Today we release a pharos Box update that lets devices discover one another on the local network and share data. In the Telebasel newsroom, the software uses this capability for live analytics and press information.
Several displays can need the same information. Rather than having every box repeatedly request that data from an external service, the new implementation coordinates the work: one available pharos Box retrieves the data and distributes it to the other participating boxes.
The Telebasel scene shares two data streams: analytics and press information. The analytics view includes active users and popular articles, giving the newsroom a live view of how its website is being used. Sharing the results reduces duplicate requests, which matters when an external service limits the number of API calls.
UPnP provides local device discovery. The pharos software then identifies participating boxes and coordinates which device supplies each data stream. Data delivery between the boxes uses the application’s own network interface.
If no usable peer is available, a box can retrieve the data itself. A local status page shows the discovered devices and cluster state. The update therefore combines device discovery with a concrete operational task: supplying several newsroom displays with shared information.