Solstice Video Room Integration

Starting in Solstice 5.5, Solstice Pods can automatically switch between a dedicated room system, such as a Zoom Room or Microsoft Teams Room, and the Solstice Pod's multi-source wireless content sharing and bring-your-own-meeting (BYOM) video conferencing support. Solstice Video Room Integration (VRI) can also support switching between Solstice and certain all-in-one video conferencing appliances.

VRI System Components & Requirements

The following components and related configurations are required to integrate Solstice with a computer-based video room system:

Gen3 Solstice Pod running Solstice 5.5 or later
- Configure the Pod with a static IP address or static hostname that can be resolved by the video room system device.
Device running Zoom Room or Microsoft Teams Room software
Supported USB switcher that accepts RS-232 or HTTP-based API commands
- Configure any devices to be signaled by Solstice via API commands, such as the USB switch, to have a static domain name or IP address on the same network as the Solstice Pod.
- Set the USB switch to route to the Zoom Room or Microsoft Teams Room device by default.
Optional: USB to RS-232 cord (for RS-232 USB switch)
Display monitor and supported peripheral video and audio devices

Standard Solstice VRI Configuration

In a standard configuration with a video room system, the room system device and display monitor are connected to the Solstice Pod, and USB audio and video peripherals are connected to the Solstice Pod via a USB switch. The Pod can then be configured to automatically switch from displaying the video room system to using Solstice's wireless sharing and BYOM video conferencing as needed. The diagram below shows how these components are typically connected.

See the Device Support section for more information about device requirements, tested USB switches, and supported RS-232 converters.

Standard Solstice VRI Diagram

Appliance Solstice VRI Configuration

A second configuration is also possible to integrate Solstice with an all-in-one video conferencing appliance that contains a camera, microphone, and speakers and also accepts RS-232 or HTTP-based API commands. In this type of integration, the all-in-one appliance is connected to the Solstice Pod via HDMI-in and USB. The Solstice Pod can then be configured to send API commands to toggle the all-in-one device between its native functionality and an external device mode that passes AV input and output to the Solstice Pod.

See the Device Support section for more information about requirements for all-in-one video appliances and tested devices.

How To Configure Solstice for Video Room Integration

Use these steps to configure a Solstice Pod for integration with a video room system, such as a Microsoft Teams Room or Zoom Room.

Attach the Solstice Pod to power and to the local Ethernet and wireless networks, as appropriate for your Solstice deployment.
The video room system (Zoom, Teams, etc.) device should also be powered on and connected to Ethernet on the same network as the Solstice Pod.
Connect a display monitor to one of the Solstice Pod’s HDMI outputs (HDMI 1 or HDMI 2 on the back of the Pod). Mersive does not recommend using dual displays in a VRI configuration at this time.
Connect the video room system device's HDMI output to the HDMI-in port on the front of the Solstice Pod.
Connect supported peripheral cameras, speakers, and/or microphones to the USB switch's USB output ports.
Connect one of the USB ports on the back of the Solstice Pod to a USB input port on the USB switch.
Connect a USB port on the video room system device to a USB input port on the USB switch.
Optional: If using an RS-232 USB switch, connect the other USB port on the back of the Solstice Pod to the RS-232 port on the USB switch using a USB–to–RS-232 cord.

Open the Video Room Integration configuration page and enter login information if required.
Check Enable Video Room Integration and select your Room System Type.
Select the Device Switching Protocol based on the type of USB switch being used. If using an RS-232 switch, select RS-232.
1. In Command to Select Solstice, enter the RS-232 command that corresponds with the port Solstice connects to on the USB switch.
2. In Command to Select Room System, enter RS-232 command corresponding with the port the video room system connects to on the USB switch.
If using a USB switch that accepts REST API commands, select HTTP/HTTPS.
1. Under Command(s) to Select Solstice, enter an Order, Verb, Headers, Payload, and URL as needed to create an API command that instructs the USB switch (or all-in-one device) to switch to the port connected to the Solstice Pod.
2. Click Add HTTP Command to add rows for additional API commands as needed.
3. Click the Delete (trash can) icon at the end of a command row to remove the associated API command.
4. Under Command(s) to Select Room System, use the tools described in steps a–c to create an API command that signals the USB switch to switch to the port connected to the video room system device.
Click Apply at the bottom of the configuration page to save your changes.

Mersive recommends using the messaging options provided in the video room system to show Solstice connection instructions. The overlay banner described here is provided as an alternate option.

Open the Video Room Integration configuration page and enter login information if required.
If Enable Video Room Integration is not selected, first complete the directions in Step 2 above.
To have the Pod display Solstice connections instructions as low-profile overlay banner at the top or bottom of the video room system screen, enter the instructions in Overlay Text box under Instructions Text Overlay at the bottom of the page.
The variables [RoomName], [ScreenKey], [WifiNetworkName], [WifiIP], [EthNetworkName], and [EthIP] are automatically replaced with specific details for that Solstice Pod.
Select the Text Overlay Position, either Top or Bottom, where you want the Solstice connection instructions overlay banner to appear on the video room system screen.
Click Apply at the bottom of the configuration page to save your changes.

Follow the directions below to use either Solstice Cloud or Solstice Dashboard to set the HDMI-in behavior mode to Persistent Post for the Solstice Pod integrated with a video room system.

In a video room system configuration, the video room display is configured as an HDMI-in post to the Solstice Pod. In Persistent Post mode, Solstice hides the room system post when users connect wirelessly to the Solstice Pod and reinstates it when all users have disconnected from Solstice.

