Frame Synchronization

Frame synchronization enables you to configure the content of one frame to trigger playback of content in another frame on the same screen (or display unit). This feature is also known as "triggering".

Example: Imagine that you have one player with two frames on a screen: a main frame and a sidebar. Further, when an ad for local municipal transport appears on the main frame, you want bus schedule information to appear on the sidebar. You can configure your display such that when the ad appears, it triggers playback of the schedule information.

Example: Imagine that you have a player with multiple video outlets. On each outlet, you want to play identical content: a movie trailer, in sync. You can configure each outlet to correspond to separate frames of a display unit. The contents of each frame can play at the same time, which will appear synchronized.

First, we need to clarify the difference between regular content, and triggering and triggered content:

  • Regular content – Refers to campaigns targeting your display unit’s frames. They will play when and where specified. These campaigns are not required for frame synchronization.
  • Triggering content – Refers to the campaign that sends the trigger. We refer to the frame playing this campaign as the Leader frame.
  • Triggered content – Refers to the frame that receives the trigger. The content/campaign is the response. We refer to the frame playing this campaign as the Follower frame.

Note: All Players in a Synchronization Set must be on the same major version to prevent synchronization issues. For example, they must all be v13.2 Players or v14.0 Players.

Prerequisites

Frame synchronization is an advanced feature. Before configuring it, ensure that you are familiar with the following:

Workflow

In general, the workflow to execute frame synchronization is:

  • Create two loop policies (Leader and Follower)
  • Assign the loop policies to their respective frames
  • Create a trigger category
  • Book two campaigns (Leader and Follower)

Notes

As you set up frame synchronization, keep in mind the following:

  • The Follower campaign plays as the response to the trigger on the Follower frame.
  • When activated, the triggered campaign interrupts the loop on the Follower frame, and plays.
  • When the Follower campaign finishes playing, the player returns to the interrupted loop and replays the disrupted slot.
  • It is possible to instruct Broadsign Control Player to shuffle the Bundles instead of using the playback order of the bundle rotation set in the campaign properties. This is an advanced feature. For more information, see Playlist Shuffle.

    • Note: This does not function as a true "random" rotation mode. Consequently, Broadsign Control Player might display the same Ad Copy multiple times consecutively.

Frame synchronization requires two loop policies: one for the Leader frame and one for the Follower frame.

The difference between each loop policy is the "synchronization" type.

To create the Leader and Follower loop policies:

  1. To keep things organized, for this tutorial we recommend you create a loop policy folder called "Frame Synchronization".

  2. In the Frame Synchronization folder, add a loop policy called "Leader".
    • Set the Policy Settings to whatever you want. They are unimportant for this tutorial.
  3. Open the Loop Policy Properties. Go to Settings > Synchronization.

  4. Set the Synchronization Type to "Leader".

  5. In the Frame Synchronization folder, add another loop policy called "Follower".
  6. In the Loop Policy Properties, set the Synchronization Type to "Follower".

For our example, we will need a display unit with two frames. One will become the Leader frame; the other will become the Follower frame.

To assign the loop policies to the frames:

  1. Create a display unit.
    • On the Loop Policy page, be sure to avoid selecting either the Leader or Follower policy.
  2. Open the Display Unit Properties. Go to Day Parts > Day Parts.

  3. Select the default day part, and then select Edit.

  4. The Day Part Properties dialogue box opens. Go to the Frames tab.
  5. Select the default "Fullscreen" frame, and click Edit. This frame will become our Leader.
  6. Click Apply.
  7. Under Layout, set the following:
    • Geometry – "In Percentage"
    • Width – "80"
    • Height – "100"
  8. Click Apply.
  9. To add a Follower frame, click Add. Pay special attention to the following pages:
    • Welcome – Enter the name "Side Frame (Follower)".
    • Dimensions – Deselect Frame is full screen, set the X co-ordinate to "80", the width to "20", and leave the height at "100".
    • Loop Policy – Select the "Follower" policy we created in Step 1: Create Two Loop Policies (Leader and Follower).
    • Criteria Selection – Expand the Frame folder, and select the "Side" criterion. (We created this in the Criteria video. You may have your own naming system.)

