Cisco IP/TV Content Manager User Guide, Version 3.5 - Chapter 2: Managing On-Demand Programs [Cisco IP/TV Software]

Table Of Contents

Managing On-Demand Programs

Using Media Files

Editing Media File Metadata

Playing Media Files Through the IP/TV Plug-In

Searching Media Files

Creating a New On-Demand Category

Creating an On-Demand Subcategory

Creating a New On-Demand Program

Reviewing an On-Demand Category or Program

Deleting an On-Demand Category or Program

Editing an On-Demand Category or Program

Duplicating an On-Demand Program

Moving an On-Demand Program

Using the OnDemand Search Window

Searching for On-Demand Programs

Searching for On-Demand Media Files

Deleting Media Files with No Programs

Managing On-Demand Programs

This chapter contains procedures for defining and managing IP/TV on-demand categories and programs. Once defined, the categories and programs are listed in the IP/TV Content Manager OnDemand Programs window. Topics covered in this chapter include:

•Using Media Files

•Creating a New On-Demand Category

•Creating a New On-Demand Program

•Reviewing an On-Demand Category or Program

•Deleting an On-Demand Category or Program

•Editing an On-Demand Category or Program

•Duplicating an On-Demand Program

•Moving an On-Demand Program

•Using the OnDemand Search Window

IP/TV Content Manager lets you define a hierarchy, or tree, of on-demand content in a way similar to that of Windows NT Explorer. (See Figure 2-1.) A top-level category can contain subcategories that you access by clicking links. This hierarchical structure facilitates the management and availability of a large library of programs.

Figure 2-1 Sample Hierarchy of Content

Using Media Files

The Media Files section lets you manage media files on any Cisco IP/TV Servers registered with a single Content Manager. You can view media files to identify on which IP/TV servers the files are available, and to view any file without making it into a scheduled program.

It allows you to view media files and edit their metadata directly through the IP/TV browser plug-in, without the need to first create a program associated with them.

You can also create a new on-demand program from the Media Files Manager, using any metadata that you have attached to the media file.

To access the Media Files main window (see Figure 2-2), click the Media Files link in the IP/TV Content Manager main window.

Figure 2-2 Media Files Main Window

The following list describes the contents of each column from left to right in this window:

•Edit button—Lets you edit metadata for a specific file and then, if you wish, create an on-demand program.

•Play button—Launches Cisco IP/TV plug-in or QuickTime plug-in and plays the selected file. The plug-in selection is made by the IP/TV Content Manager administrator.

•FileName—Lists the media files in the media root of each Cisco IP/TV Server that is configured to report to the current version of Cisco IP/TV Content Manager.

•Type symbols—Indicates whether the file provides audio or video information.

•IP/TV Servers—Pull-down list showing Cisco IP/TV Servers where the file is available.

•Length—Play time of the file in seconds.

•Bandwidth—Bandwidth requirement in kilobytes per second.

•Description—Text description of the file, entered using the Edit button.

Editing Media File Metadata

Metadata fields, such as Description and Copyright, are displayed in the program information popup window for that program in IP/TV Viewer. The Keywords field can be used when you search for a media file using the Find option in IP/TV Viewer.

You can use the Edit button in the Media Files main window to edit metadata for a specific file and then, if you wish, to create an on-demand program.

To edit the metadata for a media file, follow these steps:

Step 1 From the Media Files main window, click the Edit button.

The Media Files Edit window appears. (See Figure 2-3.)

Figure 2-3 Media Files Edit Window

Note If you delete a file or rename it in Windows, the metadata associated with the original file is deleted from the database after a 30-minute grace period.

Step 2 Enter information describing the file in the Description field.

Step 3 Enter copyright and producer information, as required, in the appropriate fields. Enter keywords in the Keywords field that can be used when searching for a media file.

Step 4 Click Save to save the metadata.

At the bottom of the Media Files Edit window, the following buttons allow you to perform the following operations:

•Play (plays the media file)

•Save (saves the file)

•FTP (transfers the file to another Cisco IP/TV Server)

•Save & Create OD Program (creates an on-demand program from the selected file)

Playing Media Files Through the IP/TV Plug-In

You can play any media content through the IP/TV browser plug-in or the QuickTime plug-in on the IP/TV Content Manager system by clicking the Play button next to the name of the file. The selection of the plug-in is made by the IP/TV Content Manager administrator. This is useful to test media files without using IP/TV Viewer. The server streams the media content through your web browser. (See Figure 2-4.)

