Overview
Credits: Xibo documentation, overview.
Xibo is an Open Source project, which support Windows and Linux Client applications. It is a flexible and powerful application with a core "ethos" to digital signage that is important to understand from the very beginning.
A Xibo solution is based on 4 things:
- Displays
- Media
- Layouts
- Scheduling
So what does all this mean? Basically Xibo will allow multiple different displays to show media contained on multiple different screen layouts on a scheduled basis.
Lets take a quick look at each basic things to get started.
- Displays
- These represent the hardware connected to the TV/Projector/Tablet panel that is actually displaying the end content. In other words Displays drive the medium people will look at. Each Display is uniquely identified in the CMS so that they can have their own unique content, layout designs and schedules set to them. They can also be uniquely identified for reporting statistics.
- Media
- Media content is the core of a Xibo solution and many different types of content are supported. These are generally split into two categories. File based media that is uploaded and stored in the Library and Layout based media that doesn't have an associated file but is configured directly on a layout instead. An image or video would be Library Media and a RSS feed or some free Text would be Layout based media.
- Layouts
- These are the design that is seen on the screen. Xibo allows you to split the screen up into different Regions, each containing their own Timeline of media to play. A layout itself remains on screen until all the Timelines have finished playing through once, then an entirely fresh Layout can be loaded with different positioning and size of Regions, with different Timelines. This flexibility drives the dynamic nature of an Xibo display screen.
- Scheduling
- Once displays are registered, media content is uploaded and Layouts are designed it is time to put them all together and Schedule Layouts onto the Displays. Each Display will check for new Scheduled content periodically, and download Scheduled Items in advance of playback. Scheduling is highly flexible and supports scheduling to single Displays and Groups, single Layouts and Campaigns and Recurring Schedules. Each Display has a Default Layout that will be shown when nothing else is Scheduled.
Content: What can Xibo play?
Xibo can play a wide range of file based content, as well as consuming content from the Internet.
- Text
- Images
- Video
- PowerPoint (Windows Display Client only)
- Flash (Windows Display Client only)
- RSS / Atom
- CSV file (formatted)
- Web Pages
- Custom Embedded Content
A full list of features are available on the Xibo website.
CMS: How can all this be managed?
Management of a solution as flexible as Xibo required a powerful CMS (Content Management System) to present the core concepts in a sensible, controlled fashion. The Xibo CMS is packed with features, such as:
- User Groups
- User and Group Permissions
- Display Groups
- Display Group Permissions
- Menu and Page Permissions
- Campaigns (ordered groups of Layouts)
- Layout Templates
- Display Statistics
Traforma Labs offers to our clients deployment and customization of Xibo system, according to customers' need. Contact us to get your quotes or more information, how the Xibo system can help your business.
