using ip/tv content manager

C H A P T E R

Using IP/TV Content Manage

2

Using IP/TV Content Manager

Chapter 2This chapter describes how to use IP/TV Content Manager. Topics covered include:

• Accessing the IP/TV Content Manager

• Managing IP/TV on-demand programs

• Managing IP/TV scheduled programs

• Recording IP/TV scheduled programs

• Using the Question Manager

Accessing the IP/TV Content ManagerA computer used to access IP/TV Content Manager Version 3.0 must run Netscape Navigator 4.05 or 4.5x, or Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.x or 5.0. The browser must have Java and JavaScript enabled. Check the browser’s Options or Preferences menu to be sure that these features are enabled.

These instructions assume that you are familiar with the Web, and have used a browser to access information sources on the Web. You should be familiar with the functions of your browser, and with concepts such as links. If not, we recommend that you read the documentation that was shipped with your browser, or explore the browser’s help system.

To access the IP/TV Content Manager, go to the following URL:

http://<contentmanagerhost>/

where contentmanagerhost is the DNS name or IP address of the IP/TV Content Manager.

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Accessing the IP/TV Content Manager

When you access the IP/TV Content Manager for the first time, store the URL in your Web browser’s frequently visited sites list. The actual mechanism you use varies depending on which browser you use. Refer to your browser documentation or help system for more information.

When you access the IP/TV Content Manager, the first page that appears is the IP/TV Content Manager main page (see Figure 2-1).

Figure 2-1 IP/TV Content Manager Main Page

The IP/TV Content Manager main page contains the following links:

• The OnDemand Programs link takes you to the OnDemand Programs page, which displays information about existing on-demand programs and allows you to define new on-demand categories or programs. You can also search for an on-demand category or program by program name, category, keywords, or description. See the “Managing OnDemand Programs” section later in this chapter for information.

IP/TV Content Manager User Guide2-2

Accessing the IP/TV Content Manager

• The Scheduled Programs link takes you to the Scheduled Programs page, which displays information about existing scheduled programs and allows you to define new scheduled programs. See the “Managing Scheduled Programs” section later in this chapter for information.

• The Proximity Groups link takes you to the Proximity Groups page, which displays information about existing proximity groups, and allows you to define new proximity groups and subnets. Refer to the IP/TV Administration and Configuration Guide for information.

• The Recordings link takes you to the Recordings page, which displays information about existing recordings, and allows you to define new recordings. See the “Recording Scheduled Programs” section later in this chapter for information.

• The File Transfers link takes you to the File Transfers page, which displays information about existing scheduled file transfers, and allows you to define new file transfers, display the results of a file transfer, and view or clear the file transfer log. Refer to the IP/TV Administration and Configuration Guide for information.

• The Server Clusters link takes you to the Server Clusters page, which displays a list of server clusters and allows you to define a new cluster or server. Refer to the IP/TV Administration and Configuration Guide for information.

• The Preferences link takes you to the Preferences page, where you can set IP/TV Content Manager options. In general, preferences should only be changed by the system administrator or network manager who installed the IP/TV Content Manager. Refer to the IP/TV Administration and Configuration Guide for information.

• The ServerWatch link takes you to the ServerWatch page, where you can monitor the current status of servers. On the ServerWatch page you can also go to the ServerWatch Applet window, where information about servers is dynamically updated. Refer to the IP/TV Administration and Configuration Guide for information.

• The Help link launches the IP/TV Content Manager online help utility. See the Using Online Help section in the Introduction chapter in this publication for a description of online help.

Using IP/TV Content Manager 2-3

Managing OnDemand Programs

Managing OnDemand ProgramsThis section contains procedures for defining and managing IP/TV on-demand categories and programs. Once defined, the categories and programs are listed on the IP/TV Content Manager OnDemand Programs page.

Clicking either the link for an individual category or its Programs link takes you to a list of all programs in the category.

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

Figure 2-2 Sample Hierarchy of Content

Creating a New OnDemand CategoryFollow these steps to create a new on-demand category:

Step 1 On the IP/TV Content Manager main page, click the OnDemand Programs link. The OnDemand Programs page appears (see Figure 2-3).


Creating a New OnDemand Category

Figure 2-3 OnDemand Programs Page

Step 2 Click the New Category link in the task bar. The New Category page appears (see Figure 2-4).

Task Bar



Figure 2-4 OnDemand New Category Page


Creating a New OnDemand Category

Step 3 Enter the name of the new category. Use a fairly short name, such as Instructional Videos or Employee Training.

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 pages, 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 category name 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 page, indicate who users can contact if they have questions about the program.

This information includes the program administrator’s name, telephone number, and e-mail address, as well as the name of the media producer.

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

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

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

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

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

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Creating an OnDemand SubcategoryFollow these steps to create a new category within an existing category:

Step 1 Click the link for the existing category, for example Instructional Videos. The page for that category appears.

Step 2 Click the New Category link in the task bar. The New Category page appears.

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

Step 4 Follow Steps 4 through 7 in the section “Creating a New OnDemand Category.”

Creating a New OnDemand ProgramFollow these steps to create a new on-demand program:

Step 1 On the OnDemand Programs page, 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 page for that category appears (see Figure 2-5).


