User layouts are an important feature of the NHI LightHouse user interface.  A layout, which might also be called a 'dashboard', is a configurable representation of informational controls presented to the user as their primary view of system operations, device states and locations.  A control is a single user interface (UI) element, allowing the user to view and/or control a system aspect.  Examples of system aspects include an alarm control which lists alarms on the system with various handling options, a map control which displays maps and icons for individual devices on those maps, or a swipe-and-show cardholder control which displays the realtime status of card reads on one or more doors, with information, names, timestamps, and cardholder portraits for each access event.  The LightHouse platform has a multitude of controls for different purposes.

User layouts can span multiple monitors, and any of a large number of controls (including multiples of the same type, such as video controls, maps, etc.) in a customizable, scalable grid containing up to 16 primary controls per monitor.  Some primary controls, such as the Multiple Media Viewer Control, or the Tab Control can, in turn, host more controls inside of themselves.

The ability to configure layouts is a system permission that can be granted to users with a role that requires such capability.  Individual controls on the layout can also have attributes set, such as an alarm control only displaying alarms from a particular location, or which doors an Access Viewer control should monitor.

User layouts are directly associated with a profile/user role, allowing users to have the data view that makes the most sense for their operational needs.  Optionally, multiple user layouts can also be assigned to a profile as Alternate Layouts - Alternate Layouts allow user with that permission assigned to switch between those assigned layouts dynamically.  Users in this case can switch between multiple layouts at will, or even pull up subsets of alternate layouts in order to show the most relevant current information. 

While in many cases operators will not be tasked with changing their own layouts, in some cases it may be desirable to automatically change a user's layout in response to a system, device, or time condition.  When automatic layout switches are configured, an option is given to the administrator configuring the layout switch (and the automatic conditions under which the layout shall be switched), to either allow or deny the user being subjected to this layout change the ability to cancel the switch.  The cancel option is useful in cases where the operator is currently actively operating on their current layout, and switching the layout automatically without warning would cause adverse effects.  Alternatively, the ability to force a layout switch is important in cases where the layout switch is a mandatory component of the operator protocol.

With fully customizable layouts and control configuration, the (permission-governed) ability to switch all or part of the user's layout during runtime operation, and the capability to dynamically switch layouts automatically in response to system and device conditions, NHI LightHouse has the power to place the most relevant information in the most easily understandable format in front of operators, when they need it most.

For more information about the User Layouts, see the LightHouse System - Administration Manual, or contact sales@networkharbor.com for more information.  Customizable User Layouts and all other features discussed above are a standard component of the Network Harbor LightHouse System.

LightHouse is the pre-eminent physical security integration management (PSIM) platform, trusted by Federal, State, and Local governments, as well as corporations and educational institutions, providing command, control, communications, status, and alerting capabilities over a wide range of access control, video, intrusion detection, automation, building management, network infrastructure, mass notification, and more.

For more information on NHI LightHouse solutions, see https://NetworkHarbor.com/LightHouse or contact sales@networkharbor.com

Related Topics:
Conditional Behaviors
LightHouse Macros
Profile Configuration

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