content - an ABN administrator simply delivers individual dealer content into well-known directories, where they are automatically registered for delivery to designated dealer receivers
		Multicast Addressing - Cilutions software allows video content to be sent simultaneously to thousands of receivers across ABN's dealer network
		Package addressing to ABN dealer receivers at a group or individual level - Cilutions software allows custom advertising to be targeted to specific dealerships, while letting broader CBS content span an entire region
		All ABN dealer receivers are ensured of reliable delivery, since Cilutions software uses forward error correction (FEC) techniques that detect and repair lost packets during reception
		Prioritization of content - Cilutions software lets ABN indicate the order in which content should be sent to its dealer receivers when more than one file is scheduled for transmission at the same time
		Status Reporting - Cilutions software provides options that allow ABN to track delivery status either through web service reporting mechanisms or via on-demand email status reports
		Dynamic Bandwidth Scaling - Cilutions software offers dynamic, seamless, transmission rate scaling to accomodate any surge in ABN's distribution demands. This is especially useful when ABN needs to send a new set of advertisements just before a weekend sale

Click here to see how ABN is using our digital signage solution.

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Background
SpectiCast is the fastest growing all-digital private network company in North America, distributing film, cultural arts events, and alternative content to both theatrical and non-theatrical venues. SpectiCast's proprietary Digital Theatre NetworkTM delivers the highest quality audiovisual digital experience using state-of-the-art Internet-protocol technologies operating over a network that has worldwide reach. SpectiCast leverages patented technologies to deliver both live and pre-recorded HD content over standard, commercial-grade Internet connections. SpectiCast has extensive experience in the fields of data networking, video transmission technology, video production, and the cultural arts.

How It Works
At the retirement home, the setup is simple. A set-top box has standard HDMI components that can connect to a projector, DVD player or closed circuit TV network. All you need to do is to plug it into an Ethernet connection. The set-top box then sends a UDP packet through the router and handshakes with Specticast's network, opens the proper ports and streams the live video to the target display. The box is controlled virtually, so the Specticast help staff can reboot it, change settings and power cycle should problems arise. If a user is running a downlink that can't support high definition, the content is shown in standard.

At the venue itself, Specticast commissions a professional production team or utilizes the in-house team to record performances. In the case of the Philadelphia Orchestra, seven robotic camera and two handhelds record the action. A producer, directory and editors make sure that the production stays on taks. A host emcees the event and interviews the orchestra crew backstage before and after the event.

Cilutions
Specticast chose Cilutions DMB Management Applications to manage and control the operation of their set-top boxes across the Internet. The features provided by Cilutions include:

		Standards-based management agents running in each set-top box and providing health and status information to the network operations center
		Reporting of video and audio activity for each set-top box; Specticast knows when a set-top box is up and working well
		Plug-and-play capability so the end user needs to know nothing about the network. The user just plugs the set-top box in and powers it up
		Automatic detection of each set-top box when it comes online
		SNMP proxy capability in the network operations center letting Specticast's management servers configure and monitor the set-top boxes by setting the video channels, tracking up-time and even initiating a reboot of one or more set-top boxes automatically
		Engineering development services where Cilutions combines software components from the set-top box manufacturer along with third party components and Cilutions supplied components into a cohesive image configured for field deployment according to Specticast's requirements
		Cilutions Tier 3 services supporting field operations and technical problem analysis and resolution

Click here to see how Specticast is using our video-on-demand solution.

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Background
Verizon Business, which operates the satellite broadcast communications service for the International Satellite Communications System (ISCS), required a file distribution system. They needed a system that could reliably and securely transmit large amounts of weather map data to the National Weather Service (NWS) worldwide locations.

Cilutions
Verizon chose Cilutions DMB Content Distribution product for the ISCS network at NWS. Some features incorporated by the ISCS network include:

		Reliable storage of NWS content at its central sending hub
		Easy registration of content - The NWS computer system simply delivers bundled weather maps into well- known directories, where they are automatically registered for delivery to receiving platforms
		Multicast Addressing - allows each weather map bundle to be sent simultaneously to thousands of receivers across NWS' worldwide network
		Package addressing to NWS receivers at a group or individual level allows weather maps to be targeted to specific local stations, while letting broader weather alerts span an entire region
		Reliable delivery to both receive-only and two-way NWS receivers - uses forward error correction (FEC) techniques that detect and repair lost packets during reception
		Priorization of content - lets NWS indicate the order in which content should be sent to its receivers when more than one file is scheduled for transmission at the same time

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