Creating a New OnDemand Program

Figure 2-5 Benefits Category Page

Step 2 Click the New Program link in the task bar. The New OnDemand Program page appears (see Figure 2-6).



Figure 2-6 New OnDemand Program Page

Step 3 Enter the name of the new program. Use a fairly short name, such as Vision.



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 in other IP/TV Content Manager pages, 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 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 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 Enter the URL of a Web site that provides additional information about the program.

If you enter a URL, a user watching this program on IP/TV Viewer can click URL and go to the Web site.

Step 7 Enter a copyright statement.

Step 8 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 9 In the Multimedia Information section of the New OnDemand Program page (see Figure 2-7), review or enter information about the source of the program. briefly describes these options.



Figure 2-7 Multimedia Information Section of the OnDemand Page



Table 2-1 Multimedia Information Options

Field Description

Select media file Specifies the media file to be associated with the program.

Click Select media file and click a file from the list in the Browse Media Files window (see Figure 2-8).

When you click 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.

Play Audio Defines whether the program includes an audio portion in addition to video, SlideCast, or Web Presentation.

Play SlideCast Defines whether the program includes a SlideCast portion in addition to audio or video.

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

Transfer HTML to Browser Cache1

If selected, specifies that HTML pages and embedded graphics files of the Web Presentation are pushed to the client’s browser when the on-demand program begins. If cleared, 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 The playing time of the file. This is not an editable field.

Audio/Video Bandwidth

The network capacity required for transmission of the program in Kbps. This is not an editable field.

Maximum Video Frame Rate

Defines the maximum video frame rate for MPEG files only.



Web Presentation Bandwidth

Sets the Web Presentation bandwidth in Kbps. The default is 256. This field only applies if you have selected the Transfer HTML to Browser Cache check box.

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 versus absolute URLs.

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

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

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

Auto Distribute File to Selected Server(s)2

If selected, 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 now Specifies file transfer to start within 5 minutes.

Transfer file on Specifies the date and time for file transfer.

1 This option must be selected 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 user’s browser.

2 Be sure not to duplicate media filenames if the file content is not identical. The 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.

Table 2-1 Multimedia Information Options (continued)

Field Description



Figure 2-8 Browse Media Files Window

Step 10 In the Contact section of the New OnDemand Program page (see Figure 2-9), indicate who users can contact if they have questions about the program.

This information includes the program administrator’s name, telephone number, and e-mail address, as well as the name of the media producer.



Figure 2-9 Contact Information Section of the New OnDemand Program Page

Step 11 Click Add OnDemand Program to send the form to the IP/TV Content Manager.

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

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

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

Figure 2-10 shows an example of the OnDemand Programs page with several programs defined in the Benefits category.



Figure 2-10 Benefits Category of the OnDemand Page



Reviewing an OnDemand Category or ProgramThe Review page 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 on the main page, or if information you want to verify is not included in that brief list.

Follow these steps to review an on-demand category or program:

Step 1 On the OnDemand Programs page, 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 page to find the information you want to see.

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

Note The Review OnDemand Program page contains the Load Plugin and Load Application buttons for publishing programs in a Web page. In order to use these buttons you must have plugins installed. See the “Using IP/TV in a Web Browser” chapter in the IP/TV Administration and Configuration Guide for information.


Deleting an OnDemand Category or Program

Deleting an OnDemand Category or ProgramFollow these steps to delete an on-demand category or program:

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

The IP/TV Content Manager displays the Delete Category or Delete OnDemand Program page 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 page 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 page includes a check box that specifies whether to delete the media file from all servers. If you select 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 OnDemand Category or ProgramFollow these steps to edit an existing on-demand category or program:

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

Step 2 Scroll through the Edit Category or Edit OnDemand Program page 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 page.

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

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

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


Duplicating an OnDemand Program

Duplicating an OnDemand ProgramYou 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 only change a few fields.

Follow these steps to duplicate an existing on-demand program:

Step 1 On the OnDemand Programs page, click the Duplicate link for the program. Or, on the Review OnDemand Program page, click Duplicate at the bottom of the page.

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

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

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

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

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



Moving an OnDemand ProgramFollow these steps to move an on-demand program from one category to another:

Step 1 On the OnDemand Programs page, 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 page for that category appears with a list of all programs in that category, including the program you moved.

Using the OnDemand Search PageThe OnDemand Search page allows you to search for on-demand programs or on-demand media files using a variety of search criteria.

Figure 2-11 shows an example of the Search page.


Using the OnDemand Search Page

Figure 2-11 OnDemand Search Page



Searching for OnDemand ProgramsFollow these steps to search for an on-demand program:

Step 1 On the OnDemand Programs page, click the Search link in the task bar. The Search page appears.

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

• 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 did not complete 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 the IP/TV Content Manager finds a program that meets this criteria, it may indicate that a file transfer or autodistribute operation did not complete successfully, or that the file has been mistakenly deleted from a server.

Step 3 Click the Go button next to the desired search criterion. A new Search page displays the results of the search.


Using the OnDemand Search Page

Searching for OnDemand Media FilesFollow these steps to search for an on-demand media file:

Step 1 On the OnDemand Programs page, click the Search link in the task bar. The Search page appears.