Figure 2-4 IP/TV Web Video Window

Searching Media Files

You can search for a specific media file from the Media Files main window. To launch the Media Files Search window (see Figure 2-5 ), click New Search in the banner bar of the Media Files main window. Choose the criterion for your search and click the corresponding Go button to carry out the search.

The Media Files Search window has four search options, described in Table 2-1.

Figure 2-5 Media Files Search Window

Table 2-1 Search Options in Media Files Window

Search Option

Search Result

Search File Name

Lists the filenames matching the search criterion.

Media Files on this Cluster

Lists all the media files on the given cluster.

Media Files on this Server

Lists all the media files on the given server.

Find and Optionally Delete Media Files with no Programs

Lists the files with no programs, asking for confirmation before deleting them.

Creating a New On-Demand Category

On-demand programs can be structured into a hierarchical tree of program categories for better organization. On IP/TV Viewer, you can navigate to the on-demand program categories and subcategories by clicking links.

To create a new on-demand category, follow these steps:

Step 1 In the IP/TV Content Manager main window, click the OnDemand Programs link. The OnDemand Programs window appears. (See Figure 2-6.)

Figure 2-6 OnDemand Programs Window

Step 2 Click the New Category link in the banner bar.

The New Category window appears. (See Figure 2-7.)

Figure 2-7 New Category Window

Step 3 Enter the name of the new category. This is a mandatory field.

Note IP/TV Content Manager permits a name up to 60 characters long. However, when the name of the program is displayed in IP/TV Viewer or on other IP/TV Content Manager window, the name may be truncated to fit within the display area. For this reason, it is good practice to use short program names.

Step 4 Enter a description of the category.

The Description field allows you to enter a longer description of the category than the New Category field permits. The maximum number of characters permitted in the Description field is 512.

Step 5 Enter keywords that can be used as search criteria by IP/TV Viewer users.

Use words that are indicative of program content.

Step 6 In the Contact section of the New Category window, indicate to whom users should direct questions about the program.

This information can include the name of the program administrator, telephone number, and e-mail address, as well as the name of the media producer. Administrator Name, Telephone, and E-mail are mandatory fields.

Timesaver If you enter contact information in the root category (the category called OnDemand Programs), this information is automatically entered for all new categories you create.

Step 7 Click Add Category to submit the form to IP/TV Content Manager.

IP/TV Content Manager checks the form for errors and omissions. It returns a Data Entry Errors window if there is any error or omission in the form.

To correct errors, follow these steps:

a. Click Back in the browser window to return to the New Category window.

b. Make the corrections suggested in the Data Entry Errors window.

c. Click Add Category to resubmit the form to IP/TV Content Manager.

If the form is properly completed, you return automatically to the OnDemand Programs window.

Creating an On-Demand Subcategory

On-demand subcategories can be created within an existing category to add depth to the existing on-demand tree hierarchy.

To create a new category within an existing category, follow these steps:

Step 1 Click the link for the existing category, for example Instructional Videos.

The window for that category appears.

Step 2 Click the New Category link in the banner bar.

The New Category window appears.

Step 3 Enter the name of the new subcategory. Use a fairly short name, such as Benefits.

Step 4 Follow Step 4 through Step 7 in the section "Creating a New On-Demand Category."

Creating a New On-Demand Program

To create a new on-demand program, follow these steps:

Step 1 In the OnDemand Programs window, click the category in which you want to define a new program. This procedure uses the category Benefits, a subcategory of Instructional Videos, as an example.

When you click Benefits, the window for that category appears. (See Figure 2-8.)

Figure 2-8 Benefits Category Window

Step 2 Click the New Program link in the banner bar.

Step 3 The New OnDemand Program window appears. (See Figure 2-9.)

Figure 2-9 New OnDemand Program Window

Step 4 Enter the name of the new program. This is a mandatory field.

Note IP/TV Content Manager permits a name up to 60 characters long. However, when the name of the program is displayed in IP/TV Viewer or on other IP/TV Content Manager windows, the name may be truncated to fit within the display area. For this reason, it is good practice to use short program names.

Step 5 Enter a description of the program.

The Description field allows you to enter a longer description of the program than the Program Name field permits. The maximum number of characters permitted in the Description field is 512.

Step 6 Enter keywords that can be used as search criteria by IP/TV Viewer users. Use words that are indicative of program content.

Step 7 Enter the URL of a website that provides additional information about the program. A user watching this program on IP/TV Viewer can click the URL and go to the website.

