Software
DIVD develops software to meet any solution specified including integration into customer's legacy systems. Our core offerings are our client software, server software and customized Microsoft XPE software.
DIVD Client Software Features
The DIVD client software targets full featured, possibly stand-alone, kiosk applications that require remote server functionality such as remote monitoring, usage statistics uploading or local content updating. The DIVD client software that runs on the kiosk contains three components:
- Application Viewer
- Download Content, and
- Configuration Tool.
Application Viewer
The Application Viewer handles the execution of the web application (i.e., it is a hardened Microsoft Internet Explorer browser); however, the browser interface is hidden from the user. The title, menu, url and status bars are deactivated so that it isn't obvious to the user that they are running a web application. It provides security by preventing users and other processes from accessing the OS, provides Domain List blocking, browser toolbar functionality is optional, displays multiple attract screens when not in use, warns the user either with a configurable dialog box and/or audibly that their session is about to end, dials phone calls (e.g., reservation desk or customer support hotline), integrates with barcode scanners and passes barcode data to the application, integrates with magnetic stripe readers and passes the data to the application, manages the upload and download components and resets the application back to the home page, including optionally running a logoff script, after a defined period of inactivity. Alternatively, a security mat or proximity switch can be used to initiate and end a user's session.
The Application Viewer contains Upload Data functionality which is responsible for using XML to pass usage log and survey data to the DIVD server over the Internet using either a phone line or WAN.
Finally the Application Viewer also contains Remote Monitoring functionality which is responsible for sending heartbeat data, event log data and urgent event data to the DIVD server. Each kiosk can be configured to send a heartbeat at regular intervals to the DIVD server that includes approximately 30 parameters that indicate the kiosk's health. Event log data is also uploaded to the DIVD server during the heartbeat transmission. Finally, the Application Viewer constantly monitors specified devices such as printers, and when urgent events occur (such as low paper), immediate notice is sent to the DIVD server.
Download Content
The Download Content component is responsible for communicating with the DIVD server to determine whether any content or system files need to be updated, and then, using XML and HTTP, to place the downloaded files (both content and system files) in their proper location and configuring them as necessary.
Configuration Tool
The Configuration Tool component is a program that is used to modify the kiosk configuration settings for an individual PC (i.e., it is run locally on the PC where the DIVD Client Software is installed). The Configuration Tool is what enables the web application to be adapted for kiosk use without having to require reprogramming of the kiosk application. Instead of programming attract screens, keyboard filtering, etc. into the application, the Configuration Tool permits such configuration. There is only one item in the Configuration Tool that is required, which is the Start Page URL located in the General Configuration Tab. All other entries are either optional or are loaded with default values that will enable the kiosk to operate.
To enable mass changes to the kiosk software, the Configuration Tool can also generate (and read) a XML file containing all of the kiosk's configuration settings. The XML file must be addressable via HTTP or UNC to all kiosk PCs, and each time an individual kiosk PC loads, it can be configured to download the XML file and update its configuration.
DIVD Server software Features
DIVD remote management features
The DIVD server software resides on a centralized DIVD server that is accessible via the Internet by all kiosks using DIVD client software, and it consists of four components:
- Administration Tool
- Upload Data
- Update Content, and
- Remote Monitoring.
The Administration Tool component is a web-based application that manages five tasks:
- User Management
- Project Management
- Kiosk Management
- Remote Monitoring,
- Kiosk Statistics, and
- Utilities.
User Management manages the users who can log onto DIVD server and what portions of the program they have permission to use.
Project Management handles content revision control. Each kiosk application is defined as a project and each revision release is associated only with those files that have changed so that only updated content is downloaded to the kiosks.
Kiosk Management handles the kiosk definitions such kiosk naming, access and revision level.
Remote Monitoring enables the viewing of remote monitoring data for each kiosk.
Kiosk Statistics enables reports to be prepared regarding usage statistics, survey data statistics, upload/update statistics, etc. of the kiosks. Furthermore, usage statistics have the ability to be logged according to class (e.g., English or Spanish), so managers can view statistics by an individual class or all classes. Finally, reports can define the date range of statistics to view.
Utilities consist of a suite of administrative functions that enable mass modifications such as granting project wide access to a user or changing the update revision level of all kiosks in a particular project.
The Upload Data component is a process that constantly checks for kiosks requesting to upload usage log data. Using XML, the data is uploaded from the kiosk to the DIVD server where it is reduced into more meaningful data by stripping out class information and calculating page hit durations.
The Update Content component is a process that constantly checks for kiosks requesting to download new content. When a request is received the software checks whether that particular kiosk has been scheduled to be updated with new content or new system objects. If it has, then the objects are downloaded to the kiosk. After all objects are downloaded and the kiosk successfully installs them, the DIVD server is notified by the kiosk to update that kiosk's information with the new revision numbers.
The Remote Monitoring component is a process that receives heartbeat information from each kiosk and stores the data in the database. Should heartbeat parameters be outside a defined limit, then an email notification process is initiated. In addition, should specific warning or error messages be received from a kiosk, an email notification process is also initiated. Finally, on a daily basis, log data is received from each kiosk and stored in a database. Should any of the log data be marked as urgent, then an email notification process is initiated.