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

• 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 being used by any program.

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

• If you search for media files on this cluster or server, a new Search page displays the results of your search.

• If you search for media files with no programs, a new search page lists files matching the search criteria (see Figure 2-12).

To return to the Search page without deleting files, click Back.

To delete files, select the files you want to delete, specify whether the files are to be deleted immediately or at a specified time, and click Delete Media File(s). The IP/TV Content Manager asks you to confirm that you want to delete the file(s), then creates an FTP Delete job to accomplish the deletion.

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.



Figure 2-12 Find and Delete Page


Managing Scheduled Programs

Managing Scheduled ProgramsThis section contains procedures for defining and managing scheduled programs. Once defined, the programs are listed on the Scheduled Programs page.

On the IP/TV Content Manager main page, click the Scheduled Programs icon to display the Scheduled Programs page (see Figure 2-13).

Figure 2-13 Scheduled Programs Page

To sort the scheduled program list by program name, channel, server, or date and time, click one of the headings at the top of the list. The heading you click becomes the new sorting criterion.

For each scheduled program listed on the Scheduled Programs page, the display includes the program name and description, the channel, the source server, and up to three dates and times at which the program is scheduled to be shown.



For each scheduled program, some or all of the following links are available:

• The Review link takes you to the Review Scheduled Program page (see “Reviewing a Scheduled Program”).

• The Delete link takes you to the Delete Scheduled Program page (see “Deleting a Scheduled Program”).

• The Edit link takes you to the Edit Scheduled Program page (see “Editing a Scheduled Program”). This link is not available for programs originating on other IP/TV Content Managers.

• The Duplicate link takes you to the Duplicate Scheduled Program page (see “Duplicating a Scheduled Program”). This link is not available for programs originating on other IP/TV Content Managers.

Creating a Scheduled ProgramFollow these steps to create a new scheduled program using IP/TV Content Manager:

Step 1 On the IP/TV Content Manager main page, click the Scheduled Programs link. The Scheduled Programs page appears (see Figure 2-13).

Step 2 In the Scheduled Programs page, click the New Program link in the task bar. The channel selection portion of the New Scheduled Program page appears (see Figure 2-14).


Creating a Scheduled Program

Figure 2-14 New Scheduled Program Channel Selection Page

Step 3 Click a channel or None from the list. See the “Assigning Programs to Channels” section later in this chapter for more information about channels.

Step 4 Click a program type. If the program you want to create is a live capture program, choose Basic Live Capture Program. If the program is intended to play a media file, choose Basic Media File Program. In most cases, one of these choices is adequate to set up a program. However, if you want to see all possible program options, you may choose Advanced Program.

Step 5 Click Create Program. The New Scheduled Program page appears (see Figure 2-15). Depending on the program type you chose, some of the options shown may not appear.



Figure 2-15 New Scheduled Program Page

Step 6 Enter the program name. Use a fairly short name, such as Third Quarter Sales Projections or New Employee Orientation.




Step 7 In the Program Information section of the New Scheduled Program page, enter the 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 8 If there is a Web site that provides additional information about the program, you may enter the URL.

If you enter a URL, a user watching this program on IP/TV Viewer can click URL and go to the Web site.

Step 9 If the program contains copyrighted material, you may enter a copyright statement.

Step 10 If the program is not assigned to a channel, you can set a password for the program by entering the password in both the Password and Confirm 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 11 If you want to enable the Question Manager for this program, select the Question Manager check box. See the “Using the Question Manager” section later in this chapter for more information about the Question Manager function.

Step 12 In the Schedule section of the page (see Figure 2-16), enter the program schedule. Table 2-2 briefly describes the schedule options. See the “Program Schedule Options” section later in this chapter for more information.



Figure 2-16 Schedule Section of the New Program Page



Table 2-2 Program Schedule Options

Step 13 In the Multimedia Source Information section of the New Scheduled Program page, enter information about the source of the program (that is, a live-capture session or a media file).

If the program is assigned to a channel, nearly all of these options are determined by the channel defaults. In this case, the only options that appear are the check boxes for video, audio, SlideCast, and Web Presentation.

The options that appear on the page also differ depending on whether you chose Basic Live Capture Program, Basic Media File Program, or Advanced Program in the New Scheduled Program page.

Figure 2-17 shows an example of the options for a basic live-capture program.

Table 2-3 lists all possible options.

Field Description

Play Program Continuously

Sets the program as a continuously active program.

Play Program once on Sets the date and time of the first showing of the program.

Length Sets the total length of the program.

Do not repeat it Limits the program to a single showing.

Repeat it every Sets a simple repeat schedule.

Repeat it Sets a more complex repeat schedule.

Last repeat ends on Sets the end of the repeat schedule.



Figure 2-17 Multimedia Source Information for Basic Live Capture Program



Table 2-3 Multimedia Source Information Options

Field Description

Capture Live Audio/Video Data1

Sets the program up to capture live audio/video data.

Preferred Video Format Defines the preferred video format. This field defaults to the format specified in Preferences.

Compression Quality Sets the H.261 compression quality level. Applies only to live-capture video compressed with the H.261 codec. The default value is 8.

