Abstract

Main Features

• Synchronize video playback on computers in the LAN, the time difference between each computer will be in 30 micro-seconds (1-2 frames of video, hard to be aware of by human's eye)
• Use the synchronize signals when playing back the video, so the video could always be synchronized.
• No limitation to the number of computers to control. You only need to connect all computer in to the LAN.
• Supports all standard video formats. The software will use the video codecs on your system automatically.
• The new player could be appended anytime with just connecting it in to the network and doing some settings on the control pc.
• Supports auto loop play to display the video continuously all day long.
• Supports remote controlling of the video display by hardware device.

Comparison with other solutions

Functions	The software open the video when receiving the network or serial port signal	Synchronized by hardware	Video signal broadcasted by server	This system
Display videos at the same time	Open the video files and display them with network or hardware signal.	Turn on the players through the switch.	The server will send the video signal to all players, but for the buffer of RTP/RTCP protocol, the start time of all players can't be synchronized.	Open the video files and display them with network signal.
Synchronize during display	There is no synchronize signal controlling the video during displaying. Nowadays, all operation systems are non-real time, the tasks in system are executed alternately with time fragment method. So although the hardware configuration are similar with each computers, they will still have some errors with the process of the displaying and the error will become obvious gradually.	Although there isn't any synchronize signal to control the video during the process, the effect of synchronization is still well when using the real-time embedded system and decode with hardware.	All players' video are controlled by media server, but the synchronous effect is not very well.	The "Controller" sent the synchronous signal in the whole display process, each player active adjusted the display speed to ensure good synchronization.
Auto loop display	Support, but the interval is imprecise.	Support.	Support.	Support.
Display same video	Support.	Support.	Support.	Support.
Display different video(multi-screen)	Support.	Support.	The media server should broadcast to several video channels, so the synchronization is very poor and the channel number is limited.	Support.
Support video format	Support all general formats.	Only support some old formats, like AVI, MPEG and so on.	Depend on the media server.	Support all general formats.
Display high definition video	Support.	Generally, it does not support because of the influence of hardware.	Generally, it does not support because of the influence of the media server performance.	Support.
Output 5.1 channel audio	Support.	Not support.	Not support.	Support.
Cost	Low.	Change the hardware is expensive.	The media server is expensive.	Low.

Sample (Play 2 video files with 2 PC)