IRIS
Intelligent Roadway Information System
Dynamic Message Signs (DMS)
Select View âž” Message Signs âž” DMS menu item
A dynamic message sign (DMS) is a sign which is capable of changing the message displayed to motorists.
The following features are supported:
- Querying currently displayed sign message
- Sending and displaying sign messages
- Querying sign configuration
- Querying diagnostic information
- Querying or sending fonts
- Sending graphic images to be displayed
- Travel time estimation
- Variable speed advisories
- Slow traffic warnings
- Free-form text entry with banned word checks
Resources
iris/dms_pubiris/api/dmsiris/api/dms/{name}
Attribute permissions:
| Access | Minimal | Full |
|---|---|---|
| Read Only | name, location, msg_current | sign_config, sign_detail, geo_loc, msg_sched, status, stuck_pixels |
| 👉 Operate |  | msg_user |
| 💡 Plan | notes | device_req |
| 🔧 Configure | controller | pin |
Checks of free-form text are also affected by the access level.
Setup
The DMS properties form has setup information.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Hashtags | space-separated list of tags for selecting signs |
| Remote beacon | beacon activated automatically when sign deployed |
| Static graphic | image of static sign in which DMS is inset |
| Device purpose | general or dedicated purpose for sign operation |
| Hidden | hide sign when available or deployed styles are selected |
A hashtag is the # character, followed by a string of letters and/or
numbers. They are used to select signs for:
- message patterns for composing
- automated DMS actions
- alert configurations and alert messages
- lane-use MULTI indications
Internal beacons are controlled through the DMS controller using the NTCIP protocol. Remote beacons are controlled using a separate comm link.
Operating
Each DMS can have a number of styles, depending on its current state. Styles are ordered by precedence, determining which color a map marker is drawn.
| Style | Description |
|---|---|
| Available | Sign is blank and ready to use |
| Deployed | Displaying an operator-defined message |
| Schedule | Displaying a scheduled message |
| External | Displaying a message from an external system (not IRIS) |
| Maint. | Sign requires maintenance, but might still be functional |
| Failed | Communication failure to sign |
| Purpose | Dedicated-purpose sign (travel time, wayfinding, etc.) |
| All | All signs |
Composing Messages
When a DMS is selected, a few things happen:
- the sign’s location is displayed
- the current message is rendered
- the message pattern selector is populated:
- only patterns whose compose hashtag matches the sign
- only patterns containing NO action tags
When an operator chooses a pattern, a series of selectors is populated with message lines, depending on the fillable text rectangles. These selectors may also allow free-form text entry, depending on the permision access level of the user:
- 👉 Operate: No free-form text permitted
- 💡 Plan: Free-form text checked for banned words
- 🔧 Configure: Any free-form text permitted (no check)
The message preview is updated as the user composes the message. When the
Send button is pressed, a sign message is created and set as msg_user.
The server then performs a validation check ensuring the user has permission
for any free-form text.