Preferred Audio Format Sets the format to be used for live-capture audio. This field defaults to the format specified in Preferences.

Play this file Specifies the media file to be associated with the program.

Click Select media file and click a file from the list displayed in the Browse Media Files window (see Figure 2-8).

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

Note If you manually enter information about a file (such as filename, length, or bandwidth), the IP/TV Content Manager cannot verify the information. Be careful to enter the information accurately.

Play Once and Stop Sets the program to play the specified file once and stop, even if the program is defined as having a longer duration than the file.

Loop for Program Duration Sets the program to loop continuously until the interval specified by the program length has elapsed.

Play from Start to End Sets the program to play the entire file from beginning to end.

Play .rtp Offset Sets the program to play only the data between the first and the second offset. You must set both values. Applies only to RTP files.

Play Video Defines whether the video portion of the file or live capture stream is included in the program.

Play Audio Defines whether the audio portion of the file or live capture stream is included in the program.

Play SlideCast or Play Web Presentation

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

Note A scheduled program cannot contain both SlideCast and Web Presentation portions.



Multicast HTML to Browser Cache2

Pushes the HTML pages and embedded graphics files of the Web Presentation to the client’s browser. If this option is selected, the pages are multicast to all viewers. If the option is cleared, each viewer’s browser individually requests the HTML pages and the server unicasts the pages to each requester, which adds the cumulative bandwidth required to deliver the HTML pages to the bandwidth required for the program itself.

Share SlideCast with3 Defines whether the program you are defining includes the SlideCast stream from the program you choose in the list.

Share Presentation with3 Defines whether the program you are defining includes the Web Presentation stream from the program you choose in the list.

Audio/Video Bandwidth Sets the audio/video bandwidth in Kbps. The default is 1150.

Maximum Video Frame Rate

Sets the maximum number of frames per second for the video portion of the program. Applies only to MPEG live-capture streams and MPEG files. The default is 30.

Web Presentation Bandwidth

Sets the Web Presentation bandwidth in Kbps. The default is 256. This field only applies if you have selected the Transfer HTML to Browser Cache check box.

Capture Live Web Presentation Data

Sets the program up to capture live Web Presentation data.

Start Page URL Optionally downloads the Web Presentation start page URL before the beginning of a live presentation.

Play Web Presentation from File

Sets the program to play the Web Presentation stream in the ASF file. If this check box is cleared, the program plays only the audio and video streams.

Web Presentation Base URL

Sets the base path for the URLs in the ASF file. You must set the base path if the ASF file was built using relative versus absolute URLs.

Table 2-3 Multimedia Source Information Options (continued)

Field Description



Step 14 In the Multimedia Address Information section of the New Scheduled Program page (see Figure 2-18), specify multimedia address options. Table 2-4 describes these options. In most cases, you should accept the default addresses provided by the IP/TV Content Manager, which are based on Preferences settings.

Figure 2-18 Multimedia Address Information for Basic Live Capture Program

Audio/Video Server Specifies the name or IP address of the IP/TV Server assigned to play the audio or video portions of the program. Click a server from the list or enter the name of a new server.

SlideCast/Web Presentation Server

Specifies the name or IP address of the IP/TV Server assigned to play the SlideCast or Web Presentation. In the case of SlideCast, this server cannot be the same as the Audio/Video server unless Audio, Video, and SlideCast were all recorded to an RTP file. In the case of a Web Presentation, the server can be the same.

1 For a live-capture program, you must set video format, audio format, data rate, and frame rate to values appropriate to the video capture equipment installed on the IP/TV Server. See “Live-capture Program Settings” for a list of recommended settings.

2 This option must be selected 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 user’s browser.

3 The start and end time of the program you are defining must be within the range of the program that contains the SlideCast or Web Presentation stream.

Table 2-3 Multimedia Source Information Options (continued)

Field Description



Table 2-4 Multimedia Address Options

Table 2-5 lists the UDP port ranges used by the IP/TV Content Manager for various types of data streams. If you decide to specify port numbers explicitly rather than letting the IP/TV Content Manager assign them, you should choose even numbered ports within these ranges.

Field Description

Select Admin. Scoped Addresses1

1 If the ability to override the default is disabled in Preferences, this parameter does not appear.

Sets administratively scoped addresses. See the IP/TV Administration and Configuration Guide for information about scoped addresses.

Select Global Scoped Addresses1

Sets global scoped addresses. See the IP/TV Administration and Configuration Guide for information about scoped addresses.

Use These Addresses1 Overrides preassigned addresses for this program, and requires that you enter the IP addresses and UDP port numbers to be used for the video, audio, and SlideCast or Web Presentation portions of the program.

Multicast Range1 Sets the multicast range for the program.

Video IP Address and UDP Port1,2

2 Applies only to advanced programs not assigned to channels.

Define the video IP address and UDP port for the program.

Audio IP Address and UDP Port1,2

Define the audio IP address and UDP port for the program.

SlideCast/ Presentation IP Address and UDP Port1,2

Define the SlideCast or Web Presentation IP address and UDP port for this program.