Step 8 Enter a copyright statement.

Step 9 Set a password for the program by entering the password in both password fields. Only users who know the password are able to view the program.

Note The password protects the audio, video, and SlideCast streams in the program. If the program includes a web presentation stream, the web presentation stream is not protected.

Step 10 If you do not want the program to be announced or to appear in program listings, but you do want to save the program information, check the Hide the Program from Viewer/SAP Announcements check box.

Step 11 In the Multimedia Information section of the New OnDemand Program window (see Figure 2-10), review or enter information about the source of the program.

Figure 2-10 Multimedia Information Section of the New OnDemand Program Window

Table 2-2 briefly describes multimedia information options.

Table 2-2 Multimedia Information Options

Field

Description

Select media file

Specifies the media file to be associated with the program.

Click Select media file and choose a file from the list in the Browse Media Files window. (See Figure 2-11.)

When you choose a file, the Multimedia Information section is automatically populated with information about the file, such as length and bandwidth.

Play Video

Defines whether the program includes a video portion in addition to audio, SlideCast, or web presentation. The Enable QoS? check box allows you to choose to enable Quality of Service (QoS), if supported on your network.

Play Audio

Defines whether the program includes an audio portion in addition to video, SlideCast, or web presentation. The Enable QoS? check box allows you to choose to enable QoS, if supported on your network.

Play SlideCast

Defines whether the program includes a SlideCast portion in addition to audio or video. The Enable QoS? check box allows you to choose to enable QoS, if supported on your network.

Refer to Chapter 8 of the Cisco IP/TV Administration and Configuration Guide for information on the SlideCast feature.

Play Web Presentation

Defines whether the program includes a web presentation (for example, an .asf file containing URLs) in addition to audio or video.

Refer to Chapter 8 of the Cisco IP/TV Administration and Configuration Guide for information on the Web Presenter feature.

Transfer HTML to Browser Cache¹

If checked, specifies that HTML pages and embedded graphics files of the web presentation are pushed to the browser of the client when the on-demand program begins. If not checked, each page is fetched dynamically by the browser. There is no impact on network bandwidth usage for either setting; the transfer simply occurs at a different time.

Media length

Displays the playing time of the file. You cannot change the value in this field.

Audio/Video Bandwidth

Specifies the network capacity required for transmission of the program in kilobits per second. You cannot change this value.

Maximum Video Frame Rate

Defines the maximum video frame rate for MPEG files only.

Web Presentation Bandwidth

Sets the web presentation bandwidth in kilobits per second. The default is 256. This field applies only if you have checked the Transfer HTML to Browser Cache check box.

Refer to Chapter 8 of the Cisco IP/TV Administration and Configuration Guide for information on the web presentation feature.

Web Presentation Base URL

Sets the base path for the URLs in the ASF file. You must specify the base URL if the .asf file was built using relative instead of absolute URLs.

Clusters

If File Present is checked, the file exists on the listed server.

If you choose Use IP/TV, the file is served by one or more IP/TV Servers, and the load can be balanced.

If you choose Use WMT, the file is served only by Windows Media Services. Windows Media Services does not support load balancing or proximity management.

Note The Use IP/TV check box and Use WMT radio button are visible only if you have checked the Interoperate with Windows Media Services option for the server in the Server Clusters window. If the Interoperate with Windows Media Services option is not checked, the Clusters field in the New OnDemand Program window shows a Play check box.

Auto Distribute File to Selected Server(s)²

If checked, the file is automatically distributed using FTP to any servers for which Play is checked in the OnDemand Servers table that do not already have the file present.

Transfer file(s) now

Specifies file transfer to start within 5 minutes.

Transfer file(s) on

Specifies the date and time for file transfer.

¹This option must be checked if the HTML pages are to be served by a server that is not configured as a web server or is not accessible to the browser of the user. This option must also be checked for on-demand web presentation programs that contain content captured with ScreenCaster in an .mp4 file.

²Be sure not to duplicate media filenames if the file content is not identical. IP/TV Content Manager maintains a database of information about each server in the cluster. If two servers have a file with the same name, IP/TV Content Manager assumes they are the same file. This may result in the wrong file being served.

Figure 2-11 Browse Media Files Window

Step 12 Enable QoS (Quality of Service) for improving transmission quality, if supported on your network.

The Enable QoS? check box to the right of the Play Video, Play Audio, and Play SlideCast check boxes lets you enable QoS using RSVP (Resource Reservation Protocol). QoS provides superior transmission quality in networks with RSVP-enabled routers running under Windows 2000.

