Crestron Releases New RoomView Remote Management and Scheduling Software

Crestron unveils its next generation of global asset management and room scheduling software at InfoComm 2007 booth #5700. RoomView® Server Edition is a multi-user resource management program built on Microsoft .NET technology, offering global room scheduling, monitoring, controlling, and reporting of AV resources and environmental systems. RoomView provides an efficient point-and-click interface and a simple “at-a-glance” view of the entire control system network. Delivering both real-time PC and web-based clients, RoomView Server Edition allows facility managers, media directors and IT specialists to have the best of both worlds - unmatched real-time control and cross-platform accessibility. RoomView Server Edition integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Exchange Server and the full line of Crestron devices to ensure that every room is connected.

The integration of RoomView Server Edition with the Microsoft® Exchange Server provides flexible room scheduling in conjunction with MS Outlook®. Any Crestron touchpanel can display room calendars, enabling users to view scheduled meetings for a specific room, view availability status of all rooms, schedule a meeting for an open room and cancel scheduled meetings as necessary - all from any Crestron touchpanel on the network.

RoomView Server Edition is the Crestron web-based and real-time helpdesk software designed to deliver a complete global network control of AV resources. With an efficient point and click interface from any PC or Mac on the LAN or WAN, RoomView Server Edition offers a simple “at-a-glance” view of the entire control system network.

RoomView Express is a client-based software solution that provides true remote control and helpdesk functionality. Getting RoomView Express up and running on any PC is quick and easy. RoomView® Express is simple to install and runs in a similar manner to a local application like Microsoft® Word or Excel®. Just double click the icon and RoomView immediately opens. The client provides a real-time Control and Network Operations Center for true helpdesk functionality.

Both RoomView Server Edition and RoomView Express allow administrators and support staff to manage AV resources, perform remote system diagnostics, track the usage of projector lamps, log network activity, and automate tasks through event scheduling. An ideal master controller, RoomView remotely locks out selected rooms to prevent unauthorized use of TVs, CD players, and other AV equipment. In fact, RoomView can track any Crestron-based function, including lights, audio levels, motion detection, temperature, and more. Interactive help desk capabilities allow users to send help requests from their touchpanel or Web browser. Server Edition enables support staff to send instant text messages back to the touchpanel, alert e-mail contacts, and even launch e-Control®2 to control the room and its AV equipment. (RoomView Express provides pre-set email alert messages).

With the management and technical support functions streamlined by RoomView, system administrators can work more efficiently, reducing the support response time. With RoomView, every room is connected.

New Features - RoomView Server Edition

Windows Authentication - RoomView supports client authentication by forms (username/password) or by Windows credentials. SQL database authentication also supports Windows credentials.
Security Policies - RoomView includes functional and object security policies that define user rights within the software.
Room Custom Properties - Room custom properties are user-specified data fields that can be added to the room setup page.
Asset Custom Properties - Asset custom properties are user-specified data fields that can be added to the asset setup page.
Editing Objects - Setup of rooms, attributes, and symbols made easier. Multiple rooms can be edited at once for common properties. Attributes can be added to multiple symbols.
Editing Email Templates - A new edit screen for email templates enables the user to define the HTML and plain text format for email templates defined in the database.
View Room Calendar - A user can view the scheduled meetings for a room on a touchpanel.
Book Now - A user can book an open room from a touchpanel for the current time.
Show Available - A user can view the availability status of other rooms in the immediate area.
Decline Meeting - Meetings can be removed from the touchpanel and Exchange if the control processor detects that the meeting never started.

More Key Features - RoomView Server Edition

Web-based cross-platform and PC executable interfaces available
Fully customizable and user-defined interface
Direct database integration with SQL Server, Sybase, and Oracle
Windows Authentication supports client authentication by username/password or by Windows credentials. SQL database authentication also supports Windows credentials
Security Policies includes functional and object security policies that define user rights within the software
Fully integrated with MS Exchange Server for scheduling
Networking support including DHCP and SSL
Windows Event Log support
Device usage and call statistics reports
Asset management tools to track and schedule maintenance
Enhanced customization of attributes, contacts, logs and reports
Advanced plug-in modules for calendars, hot lists, action items, Instant Messenger and web cameras
Multiple server support with rollover capability for disaster recovery
Multiple rooms can be edited at once for common properties, and attributes can be added to multiple symbols
Room and asset Custom Properties provide user-specified data fields for room and asset setup pages
Email Templates Editing enables the user to define the HTML and plain text format for email templates defined in the database