Use SmallCast1 Instructs the source server to multicast the program using the IP address specified in the New Scheduled Program page and also unicast the program to all of the servers specified in the server’s SmallCast list. Note that you cannot SmallCast a Web Presentation data stream.

SmallCast Only1 Instructs the source server to only unicast the program to the servers specified in its SmallCast list. If the check box is selected, the program will not multicast. Only applies if Use SmallCast is selected.

Capture Live MPEG data for Recording to File; Do Not Multicast

Instructs the source server to capture live data for recording, but not to multicast the program. (See “Recording Scheduled Programs” for information on setting up a recording.)



Table 2-5 UDP Port Ranges

Step 15 In the Contact section of the New Program page (see Figure 2-19), indicate who users can contact if they have questions about the program.

Figure 2-19 Contact Section of the New Program Page

Step 16 Click Create Program to send the form to the IP/TV Content Manager.

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

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

If the form is properly completed, you return automatically to the Scheduled Programs page.e

Type of Stream Port Number Range

Audio 16,384 through 32,766

Web Presentation 32,768 through 49,150

Video or SlideCast 49,152 through 65,534



Assigning Programs to ChannelsThe IP/TV Content Manager allows you to set up programs that are not assigned to any channel. However, channels offer a few benefits:

• Each channel has many default characteristics. If you assign a new program to a channel, the program automatically receives the defaults.

However, if you set up a program that is not assigned to a channel, you must enter much more information about the program.

For example, each channel has a unique set of IP addresses and UDP port numbers. All programs assigned to that channel automatically use the same addresses and port numbers, so you need not remember which addresses (or address ranges) to assign to the program.

• On the IP/TV Content Manager’s main page, programs can be sorted by channel. In a busy network with many programs having multiple repeat showings, the list of programs can become very long. Assigning programs to channels is one way to make the list easier to navigate and programs easier to locate.

Refer to the IP/TV Administration and Configuration Guide for information on defining channels.

Program Schedule OptionsFor any live-capture session, it is a good idea to set the start time a little earlier and the end time much later than you expect the live-capture session to start and end. Setting the start and end times this way allows for any slip in the actual start/end of the event. When a recording is made, “dead air” at the beginning and end of the session is not saved in the file.

When you decide how to schedule a program, you first must determine whether the program is a continuous or noncontinuous program:

• A continuous program is “on the air” at all times. One analogy is a 24-hour news station on cable television. The news program is always on, but has no explicit start and stop time, the way a network TV program does.

If you define a program as continuous, and assign it to a channel, you can still define noncontinuous programs on that channel. The noncontinuous programs simply overlap the continuous program (but are not allowed to overlap each other). Note that if the



continuous program is a prerecorded file, the continuous program restarts from the beginning when the noncontinuous program has finished. noncontinuous programs must be multicast from the same server as the continuous program that they overlap.

An example of a continuous program that has a noncontinuous program overlapping it is a 24-hour news service. The news program is always on, and users can tune in whenever they want to get a news update. Suppose, though, that the financial news is always discussed for half an hour starting at 3:00 p.m., and some users want to subscribe to the financial news so that IP/TV automatically launches the program for them. You can define a noncontinuous program that begins at 3:00 p.m. and runs for 30 minutes. This noncontinuous program is a subset of the 24-hour news program, and overlaps it for that 30-minute interval.

• A noncontinuous program has a start and stop time for its first showing, and possibly one or more repeat showings.

For noncontinuous programs only, you can click one of the following:

• Set up a simple repeat schedule, in which the program repeats after the number of minutes, hours, or days you specify. For example, the program can repeat every 24 hours, or every 7 days. Keep in mind that some intervals may fall at hours or on days when there are no IP/TV Viewer users on site to watch the program.

• Set up a more complex repeat schedule. For example, you can set the program to repeat weekly on Mondays at 09:00, Wednesdays at 16:00, and Fridays at 12:00.

Note If you define weekly or biweekly repeats, the “Play Program once on” date and time must be on a repeated date and time. For example, if the program starts on a Monday at 14:00, one of the repeats must be Monday at 14:00.

These two choices are either/or choices. You cannot combine them for the same program. If your program needs a repeat schedule with more complexity, set as much of the schedule as you can in this page. Then, once the program is submitted to the IP/TV Content Manager and you have returned to the main page, click the Duplicate link for that program to create a duplicate of the program. You can set the remaining repeat schedule in the duplicate program. See the “Duplicating a Scheduled Program” section later in this chapter for tips on using the Duplicate Scheduled Program page.



Live-capture Program SettingsWhen you define a live-capture program, you must set the video format, audio format, data rate, and frame rate parameters to values appropriate to the video capture card and codec (compression/decompression) used by the IP/TV Server that will capture and multicast the program. See “Audio and Video Codecs Reference” in the IP/TV Administration and Configuration Guide for recommended settings for the most common codecs.

Reviewing a Scheduled ProgramFollow these steps to review a scheduled program:

Step 1 On the Scheduled Programs page, click the Review link for the program.

Step 2 Scroll through the Review Scheduled Program page to find the information you want to see.

Step 3 Click Scheduled Programs to return to the Scheduled Programs page.

You might want to review an existing program under these circumstances:

• The program description is too long to fit in the program list on the main page.

