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
|
Required Browser Plugin(s)
|
|
|
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