User Guide for Cisco Digital Media Manager 5.3.x

Channel View list

Enables or disables a filtered view of which channels this table describes, based on which option you choose:

• All Channels — Shows the combination of all defined and undefined channels.
• Active Channels — Shows only the defined channels.
• Inactive Channels — Shows only the channels that are not yet defined.

Channel Number

One numeral per row, in the range from 1 to 99, where any numeral can be the TV channel number that you associate with a particular multicast stream. The default behavior for this table is that it shows all 99 possible channel numbers, one per row.

Your choice from the Channel View list might limit how many rows the table contains, and this can affect indirectly how many channel numbers you see.

When you sort the table by clicking a column heading, channel numbers might be rearranged temporarily into an unrecognizable sequence. To sort channels back into the expected sequence if their sequence has become unrecognizable, click the Channel Number column heading.

Channel Name

Blank when the corresponding row describes an undefined TV channel. Otherwise, shows a value that you entered or an option that you chose from a list when you defined the channel. To understand these values, see Table 26-2.

Description

Multicast Address: Port

Call Letters for Channel

Reassign to Nearest Unused Channel

Two buttons, either of which can change the association between a channel definition and a channel number. The channel definition in the corresponding row becomes associated instead with the closest channel (of a higher number or a lower number, respectively) that is undefined. These buttons have no effect when every channel is already defined.

The first row and last row of this table will only ever show one of these buttons apiece. These rows differ from all other rows in the table because you cannot use any channel number that is lower than the lowest supported channel number or higher than the highest supported channel number. The first row shows only , while the last row shows only .

— Associates the channel definition that the corresponding row describes with whichever lower-numbered channel is nearest among the undefined channels. The arrow points up because table rows above this row are reserved for lower-numbered channels.

— Associates the channel definition that the corresponding row describes with whichever higher-numbered channel is nearest among the undefined channels. The arrow points down because table rows above this row are reserved for higher-numbered channels.

Actions

One of these:

• Set Up Channel — Opens the dialog box where you can enter values and define attributes for a TV channel. This button is visible only in rows that describe undefined TV channels.
— A list from which you can choose one of the following options. This list is visible only in rows that describe defined TV channels.

– Edit Channel Settings — Opens the dialog box where you can edit the values and attributes of a channel that is already defined.

– Reassign to Any Unused Channel — Associates the channel definition that the corresponding row describes with whichever channel is nearest among the undefined channels. The new channel number might be higher or lower than whichever channel number was in effect until you changed it.

– Delete This Channel — Deletes all entries and attribute values from the definition of the channel that the corresponding row describes. The relevant channel number will not be associated with any defined channel unless or until you define a new channel for it or associate an existing channel with it.

Your Name for This Channel

A meaningful, brief, and unique description of the channel that the corresponding row describes, such as China Central Television, Univision, Al-Jazeera, BBC-1, Star Cricket, HBO, or CNN.

Address Type

The method (multicast or HTTP) that your DMPs will use to receive the video stream for this channel. Choose an option from the list to enter the correct kind of address. Your choice determines which other fields appear on this page. The options are:

• Multicast Address — The routable IP address and UDP port for a streaming server, as described in the “Multicast Address: Port” row elsewhere in this table.
• HTTP URL — The full HTTP URL for one video file of a supported type, as described in the “HTTP URL” row elsewhere in this table.

Multicast Address: Port

The IP address and port number of the streaming server from which your DMPs will receive the multicast stream for this channel. You must specify the port number. This field is visible only after you choose Multicast Address from the Address Type list. Later, if you choose any other option from the Address Type list, Cisco Cast will ignore the values in this field.

HTTP URL

The exact URL and path that points to one MPEG video file on an HTTP server. You must use HTTP as the protocol and the filename extension must be MPG. This field is visible only after you choose HTTP URL from the Address Type list.

Text to Show if Program Guide is Not Available

Text that describes this channel. The electronic program guide (EPG) shows this text when no other information is available. When the EPG uses this text, it does not describe individual programs for this channel.

EPG Provider

Associates or disassociates this channel with one EPG data source and specifies the nature of that source if you associate one with this channel. You can choose whether to use any data source. The options are similar to these:

• TMS — Your EPG will use data from Tribune Media Services to describe this channel and its programs.
• < XMLTV > — Your EPG will use data in the XMLTV format to describe this channel and its programs.
• Upload CSV — Your EPG will use data from a CSV file to describe this channel and its programs.
• None — Your EPG will use a brief, generic statement to describe this channel and its programs.

CSV File (Browse)

The method to find and select a CSV file that you have stored locally and will upload to your DMM appliance.

Download the CSV Template

A downloadable template file in Microsoft Excel format that you can use to define the EPG attributes for programs on one channel. This link is visible only when you have chosen Upload CSV from the EPG Provider list.

Call Letters for Channel

A list of call letters for TV channels that your EPG subscription includes. The list is variable according to your location in the United States, the package of channels that you receive from your cable or satellite TV provider, the nature of your contract with TMS, and possibly other factors. Your list might include some or all of these call letters, possibly among others:

• ABC — American Broadcasting Company
• AZA — Azteca América
• CBC — Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
• CBS — CBS Broadcasting
• CW — The CW Television Network
• FOX — Fox Broadcasting Company
• MNT — MyNetworkTV
• NBC — National Broadcasting Company
• PAX — ION Television
• PBS — Public Broadcasting Service
• SRC — SRC
• TEL — Telemundo
• TLF — TeleFutura
• TQS — Télévision Quatre Saisons
• TVA — Tele Vida Abundante
• UNI — Univision

This list is visible only after you choose Tribune Media Services from the EPG Provider list.