Enhancing Content Management using a public API

Introduction

In recent years, digital signage content has evolved from simple and static to dynamic, data-driven, and intelligent. With the new tools that are available, there are more ways to enhance your displays than ever. Behind the scenes, APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) allow you to connect your screens to external systems, automate updates, personalize content and much more.

At Play Digital Signage, we provide powerful API capabilities that streamline content management. Our APIs allow businesses to automate content updates, manage tags for efficient content organization, and integrate external data sources. With our flexible and scalable API solutions, digital signage management becomes seamless and highly customizable.

The Role of APIs in Digital Signage Content Management

APIs enable communication between digital signage software and other applications, making it easier to automate content distribution and updates. Some common use cases include:

• Automating Content Updates: Push real-time updates, such as news, stock prices, or weather conditions, directly to displays.
• Integration with External Data Sources: Connect signage systems with databases, CRMs, social media feeds, and other external applications.
• Tag-Based Content Management: Simplify content categorization and scheduling with dynamic updates based on pre-defined rules.
• Embedding External Content: Integrate third-party content providers via HTML embeds or HTTP requests made by JavaScript (XHR requests).

Play Digital Signage API: A Closer Look

Our API provides a comprehensive solution for managing displays and tags, ensuring efficient digital signage functionalities. Businesses can automate workflows, streamline content deployment, and create dynamic signage experiences with ease.

Key Features of the Play Digital Signage API

 

• Display Management
  • Control and monitor multiple displays remotely.
  • Update or reboot screens via API calls.
  • Retrieve real-time status updates for all connected screens.
    
• Tag-Based Content Management
  • Tags are crucial in efficiently managing content (Learn more about tags).
  • Assign and modify tags via API to automate content placement.
  • Tags can be activated for a specific period, after which content reverts to its original state.
  • Tags can be deactivated on demand to stop specific content from displaying.

Use Case: Integrating with Computer Vision Software for Demographic-Based Content Triggering

More and more businesses every day are taking advantage of computer vision software to increase customer engagement by delivering personalized digital signage content. You can integrate Play Digital Signage with computer vision software and then display personalized content based on demographic data such as age, gender, facial expressions, and more.

Example Use Case: Demographic-Based Content Display

A clothing store wants to increase engagement by displaying advertisements tailored to the specific customers passing by digital signage screens. Here’s how you can achieve it:

Step 1: A computer vision system is installed near digital signage displays to analyze customer features in real time. Step 2: The vision software detects characteristics such as age and gender and sends this data to a backend server. Step 3: The backend server processes the information and determines the appropriate tag for content display based on predefined rules. Step 4: Play Digital Signage's API is used to activate the corresponding tag on the relevant screen, ensuring the appropriate advertisement or content is displayed. Step 5: Once the audience changes, the previous tag is deactivated, and the content changes either to generic content or content tailored to the new audience.

This integration enables retailers and businesses to deliver highly targeted and engaging content that resonates with their audience in real-time.

Use Case: Emergency Alerts with Tag-Based Overrides

In an emergency situation, timely information is of the essence and digital signage is a powerful tool for broadcasting alerts in real-time. Emergency alerts can be triggered manually via the Play Digital Signage dashboard, through the API, or by integrating with external emergency alert systems. By activating specific tags, businesses, and organizations can override currently playing content and display critical information instantly.

Example Use Case: Emergency Alert Override

A corporate office wants to ensure employees receive emergency notifications during critical situations. Here’s how this can be implemented: A corporate office wants to ensure employees receive emergency notifications during critical situations. Here’s how this can be implemented:

Step 1: An emergency alert system detects a fire, security breach, or weather-related emergency. Step 2: The alert system sends a trigger to a backend server, which processes the emergency and assigns the appropriate tag. Step 3: Play Digital Signage's API activates the emergency tag, instantly overriding any currently playing content on the screens. Step 4: Emergency instructions, evacuation maps, or safety messages are displayed on all affected screens. Step 5: Once the emergency situation is resolved, the tag is deactivated, and the screens revert to their original scheduled content.

