UCView Centralized players are self-contained all-inclusive digital signage players with a design optimized to minimize physical space. Whereas a standard centralized digital signage rack mount can exist with (at least) a power cord and network cable, UCView players have many components removed for space, power and other considerations while still having all the functional components to be considered a player? A Centralized Digital signage player enclosure, which can hold multiple players and media server, provides services such as power, cooling, networking, various interconnect feeds : Live TV feed, video streaming feed and management. Together, UCView Centralize players and the enclosure, form the Centralized digital signage system.

In a standard UCView Centralized digital signage configuration, 1RU (one rack unit, 19” wide and 1.75” tall) defines the minimum possible size of any equipment. The principal benefit and justification of UCView centralized players relate to lifting this restriction as to minimum size requirements.

UCVIEW IN-STORE CENTRALIZED PLAYER TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW

UCView In-store centralized players were developed in response to a critical and growing need in the in-store digital signage deployment: the requirement to increase player’s performance and availability without dramatically increasing the size, cost and management complexity of an ever growing digital signage screens. To keep up with customers demand and because of the space and power demands of traditional players and small factor players, digital signage deployment are being forced to expand their physical plant at an alarming rate.

UCView In-store centralized players. They consolidate powerful and system level functions into a single, integrated chassis and enable the addition of players and other components such live TV and streaming feed technology connections via easy to install players. In-Store centralized player’s technology greatly decreases player maintenance cost, lowers power and cooling costs, eases player’s expansion and simplifies management.

UCView In-store centralized players are not just a new way to package traditional players. Rather, they are integrated systems designed to deliver multimedia content performance in efficient, high density, easy to expand, and easy to manage players.

Centralized Player Benefits

·      Reduced Space Requirements - Greater density provides up to 35 to 45 percent improvement compared to traditional player.

·      Reduced Power Consumption and Improved Power Management - consolidating power supplies into the digital signage centralized chassis reduces the number of separate power supplies needed and reduces the power requirements per player.

·      Lower Management Cost - player consolidation and resource centralization simplifies player’s deployment, management and administration and improves management and control.

·      Simplified Cabling – Digital signage centralized rack mount, while helping consolidate players into a centralized location, create wiring proliferation.

·      Future Proofing Through Modularity - as new processor, communications, storage and interconnect technology becomes available, it can be implemented in players that install into existing equipment, upgrading players operation at a minimum cost and with no disruption of basic player functionality.

·      Easier Physical Deployment - once a centralized digital signage chassis has been installed, adding additional players is merely a matter of sliding in additional player into the chassis. UCView Software management tools simplify the management and reporting functions for players. Redundant power modules and consolidated communication bays simplify integration into centralized digital signage chassis and increase reliability.

Key UCView In-store Centralized Player Technologies

Hardware:

·      Centralized 1U Player - high density computing engines with 1 to 2 processors and memory

·      Player Chassis - enclosures with integrated power and racks for housing players, UCView Media server and connections to external peripherals and content feeds

·      Communication - integrated digital signage with Ethernet, internet and proprietary communication adapters and switches

Power and Cooling Systems - centralized power distribution components that power the centralized digital signage chassis and components

Digital signage is gaining popularity in almost every market where people walk, wait or work. Now you have ads and entertainment while you are fueling. VST International was the first company to mass-produce a pump-top signage solution in 2005 in 2006 Pumptop TV and Gas Station TV started their first large deployment. Currently this market is shared between 8 companies which hold less than 2% of the gas station market.

The annual stations count decreased slightly in the last year down to 167,768 gas stations in the US market. Although current market changes and challenges such as the unstable gasoline prices and inflation, are negatively impacting gas stations profits and sales.  2009 economy may show more impact. The two major oil companies topping the gas stations count in 2008 remain. Shell has the No. 1 spot with 14,000 gas stations, with increase by about 600 gas stations per year. BP increased its amount of stations to 13,000+ in 2008.

Total Gasoline Sales

ExxonMobil has the No. 1 position in total gasoline sales in the United States. ExxonMobil reported that it sold over 24.5 billion gallons of gasoline. ConocoPhillips has the No. 2 spot, with almost 19.1 billion gallons in sales. BP has the No. 3 spot, with its sales of 16.1 billion gallons of gasoline, and Shell has the No. 4 spot, reporting 13 billion gallons.

The 8 companies targeting gas station digital signage are:

Gas Station TV with 1000+ Gas stations

Pumptop TV with over 750+ Gas stations

Fuel Cast with over 600+ Gas stations

Petro TV with over 175+ Gas Stations

Pump Media with over 155+ Locations

FUEL VIEW with over 13+ location

FILLNTHRILL with over 10+ Gas Stations

The combined number of Gas stations deployed by all these companies, are only around 3000 gas stations nationwide which provide larger space for other companies to grow.