• The program is scheduled to repeat more than three times. The next three repeats after the current date and time are displayed in the main list; the Review Scheduled Program page displays the entire schedule.

• The program information you want to verify is not included in the brief list on the main page. The Review Scheduled Program page displays all information stored for the program.

Note The Review Scheduled Program page contains the Load Plugin and Load Application buttons for publishing programs in a Web page. In order to use these buttons you must have plugins installed. See the “Using IP/TV in a Web Browser” chapter in the IP/TV Administration and Configuration Guide for more information.


Deleting a Scheduled Program

Deleting a Scheduled ProgramFollow these steps to delete a scheduled program:

Step 1 On the Scheduled Programs page, click the Delete link for the program. Or, on the Review Scheduled Program page, click Delete Program at the bottom of the page.

The IP/TV Content Manager displays the Delete Scheduled Program page and asks you to confirm that you want to delete the program.

Step 2 Click Delete Program to delete the program, or click Scheduled Programs to return to the Scheduled Programs page without deleting the program.

Editing a Scheduled ProgramFollow these steps to modify a scheduled program:

Step 1 On the Scheduled Programs page, click the Edit link for the program. Or, on the Review Scheduled Program page, click Edit at the bottom of the page.

Step 2 The IP/TV Content Manager asks you to select a channel for the program. Click a channel in the list, click None, or leave the channel unchanged.

Step 3 Click a program type, or accept the default provided by the IP/TV Content Manager.

Step 4 Click Revise Program at the bottom of the page to continue. The IP/TV Content Manager displays the Edit Scheduled Program page.



Step 5 Scroll through the page to find the information you want to change. You may change any field that was entered when the program was created.

Step 6 Click Revise Program at the bottom of the page to send the changes to the IP/TV Content Manager.

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

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

If the page is properly completed, you return automatically to the Scheduled Programs page.

Note If you edit a program that plays a disk file, and manually enter information about the file (such as server, file name, length, or bandwidth), the IP/TV Content Manager cannot verify the information as would be the case if you use the Select Media File button. Be careful to enter the information accurately.

Note Avoid changing the audio format, video format, IP addresses, or UDP port numbers assigned to a program fewer than 10 minutes before the program is scheduled to begin or while the program is playing. Changes of this nature can prevent IP/TV Viewer from displaying the program properly.

Duplicating a Scheduled ProgramFollow these steps to duplicate a scheduled program:

Step 1 On the Scheduled Programs page, click the Duplicate link for the program. Or, on the Review Scheduled Program page, click Duplicate Program at the bottom of the page.

Step 2 The IP/TV Content Manager asks you to select a channel for the duplicate program. Click a different channel for the program from the list, click None, or leave the channel unchanged.


Duplicating a Scheduled Program

Step 3 Click a program type, or accept the default provided by the IP/TV Content Manager.

Step 4 Click Duplicate Program at the bottom of the page. The IP/TV Content Manager displays the Duplicate Scheduled Program page.

Step 5 Scroll through the Duplicate Scheduled Program page to find the information that is different for this duplicate program.You may change any field that was entered when the original program was created.

Step 6 Click Duplicate Program at the bottom of the page to send the information about the duplicate program to the IP/TV Content Manager.

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

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

If the page is properly completed, you return automatically to the Scheduled Programs page.

You might want to duplicate an existing program under these circumstances:

• 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 only change a few fields.

• The repeat schedule for a program is so complicated that the available repeat schedule choices does not allow you to set all the repeats at once. Set as many of the repeats as you can in the original program, then set the rest in the duplicate.


Recording Scheduled Programs

Recording Scheduled ProgramsIP/TV allows you to record a scheduled IP/TV program and save it in a media file on the local disk of an IP/TV server. This feature is usually used to record content that is acquired through live-capture for playback at a later time.

Two factors determine which file format is used to save the live-capture content:

• If the live-capture data stream is MPEG1 or MPEG2, and if the same server is used both to capture the data and record it to a file, the file format must be MPEG (that is, the file must have an extension of .mpg).

• If the live-capture data stream is not MPEG1 or MPEG2, or if the live-capture server is different from the recording server, the file format must be RTP (that is, the file must have an extension of .rtp). Unlike MPEG files, RTP files can only be used by IP/TV Server as the source for an IP/TV program. RTP files cannot be opened with a conventional video decoder. To view an RTP file, you must run RTPViewer on the IP/TV Server where the recording is saved. Refer to the IP/TV Administration and Configuration Guide for more information.

To display a list of all scheduled recordings, click Recordings on the IP/TV Content Manager main page. The Recordings page is shown in Figure 2-20.

For each recording, the information displayed includes the name and description of the program to be recorded, the name of the source server, and up to three dates and times at which the program is scheduled to be recorded.


Scheduling a Recording

Figure 2-20 Recordings Page

For each recording, the following links are available:

• The Review link takes you to the Review Recording page (see “Reviewing a Recording”).

• The Edit link takes you to the Edit Recording page (see “Editing a Recording”).

• The Delete link takes you to the Delete Recording page (see “Deleting a Recording”).

Scheduling a RecordingThis section describes the procedure for setting up a recording. It has two steps:

• Creating a multimedia data stream for the recording, or choosing an existing program to record.

