# ATHENSA + Hermes Research Pack

> **Project website:** Open [`ATHENSA_Hermes_Project_Roadmap.html`](ATHENSA_Hermes_Project_Roadmap.html) for the plain-language roadmap, discoveries, current position, safety rules, and next milestones.

> **Exact v7 local-copy analysis:** See [`LOCAL_COPY_ANALYSIS.md`](LOCAL_COPY_ANALYSIS.md). It identifies the copied 2017 builds, extracts the bundled CHM help systems, and maps safe Hermes integration boundaries without running any ATHENSA executable.

## Identified installed product

The supplied splash screen identifies:

- Product: **ListBox 7**
- Version: **7.0**
- Build: **1257**
- Edition: **PRO**
- License: **Permanent**
- Maintenance plan expiry: **2021-02-03 (expired)**
- Hardware licensing: WIBU-BOX dongle is recognized

The WIBU-BOX serial is deliberately not copied into this research note because it is not needed for workflow design.

### Interpretation

The software license itself is permanent. The expired date refers to maintenance/update entitlement, not necessarily the right to continue using the installed build. Confirm with ATHENSA before upgrading because a newer build may require renewed maintenance or a changed license entitlement.

## Documentation compatibility hierarchy

1. **Exact installed v7 build 1257 local help/config/sample files** — authoritative for this machine.
2. **ATHENSA Channel-in-a-Box v1.6 (2015)** — same vendor/product family immediately before v7.
3. **ATHENSA ListBox v4.2 manual (2015)** — same vendor and ListBox lineage.
4. **PlayBox ListBox/AirBox/Channel-in-a-Box manuals (2019–2020)** — shared product ancestry and useful for later behavior, but not guaranteed identical to ATHENSA v7.
5. **Current product pages/FAQs** — useful for capability discovery, not build-specific configuration.

## Documents saved in `manuals/`

- `Athensa_Channel_in_a_Box_User_Manual_v1.6_2015.pdf`
- `ListBox_User_Manual_Athensa_2015.pdf`
- `ListBox_User_Manual_2020.pdf`
- `AirBox_User_Manual_2019.pdf`
- `AirBox_User_Manual_2021.pdf` (document itself identifies v2.3, March 2020)
- `Channel_in_a_Box_PlayBox.pdf` (v2.2, October 2019)

## What is established about ListBox

ListBox is the offline playlist/schedule preparation application for AirBox. It can:

- Create and edit playlists without playout hardware.
- Validate media against the AirBox output module selected in ListBox.
- Add media, live items, fixed-time events, waits, stops, logos, GPI/router events, and TitleBox control events.
- Save ordinary and date/time-named daily playlists.
- Import third-party traffic schedules through delimited text and fixed-width mappings.
- Export capture lists for missing media.
- Preview and trim media.
- Carry clip metadata used by AirBox and TitleBox graphic rules.

## Best Hermes integration paths

### Safe first-stage integration

1. Hermes scans the media library and builds a content inventory.
2. Hermes validates paths, durations, codecs, naming, metadata, and schedule arithmetic.
3. Hermes writes a tab-delimited/CSV traffic schedule using a tested ListBox import-template mapping.
4. ListBox imports and saves the final playlist.
5. A validator reopens or inspects the saved playlist and confirms duration, missing media, overlaps, and fixed times.
6. Only a verified playlist is placed in AirBox's daily-playlist folder.

### More advanced integration

- Generate `.ply` playlists directly only after obtaining the **AirBox SDK** or verifying the format using known-good samples.
- Use file-change reload behavior for future playlist items only after testing with the installed v7 build.
- Use AirBox/TitleBox network control only after obtaining exact protocol/API documentation and confirming ports.
- Monitor System and As-Run logs for operational status and reconciliation.

## Critical safety rules for a 24/7 channel

- Keep frame-accurate playout inside AirBox; Hermes must not make time-critical decisions clip-by-clip.
- Never overwrite the currently playing item.
- Generate schedules into a staging folder, validate, then atomically promote them.
- Maintain a known-good emergency/fallback playlist.
- Treat missing files, zero duration, unsupported media, overlaps, and beyond-midnight fixed-time playlists as release blockers.
- Back up `settings.ini`, graphic rules, templates, import mappings, and known-good playlists before changes.
- Do not upgrade the permanent-license installation until license compatibility and rollback are confirmed.

## Missing exact-version material

Public search did not locate a build-specific **ATHENSA ListBox 7.0 build 1257** manual, release notes, AirBox SDK, or TitleBox API manual.

The exact v7 installation should therefore be inspected for:

- `.chm`, `.hlp`, `.pdf`, or HTML help files
- `settings.ini` and other configuration files
- ListBox/AirBox executable paths and file-version metadata
- sample `.ply` playlists
- import-template files
- logs and Doctor reports
- local API/SDK help
- command-line arguments and file associations

## Sources

- https://widenetworks.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ListBox_User_Manual.pdf
- https://playboxtechnology.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ListBox_user_manual_2020.pdf
- https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/5962653/Manuals/airbox_user_manual._2019.pdf
- https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/c3588de7-5fda-4950-9118-6c1c5984b425/AirBox_user_manual_2021.pdf
- https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/5962653/Manuals/PlayBox_Channel%20in%20a%20Box%20Users%20Manual.pdf
- https://widenetworks.net/Faq_quare/athensa-airbox
- https://widenetworks.net/Faq_quare/athensa-titlebox
- https://playboxtechnology.com/scheduling-and-playlists/