Bosch Appliances DCN Synoptic Microphone Control manual

D CN Synoptic Microphone C ontrol Software User Manual en LB B 35 7 1[...]

Chapter 1 - Synoptic Microphone Control 1.1 About Synoptic Microphone Control 1.2 What is a synoptic layout? 1.3 Controlling microphones Chapter 2 - Getting Started 2.1 Starting Synoptic Microphone Control 2.2 Using Help Chapter 3 - Preparing for a Conference 3.1 Using layout mode 3.2 Making a layout 3.3 Specifying conference procedures 3.4 Working[...]

About this manual This user manual is divided into four chapters. Chapters 1 and 2 provide background information and chapters 3 and 4 provide detailed user infor- mation. The contents are as follows: • Chapter 1 - Synoptic Microphone Control - containing a brief overview of the Digital Congress Network (DCN), a summary of the application modules[...]

Manual conventions For clarity this user manual uses consistent styles, symbols and typographical conventions. They are: NOTE: General notes are contained within rules and indicated with this symbol in the left margin. Notes are used to draw attention to special actions or information. CAUTION: A caution is contained within rules and indicated with[...]

EXPLANA T OR Y NO TES Synoptic Microphone Control Digital Congress Network Software User Manual Page iv[...]

CONTENTS Title Page 1.1 ABOUT SYNOPTIC MICROPHONE CONTROL . . . . . . . .1-2 What is Synoptic Microphone Control? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-2 Layout mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-2 Control mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-2 1.2 WHAT IS A SYNOPTIC LAYOUT?. . . . . . . [...]

1.1 ABOUT SYNOPTIC MICROPHONE CONTROL What is Synoptic Microphone Control? The Synoptic Microphone Control software program is one of a family of modules designed for controlling and monitoring conferences and discus- sions using the DCN contribution equipment. It is used for configuring and controlling microphones connected to the system, and uses[...]

1.2 WHA T IS A SYNOPTIC LA Y OUT? Making a graphical representation A synoptic layout is a graphical representation of the actual location of the DCN microphones, delegate units and chairman units in a room or hall. What you create on screen is a plan view of how your conference venue looks. The layout mode of Synoptic Microphone Control contains t[...]

1.3 CONTROLLING MICR OPHONES Conference procedures To successfully set-up, conduct and organise a conference it is necessary to provide microphone management procedures which facilitate many differ- ent types of conference or discussion. The system operator (or conference chairman) requires a choice of operat- ing modes for controlling delegates wa[...]

The operator can see which delegate is has been waiting longest to speak, as this microphone is represented by a flashing green icon. The operator can grant active status to this delegate, or indeed any other delegate on the request-to-speak list. The microphone of the delegate who has been speak- ing longest is automatically switched off to make r[...]

Microphone control by delegate with override - is useful for smaller discus- sions where participants are given active status by activating a contribution unit key. The microphone of the speaker who has been speaking the longest is automatically switched off. No operator action is required. There is no request-to-speak list (this mode is sometimes [...]

CONTENTS Title Page 2.1 STARTING SYNOPTIC MICROPHONE CONTROL . . . . 2-2 The DCN Startup screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-2 Selecting an installation- (and a names) file . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3 The Synoptic Microphone Control icon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3 2.2 USING HELP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .[...]

2.1 ST AR TING SYNOPTIC MICROPHONE CONTROL The DCN Startup screen The Synoptic Microphone Control program is started from the DCN Start- up screen (shown below). NOTE: For starting the DCN Startup program from an icon in the Windows desktop, refer to the Startup user manual. GETTING ST AR TED Synoptic Microphone Control Digital Congress Network Sof[...]

The DCN software uses two user-created files that contain important infor- mation about the installed hardware configuration and about delegates’ names. These files are: • Installation file - containing information about channel assignment and the numbers that have been assigned to all microphones connected to the DCN. These seat numbers are as[...]

