Remote Monitoring of Classroom A.V. Equipment by Bob Hageny, CTS SUNY Oswego Chuck Perkins, CTS SUNY Oswego

What’s in our classrooms (ATC)? Data Projector and Screen Data Projector and Screen Computer and / or VGA port for Laptop Computer and / or VGA port for Laptop Document Camera Document Camera DVD/VCR Combo DVD/VCR Combo Plus the ability to plug in many Plus the ability to plug in many other AV devices other AV devices Extron MLC 206 or 226 controller and a MLS 506 MA or SA switcher Extron MLC 206 or 226 controller and a MLS 506 MA or SA switcher Telephone Telephone

Question: What prompted us to explore remote monitoring/control? What prompted us to explore remote monitoring/control?

Reason 1: The number of ATC’s on our campus is increasing.

ATC'S/ Staff ATC's Staff Year

Reason 2: Our ATC’s are spread out.

Syracuse Metro Center 35 miles south of Oswego

Question: What was our main reason for implementing remote monitoring?

Answer: To be able to control the data projector.

Major Benefits: Turn the projector off at the end of the day. Turn the projector off at the end of the day. Lock out the projector during allocated portions of the day / night. Lock out the projector during allocated portions of the day / night.

Major Benefits: Poll projectors for hour counts. Poll projectors for hour counts. Troubleshoot and resolve call-in’s from faculty members in technical distress. Troubleshoot and resolve call-in’s from faculty members in technical distress. Upload drivers and new versions of firmware. Upload drivers and new versions of firmware.

How Do We Remote Monitor?

Shutdown

Lost Power

Lamp Hours

Disconnect

Administration Changing device drivers Changing device drivers Reprogramming rooms Reprogramming rooms Firmware/Software Upgrades Firmware/Software Upgrades Change addresses Change addresses

Data Logger Button press history Button press history -useful in determining what equipment is getting used -useful in determining what equipment is getting used -what equipment may need to be replaced -what equipment may need to be replaced

Data Logger Another place to check lamp hours Another place to check lamp hours Verify IP Addresses, Names and MAC Addresses Verify IP Addresses, Names and MAC Addresses

Global Viewer Global Viewer gives us the ability to view and assist in the operation of our classrooms without making a trip to the classroom. Global Viewer gives us the ability to view and assist in the operation of our classrooms without making a trip to the classroom.

Global Viewer Ability to check the status of the projectors at the end of classes. Ability to check the status of the projectors at the end of classes.

Money and time saved.

Money We don’t need to replace projector lamps as often. We don’t need to replace projector lamps as often. Because ‘wear and tear’ is less, we don’t need to replace projectors as often. Because ‘wear and tear’ is less, we don’t need to replace projectors as often. The cost of electricity. The cost of electricity.

Money Lamp hours saved per sem. = (((4 proj. * 10hrs/per day) * 5days) * 15weeks) = 3000hrs/per sem. Lamp hours saved per sem. = (((4 proj. * 10hrs/per day) * 5days) * 15weeks) = 3000hrs/per sem. Auto shutdown hrs reported last sem. = 150hrs. Auto shutdown hrs reported last sem. = 150hrs. Total hrs = 3000hrs + 150hrs = 3150hrs. Total hrs = 3000hrs + 150hrs = 3150hrs. Total $$ per/sem. = 3150 hrs ≈ 2 proj. lamps ≈ $1000. Total $$ per/sem. = 3150 hrs ≈ 2 proj. lamps ≈ $1000.

Time We don’t need to send staff to walk from building to building, room to room daily to verify projectors are turned off. We don’t need to send staff to walk from building to building, room to room daily to verify projectors are turned off. We don’t always need to send someone to investigate a problem when we can often fix it remotely. We don’t always need to send someone to investigate a problem when we can often fix it remotely.

Time We save time by not visiting each individual room to install firmware / software upgrades. We save time by not visiting each individual room to install firmware / software upgrades. Total time saved = (15 min. per /room * 75) = 1125 min./60 ≈ 19 hrs. Total time saved = (15 min. per /room * 75) = 1125 min./60 ≈ 19 hrs.

Questions?