Distributed monitoring and control of network components
A distributed monitoring system and a computer-implemented method monitors and controls locally situated network components through a monitoring and control device or processor querying the network component operating parameters and sending control commands for controlling the parameters queried. Reports of the status of the monitored network components are periodically generated from throughout the network and sent to a remotely located status viewing station configured to generate a monitoring interface and display the operational status of the network based on the status reports. If necessary, the status viewing station automatically transmits instructions, or a user enters instructions into the status viewing station, for instructing action be taken by the monitoring and control device or processor, e.g., to adjust one or more operating parameters queried. The distributed monitoring system may be particularly useful in monitoring and managing the health of a digital signage network.
1. A digital signage network configured with a distributed monitoring system for monitoring and controlling network components, the digital signage network comprising:
a plurality of local monitoring and control environments each comprising a monitoring and control device and network components, the network components comprising a content player configured to transmit content to display devices within the local monitoring and control environment, wherein the monitoring and control device is configured to:
detect and fix problems at the content player,
assemble a report of an operational status for the local monitoring and control environment using information about the detected and fixed problems, and
transmit the operational status report; and
a status viewing station remotely located from the local monitoring and control environments, wherein the status viewing station comprises a processor configured to:
receive the transmitted operational status reports from each local monitoring and control environment, and
generate a display listing an operational status of each local monitoring and control environment based on the plurality of reports received.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the content player is a stand-alone component communicatively coupled to the monitoring and control device.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring and control device is configured to fix problems with the content player without requiring input from the status viewing station.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring and control device is further configured to determine the content player is operational, and in response, contact the status viewing station to confirm communicative coupling without transmitting a report.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring and control device is further configured to report to the status viewing station that a problem was fixed.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein in response to receiving an indication the problem was fixed, the status viewing station performs at least one of the steps of: determining no further action is needed or sending an acknowledgement that the problem was fixed.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring and control device is configured to detect and fix problems by polling parameters associated with the content player.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the operational status of the content player is detected in response to the monitoring and control device sending a status query.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the operational status of the content player is detected by the monitoring and control device in response to the content player sending a scheduled status update.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the content player is configured to store content for multiple channels, and wherein the operational status report comprises information about an operational status of the content for each of the multiple channels.
11. A digital signage network configured with a distributed monitoring system for monitoring and controlling network components, the digital signage network comprising:
a plurality of local monitoring and control environments each comprising a monitoring and control device and network components, the network components comprising a content player configured to transmit content to display devices within the local monitoring and control environment, wherein the monitoring and control device is configured to:
receive updates for programming or software,
install the updates for programming or software in the content player,
assemble a report of an operational status for the local monitoring and control environment using information about the installed updates, and
transmit the operational status report; and
a status viewing station remotely located from the local monitoring and control environments, wherein the status viewing station comprises a processor configured to:
receive the transmitted operational status reports from each local monitoring and control environment, and
generate a display listing an operational status of each local monitoring and control environment based on the plurality of reports received.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the content player is a stand-alone component communicatively coupled to the monitoring and control device.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein upon receiving the update, the content player is configured to send a confirmation to the monitoring and control device that the update is complete.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the assembled report comprises one or more of: site identifiers of the local monitoring and control environment, a status of the site, network device identifiers for devices within the site, a status of the content player, or whether the installation of the programming or software updates was successful or unsuccessful.
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the monitoring and control device is further configured to determine the content player is operational, and in response, contact the status viewing station to confirm communicative coupling without transmitting a report.
16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the monitoring and control device is configured to detect and fix problems by polling parameters associated with the content player.
17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the operational status of the content player is detected in response to the monitoring and control device sending a status query.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the operational status of the content player is detected by the monitoring and control device in response to the content player sending a scheduled status update.
19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the content player is configured to store content for multiple channels, and wherein the operational status report comprises information about an operational status of the content for each of the multiple channels.