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How IMU software works
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The Interactive
Messaging Unlimited software screens and handles SMS text messages.
These messages come to you
via the included cellular modem. The messages are first screened for
location (permit or prohibit specified countries or area codes), offensive
language, frequency of calling, and other criteria.
For manual message selection,
approved messages are then sent to the Inbox, where they can be selected
by the operator for display. Under fully automatic mode, approved messages
are sent straight to the Display Queue. The Display Queue feeds into a
separate Pangolin display output program, such as
Video Messaging Unlimited. The display
output program formats the queued messages and finally displays them on
the device (e.g., video, LED signboard,
laser or
Internet web page).
It's simple to set up IMU and
VMU,
to get ready for an event. The basic steps are outlined below:
1
Connect the cellular modem
2
Configure the modem
3
Set up message handling
4
Set up any voting
5
Set up the output display
6
Test the system
7
Run it live
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1 Connect the cellular modem
Your IMU system comes with a cellular
modem, either GSM or CDMA (you choose at time of purchase, depending
on your preferred cellular company). Just connect the modem to your computer's USB or
serial port.
For multiple incoming numbers, connect additional modems to additional USB or serial connectors.
Cellular
modems are made specifically for data
applications. One is included with your IMU system. You can buy
additional cellular modems from many retail cell phone
stores. For more information about cellular modems, see
this Tech Talk page.
If you do not have a serial port, simply use a serial-to-USB
adapter which is available from any computer store.
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2 Configure the modem
Run the IMU hardware setup
wizard. The modem is automatically detected and analyzed.
IMU works with both GSM and CDMA systems, and with
different cellular carrier implementations within those systems.
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3Device screen
In this screen, you can see that two devices are
connected to the computer. SMS text messages can come in on either
device.
The messages can be processed together (to make a
single incoming queue) or separately (as when voting is done using
different numbers to vote for different candidates). |
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The Offensive Message Filter screen specifies how offensive messages
are to be handled.
Click here
to see additional message setup screens. |
3 Set up message handling
You probably don't want to
display every message that comes in. That's why Pangolin's IMU has a
comprehensive set of filtering criteria. Out of the box, these are
already set up for general use.
If you have specific needs, you can set up the
following tabs:
-
General: Sets welcome
message and system commands
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Sender Filter: Blocks
or allows calls, based on country code, area code, exchange,
or exact mobile number.
-
Interval Filter:
Blocks calls that come too frequently from the same phone.
-
Offensive Words:
Designate offensive or prohibited words.
-
Offensive Message Filter
(shown at left): Specify handling for incoming messages
with offensive words (allow, auto block, handle manually).
-
Warnings:
Reply with your own text message after a caller sends a
message with offensive words.
-
Visualization:
Provides an automatic nickname for callers
who do not specify one.
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4 Set
up any voting
Voting
is very popular both for TV reality and awards shows, and for fun at
clubs and events.
IMU has built-in voting tabulation and (in the
VMU
video module) display. It handles the two main methods of voting:
1) Key word (single-line) voting. A key phrase within the text
message ("VOTE1", "VOTE2") indicates the caller's choice.
This works best when you have one SMS phone number.
2) Phone number (multiple-line) voting. A separate phone number is set
up for each choice. Any SMS message coming in to that number is
counted as a vote. This does require two or more phone/modems
connected to the computer, of course.
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5
Set up the output display
The above steps have set up incoming message
handling, in the IMU program. Now you switch to the Video Messaging
Unlimited program, to set up how the messages are displayed.
VMU features are described on this page.
If you are using LED
scrolling message boards, or laser output, these are set up using
other custom programs available from Pangolin. |
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6
Test the system
Pangolin provides a set of sample messages. Use these to test the
system. Before you go live, you can be sure the message handling and
output formatting is just the way you want it.
3User screen
This shows a list of all cell phone numbers that have
sent messages. Information includes the associated nickname and
message color, last call time, number of messages and number of
offensive messages.
Also shown here are the two phone/modem numbers
hooked up to the system -- the ones that are accepting incoming SMS
messages.
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7
Run it live
In full
automatic mode, IMU handles all filtering and queuing — you don't even
have to be in front of the computer.
In manual mode, you can select which messages to
show, and place them in the display queue. (Pre-filtering will still
be applied if you want, to reduce operator workload.)
At any time, you can send SMS messages back to
all senders ("Check out our website at www.icu.com") or selected users
("Bandfan1, that's a great idea - thanks!").
3Event screen
IMU keeps a log file showing every phone/modem event,
including the commands sent to and from the phone/modem. Ordinarily
you would not need to view this. But in case of any communications
problems, it helps in finding the cause, whether a faulty modem or
loose cable.
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