BRIGHTSIGN APP USER GUIDE
iOS App Version 1.0.1
BrightSign, LLC. 16795 Lark Ave., Suite 200 Los Gatos, CA 95032 | 408-852-9263 | www.brightsign.biz
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 1
Using the BrightSign App 2
UI Overview 2
Adding Players to the App 3
Switching between Players 4
Removing a Player from the List 5
Creating and Editing Commands 5
Sending Commands 6
Using the Diagnostic Web Server 7
Retrieving App Logs 7
BrightAuthor and the BrightSign App 8
Diagnostic and Local Web Servers 8
Using UDP Events 9
UDP Commands with Multiple Players 9
Creating User Variables 11
Using Conditional Targets 11
Changing User Variables 6
1
INTRODUCTION
The BrightSign App for iPad and iPhone allows you to broadcast commands to BrightSign players and
other compatible network devices over your local network using UDP (User Datagram Protocol) packets.
The app automatically retrieves UDP events in BrightAuthor presentations that are currently active on
the network, allowing you to access and activate them using a straightforward UI. You can also use the
App to modify User Variables and create new UDP Commands on the fly.
The BrightSign App is compatible with all networked BrightSign players, including the XD230, XD1030,
XD1230, HD220, HD1020, and HD1010.
2
USING THE BRIGHTSIGN APP
UI Overview
Once you download the BrightSign App from the Apple
Store, opening it will take you to the BrightSign App UI.
The first time you open the app, the main window will be
blank because you have not added any BrightSign
players to the app database yet.
• Back / Forward: Navigates the
Diagnostic Web Server or User
Variables webpage similar to a
web browser.
• Refresh: Reloads the page data
of the Diagnostic Web Server or
User Variables webpage.
• Player Name: The name of the
player that is currently
connected to the app. The
pages will only be available if they are enabled
during the
• Settings: Opens the settings menu, which allows you
to add players to the app, select players that have
been added, and add or edit the UDP Commands
for a player.
player setup process in BrightAuthor.
player name is designated
during the player setup process
in BrightAuthor.
Note: The BrightSign App can only
connect to one player at a time.
• DWS / User Variables Page:
Switches between the
Web Server
Variables webpage
and the
Diagnostic
User
. These
The BrightSign App main page for iPad
3
• Web Server Page: The main area of the App displays
either the Diagnostic Web Server or the User
Variables page of the selected player if they were
enabled during the player setup process.
• Command Buttons: Sends commands to the
connected player with the press of a button. In
the Settings menu, you can designate the title of
each button, as well as the UDP data that is sent.
• (iPhone only) Actions Menu: Displays the
Command Buttons for use.
Adding Players to the App
Once you are connected to a local network, the App will
automatically detect BrightSign players on the network.
However, there may be instances when you need to
manually add a new player to the App database. To do
so, follow these steps:
1. Ensure that your iPad or iPhone is connected to the
same local network as your BrightSign player.
2. Open the BrightSign App.
3. Press the Settings button.
4. Press the
button in the BrightSign Unit field.
The Command Button display for iPhone
Adding a new player in the Select Unit window
4
This will take you to the Select Unit window, which
displays all currently active BrightSign players.
5. Press the
6. Enter the IP address of the BrightSign player you
wish to add to the app database. Then press
Search. If you haven’t manually specified the IP
address of the player during setup, or if you don’t
know the IP address of the player, you can find it by
following these steps:
a. Power off the player by unplugging the power
supply.
b. Remove the SD card (as well as the internal
µSD card if you are using an XD player).
c. Power on the BrightSign player by reconnecting
the power supply.
d. Wait for the player to boot up: The IP address of
the player, along with the serial number and
button in the Add Unit field.
above. To choose a player to send commands and User
Variable updates to, follow these steps:
1. Press the Settings button.
2. Navigate to the Select Unit window by pressing
the
3. Tap the unit you wish to connect to. A checkmark
will appear next to that unit.
4. Return to the Settings page using the button in
the top left.
