Display Express technology connects video displays through existing CATV cabling, eliminating the need to run additional control wiring for interactive control.
Control Software - Display Express display control software or a custom control system includes databases, logic and user interfaces to manage displays. However, control commands need a pathway to communicate with the displays, requiring expensive, dedicated control wiring. That's where the iC-Net Head End comes into play.
Head End - located at the CATV head end, the Head End transforms Ethernet and RS-232 control commands from the Control Software into signals that can be carried over the cable system. Commands are transmitted to displays at 74.7 MHz, in the gap between TV channels 4 and 5. Intelligent 2-way controllers send status information back through the Head End at 5.6 MHz, below T-Channel frequencies. This architecture allows 2-way communication over existing RF cable without interfering with TV broadcasting.
Control Protocol - able to travel over Ethernet, RS-232/422 control wiring, and CATV cable, Display Express protocol iis a consistent, comprehensive language for display control. The open-architecture protocol is brand-agnostic - 95% of the commands are the same for all displays, regardless of brand, model, control format, or display type.
Controllers - 1-way and 2-way units are available for TVs, Smart TVs, flat-panel displays, and video projectors. The controllers interpret the control protocol into the specific actions needed for the display, using an onboard library control "personalities" for most makes and models. For example, when sent a Power Off command, one controller send data to a Smart TV, another transmits a discrete IR command to an LCD display, and yet another releases an RS-232 Off code to a video projector.
