SOLVED

Flex UC unit and the screen timeout.

Brass Contributor

 

We have recently deployed a number of Microsoft Teams room systems with OEM extension configured. Specifically, we’re referring to the Crestron Flex MTR with integration enabled to allow switching to a Crestron project for Audiovisual (AV) control of devices like projectors, screens, wireless microphones and so on.

 

We have noticed that the behaviour of these systems when switching to the OEM page, is that after 60 seconds of inactivity, the MTR application automatically switches back from the OEM page to the native MTR page. The 60-second timeout appears to be hard coded into the MTR application, with no ability to change the time-out value or disable it. In essence, this design decision by Microsoft means that users will always be presented with the native Microsoft MTR page when entering the meeting room. If they don’t know how to enact the OEM control switch button from the MTR GUI, potentially this means they can join a Teams meeting and have a poor experience, potentially without vision or sound etc.

 

This behaviour is different to the original Lync Room System (LRS), and Skype Room System v1 codecs that preceded it, which didn’t automatically switch back to the native Microsoft LRS/SRS application from the OEM page.

 

In our case, we have several large auditorium’s and townhall spaces that have AV equipment that needs to be manually brought online (i.e. projector, projector lifters and motorised screens) before it becomes usable for the video conferencing equipment. It would make more sense in these large, integrated spaces if we could choose to present the OEM page by default (and not the native MTR application), as it would allow the entire room system with all of the supporting AV equipment to be brought online as part of the initial workflow, and then for a switch to the native MTR GUI to take place. This is how these rooms currently function as SRS v1 systems, and it’s preventing them from being easily transitioned to Microsoft Teams rooms.

 

Question:

 

  • Is Microsoft considering relaxing the 60-second automatic timeout on the MTR application?

 

  • Is there any way (official or not) to change the automatic timeout behaviour?

 

2 Replies

@yankeedoodlegandy

 

There have been discussions about this being implemented in some of my discussions with the product group and engineering, it is something that might be considered in the future but is not there today as you noted.

 

@Ilya Bukshteynmight be able to comment further, but the design intent here is very clear and this was something that was decided by both Crestron and Microsoft to keep with the spirit of the product and its design. 

 

Although the Crestron pages are an important part of the Flex product line, it is a Microsoft Teams Room product at its core.  The design of these systems is to have a consistent user interface on all vendors products and the page flip is something that is a feature unique to the Crestron systems and does bring added value to the Crestron products.  But the user walking into the room shouldn't have the experience of possibly seeing different screens that they might not be used to was the experience that the units need to have.

 

I know both Crestron and Microsoft continue to explore how we can further enhance the experience and I think both have ideas, but your suggestion should be put on uservoice and it can be weighed by the impact on the Microsoft/Crestron customers.

best response confirmed by yankeedoodlegandy (Brass Contributor)
Solution

@James Vaughan and others, yes we have a backlog item to make the timeout configurable, although as Jimmy says the goal is to always get back to the primary MTR UX.  @Sohail Tariq 

1 best response

Accepted Solutions
best response confirmed by yankeedoodlegandy (Brass Contributor)
Solution

@James Vaughan and others, yes we have a backlog item to make the timeout configurable, although as Jimmy says the goal is to always get back to the primary MTR UX.  @Sohail Tariq 

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