2.2 USING HELP The Help menu The ‘Help’ menu in the title bar contains commands for an on-screen help facility. This help facility contains information on all commands in the ‘File’ menu, on which keyboard keys are functional, a description of how to use the Synoptic Microphone Control software, information on how to use the help facility i[...]

An on-screen page with the requested information will appear. Commands This gives information on all menu options, covering the ‘File’ , ‘Clear Display’ and ‘Help’ menus. To access the ‘Commands’ help facility: • Select the ‘Help’ menu and click on ‘Commands’ . A list of menu groups is given. For more information on any me[...]

A window with the requested information will appear. Using Help This gives information on how to use the Synoptic Microphone Control help facility. To access the ‘Using Help’ facility: • Select the ‘Help’ menu and click on ‘Using Help’ . A list of topics is given. For more information on any topic contained in the list: • Click on t[...]

The following window appears: To remove this window: • Click on the ‘OK’ push button. Digital Congress Network Synoptic Microphone Control Page 2-7 Software User Manual GETTING ST AR TED 2 Fig. 2 The ‘About...’ window[...]

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CONTENTS Title Page 3.1 USING LAYOUT MODE 3-2 The main window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-2 The menu bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-3 The tool box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [...]

3.1 USING LA Y OUT MODE The main window The Synoptic Microphone Control main window contains a layout area and a tool box. From this you will create or edit your synoptic layout. In the title bar, the software displays the layout file name. The name dis- played is that of the last-used layout file corresponding to that installation file. A new layo[...]

The menu bar All menu options referred to in this user manual are contained within the menu bar, located underneath the title bar at the top of the main window. Access to drop-down menus is gained by clicking on the menu title, dis- played in the menu bar. The list of menu options is as follows: The tool box The tool box is situated on left side of[...]

Lavalier microphone - a mobile microphone carried by the user on a neck strap or tie-clip. Screenline - gives the screenline of the delegate as specified in the Delegate Database application. There are two other elements in the tool box: Microphone total - the total number of microphones with a valid seat num- ber that remain to be positioned in th[...]

3.2 MAKING A LA Y OUT Layout Options When creating a layout, there are a number of options in the ‘View’ and ‘Settings’ menus that make this task easier. These are: • Displaying icon numbers • Automatic numbering of icons • Changing the icon size • Displaying a layout grid in various sizes • ‘Snapping’ icons to the grid • Ro[...]

NOTE: The seat numbers assigned using ‘Auto Numbering’ are the seat numbers in the current installation file. If all installation file seat numbers have been used, any further icons will not be given seat numbers. Small or large icons - if you are planning a layout with a large number of microphones (more than 50, for example), the ‘Small Ico[...]

The following dialogue box appears: • Click on the radio button for the desired grid size. • Click on the ‘Ok’ push button. NOTE: Clicking on the ‘Cancel’ push button closes the dialogue box without carrying out the option. This applies to all dialogue boxes in Synoptic Micro- phone Control. Snapping to the grid - enabling this option c[...]

Rotating icons - causes the layout to automatically rotate clockwise in steps of 90°. To rotate the synoptic layout. • Select the ‘View’ menu and click on ‘Rotate Image’ . Positioning icons on a layout To create a layout, the first step is to position the icons according to the actual layout. To do so: • Click on the appropriate icon t[...]

Editing icons in a layout The Synoptic Microphone Control main window includes an ‘Edit’ menu with commands for undoing commands and cutting, copying, pasting and deleting icons. This menu also allows you to edit an icon’s seat number. Individual or groups of icons can be cut, deleted, copied and pasted. To select more than one icon: • Clic[...]

• Select the ‘Edit’ menu and click on ‘Cut’ . The selected icon(s) are moved from the layout to a ‘clipboard’ buffer mem- ory (which is not visible). To retrieve them: • Select the ‘Edit’ menu and click on ‘Paste’ . An outline representation of the cut icon(s) appears in the window. The mouse pointer turns into a cross-hair [...]

