A Cluster is a combination of two or more Viewers that work together to display content as a unified area. This is particularly useful when information cannot fit on a single display, ensuring a seamless visual experience. Clusters are widely used in environments such as airports, fast food restaurants, and large menu boards, where information must be displayed dynamically across multiple screens.

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How Clusters Work

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Example: A Horizontal 3-Viewer Cluster

Imagine a cluster of three horizontally aligned Viewers. This setup is commonly seen in:
  • Airports (Flight Information Displays)
  • Fast food chains (Digital menu boards)
If Viewer 2 fails, the system can automatically instruct Viewer 3 to take over its content, preventing any gaps in the displayed information.

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Example Use Cases

  • Airports:
    • The flight that departs first gets higher priority on the display.
    • If a Viewer fails, the system reorganizes the content dynamically, ensuring that the most time-sensitive flights remain visible.
  • Fast Food Restaurants:
    • In the morning, Viewer 2 might display coffee specials.
    • During lunch, it could switch to meal deals.
    • If Viewer 2 fails, an automated system could:
      • Show both coffee and lunch items on Viewer 3.
      • Introduce a carousel effect, alternating between breakfast and lunch menus.
By defining rules in PADS4, the system can automatically react to hardware failures, ensuring continuous and logical content display.

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Example: A Multi-Row Cluster (3x2 Configuration)

Clusters are not limited to horizontal layouts. In this example:
  • Three horizontal Viewers in two stacked rows.
  • Rows can be configured differently (e.g., Viewer 2 can be positioned below Viewer 1).
  • Automated rules can:
    • Add headers to the first row and remove them from the second row.
    • Adjust content positioning dynamically when information moves between Viewers.

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Benefits of Using Clusters

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1. Simplified Management

  • Instead of managing multiple Viewers separately, clusters allow for centralized management.
  • Cluster-level problem detection simplifies troubleshooting.

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2. Automated Content Prioritization

  • If a Viewer fails, content automatically adjusts based on priority.
  • Critical information remains visible at all times.

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3. Seamless Content Display

  • Even when hardware fails, clusters prevent gaps in information.
  • The system automatically reorganizes content to maintain a logical flow.

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4. Rule-Based Automation

  • Clusters can react automatically to specific conditions.
  • Example: If a screen fails, content can shift, resize, or reformat without manual intervention.

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5. Flexible Layouts

  • Supports both horizontal and vertical configurations.
  • Content can change dynamically based on position (e.g., different headers in different rows).

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6. Unlimited Cluster Size

  • No restrictions on the number of Viewers in a cluster.
  • Scalable for large installations (airports, control centers, etc.).

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Conclusion

Clusters in PADS4 offer flexibility, automation, and reliability for digital signage networks. By grouping Viewers together, organizations can optimize content display, automate responses to hardware failures, and ensure uninterrupted information delivery—all while reducing manual intervention. Whether used in an airport, restaurant, or corporate setting, Clusters provide a powerful solution for managing multi-screen content seamlessly.