This use case ensures timely dissemination of critical information, improving safety and response times.

Content Provider APIs: Integrating External Data

Another significant use case for APIs in digital signage is integrating content providers. Businesses often need to pull data from external sources like:

• News Feeds
• Weather Services
• Social Media Platforms
• Business Dashboards
• IoT Devices

These integrations can be achieved through:

1. HTML Embed Method
   • External content can be displayed using simple HTML embeds.
   • We support this via our Website Plugin (Learn more).
   • This allows users to embed live web pages, dashboards, and interactive elements within their digital signage displays.
     
2. Data Pull via XHR (XMLHttpRequest) / HTTP Requests
   • Fetch data from external APIs using JavaScript HTTP requests.
   • Useful for displaying real-time statistics, stock market updates, or dynamic product pricing.

Example Use Case: Live Data Feed Integration

A hotel wants to display real-time flight departure information in its lobby. Here’s how they can achieve this:

Step 1: Use an external flight information API to pull real-time flight data. Step 2: Embed this data into the digital signage screen using an HTML embed or fetch it using an XHR (JavaScript HTTP request). Step 3: Our platform updates the information at regular intervals, ensuring travelers see the latest departures.

This integration provides valuable information to guests while reducing manual updates.

Example Use Case: Live Data Feed Integration

In addition to pulling real-time data, our website plugin enables users to embed external content provider widgets via HTML mode. Some excellent examples include:

• Elfsight – Over 30 high-quality widgets including Google Review, Coronavirus Stats, Countdown Timer, Pop Up, Value Table, Google Maps, Event Calendar, PDF Embed, Team Showcase, Menu, Weather, and more.
• WIDG.io – A variety of responsive widgets designed for business growth. Many are optimized for touch interactive platforms, including All-in-one Reviews, Before and After Image Slider, QR Code, and more.
• TradingView – Over 15 free financial widgets for embedding market insights and charts.
• SnapWidget – Various social media widgets, with both free and premium options.
• Powr.io – A collection of 50 widgets available in free and premium versions. Note: Their widgets do not load in web preview due to security limitations but function properly on players.
• Windy – A visually stunning weather pattern map.
• WeatherWidget – A strong alternative to our built-in weather plugin.
• ClockLink – A wide range of customizable clock configurations.
• TimeAndDate – Offers both analog and digital clocks.
• KeepTheScore – Various scoreboards such as tally counters, leaderboards, and basketball scoreboards.
• Timezone.io – A dashboard that displays the local time for different team members, ideal for distributed teams.
• FX-Exchange.com – An interactive currency converter widget, useful for touchscreen kiosks.

Why Choose Play Digital Signage?

Play Digital Signage stands out due to its flexibility, ease of integration, and powerful API features. Here’s why our platform is the best choice for API-driven content management:

• Scalability: Easily manage hundreds of screens across multiple locations.
• Automation: Reduce manual work with automated content updates and scheduling.
• Customization: Leverage our API to tailor the digital signage experience to specific business needs.
• Integration Capabilities: Connect with third-party data providers to create dynamic content.
• User-Friendly Management: Our well-documented API makes integration seamless (API Docs).

Conclusion

The use of APIs has revolutionized digital signage by enabling automation, personalization, and real-time content updates. Our API capabilities allow businesses to monitor screens, automate content workflows, and integrate external data sources. Whether it’s through tag-based content management, website embedding, or HTTP/XHR data pulls, Play Digital Signage provides the tools needed to create a seamless and dynamic digital signage experience.

By leveraging our API or integrating external APIs with our software, businesses can ensure their content remains relevant, engaging, and up-to-date, all while reducing manual workload and increasing efficiency.

For more information, check out our API Documentation and Website Plugin Guide.