• Setting up the recording.



Creating a Multimedia Data Stream for the RecordingIf the content you want to record is not already defined as a program, see the “Creating a Scheduled Program” section earlier in this chapter for instructions on setting up a new program.

If you want to record an existing program, you need not define a new program before you can record it, since it is already defined in the IP/TV Content Manager.

In addition, consider the following points:

• Set the start and end time in the Schedule section of the New Scheduled Program page.

For any live-capture session, it is a good idea to set the start time a little earlier and the end time much later than you expect the live-capture session to start and end. Setting the start and end times this way allows for any slip in the actual start/end of the event. When a recording is made, “dead air” at the beginning and end of the session is not saved in the file.

• In the Multimedia Source section, be sure to select the Play check boxes for Video, Audio, and SlideCast as appropriate for the content to be recorded.

Note You cannot record a Web Presentation stream.

• In the Multimedia Address section, click the server(s) that captures the data. In addition, verify the status of the Capture Live MPEG Data for Recording to File; Do not Multicast check box.

— If you are recording the program but not multicasting it simultaneously, select the check box.

— If you are recording the program and also want to simultaneously multicast it, clear the check box.



Setting Up the RecordingFollow these steps to set up a new recording:

Step 1 In the Recordings page, click the New Recording link on the task bar. The New Recording Program Selection page appears (see Figure 2-21).

Figure 2-21 New Recording Program Selection Page

Step 2 Click an IP/TV program or an MBone session in the list and click Create Recording. The New Recording page displays information about the program you chose (see Figure 2-22).



Figure 2-22 New Recording Page

Step 3 Review the Program Information section of the page to be sure you have chosen the correct program.

Step 4 In the Name field, enter a name for the recording or accept the name supplied by the IP/TV Content Manager. The default name is the same as the original program’s name.




Step 5 In the Recording Information section, enter a description of the recording or accept the description supplied by the IP/TV Content Manager. The default description is the same as the original program’s description. The maximum number of characters permitted in the description field is 512.

Step 6 In the Recording Schedule section (see Figure 2-23), the default recording schedule is the next showing of the program that ends after the current date and time, plus any repeats scheduled for the program.

Accept the default schedule, or override it by changing the information in any of the editable fields.



Figure 2-23 Recording Schedule Section of the New Recording Page

Step 7 In the Recording Instructions section of the page (see Figure 2-24), specify whether the recording includes the video and audio portions of the program. By default, all the data streams included in the program itself are enabled for the recording. However, you cannot record a Web Presentation or SlideCast stream.



Figure 2-24 Recording Instructions Section of the New Recording Page

Step 8 Enter the full path name of the file in which the recording is to be stored.

The file extension must be .rtp or .mpg. The RTP file format is only used for recording IP/TV programs, and is optimized for multicasting over a network. The MPG file format is used for local recording of live MPEG1 or MPEG2 data streams.

Step 9 Specify whether an existing file by the same name should be overwritten.

If this check box is selected, unique filenames are generated to prevent the first recording from being overwritten by a later recording of the same program. Note that if you choose not to overwrite repeated recordings, these files occupy a great deal of disk space and may quickly fill the server’s disk drive.

Step 10 Click a server from the list or enter the name of a new server. This name must be the name of the server that performs the recording and stores the file on its local disk drive. Note that the live-capture server or the server serving the program cannot be the same as the recording server, unless you are recording an MPEG1 or MPEG2 data stream to an MPG file.



Step 11 In the Contact section of the New Recording page (see Figure 2-25), enter the name, telephone number and e-mail address of the person users can contact with questions about the recording.

Figure 2-25 Contact Information Section of the New Recording Page

Step 12 Click Create Recording at the bottom of the New Recording page to send the form to the IP/TV Content Manager.

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

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

If the form is properly completed, you return automatically to the Recordings page.


Reviewing a Recording

Reviewing a RecordingFollow these steps to review a recording:

Step 1 On the Recordings page, click the Review link for the recording you want to review.

Step 2 Scroll through the Review Recording page to find the information you want to see.

Step 3 After you have reviewed the information, click Recordings to return to the Recordings page.

Deleting a RecordingFollow these steps to delete a recording:

Step 1 On the Recordings page, click the Delete link for the recording you want to delete. Or, on the Review Recording page, click Delete Recording at the bottom of the page.

The IP/TV Content Manager displays the Delete Recording page and asks you to confirm that you want to delete the recording.

Step 2 Click Delete Recording to delete the recording.

Step 3 Click Recordings to return to the Recordings page without deleting the recording.



Editing a RecordingFollow these steps to modify a recording:

Step 1 On the Recordings page, click the Edit link for the recording you want to modify. Or, on the Review Recording page, click Edit Recording at the bottom of the page.

Step 2 Scroll through the Edit Recording page to find the information you want to change. The page allows you to change any field that was entered when the recording was scheduled.

Step 3 Click Revise Recording at the bottom of the page to send the changes to the IP/TV Content Manager.

If the IP/TV Content Manager finds errors or omissions in the page, the Data Entry Errors page prompts you to return to the Edit Recording page to modify the information.

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

If the page is properly completed, you return automatically to the Recordings page.


