SOLUTION ENGINEERING


Engineering a successful solution requires attention to more than just software.

A full solution engineering approach includes hardware, software, databases, servers, networks, security and IT operations. Giving each of these seven elements proper attention ensures that the solution will meet the needs of today and the future. Ignore them and run the risk of a resulting solution that will not scale, will take too long for new features to be added, will have high incremental software licensing costs and may just grind to a halt and fall over.

DIVD excels at Solution Engineering because of the unique combination of skill sets and experience our team possesses and the tools and methodologies we bring to the table.

Examples

  1. Two Kiosk Monitors with Multiple Video Feeds

    A Fortune 50 telecommunication company ("TelCo") required a kiosk, for retail use, with two monitors: (a) a touchscreen monitor from which customers could (i) obtain TelCo product information via the Internet, and (ii) select one of three different video inputs (1 x VGA; 2 x YPbPr) to the HD monitor, and (b) an HD monitor that would play the video input selected in (a)(ii) above.

    Solution: The kiosk was driven by a computer with customized software that locked down the OS, Desktop and Browser and permitted remote server functionality such as remote monitoring, usage statistics uploading, and local content updating. A customized audio/video switch and a VGA to YPbPR modulator were configured to accept the three audio and video inputs and output a single YPbPr video output with stereo to the HD monitor. The audio/video switch was controlled by the computer (customer interface via the touch-screen monitor) through an RS232 connection. A dashboard was set up in order for TelCo to monitor the status of its hundreds of kiosks throughout the USA. Future solutions will include a hardware watchdog that will result in system reset if any software component is deemed to be non-responsive.

  2. Monitoring Hundreds of "Smart" Displays in Multiple Dispersed Geographic Locations

    A large US retailer required a monitoring and control system for hundreds of its "smart" displays (i.e., driven by computers). Its remote content management system reported that about 25% of its "smart" displays were not responsive; however, it had no idea which ones. They required a solution with the constraint that the remote content management system could not be altered.

    Solution: A two-fold solution was specified, namely (a) use of a hardware watchdog, and (b) custom software installation permitting remote monitoring as well as secure remote access. A dashboard, with alert system, would be developed to permit the client to monitor and react in a timely manner.

  3. Converting Large LCD Monitors to Interactive Functionality with Monitoring

    A Fortune 50 telecommunication company ("TelCo") required a solution to enable its 52" "dumb" monitors to acquire "intelligence" by: (a) conversion to touchscreen in order to permit customers to access TelCo provided information and select from two video inputs (computer or external HDMI), (b) for each customer interaction, determination of the customer's demographics (gender, age and ethnicity including timestamp), (c) GUI should change from default mode to interactive mode once a customer is within a certain distance from the monitor, and (d) remote monitoring.

    Solution: (a) Customer interaction was accomplished with an infrared touchscreen conversion kit, (b) the monitors were driven by a computer with (i) a hardware watchdog, (ii) a powerful video card to capture HDMI input and output HDMI to the monitor, and (iii) installed software to permit remote monitoring and secure remote access, and (c) special camera and monitoring solution that would detect when a customer(s) is in the proximity, (i) determining and recording the above-mentioned demographics remotely, and (ii) signaling the computer in order to change from default mode to interactive mode.

  4. Automating (and Streamlining) Process for Field Team, Eliminating Forms and Freight

    A leading manufacturer (and retailer) of weight-loss management products required a solution, for over one thousand of its field representatives, to manage promotions in which tens of thousands of application forms are manually completed and photographs taken at registration with additional data captured and photographs taken on follow-up sessions. The present system is labor intense, costly and untimely.

    Solution: Equip field representatives with inexpensive notebooks and webcams, eliminating the need for all paper forms, disposable cameras, data re-entry and costly overnight freight. A simple, intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) would permit forms and photographs to be completed in real-time and submitted to the remote database (if connected to the Internet) or by batch (if connected at a later time).

  5. Developing Wi-Fi Solution within A Retail Environment including Interactive Displays

    A leading retailer of wireless phone sought a display that demonstrates and promotes Wi-Fi.

    Solution: Create an in-store hotspot in order that store personnel can demonstrate Wi-Fi on notebooks. Create a display with a monitor, driven by a solid state video player. Attach wireless phones with custom programming that demo Wi-Fi.