Remote Monitoring of Remote Monitoring of Classroom A.V. EquipmentClassroom A.V. Equipment

byby

Bob Hageny, CTSBob Hageny, CTSSUNY OswegoSUNY Oswego

Chuck Perkins, CTSChuck Perkins, CTSSUNY OswegoSUNY Oswego

What’s in our classrooms What’s in our classrooms (ATC)?(ATC)?

Data Projector and ScreenData Projector and Screen Computer and / or VGA port for LaptopComputer and / or VGA port for Laptop Document CameraDocument Camera DVD/VCR ComboDVD/VCR Combo Plus the ability to plug in many Plus the ability to plug in many

other AV devicesother AV devices Extron MLC 206 or 226 controller and a MLS 506 Extron MLC 206 or 226 controller and a MLS 506

MA or SA switcherMA or SA switcher TelephoneTelephone

Question:Question:

What prompted us to What prompted us to explore remote explore remote

monitoring/control?monitoring/control?

Reason 1:Reason 1:

The number of ATC’s The number of ATC’s on our campus is on our campus is

increasing.increasing.

AT

C'S

/ S

taff

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

20002001

20022003

20042005

20062007

2008

ATC's

Staff

Year

Reason 2:Reason 2:

Our ATC’s are spread Our ATC’s are spread out.out.

1 2 7 11

Syracuse Metro Center

35 miles south of Oswego6

2 15 16 2 14 8 8 5

Question:Question:

What was our main What was our main reason for reason for

implementing remote implementing remote monitoring?monitoring?

Answer:Answer:

To be able to control To be able to control the data projector.the data projector.

Major Benefits:Major Benefits:

Turn the projector off at the end Turn the projector off at the end of the day.of the day.

Lock out the projector during Lock out the projector during allocated portions of the day / allocated portions of the day / night.night.

Major Benefits:Major Benefits:

Poll projectors for hour counts.Poll projectors for hour counts. Troubleshoot and resolve call-Troubleshoot and resolve call-

in’s from faculty members in in’s from faculty members in technical distress.technical distress.

Upload drivers and new versions Upload drivers and new versions of firmware.of firmware.

How Do We How Do We Remote Monitor?Remote Monitor?

ShutdownShutdown

Lost PowerLost Power

Lamp HoursLamp Hours

DisconnectDisconnect

AdministrationAdministration

Changing device driversChanging device drivers Reprogramming roomsReprogramming rooms Firmware/Software UpgradesFirmware/Software Upgrades Change email addressesChange email addresses

Data Logger Button press historyButton press history -useful in determining what equipment is -useful in determining what equipment is

getting usedgetting used -what equipment may need to be replaced-what equipment may need to be replaced

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

Global ViewerGlobal Viewer Global Viewer gives us the ability to view Global Viewer gives us the ability to view

and assist in the operation of our and assist in the operation of our classrooms without making a trip to the classrooms without making a trip to the classroom.classroom.

Global ViewerGlobal Viewer Ability to check the status of the Ability to check the status of the

projectors at the end of classes. projectors at the end of classes.

Money and time Money and time saved.saved.

MoneyMoney

We don’t need to replace We don’t need to replace projector lamps as often.projector lamps as often.

Because ‘wear and tear’ is less, Because ‘wear and tear’ is less, we don’t need to replace we don’t need to replace projectors as often. projectors as often.

The cost of electricity.The cost of electricity.

MoneyMoney

Lamp hours saved per sem. = (((4 proj. * Lamp hours saved per sem. = (((4 proj. * 10hrs/per day) * 5days) * 15weeks) = 10hrs/per day) * 5days) * 15weeks) = 3000hrs/per sem.3000hrs/per sem.

Auto shutdown hrs reported last sem. = Auto shutdown hrs reported last sem. = 150hrs.150hrs.

Total hrs = 3000hrs + 150hrs = Total hrs = 3000hrs + 150hrs = 3150hrs.3150hrs.

Total $$ per/sem. = 3150 hrs ≈ 2 proj. Total $$ per/sem. = 3150 hrs ≈ 2 proj. lamps ≈ $1000.lamps ≈ $1000.

TimeTime We don’t need to send staff to walk We don’t need to send staff to walk

from building to building, room to from building to building, room to room daily to verify projectors are room daily to verify projectors are turned off.turned off.

We don’t always need to send We don’t always need to send someone to investigate a problem someone to investigate a problem when we can often fix it remotely.when we can often fix it remotely.

TimeTime

We save time by not visiting each We save time by not visiting each individual room to install individual room to install firmware / software upgrades.firmware / software upgrades.

Total time saved = (15 min. per Total time saved = (15 min. per /room * 75) = 1125 min./60 /room * 75) = 1125 min./60 ≈ 19 ≈ 19 hrs.hrs.

Questions?Questions?