Note: If you created a new display unit for this tutorial, be sure to assign it to a player. Open the Display Unit Properties, go to General > Players, and click Add.

This step describes how to book one or more campaigns for Frame Sync.

The easiest way to execute Frame Sync is to use a single campaign that plays on both frames. See Option A: Book a Single Campaign.

If you need to play two different campaigns on the Leader and Follower frames, see Option B: Book Leader and Follower Campaigns.

The two main parts of this step are:

  • Add the "Synchronization " (aka "Bundle Trigger Category ") page to the Add Campaign Wizard.
  • Book a single campaign or multiple campaigns.
  1. From the Options menu, select Change Options (see Access the Broadsign Control Administrator Options Menu).
  2. Go to Campaigns and Events > Wizard Options.
  3. Select Synchronization.

    4. This option will appear in the Add Campaign Wizard as "Bundle Trigger Category".

    For an existing campaign, open its properties, and then go to Media > Trigger (see The Media Section).

  1. Add a campaign. Pay special attention to the following pages in the Add Campaign Wizard:
    • Welcome – Name the campaign "Frame Sync".

    • Display Unit Targeting – Select the display unit that contains the Leader and Follower frames (see Step 2: Assign the Loop Policies to the Frames).

    • Ad Copy Selection – Select the ad copy to assign to the campaign. Ad copy duration is unimportant for player synchronization.
    • Bundle Trigger Category – Select Campaign is auto-synchronized. Also, for our example, we will select Same trigger for all bundles.

      • Note: The Auto-synchronize bundles option can be found in the campaign's Trigger tab under the Media section (The Trigger Tab), as well as the bundle's Trigger tab under the Categories section (The Categories Section).

Finished! You have now set up a basic Frame Sync network.

For our example, we will need one Leader campaign. You can synchronize as many Follower campaigns as you want. To synchronize the campaigns, we will refer to the triggering content as the Leader Campaign and the triggered content as the Follower Campaign. You must ensure that you assign the same trigger category to both campaigns.

Note: The process for creating each campaign is the same. The only differences are the names, the display units, and the ad copies.

The two main parts of this step are:

  • Add a trigger to use in the Leader and Follower campaigns.
  • Book Leader and Follower campaigns.

You need to observe the following:

  • Ensure that you schedule the Leader campaign to the Leader frame.
  • Ensure that you schedule the Follower campaign to the Follower frame.
  • Ensure that you assign the same trigger category to both campaigns.

To add a Trigger:

  1. To keep things organized, for this tutorial we recommend you create a trigger folder called "Triggers - Frame Sync".
  2. In the Triggers - Frame Sync folder, create the trigger. Be sure to enter the following information:
    • Welcome – Enter the name "Frame Sync".
    • Category Type – Select Trigger, and deselect All.

  3. Click Finish.

To book Leader and Follower Campaigns:

  1. Book a campaign. Pay special attention to the following pages in the Add Campaign Wizard:
    • Display Unit Targeting – Select the display unit that contains the Leader and Follower frames (see Step 2: Assign the Loop Policies to the Frames).

      • If the Show address in Display Unit Targeting domain option is enabled, then this page shows the display unit’s address field. For more information, see Automatic Options.

    • Frame Criteria Targeting – Select the criteria: "Main" for the Main (Leader) frame, and "Side" for the Side (Follower) frame.

    • Ad Copy Selection – Ensure that the duration of the Leader ad copy is longer than, or equal to, the duration of the Follower ad copy.
    • Bundle Trigger Category
      • For each campaign, whether Leader or Follower, ensure that Campaign is auto-synchronized is not selected.
      • Click the Select button and select the Frame Sync trigger category for both the Leader and Follower campaigns (the trigger that you have created earlier):

Finished! You have configured frame synchronization on your network.