Editing seat numbers - if an icon or icons have been deleted, copied or pasted into the layout, the seat numbers must be edited. To do so: • Click on the icon whose seat number requires editing. • Select the ‘Edit’ menu and click on ‘Number’. The seat number beneath the microphone icon becomes an edit field. • Type in the new icon num[...]

To do so: • Open the DCN.INI file in the C:windows directory. • In the section of the DCN.INI file titled [Synoptic], enter the command line: <ScreenLineLength=#>, where # is a number between 0 and 15. • Save the DCN.INI file then exit it. • Close the application and restart it from Startup to implement the change. PREP ARING FOR A C[...]

3.3 SPECIFYING CONFERENCE PROCEDURES Specifying the microphone operation mode For more general information on microphone operation modes please refer to section 1.3, ‘Controlling Microphones’ . For information on the operator possibilities in each mode, please refer to section 4.3, ‘Using Control Mode’ . • Select the ‘Settings’ menu a[...]

Microphone Control By - this part of this dialogue box is for selecting the microphone mode. To do so: • Click on the desired ‘Microphone Control By’ radio button. In addition to allowing selection of the microphone mode, the ‘System Microphone Mode’ dialogue box also allows you to specify two other para- meters, ‘Microphone Settings’[...]

Specifying additional microphone parameters It is also possible to specify the following: • Printing or saving a record of microphone activity • Attention tone • Ambient microphone • Microphone off after shift NOTE: Printing or saving microphone activity is part of conference control and is covered in chapter 4. Microphone Activity - enable[...]

If you select ‘File’ : • The ‘Send To’ text box is highlighted. You can enter a file destination and name, which must be a valid MS-DOS name no longer than eight characters. If you select ‘Printer’ : • The ‘Page Header’ text box is highlighted. A descriptive name of the conference may be entered up to 80 characters long. This te[...]

Microphones Off After Shift - this option allows you to determine that when a delegate is promoted from the request list to the speakers list, only that delegate’s microphone will be activated. The microphones of all other delegates in the speakers list are deactivated. To enable this function: • Select the ‘Settings’ menu and click on ‘M[...]

3.4 W ORKING WITH LA Y OUT FILES Layout file options The ‘File’ menu has commands for: • Opening a new layout file • Opening an existing layout file • Saving a layout file under its current name • Saving a layout file under a different name • Deleting a layout file • Importing a bitmap • Printing microphone activity • Exiting th[...]

Digital Congress Network Synoptic Microphone Control Page 3-19 Software User Manual 3 • Type the desired layout file name in the text box. • Click on the ‘Ok’ push button. A new layout file (with no microphone icons placed) opens and the name appears in the title bar at the top of the window. If you have requested to open a new layout file [...]

PREP ARING FOR A CONFERENCE Synoptic Microphone Control Digital Congress Network Software User Manual Page 3-20 3 If there are two or more icons with the same seat number, a warning mes- sage is displayed before the ‘New’ dialogue box appears: ‘Two or more icons have the same seat number!’ • Click on the ‘Ok’ push button. The ‘New?[...]

Digital Congress Network Synoptic Microphone Control Page 3-21 Software User Manual PREP ARING FOR A CONFERENCE 3 This dialogue box contains a list box for selecting the layout file name. The name of the current layout file is also displayed. When the ‘Open’ dialogue box opens, the list box contains all available layout files. If the list conta[...]

The following dialogue box appears: This dialogue box contains a text box for entering the new layout file name. When the ‘Save As...’ dialogue box opens, a text insertion point is already in the text box and you can type a name up to 12 characters long. • Type the desired layout file name in the text box. • Click on the ‘Ok’ push butto[...]