To view details regarding QoS, click the QoS Details link.

The QoS Details window appears. (See Figure 2-12.) Table 2-3 describes the QoS details options.

Figure 2-12 QoS Details Window

Table 2-3 QoS Details Options

Field

Description

Type of QoS

•Best Effort: Traffic does not receive any priority treatment. This is the default option.

•Guaranteed: Traffic receives guaranteed priority treatment. This is the preferred option.

•Controlled Load: Traffic receives nonguaranteed priority treatment, similar to a network with no load.

•Qualitative: Traffic receives nonguaranteed priority treatment.

Deny service if RSVP refused?

Enabling this option keeps the media file from being played if the QoS reservation has not been received. It keeps nonguaranteed media traffic from being generated.

Application ID

Used to differentiate network traffic.

Application Sub ID

Used to differentiate network traffic.

Step 13 In the Contact section of the New OnDemand Program window (see Figure 2-13), indicate to whom users can direct questions about the program.

This information includes the name of the program administrator, telephone number, e-mail address, and name of the media producer. Administrator Name, Telephone, and E-mail are mandatory fields. You must fill in these fields to add a new On Demand Program.

Figure 2-13 Contact Information Section of the New OnDemand Program Window

Step 14 Click Add OnDemand Program to send the form to IP/TV Content Manager.

If IP/TV Content Manager finds errors or omissions on the form, the Data Entry Errors window prompts you to return to the New Programs window to modify the information.

When you have finished correcting the errors, click Add OnDemand Program again to submit the corrections to IP/TV Content Manager.

If the form is properly completed, you return automatically to the OnDemand Programs window.

Figure 2-14 shows an example of the OnDemand Programs window with some programs defined in the Benefits category.

Figure 2-14 Benefits Category of the OnDemand Window

Reviewing an On-Demand Category or Program

The Review window (accessed by clicking the Review link beneath a program name) displays all the information stored for the program. You may want to review an existing on-demand category or program when the category or program description is too long to fit in the main window, or if information you want to verify is not included in that brief list.

To review an on-demand category or program, follow these steps:

Step 1 In the OnDemand Programs window, navigate to the category or program you want to review and click its Review link.

Step 2 Scroll through the Review Category or Review OnDemand Program window to find the information you want to see.

Step 3 Click Edit to go to the Edit Category or Edit OnDemand Program window to make any necessary changes.

Note The Review OnDemand Program window contains the Load Plugin and Load Application buttons for publishing programs in a web page. In order to use these buttons, you must have plug-ins installed. Refer to Chapter 12, "Using IP/TV in a Web Browser," in the Cisco IP/TV Administration and Configuration Guide for information.

Deleting an On-Demand Category or Program

To delete an on-demand category or program, follow these steps:

Step 1 In the OnDemand Programs window, navigate to the on-demand category or program you want to delete. Or, in the Review Category or Review OnDemand Program window, click Delete Program at the bottom of the window.

IP/TV Content Manager displays the Delete Category or Delete OnDemand Program window and asks you to confirm that you want to delete the category or program.

Step 2 Click Delete Category or Delete OnDemand Program to delete the category or program. Click OnDemand Programs to return to the OnDemand Programs window without deleting the category or program.

Caution Deleting a category deletes all programs and categories below the category.

Caution If the program you are deleting is the only on-demand program that plays a given media file, the Delete OnDemand Program window includes a check box that specifies whether to delete the media file from all servers. If you check this check box, an FTP delete operation begins immediately when you click Delete, and the media file is automatically deleted from all servers.

Editing an On-Demand Category or Program

To edit an existing on-demand category or program, follow these steps:

Step 1 In the OnDemand Programs window, navigate to the category or program you want to edit and click its Edit link. Or, in the Review Category or Review OnDemand Program window, click Edit at the bottom of the window.

Step 2 Scroll through the Edit Category or Edit OnDemand Program window to change any field that was entered when the program was created.

Step 3 Click Revise Category or Revise OnDemand Program at the bottom of the window.

If IP/TV Content Manager finds errors or omissions in the form, the Data Entry Errors window prompts you to return to the Edit Category or Edit OnDemand Program window.

When you have finished correcting the errors, click Revise again to submit the corrections to IP/TV Content Manager.

If the form is properly completed, you return automatically to the OnDemand main window.