Digital out-of-home media at Gas stations provide localized advertising for media buyers to reach consumers at a much lower CPM than any other traditional media, with control of the location time and impression of each ad. Most gas Stations digital signage are installed in high profile gas stations with traffic over 30,000 motorists a month. They rely on the statistics that more than 65% of Americans spend at least 3-6 min per week in a gas station. The challenge with this market is the proof of concept. Selling digital signage ads in this economic time, is no easy task, especially when this venue carries one of the highest costs per location, running around $15,000 -$20,000 per location.

We already know “content is king” and it becomes very crucial in gas station digital signage.  High Broadcast quality is really expectation. You have to entertain the customer. The days of static banners and pictures are fading. The new century customers are tough. You will lose if they see a high-end display with boring and outdated content. Within budget, you’ve got to go high-end with your content. The contents needs to be relevant, informative and not a strictly sales tool. There are several elements that go into producing striking digital signage content, but the most important element is making it relevant to your audience.

The best approach in creating attractive digital signage content is partnering with a content provider. I think this is one of the key successes of Gas Station TV and Outcast, when they partner with major content provider like NBC and CBS for content and news.

Digital signage layout is gaining more focus on how to design the screen to gain more consumer attention. The advantage of digital signage screen over traditional signs is the ability to design the screen with no restraint, create and display content in various customized presentations. Split-screen features enable the digital signage display to show several media sources at the same time in different parts of the screen. The presentation can include a combination of different media types, such as video, Live TV, Flash, Images, RSS feed and more.

When designing digital signage layouts, we need to consider the type of media we plan to play on the screen. I f we are using only pictures and flash presentation, we can divide the screen in any shape or form, because we can adjust the content to the size of the section it’s going to play on. Nevertheless if we play video or live TV, we need to design the video or TV section in 4:3 or 16:9 ratio to avoid stretching or black bars  around the video or the live TV.

The most common digital signage layouts used today are the 3 parts wide and standard screen layout, where the main media is covering 80% to 90% of the left side of the screen, with a side banner and bottom banner stroller. In this type of layout we maintain the 16:9 or 4:3 ratio in the main media section.

4:3 ratio Layout

16:9 Ratio Layout

The concept behind 3 parts layout is simple. Main media section displays live TV, video commercials and other main interest programming or combinations of the above.  Side banner, plays live text base or animation base information, for example: weather, news, traffic, etc.  Bottom stroller is designed for text ticker of timely customized messages and news. This type of layout fits markets like retail, checkout stands and any 4:3 displays.

Another common display layout we see more is the 16:9 Quad sections. this type of layout has more horizontal space due to its 16:9 shape , which provides more width to its side banner sections. Wider side banners gives you the ability to create square shape side sections which can play any type of content as main media but smaller. Such as, TV, video, animation, pictures and more. Like the 3 sections layout (above), the 16:9 quad sections have the text ticker scroll as well. We notice demand for this type of layout in education, corporate, and message boards where there is a need for more information to display simultaneously.

16:9 Quad Sections Layout

UCView media has bench marked their players and software solution with cellular Internet Connectivity at number of locations to deliver digital signage solutions over a cellular network. UCView Media., provider of enterprise-class digital signage solutions will be combining the use of their Cyber view player with Top USA Cellular leader using 3G (Third Generation) wireless-router products. UCView media will provide its customers with wireless connectivity through T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, and ATT wireless.
UCView Cellular wireless enables digital signage users to deploy systems at a faster rate. There will be no need to order local internet provider like DSL or cable, “it would take 15 min to setup a digital signage display” says Guy Avital CEO if UCView Media
UCView solution provide its customer all the flexibility of cellular connections with sophisticated digital signage hardware and software, digital signage network owners can quickly and inexpensively install top quality digital signage systems anywhere.

Pepperdine Today

Digital Signage Project Launches at Pepperdine using UCView Digital Signage Solution

After months of planning and preparation, several video screens have been installed at select locations on the Malibu campus as part of a pilot project for the 2007-2008 academic year. The project was set into motion last year when students within the Student Government Association proposed the installation of digital signage units on campus.

The University Management Committee approved the project and appointed a task force chaired by Dean of Student Affairs Mark Davis to oversee it. Previously, digital signage was installed at the School of Law.Installation of the monitors was funded by a number of donors and departments. The screens are aimed at informing the community about events, news, and other information of interest to the community such as accomplishments, services, and public service announcements.

“We are hoping that this tool is both informative and educational by highlighting exciting events and academic projects,” said Davis. “Faculty, staff, and students can participate by submitting content to share with the community.”

• 11 Dec 2008

With its new enterprise digital signage network UCView Network release, La Curacao is the most growing retailer in the Hispanic market using in-store, digital signage networks and other types of in-store display to promote products and educational program for their customers. The in-store digital signage networks also include spots for suppliers or even unrelated third parties advertisers.
Store vendor are striving to send brand messages to shoppers when it matter the most, right when they’re deciding what to buy,” said Guy Avital, president and managing director of UCView Media. Digital signage creating a growing demand from brand marketers to expend these types of in-store digital signage displays.