In Solstice Cloud

In Solstice Cloud, use the left sidebar to navigate to Manage > Pods.
Click the name of the Gen3 Solstice Pod to be integrated with the video room system.
Scroll down and expand the Features configuration section. If a template is previously assigned to the Pod, click Edit to change the configuration of the selected Pod.
Under HDMI Input Behavior, select Persistent Post.
Click Save as Unassigned to save the configuration for the selected Pod only.

In Solstice Dashboard

In Solstice Dashboard, select the Gen3 Solstice Pod to be integrated with the video room system from the list of Your Solstice Instances.
Go to the Appearance and Usage tab and scroll to Usage and Feature Management.
Under HDMI Input Mode, select Persistent Post.
Click Apply.

Follow the directions below to use Solstice Cloud or Solstice Dashboard to disable digital signage on the Solstice Pod integrated with a video room system. In this type of integration, it is recommended that digital signage instead be enabled on the video room system.

In Solstice Cloud

In Solstice Cloud, use the left sidebar to navigate to Manage > Pods.
Click the name of the Gen3 Solstice Pod to be integrated with the video room system.
Scroll down and expand the Digital Signage configuration section. If a template is previously assigned to the Pod, click Edit to change the configuration of the selected Pod.
If Enable Digital Signage is selected, uncheck it. The digital signage settings become unavailable.
Click Save as Unassigned to save the configuration for the selected Pod only.

In Solstice Dashboard

In Solstice Dashboard, select the Gen3 Solstice Pod to be integrated with the video room system from the list of Your Solstice Instances.
Go to the Digital Signage tab.
If Enabled is selected, uncheck it. The digital signage settings become unavailable.
Click Apply.

Other Solstice VRI Configuration Recommendations

Mersive also recommends the following video room system configuration options to achieve the best results with your Solstice video room integration:

Zoom Room Configuration

To avoid receiving alerts each time Solstice-enabled conferencing is used, disable device error notifications on the Zoom Room device (Alert > Client Alert Settings).
Set power mode for Zoom Room device to never sleep and never suspend display, except for times when the room won’t be used for any meetings, such as at night.

Microsoft Teams Room Configuration

Set power mode for Teams Room device to never sleep and never suspend display, except for times when the room won’t be used for any meetings, such as at night.

Poly Studio X30/X50 Configuration

Turn off sleep mode on the Poly Studio device.

Device Support for Solstice Video Room Integration

Expand the sections below to find details that can serve as a guide to device selection and configuration and provide the best results for your Solstice VRI configurations.

USB Switch Requirements

USB 2.0 or 3.0 (or later) compatibility depending on protocol version required by connected video/audio peripherals
Supports 2 or more host devices (Solstice Pod and video room device or all-in-one video appliance)
Provides commands (RS-232 or API) that set the active host device

Tested USB Switches

Make and Model	USB Version	Command Protocols
Inogeni Toggle	3.0	RS232
Extron SW2 USB	2.0	RS232
Lightware UCX-2x1-HC30	3.1 Gen 1	RS232/API
Lightware UCX-4X2-HC30	3.1 Gen 1	RS232/API

All-in-One Video Appliance Requirements

Appliance allows built-in camera/audio devices to be used externally via USB 2.0 or 3.0 (or higher)
Provides commands (RS-232 or API) to enable and disable external use of built-in camera/audio devices

Tested All-in-One Video Appliances

Make and Model	Command Protocols
Poly Studio x30	HTTP/REST API
Poly Studio x50	HTTP/REST API

Based on publicly available information, the following USB-to-serial converter chips should be supported:

FTDI FT232R, FT232H, FT2232H, FT4232H, FT230X, FT231X, FT234XD
Mersive recommends using FTDI products for USB–to–RS-232 conversion if possible.
Prolific PL2303
Silicon Labs CP2102 and all other CP210x
Warning
Mersive has discovered a timing issue with some devices using the CP2102 chip that causes the RS-232 command for the Solstice Pod to switch back to the room system to fail. Mersive is investigating to find a resolution.
Qinheng CH340, CH341A

These chips can be found in many generally available USB–to–RS-232 converters. Contact Mersive Support for more information.

Lightware UCX Series (no authentication)

Verb: POST
Header: HTTP/1.1
Payload: U1:H1 or U2:H1
URL: http://<device_ip>/api/V1/MEDIA/USB/XP/switch

Extron SW2 USB

Inogeni Toggle

SH 1\r
SH 2\r

Poly Studio x30/x50

Authentication
- Verb: POST
- Header: Content-Type: application/json
- Payload: {“user”: “admin”, “password”: “<device password>”}
- URL: https://<device_ip>/rest/session
Enable device mode
- Verb: POST
- Header: Content-Type: application/json
- Payload: n/a
- URL: https://<device_ip>/rest/system/mode/device
Disable device mode
- Verb: DELETE
- Header: Content-Type: application/json
- Payload: n/a
- URL: https://<device_ip>/rest/system/mode/device

Also see the Solstice Peripherals List to learn which audio and video peripherals have been verified to work best with the Solstice Pod and Solstice video conferencing.

In this section:

Solstice Video Room Integration

VRI System Components & Requirements

Standard Solstice VRI Configuration

Standard Solstice VRI Diagram

Appliance Solstice VRI Configuration

How To Configure Solstice for Video Room Integration

In Solstice Cloud

In Solstice Dashboard

In Solstice Cloud

In Solstice Dashboard

Other Solstice VRI Configuration Recommendations

Zoom Room Configuration

Microsoft Teams Room Configuration

Poly Studio X30/X50 Configuration

Device Support for Solstice Video Room Integration

Warning

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