Digital Congress Network Synoptic Microphone Control Page 3-23 Software User Manual PREP ARING FOR A CONFERENCE 3 Deleting a layout file - if you wish to delete a layout file: • Select the ‘File’ menu and click on ‘Delete...’ The following dialogue box appears: This dialogue box contains a list box for selecting the file to be deleted. If[...]

Importing a bitmap - you can import a bitmap to use as a background for the synoptic layout. NOTE: You can only import files which have a .bmp extension, and which have no more than 256 colours. To do so: • Select the ‘File’ menu and click on ‘Import...’ The following dialogue box appears: This is a standard windows dialogue box. The defa[...]

PREP ARING FOR A CONFERENCE Digital Congress Network Synoptic Microphone Control Page 3-25 Software User Manual 3 3.5 GOING T O CONTROL MODE It is possible for you to leave layout mode and go into control mode at any time. To do so: • Click on the ‘Control’ button in the toolbox. If there are any invalid seat numbers, or icons without seat nu[...]

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CONTENTS Title Page 4.1 WHAT IS CONTROL MODE? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-2 Monitoring and controlling a conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-2 Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-2 Icon status. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [...]

CONTROLLING A CONFERENCE Synoptic Microphone Control Digital Congress Network Software User Manual Page 4-2 4 4.1 WHA T IS CONTROL MODE? Monitoring and controlling a conference In control mode, the layout created in layout mode is used as a basis for mon- itoring and controlling a conference. The icons in the layout are functional, rather than just[...]

• Flashing red - last minute of speaking time NOTE: This is only applicable if a limit has been set on speaking time using Microphone Management (LBB 3570). • Green - microphone in request-to-speak list • Flashing yellow - response microphone in request-to-speak list • Flashing green - microphone is first in the request-to-speak list • Re[...]

4.2 CONTROL MODE DISPLA Y OPTIONS There are a number of options in the ‘View’ and ‘Settings’ menus that make controlling a conference easier: • Small or large icons • Displaying seat numbers • Rotating an image • Displaying a red background for active microphones NOTE: These options are also available in layout mode, and are describ[...]

4.3 USING CONTROL MODE Before using control mode, you should be familiar with the characteristics of each of the five microphone operating modes. Please refer to chapter 1.3 ( ‘Controlling Microphones’ ) and page 3-13 ( ‘Specifying the Micro- phone Operation Mode’ ) for further information. Switching microphones on and off In control mode, [...]

Switching microphones off - to switch an active microphone off: • Click on the active microphone icon. • In ‘Operator with Request List’ mode and ‘Operator with Request and Response List’ , clicking on an active microphone icon turns the micro- phone off but does not remove it from the speakers list. Clicking on the icon again turns the[...]

The following dialogue box appears: NOTE: The ‘Shift’ push button is only enabled in ‘Operator with Request List’ mode and ‘Operator with Request and Response List’ mode. The ‘Clear Requests’ push button is only enabled in ‘Operator with Request List’ mode, ‘Delegate with Request List’ mode and ‘Operator with Request and R[...]

4.4 ACCESSING CONFERENCE INFORMA TION Checking the conference status The status of the Synoptic Microphone Control can be checked at any time during a conference. To check the status: • Select the ‘View’ menu and click on ‘Settings’ . The following window appears: The ‘Settings’ window contains the following information: • ‘Micro [...]

The ‘Settings’ window is for reference only and cannot be used to alter the information it shows. However, if any of the displayed system parameters change while the window is on screen (for example, No. of Requests, Active Mics), it will update immediately to show the new status. This window can be moved around the window and resized as requir[...]

4.5 PRINTING It is possible to print out a record of microphone activity. NOTE: Printing is only possible when microphone activity is not being moni- tored (refer to page 3-15). To print a record of microphone activity: • Select the ‘File’ menu and click on ‘Print Activity...’ . The following dialogue box appears: • Click on the arrow b[...]

