Cisco ACNS Software Program Manager for IP/TV User Guide, Release 5.4 - Managing On-Demand Programs [Cisco Application and Content Networking System (ACNS) 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 Program Manager OnDemand Programs window and the web-based program guide. This chapter contains the following sections:

•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 Program Manager lets you define a hierarchy, or tree, of on-demand content that is similar to Windows NT Explorer. (See Figure 5-1.) 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 5-1 Sample Hierarchy of Content

Using Media Files

The media files feature lets you manage media files on any Cisco IP/TV Servers registered with a single IP/TV Program Manager. You can view media files to identify on which IP/TV Server the file is available, and to view any file without making it into a scheduled program.

You can 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 5-2), click the Media Files tab in the IP/TV Program Manager main window.

Figure 5-2 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 create an on-demand program. Creating an on-demand program is optional.

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

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

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

•Length—Lists the play time of the file in seconds.

•Bandwidth—Provides the bandwidth requirement in kilobytes per second.

•Description—Provides a 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 Edit.

The Media Files Edit window appears. (See Figure 5-3.)

Figure 5-3 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 30 minutes.

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 Program 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 Program Manager administrator. This plug-in is useful to test media files without using IP/TV Viewer. The server streams the media content through your web browser. (See Figure 5-4.)

Figure 5-4 IP/TV Browser Plug-In 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 5-5 ), click New Search in the banner bar of the Media Files main window. Choose the criterion for your search and click Go to carry out the search.

The Media Files Search window has four search options, described in Table 5-1.

Figure 5-5 Media Files Search Window

Table 5-1 Search Options in the 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. In 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 Program Manager main window, click the OnDemand Programs tab. The OnDemand Programs window appears. (See Figure 5-6.)

Figure 5-6 OnDemand Programs Window

Step 2 Click New Category in the banner bar.

The New Category window appears. (See Figure 5-7.)

Figure 5-7 New Category Window

Step 3 Enter the name of the new category in the New Category field. This field is mandatory; you must fill in this field.

Note IP/TV Program Manager permits a name up to 60 characters in length. However, when the name of the program is displayed in IP/TV Viewer or in the IP/TV Program Manager window, the name may be truncated to fit within the display area. For this reason, you should use short program names.

Step 4 Enter a description of the category in the Description field.

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 In the Keywords field, 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. The Administrator's Name, Telephone, and E-mail fields are mandatory; you must fill in these 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 that you create.

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

IP/TV Program 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 Program 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, click Instructional Videos.

The window for that category appears.

Step 2 Click New Category in the banner bar.

The New Category window appears.

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

Step 4 Follow Step 4 through Step 7 in the next 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 5-8.)

Figure 5-8 Benefits Category Window

Step 2 Click New Program in the banner bar.

Step 3 The ACNS Network Information section of the New OnDemand Program window appears. (See Figure 5-9.) IP/TV Program Manager displays this section only when IP/TV is configured as part of an ACNS network. When set up as a standalone application, IP/TV Program Manager takes you directly to Step 9.

If you do not want the content to be inserted into the ACNS network, skip Step 4 through Step 7 and go directly to Step 8.

Figure 5-9 ACNS Network Information Section of the New OnDemand Program Window

Step 4 Click Select website.

The IP/TV: Browse Websites window appears. It lists all the websites for which this IP/TV Program Manager is the origin server.

Step 5 Choose the website that has the channel to which you want to add the program.

Step 6 Click Select channel.

The IP/TV: Browse Channels window appears. It lists all the channels, excluding live channels, associated with the ACNS website that you chose in Step 5.

Step 7 Choose the channel to which you want to add the program.

Step 8 Click Create Program to create a new on-demand program. If you want to modify the ACNS network information, click Reset and repeat Step 4 through Step 7.

The New OnDemand Program window appears. If the ACNS network information has been entered, the New OnDemand window displays the name of the ACNS network channel with which the program is associated. (See Figure 5-10.)

Figure 5-10 New OnDemand Program Window

Note When IP/TV is used as a standalone application, the New OnDemand Program window does not have the ACNS Network Channel field.

Step 9 Enter the name of the new program in the Program field. This field is mandatory; you must fill in this field.

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

Step 10 Enter a description of the program in the Description field.

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 11 In the Keywords field, enter the keywords that can be used as search criteria by IP/TV Viewer users. Use words that are indicative of program content.

Step 12 In the URL field, 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 13 If the program contains copyrighted material, enter a copyright statement in the Copyright field.

Step 14 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 Passwords are not supported when IP/TV is integrated into an ACNS network. If the program is part of an ACNS network channel, the password fields are not displayed by IP/TV Program Manager.

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.

Table 5-2 briefly describes multimedia information options.

Step 15 In the Multimedia Information section of the New OnDemand Program window (see Figure 5-11), review or enter information about the source of the program. Certain fields in the Multimedia Information section are not available when IP/TV is integrated into an ACNS network. (See Figure 5-12.)

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.

Figure 5-11 Multimedia Information Section of the New OnDemand Program Window (Standalone IP/TV Application)

Figure 5-12 Multimedia Information Section of the New OnDemand Program Window (ACNS-Integrated Network)

Table 5-2 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 5-13.)

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

Play Video¹

Defines whether the program includes a video portion in addition to audio, SlideCast, or web presentation.

The Enable QoS?² check box allows you to choose to enable Quality of Service (QoS) if QoS is supported on your network.

