Graphical user interface for public address and music broadcasting systems.
In our time of rapid development of information technologies and structured cabling systems, more and more engineering systems of the building use network solutions for data transmission and information exchange. Large areas of modern shopping centers, significant length of industrial facilities perimeters lead to the need to transmit audio signals over long distances and implement remote monitoring of operability in background music broadcasting and emergency notification systems. Network topology of system construction and the use of standard data transmission protocols, such as TCP/IP, are no longer uncommon, since they allow solving these problems, and are found in the lines of Public Address class equipment, voice notification systems and professional sound equipment of many leading manufacturers.
Ethernet interfaces and reception of control signals via TCP/IP are used to combine several systems from different manufacturers or to interface the sound broadcasting system with other systems, such as security systems, building management systems, etc. The advantages of network sound broadcasting systems over “traditional” ones are the ability to use the existing cable infrastructure of the facility, flexible expansion without significant costs, quick change of operating parameters and operational control in real time from a remote personal computer or external control device.
In this case, the system software can be divided into several working applications, which in one combination or another are the final product: configuration, logging (event log), fault diagnostics, system management. Accordingly, the user interface offered in different systems will be determined by the software functions. Thus, applications designed exclusively for setting up system parameters in offline mode with subsequent recording of the configuration file in the memory of the central control unit usually have an interface with a multi-window structure, a set of fields for selecting or recording parameters, activation buttons and are saturated with more text information than graphic information. As for real-time monitoring and control programs, clarity and convenient arrangement of elements on the user's screen are important here, so graphical user interfaces (GUI) are often used.
Let's take a closer look at what features systems with graphical user interfaces should have in order to provide the required set of functions for music broadcasting and public address at the maximum level of comfort.
First of all, the principle of communication between the external control device with a graphical interface and the equipment of the warning and broadcasting system is important. There are connection options via RS*232, RS*422 on the market, while the external panel is already a complete solution with a built-in touch monitor, which deprives the user of the opportunity to customize the monitor and interface to their requirements, or a computer is connected, but, as a rule, only one. Transmission of commands via TCP/IP, an open interface and a client-server model make it possible for several users to connect to the system at once and flexibly configure the parameters of each graphical interface. There are systems in which the file with user interface settings, including the size and optimal location of control and indicator elements, is stored on the server in a convenient format, for example, in xml. Configuration files can be created and edited offline and activated later, which is convenient for the installer or maintenance personnel.
The second important point for software that provides for the settings of the graphical user interface is the simplicity of configuration. The principle of free placement of screen objects by simply dragging them to the desired location, quick assignment of names to icons and other intuitive actions make it easy for even an inexperienced user to learn how to work with the program. The most pleasant function, which can significantly reduce the setup time in the configurator, may be the ability to press one button to get information about the equipment configuration, where logical connections between sound sources and system channels, zonal division, names of pre-recorded messages, etc. are prescribed.
GRAPHICAL INTERFACE FOR MUSIC BROADCASTING SYSTEMS
For remote control of the music broadcasting system in real time, the graphical interface should provide the following basic functions:
? Selection of a background music source or selection of a system channel for further activation.
? Ability to turn on/off the selected background music source in a zone or set of broadcast zones.
? Adjustment and monitoring of volume levels in zones.
? Monitoring of device activity.
If the quality of the music played in the system is subject to increased requirements, the graphical interface should also provide the ability to monitor and change the parameters of the audio signal in the most important sections of the sound amplification path, for example, advanced equalization functions, delay implementation.
It can be said that historically, graphic interfaces were first developed in configuration and operational control programs in professional audio equipment, and only later this control principle came to background sound systems. This is due to the fact that in Public Address class systems there is no need for the constant presence of an operator, and in complex sound systems, for example, in a stadium, constant control by the staff is important to ensure the sound broadcast of music programs. Therefore, faders, level meters, qualizers and emulators of regulators and indicators can often be found as on-screen objects of the user interface, and in the main window — the system structure in the form of icons of various sound equipment connected by lines.
Such control is convenient and clear for users familiar with professional sound equipment, for example, sound engineers who are able to correctly configure the system, not confuse the location of microphones and amplifiers and quickly find the desired object on the graphic plan. But such interfaces can create certain difficulties for people with minimal knowledge in this area, but by the nature of their work are obliged to conduct operational control of parameters.
Therefore, the next step in the development of graphic interfaces is «binding to an object» in the form of a background image, which is a plan of the object (a floor of a building, a stadium stand scheme, a park alley, etc.), and editing control icons at the user's discretion. On the graphic plan, you can place icons corresponding to amplifier outputs or zones, and visually divide into zones of «quiet» and «loud» broadcasting, see the volume level in a given part of the object.
The most advanced systems have interfaces where you can create a large number of object plans, grouping them, for example, by broadcast zones. Thus, for a large shopping center, you can create a configuration where a given user will be able to see a plan of «his» stores, operate icons optimized in shape, color and size for the resolution of his monitor, and which will provide the necessary visual comfort.
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GRAPHICAL INTERFACE FOR EMERGENCY VOICE NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS
Control of notification functions from a graphical interface, for example, the screen of the automated workplace of the operator of the integrated security system of the facility, should be aimed at minimizing the response time to any event and processing the action according to a known algorithm. The main actions that the operator will need to perform:
? Visual monitoring of the status of the notification zone for the broadcasting of voice announcements and signals with an alarm and normal priority level there.
? Visual monitoring of the operating status of the notification zone for the presence of malfunctions (related to the serviceability of the equipment).
? Quick search and selection of a pre-recorded alarm signal or voice announcement to launch.
? Flexible selection of a zone or group of zones for broadcasting an announcement.
? Start/stop announcement.
? Monitor the progress of the broadcast call to be able to interrupt at the desired stage.
? Possibility to use the microphone for speech announcements.
Quick localization of the area of responsibility due to the clarity of the used site plans and the selection of an announcement by simply clicking on the icon in the call tree ensure the required response speed, which is extremely important in moments associated with an emergency. The graphical user interface must provide for such a size of screen objects (buttons) so as not to «miss» and start the evacuation process in time.
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The convenience of the client-server management structure is that it allows you to differentiate the access rights of different users. For example, each user should log in to the system using their own password, see an individual set of facility plans and their own set of announcements available for activation. Users who work only with the launch of service announcements, such as secretaries and administrators, should not see the elements of launching emergency signals in order to avoid their accidental or unauthorized use. Also, only a specified group of users should be able to confirm and reset the alarm mode if the highest priority announcements are already being broadcast in the system.
As a final word, it can be noted that in the conditions of growing competition in the emergency notification systems market, the winner will be the manufacturer that
provides in its equipment the ability to flexibly expand the system with virtually no restrictions thanks to network technologies, quick reconfiguration for the client's tasks and a convenient, intuitive working interface of the system.
C. Anisimova
«Robert Bosch»
Head of the Alert Systems Department
Magazine «Security Algorithm» No. 4, 2010