NOTE: The up and down arrow buttons on the right-hand side of this field can be used to scroll to the required number. • Click on the ‘Print’ push button. The specified number of hard copies of microphone activity will be printed out. Digital Congress Network Synoptic Microphone Control Page 4-11 Software User Manual CONTROLLING A CONFERENCE [...]

4.6 MICROPHONE TESTING Synoptic Microphone Control incorporates a facility that allows you to test some or all of the microphones connected to the DCN system to check whether they are operational. NOTE: The term ‘Microphones’ covers hand-held microphones and micro- phones on chairman- and delegate units. • Select the ‘Settings’ menu and c[...]

• Click on the ‘OK’ button to start the test. • Click on the ‘Cancel’ button to cancel the test. Selecting ‘Start’ causes all microphones to be switched off, the current speakers and request-to-speak lists to be cleared (where applicable) and all microphone keys to become inoperative until testing has been completed. The ‘Results?[...]

If you wish to stop testing completely: • Click on the ‘Ok’ push button. Testing will be stopped and the ‘Microphone Test’ dialogue box will disappear. All activities suspended during testing will be resumed. It is possible to start the test at a specific microphone, by specifying the number of that microphone in the ‘Test’ edit field[...]

4.7 EXITING SYNOPTIC MICROPHONE CONTR OL Temporarily exiting Synoptic Microphone Control It is possible to temporarily leave Synoptic Microphone Control without closing it down completely. To do so: • Click on the ‘minimize’ button situated at the top right of the applica- tion window. The Synoptic Microphone Control program will become iconi[...]

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CONTENTS Title Page A.1 CONTROL MENUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-2 File menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-2 Edit menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-2 View menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . .[...]

A.1 CONTROL MENUS File menu The ‘File’ menu covers opening, saving, closing, deleting and printing of layout files, and terminating the application. The menu consists of the fol- lowing items: • New... allows the user to create a new layout file (refer to page 3-18). • Open... allows the user to open an existing layout file. These files are[...]

View menu The ‘View’ menu covers viewing options available to the user. The menu consists of the following items: • Numbers allows the user to enable or disable the display of seat numbers beneath icons in a layout (refer to page 3-5 or 4-3). • Small/Large Icons allows the user to display the layout icons in normal or reduced size (refer to[...]

• Microphones off after shift allows the user to determine that when a del- egate is promoted from the request list to the speakers list, only that dele- gate’s microphone will be activated. All other microphones of delegates on the speakers list will be deactivated (refer to page 3-17). Shift! This option allows the user to perform a shift fun[...]

A.2 A CCELERA T OR KEY S Synoptic Microphone Control accelerator (short-cut) keys Menu Item Short-cut File <ALT> + <F> New... <N> Open... <O> Save... <S> Save As... <A> Delete <D> Import <I> Print Activity <P> Exit... <x> Edit <ALT> + <E> Undo <U> Cut <t> Copy <C[...]

APPENDIX A - REFERENCE GUIDE Synoptic Microphone Control Digital Congress Network Software User Manual Page A-6 A Menu Item Short-cut Settings <ALT> + <S> System Mic Mode... <S> Mic Activity... <y> Microphone Tests... <T> Select Grid... <G> Snap <p> Auto Numbers <N> Attention Tone <A> Ambient Mi[...]

A.3 INDEX ABC About this manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ii Accessing conference information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-7 Action box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-6 Altering the default screen line len[...]

Display options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3 Displaying a layout grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-6 Displaying seat numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-5 Editing icons in a layout . . . . . . . . . . . . [...]

Microphone Activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-15 Microphone operation modes Delegate with override . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-6 Delegate with request list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-5 Delegate with request and response list .[...]

Microphone on floorstand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-3 Microphone total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-4 Podium microphone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-3 Screen line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [...]

© 2003 Bosch Security Systems B.V . Data subject to change without notice June 03 | 3922 988 438 1 6en For more information please visit www .boschsecuritysystems.com[...]