User`s manual

Alcorn McBride Digital Video Machine HD User’s Manual Rev 1.0

GPS Control

Overview

Thanks to GPS (Global Positioning System) technology, the Digital Video Machine

can automatically trigger videos or playlists whenever it enters into a predetermined

geographical area. With this feature you can easily design a “No Operator-

Intervention Required” A/V system on a tour bus or tram that automatically plays pre-

recorded spiels or videos whenever it enters a specified area.

The DVMHD accepts

a standard NMEA-

0183 data stream at

4800 baud.

The DVMHD accomplishes this by reading a data stream from a GPS sensor. This

sensor is often in the form of a “GPS Mouse” or pod that outputs Longitude and

Latitude data obtained from orbiting GPS satellites. These sensors are commonly

used to connect via RS-232 Serial or USB to a laptop computer running mapping or

direction-finding software. In the case of the DVMHD, the sensor connects directly to

a 6-pin mini-DIN port located on the rear-panel.

The Longitude and Latitude data supplied by the GPS sensor is compared to

geographical points stored in a GPS playlist which you create based on your

application. Each entry in a GPS playlist contains a command supported by the

DVMHD’s Command Protocol as well as GPS coordinates that are associated with

that command. The incoming coordinates from the GPS sensor are compared to

those listed in the GPS Playlist, and when a match is found the specified command is

executed. Typically, this command is a ‘Play’ command, so when the vehicle drives

into a GPS waypoint a video is automatically triggered to play.

GPS Playlists can be easily created using an Alcorn McBride’s free Windows

application called GPS Builder.

GPS In