Overview of the Cisco Digital Media System


This chapter provides an overview of the different components of the Cisco Digital Media System (DMS). The chapter contains the following sections:

About the Cisco Digital Media System

Applications

Cisco Video Portal

Cisco Digital Media Manager

About the Cisco Digital Media System

The Cisco Digital Media System (DMS) is a suite of software applications running on dedicated Cisco Media Convergence Server (MCS) appliances that help enable organizations of all sizes to effectively create, manage, and deliver live and on-demand video over an IP network to any audience. Leveraging Cisco's best practices from more than a decade of video and Internet initiatives, DMS provides a comprehensive, high-quality media experience for delivery of key information to end users with flexibility, clarity, and impact.

The Cisco Digital Media System includes

Cisco Video Portal and Reporting Tool: A Web-based video portal audiences can use to browse, search, and view content interactively—includes a Web-based reporting tool.

Cisco Digital Media Manager (DMM): A Web-based application that allows content authors to easily manage and publish content to the Cisco Video Portal or other end devices.

Applications

Use the Cisco Digital Media System to:

Communicate effectively to targeted customers, investors, press, and analysts.

Offer live and on-demand events and meetings to geographically dispersed audiences.

Deliver critical information and training to employees, suppliers, and partners.

Provide educational content to students.

Cisco Video Portal

The Cisco Video Portal utilizes standard Web technologies to allow you to deliver a compelling live and on-demand video experience to your audiences. Platform-agnostic, the Video Portal fits easily into your organization's existing IT infrastructure and supports established video standards including Windows Media, Real, Flash, and QuickTime.

The interface allows users to conveniently and quickly browse, search, and view content interactively. The product features provide the following benefits:

Program guide listing and keyword search: Easily locate media by content category, title, or keyword.

Customizable playlists: A dynamic list of videos programmed by content authors or bookmarked by individual users.

Supplemental content: View supplemental information with each video, such as tickers, further reading, related videos, Web sites, and downloadable materials.

Advanced player controls and full screen: Optimize the viewing experience with enhanced control of video playback.

Simultaneous playback and thumbnail preview: Preview other videos during main video playback.

Tracking and reporting: Capture, report, and export information about content usage.

The Video Portal is accessible to end users through a Web browser and is available in three templates:

Flash only: Runs within a Flash Browser plugin and supports a video content encoded in the Flash Sorenson codec.

Flash/Windows Media: Runs in a Flash Browser plugin in conjunction with a Windows Media browser plugin and supports a video content encoded in the Windows Media codec.

Flash/Real: Runs in a Flash Browser plugin in conjunction with a Real Player browser plugin and supports video content encoded in the Real Player codec.

Flash/QuickTime: Runs in a Flash Browser plugin in conjunction with a QuickTime browser plugin and supports video content encoded in the Quicktime/H.264 codec.

Table 1-1 illustrates the different OS/browser/plugin/codec combinations supported by each Video Portal template. You will need this information in order to publish digital media to the Cisco Video Portal in the appropriate digital formats. Refer to the Cisco Video Portal User Guide for more information.

Table 1-1

Video Portal Template
Required Browser Plugin(s)
Supported Browser
Supported CodeC

Flash Only

Flash 8

Flash 9

Windows:

Internet Explorer 6.0

Firefox 1.5.0.6

Linux/UNIX:

Firefox 1.4.3

Macintosh:

Safari 2.0

Firefox 1.5

Flash 8+ Sorenson

Flash/Windows Media

Flash 8 with Windows Media 9

Flash 9 with Windows Media 10

Windows:

Internet Explorer 6.0

Firefox 1.5.0.6

Windows Media 9 and 10

Flash/Real Player

Flash 8 or Flash 9 with RealOne+

Windows:

Internet Explorer 6.0 or greater, Mozilla 1.8 or greater, or firefox 1.5 or greater is recommended.

Linux/UNIX:

Mozilla 1.0 minimum or Firefox 1.0 minimum

Mozilla 1.8 or greater, or Firefox 1.5 or greater is recommended

Macintosh:

Safari 2.0 minimum

Safari 2.0 or Firefox 1.5 or greater is recommended

Real Player 8+

Flash/QuickTime

Flash 8 or later QuickTime 7.0 or later

Windows:

Internet Explorer6.0, Firefox 1.5.0.6

Macintosh:

Safari 2.0, Firefox 1.5.0.6

QuickTime 7.0


Supported OS/Browser/Plugin and Codec Combinations

Cisco Digital Media Manager

The Cisco Digital Media Manager is a Web-based, easy-to-use content-management application for organizing and publishing digital media. This tool is designed to help content authors upload, catalog, edit package, and publish all video content to the Cisco Video Portal or other end devices.

The Cisco Digital Media Manager features allow content authors to:

Easily customize the Cisco Video Portal look-and-feel

Add and archive content and assign metadata and keywords

Create and manage playlists, ticker alerts, messages, and promotional interstitials

Preview content and manage approval workflow

Schedule instant and future deployments

Take advantage of compatibility with Cisco ACNS and Cisco Wide Area Engines

Manage administrator accounts and permissions