Play Audio¹

Defines whether the program includes an audio portion in addition to video, SlideCast, or web presentation.

The Enable QoS?2 check box allows you to choose to enable if QoS is supported on your network.

Play SlideCast¹

Defines whether the program includes a SlideCast portion in addition to audio or video. The Enable QoS?2 check box allows you to choose to enable QoS if QoS is supported on your network.

See Chapter 8, "Managing Online Presentations," for information on SlideCast.

Play Web Presentation³

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

See Chapter 8, "Managing Online Presentations," for information on Web Presenter.

Transfer HTML to Browser Cache⁴

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 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 Bandwidth3

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.

See Chapter 8, "Managing Online Presentations," for information on Web Presenter.

Web Presentation Base URL3

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)⁵

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 that the file transfer should start within 5 minutes.

Transfer file(s) on

Specifies the date and time for file transfer.

¹The Cisco Streaming Engine does not support selection of streams. It streams all the media streams contained in the media file irrespective of your choice.

²The Enable QoS options are not available if ACNS network information has been entered.

³Because Web Presenter programs are not supported by the ACNS software, this option is not displayed if the ACNS network information has been entered.

⁴This 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.

⁵Do not duplicate media filenames if the file content is not identical. IP/TV Program Manager maintains a database of information about each server in the cluster. If two servers have a file with the same name, IP/TV Program Manager assumes that they are the same file. This situation may result in the wrong file being served.

Figure 5-13 Browse Media Files Window

Step 16 Enable Quality of Service (QoS) for improving transmission quality, if QoS is supported on your network.

Note The Enable QoS check boxes shown in Figure 5-11 do not appear for programs exported to an ACNS 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 the Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP). QoS provides superior transmission quality in networks with RSVP-enabled routers running under Windows 2000.

To view details regarding QoS, click QoS Details.

The QoS Details window appears. (See Figure 5-14.) Table 5-3 describes the QoS details options.

Figure 5-14 QoS Details Window

Table 5-3 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 17 In the Contact section of the New OnDemand Program window (see Figure 5-15), 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. The Administrator's Name, Telephone, and E-mail fields are mandatory. You must fill in these fields to add a new on-demand program.

Figure 5-15 Contact Information Section of the New OnDemand Program Window

Step 18 Click Add OnDemand Program to send the form to IP/TV Program Manager.

You get an error message if there are any errors or omissions in the form. Click OK and make the necessary corrections.

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

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

Figure 5-16 shows an example of the OnDemand Programs window with some programs defined in the Benefits category.

Figure 5-16 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.

Note The Review OnDemand Program window contains the Load Plugin and Load Helper Application buttons for publishing programs on a web page. To use these buttons, you must have plug-ins installed. See Chapter 10, "Using IP/TV in a Web Browser," for more information.

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

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

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

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

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 that you want to delete, or in the Review Category or Review OnDemand Program window, click Delete Programs at the bottom of the window.

IP/TV Program 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 If you want to delete the category or program, click Delete Category or Delete OnDemand Program. If you want to return to the OnDemand programs window without deleting the category or program, click OnDemand Programs.

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

Caution If the program that 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 that you want to edit and click Edit, or in the Review Category or Review OnDemand Program window, click Edit at the bottom of the window.

Step 2 If you want the program to be inserted into the ACNS network, enter the ACNS network information and click Revise Program. If you do not want the program to be inserted into the ACNS network, leave the ACNS Network Information section blank and click Revise Program.

Step 3 If you want to undo the changes you made, click Reset to restore the original information.

Step 4 Scroll through the Edit Category or Edit OnDemand Program window to change any field that was entered when the program was created.

Step 5 Click Revise Category or Revise OnDemand Program at the bottom of the window.

If IP/TV Program 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 Program Manager. If the form is properly completed, you return automatically to the OnDemand Programs window.

Step 6 If you want to undo the changes you made, click Reset.

The original settings for the OnDemand program or category are restored.

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 Duplicate for the program that you want to be duplicated. Alternatively, in the Review OnDemand Program window, click Duplicate at the bottom of the window.

Step 2 Change the ACNS network information if you want. If you do not want to add the program to an ACNS network, leave the fields in ACNS Network Information blank, or if you do not want to change the present settings leave the information unchanged and click Duplicate Program.

The IP/TV Duplicate OnDemand Program window appears.

Step 3 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 4 Click Duplicate Program at the bottom of the window to send the information about the duplicate program to IP/TV Program Manager.

If IP/TV Program 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 Program 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 Move for the program that you want to move.

Step 2 Click the link for the category into which you want to move the program. 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 Move Here.

The window for that category appears with a list of all programs in that category, including the program that 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 5-17.)

Figure 5-17 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 Search 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 that you enter.

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

•Programs on this Server—Searches for all programs on the server that 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 criterion 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 Program 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 Go 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 Search 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 that you choose from the list.

•Media Files on this Server—Searches for all media files that are available on the server that 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 next section, "Deleting Media Files with No Programs."

Step 3 Click Go 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 in the banner bar.

The OnDemand Search window appears.

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

The Find and Delete window appears. (See Figure 5-18.)

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

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

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

•Choose Delete Media File(s) if you want to set a date and time for deleting the files.

Figure 5-18 Find and Delete Window

Step 5 Click Delete Media File(s).

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

Step 6 Click Delete the Media File(s) to complete the task, or click Back 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 defined.