Using the Question Manager

Using the Question ManagerThe Question Manager is a text-only feedback mechanism that allows users to submit questions to the moderator of a scheduled program. The moderator can display the questions that apply to the program, sort the questions, answer the questions as part of the presentation that is being shown, export the questions to be stored or manipulated in an external spreadsheet or database application, and delete the questions after the program is complete.

Question Manager is useful for environments such as distance learning and training. It allows remote users to participate in the Question and Answer portion of the presentation.

The Question Manager function applies to scheduled programs, but not to on-demand programs.

Note This participation is not fully interactive. The Question Manager is a unidirectional tool; it sends questions to the program’s moderator, but does not return answers to the user. Answers must be provided as part of the program content.

Enabling the Question ManagerBefore a user can submit questions about an IP/TV program to the program’s moderator, or an administrator moderate a program, the Question Manager function must be enabled for that program.

To enable the Question Manager for a scheduled program, select the Enable Question Manager check box in the New Scheduled Program, Edit Scheduled Program, or Duplicate Scheduled Program page. An example of the New Scheduled Program page is shown in Figure 2-15.

Sending a Question to the Question Manager ModeratorIf a user is viewing an IP/TV program that has the Question Manager enabled, the Question Manager button on the IP/TV Viewer tool bar is active; otherwise, the button is grayed out. When an IP/TV Viewer user clicks an active Question Manager button, the Question form appears (see Figure 2-26).



In the Question form, Question Manager supplies the user’s e-mail address and name that the user entered in the IP/TV Viewer User Information dialog box. If this information was not entered, the moderator receives the question from Anonymous.

The user can change the name, enter a subject line, and enter a question. When the user clicks Submit, the question is sent to the Question Manager moderator. Questions can be submitted before the program begins.

Figure 2-26 Question Form

Moderating an IP/TV ProgramTo run the Question Manager Moderator, your Web browser must have Java support enabled. (Java support is not required for users submitting questions to the Moderator.)

Follow these steps to moderate a Question Manager enabled program.

Step 1 In the Scheduled Programs page, click the Question Manager link in the task bar.

Or, start a Web browser and go to the following URL:

http://<contentmanagerhost>/iptvfiles/qmselect.htm

where contentmanagerhost is the DNS name or IP address of the IP/TV Content Manager managing the program.

The Moderator Program Selection page appears (see Figure 2-27).


Moderating an IP/TV Program

Figure 2-27 Question Manager Moderator Program Selection Page

Step 2 In the list, click a program. As soon as you click a program, information about the program is displayed in the Program Information section of the page.

Step 3 Click Start the Moderator to begin moderating the selected program. The Question Manager Moderator page appears (see Figure 2-28).



Figure 2-28 Question Manager Moderator Page

The Question Manager Moderator page displays the list of outstanding questions for the program. Initially, the list is displayed in the order in which the questions were received.

For each question, the display includes the status of the question, the name of the person who submitted the question, the date and time the question was submitted, and the subject field from the user’s Question form.



Sorting the Question ListTo sort the list by status, name, date and time, or subject, click the column heading to be used as a sort criterion. As new questions are submitted, they are added to the list and sorted according to the current sort criterion.

Displaying the Full Text of a QuestionTo display the full text of a question (that is, the text entered in the question box on the user’s Question form), select the question by clicking anywhere in that row.

Changing the Status of a QuestionInitially, every question has the status “Q,” indicating that the question has not been answered. Questions may be answered in several ways. Note that none of these ways results in feedback to the person who submitted the question other than through the program content itself.

During the course of the program, if the program content addresses a user’s question, the moderator can change the status to “A,” meaning “answered.” Or, if the program includes a Question and Answer period, and the question is answered by the presenter, the moderator can change the question’s status to “A.”

To change the status of a question, select the question and click Answered. The status field for that question changes from “Q” to “A.”

If the list of questions is long, and many questions have been answered, the moderator can delete answered questions from the list by selecting each answered question and clicking Delete.

Deleted questions disappear from the moderator’s question list, but the IP/TV Content Manager does not purge them completely until it deletes the program itself.

To purge deleted questions before the IP/TV Content Manager deletes the program, the moderator can click Purge All Deleted.



Displaying Questions in Table FormAt any time, the moderator can display the questions for the program in table form by clicking Show All. The List All Questions page appears (see Figure 2-29). This is a convenient form to print out and give to the program presenter, so the presenter can answer the questions during the Question and Answer portion of the presentation.

The list displayed on the List All Questions page includes all questions for the program being moderated, and whether their status is asked, answered, or deleted.

Figure 2-29 List All Questions Page



Exporting the Question List for External ProcessingTo export the list of questions as comma-delimited ASCII text, so that the data can be manipulated in an external spreadsheet or database application, click Save to File. A dialog box allows you to specify the path and name for the file.

Each question in the list is exported as a single line having these fields:

• Date and time the question was submitted

• Program name

• Question status

• User name

• Subject

• Full text of question

For the first sample question shown in Figure 2-29, the exported text looks like this:

3/11/1999 2:42:00 PM,"Sales Outlook","asked","Joe Smith","What are the sales projections for the next 6 months?"


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