Duplicating an On-Demand Program

You might want to duplicate an existing on-demand program if you are responsible for entering and managing many programs and the information for all of them is nearly identical (perhaps only the title and description are different). Rather than entering the information again for each new program, you can duplicate a similar program and change only a few fields.

To duplicate an existing on-demand program, follow these steps:

Step 1 In the OnDemand Programs window, click the Duplicate link for the program. Or, in the Review OnDemand Program window, click Duplicate at the bottom of the window.

Step 2 Scroll through the Duplicate OnDemand Program window to find the information that you want to change for this duplicate program. You can change any field that was entered when the original program was created.

Step 3 Click Duplicate Program at the bottom of the window to send the information about the duplicate program to IP/TV Content Manager.

If IP/TV Content Manager finds errors or omissions in the form, the Data Entry Errors window prompts you to return to the Duplicate Program window to modify the information.

When you have finished correcting the errors, click Duplicate Program again to submit the corrections to IP/TV Content Manager.

If the form is properly completed, you return automatically to the OnDemand Programs window.

Moving an On-Demand Program

To move an on-demand program from one category to another, follow these steps:

Step 1 In the OnDemand Programs window, click the Move link for the program you want to move.

Step 2 Click the link for the category into which you want to move the program. Note that if there are a number of subcategories to move through, you may need to click several links.

Step 3 When you have reached the right category, click the Move Here link.

The window for that category appears with a list of all programs in that category, including the program you moved.

Using the OnDemand Search Window

The OnDemand Search window allows you to search for on-demand programs or on-demand media files using a variety of search criteria. (See Figure 2-15.)

Figure 2-15 OnDemand Search Window

Searching for On-Demand Programs

To search for an on-demand program, follow these steps:

Step 1 In the OnDemand Programs window, click the Search link in the banner bar.

The OnDemand Search window appears.

Step 2 Define your search by choosing among the following criteria in the OnDemand Programs section of the Search window:

•Search field and text—Searches in program name, keyword, or description fields for the text you enter.

•Programs on this Cluster—Searches for all programs on the cluster you choose from the list.

•Programs on this Server—Searches for all programs on the server you choose from the list.

•Programs with no Servers defined—Searches for all programs that have no server defined to play the program.

•Programs with no Media File on any Server—Searches for all programs for which no server associated with the program has the media file associated with the program. This may indicate that a file transfer or autodistribute operation was not completed successfully, or that the file has been mistakenly deleted from a server.

•Programs with no Media File on at least one Server—Searches for programs for which at least one of the servers associated with the program does not have the media file associated with the program. If IP/TV Content Manager finds a program that meets this criterion, it may indicate that a file transfer or autodistribute operation was not completed successfully, or that the file has been mistakenly deleted from a server.

Step 3 Click the Go button next to the desired search criterion.

The window displays the result of the search.

Searching for On-Demand Media Files

To search for an on-demand media file, follow these steps:

Step 1 In the OnDemand Programs window, click the Search link in the banner bar.

The OnDemand Search window appears.

Step 2 Define your search by choosing among the following criteria in the OnDemand Media files section of the Search window:

•Media Files on this Cluster—Searches for all media files that are available on the cluster you choose from the list.

•Media Files on this Server—Searches for all media files that are available on the server you choose from the list.

•Find and Optionally Delete Media Files with no Programs—Searches for all media files that are not associated with any programs. For details on this option, see the "Deleting Media Files with No Programs" section.

Step 3 Click the Go button next to the desired search criterion.

The window displays the results of your search.

Deleting Media Files with No Programs

To delete media files that have no programs associated with them, follow these steps:

Step 1 In the OnDemand Programs window click Search from the banner bar.

The OnDemand Programs search window appears.

Step 2 Click the Go button next to the Find and Optionally Delete Media Files with No Programs option.

The Find and Delete window appears. (See Figure 2-16.)

Figure 2-16 Find and Delete Window

Step 3 Choose the media files that you want to delete.

Step 4 Specify when you want the files to be deleted.

•Click the Delete File(s) now radio button if you want to delete the files immediately.

•Click the Delete File(s) on radio button if you want to set a date and time for deleting the files.

Step 5 Click Delete Media File(s).

The Delete Media Files window appears. It lists the files you chose for deletion and prompts you to confirm your decision to delete the files.

Step 6 Click Delete Media File(s) to complete the task, or click the Back button on your browser to return to the Search window without deleting any files.

Caution Before deleting a file, verify that it is not needed. For example, verify that the media file is not intended to be used by a program that is not yet defined.