| Station in a Box is a software application suite from Video Design Software that acts as a repository for
various forms of incoming data and allows broadcast operations personnel to create playlists from that data
for broadcast to air.
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The product is client/server-based and stores all incoming data in a centralized
database, thereby simplifying the integration of new data and data feed types. Information that can be
displayed includes:
- News Headlines which can be created manually or copied from Newsroom Systems.
- Weather Data from manual entry, external probes or as input from alerts.
- Financial and Stock market information from a number of data providers, including Bridge Information Systems, Tibco, Reuters, ILX, and S&P Comstock.
- Traffic from manual entry or directly from Internet traffic conditions.
- Sports Scores and schedules from SportsTicker with manual entry of local high school teams and scores
- Lottery from a variety of sources
- School Closings using separate School Closing system module.
SIAB In Action |
Same System, Different Look |
Station in a Box is a modular product that can include all of these data types and playlists or as little
as only one data type such as Sports Scores depending on customer requirements. The basic components of
Station in a Box are: One or more Data Acquisition Modules, one or more Database Editors, a master
Playlist Editor, a Playout Manager for playout of the Active Playlist and a Graphics Output Device.
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Data Acquisition Modules |
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Data for display is ingested into the database using one or more Data Acquisition Modules. Once the
data is stored in the database, operators can edit the database using one or more copies of an appropriate
Database Editor which could be on any client PC on the network. The Database Editor also allows operators
to enter data records manually, independent of the data imported from the automated data feed. The data
records for each supported data type form a "mini-stack" or data specific stack. For example, a Station
in a Box system could support mini-stacks of news headlines, financial market indices, sports scores
and school closings.
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Playlist Editor |
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Using the Playlist Editor, operators can then build one or more master playlists using mini-stacks of
data from the various available sources. The master playlist specifies the data typed to be displayed in
a sequence, and the order in which they appear on the air. When the operator builds a playlist it can
immediately be made active and brought to air, or saved to disk for future use. In addition, these saved
playlists can be defined differently for use during different show times or segments. A playlist might
be defined for the early morning show enabling display of traffic, weather and sports data. At a later
time in the day, it might be extended to include financial data once these markets open.
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Playout Manager |
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The Playout Manager allows operators to schedule the display of one or more playlists as required. As
scheduled playlists become due for play, they become active and replace the previously active playlist.
The main user interface screen allows the operator to view the Active Playlist and verify what is being
output to air.
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To simplify integration into the broadcast transmission chain, the product supports internal or external
keying, and can be controlled via tally or GPI outputs from a master control switcher or button box.
When using the system to display a continuous lower-third "ticker" display, the ticker can thereby be
paused going into a commercial break, and resumed at the completion of the break.
As the broadcast data display requirements change, the modular nature of Station in a Box allows for
new data sources can be added, without changes to the core product. In general, this requires only the
addition of one or more Data Acquisition Modules, and the appropriate Database Editors.
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