5. Save your new selection by pressing the Save
button in the top right.
button in the BrightSign Unit field.
firmware version, will be displayed on the
screen.
7. After searching, the app will return the name and ID
of any player or other device matching the IP
address you entered.
8. Press the Add button to add the player to the app
database. Then press Done.
Switching between Players
You can create a list of locally networked BrightSign
players by adding units using the method described
Deleting a player in the Select Unit window
5
Removing a Player from the List
The BrightSign App does not automatically remove
BrightSign players from the Active BrightSign Units list.
If you modify the IP address of a player or remove it from
the local network, that player will remain (marked in red)
on the Active BrightSign Units list.
If you would like to remove a player from the from the
Active BrightSign Units list, follow these steps:
1. In the Select Unit window, press the Edit button
in the top right. Each player should now have a
button next to its name.
2. Press a button to turn it. You will now be able to
delete a player from the list by pressing the Delete
button to the right of the player name.
3. Press Done to save the changes you’ve made.
Note: Deleting players only removes them from the
app database. The configuration settings of the
players themselves are not changed in any way.
Creating and Editing Commands
The BrightSign App automatically populates a list of UDP
Commands that are being used in the current
BrightAuthor presentation. However, in some cases you
may need to manually add command buttons (for
example, when using the BrightSign App to send UDP
commands to other types of networked devices).
1. Press the Settings button.
Adding a new Command button in the Settings window
2. Use the Small, Medium, and Large Size buttons
to edit the size of the action buttons in
the Commands field. Making the Command
buttons smaller allows you to fit more buttons on
the screen.
3. Add a new UDP Command button to the UI by
pressing
window that allows you to enter an Label, as well
as Data.
Add Button…. This will bring up a
6
a. Label: The name of the button as it is
displayed in the Commands field and the
Settings menu.
b. Data: The command parameter that is sent
to the player in the form of a UDP packet.
For the BrightSign App to activate the
BrightAuthor UDP event, this text must
match exactly the text in the Specify UDP
input field of the UDP Input Event in
BrightAuthor.
4. Press the Save button once you are finished
inputting the Label and Data.
When the App connects to a player, it assigns a name to
each command based on the data of that command. If
you would like to edit these default names, click the
button to the right of a command in the Settings
Changing User Variables
You can also use the BrightSign App to change the value
of User Variables. User Variables have various uses in
BrightAuthor presentations: You can display them on
screen like dynamic price tags, or you can use them
as conditionals targets in a presentation (for example, by
configuring the presentation to play a different video if the
variable is equal to a certain value).
window. You can then edit both the Label and Data.
Sending Commands
You can send UDP Commands using the Commands
field in the UI. Simply touch one of the command buttons
to send the UDP Command string to the currently
connected player.
If you would like to affect multiple players with a single
command, please see the UDP Commands with Multiple
Players section.
Changing variable values on the User Variables webpage
7
By default, the home page of the BrightSign App displays
the Diagnostic Web Server. To change the values of
User Variables, you will need to switch to the User
Variables webpage.
The title above a field reflects the name of the User
Variable. The number in the field reflects the current
value of the User Variable. To change the value of a User
Variable, tap the field, enter a new value, and then press
Set Values. If you chose to Enable Update Notifications
when setting up the player, the User Variables page will
automatically refresh whenever a variable value changes.
Note: Like UDP Commands, you can only work with User
Variables that are available on the currently selected
player.
Using the Diagnostic Web Server
The Diagnostic Web Server is a helpful tool for managing
and monitoring networked players. It is included with the
BrightSign App to increase the overall utility of the App,
but it is not directly related to the interactive capabilities
of UDP Commands or User Variables. Please see
the Diagnostic Web Server User Guide to learn more
about using this tool.
Opening the Information panel
Retrieving App Logs
Follow these steps to retrieve a record of actions taken in
the BrightSign App:
1. Open the Settings window.
2. Press the Information button in the top right.
3. Select the Logs button.
4. Enter an Email recipient and subject line for the
log report.
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