Oracle VideoMaker Administrator's Guide
Release 2.1.8
A53882-01

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Oracle VideoMarkerTM
Administrator's Guide

Oracle VideoMarkerTM enables you to mark locations in videos by creating video bookmarks, or videomarks. Users can then, using a web browser, view video segments stored on the Oracle Video Server.

The VideoMarker Plug-in lets you, the VideoMarker administrator, create, edit or delete videomarks, then the Oracle Video Plug-in enables users to access and play videos from lists of videos and videomarks, but not create or delete videomarks.

Oracle VideoMarker uses its own built-in HTTP server and does not require a web server to run. You can install and administer it on any Microsoft Windows 95 PC. There is no additional setup for users unless you want to give users the capability of creating and deleting videomarks.

This document discusses how to install, set up and administer Oracle VideoMarker and provides examples of how to customize VideoMarker for your use.

Installation Requirements

Oracle VideoMarker requires the following software:

The VideoMarker Plug-in is required for the administrator's PC and for users who plan to create and delete videomarks. For instructions on installing the VideoMarker Plug-in, refer to Setting up the Oracle VideoMarker Client Application later in this document.

Conventions Used in This Manual

The following table defines the typographical conventions used in this manual.

Table 1: Conventions used in this manual
Convention   Explanation  

bold  

Identifies file names, command names, and menu names.  

fixed width  

Identifies command syntax and system output.  

fixed bold  

Highlights parts of command syntax or output specific to the discussion about that command or output.  

fixed italic  

Identifies variables in examples for which a context-specific substitution should be made. For example, the variable file name would be replaced by an actual file name.  

[ ]  

Identifies optional items.  

Setting up the Oracle VideoMarker Server

The VideoMarker server application:

The Oracle Video Plug-in or VideoMarker Plug-in manages communication with the Oracle Video Server.

To Set Up the VideoMarker Server

  1. Install a browser that supports Netscape plug-ins.
  2. Install the Oracle Video Client from the Oracle Installer. The Oracle Installer is included on the Oracle Video Client 2.1.8 CD. Please refer to the Oracle Video Client Software Guide for installation details.
  3. Replace the plug-in that comes with Oracle Video Client (npovi32.dll) with the VideoMarker plug-in (npovl32.dll). You must rename the plug-in npovi32.dll.

The Oracle Video Plug-in is located in the plug-in directory for your browser. For example, for Netscape it is in the \program files\Netscape\Navigator\Program\plugins directory. The VideoMarker Plug-in is installed in the \orawin95\vm21\win95 directory.

The VideoMarker Plug-in contains menu items specific to Oracle VideoMarker. It allows the user to create and edit videomarks.

VideoMarker Syntax Conventions

Table 2 describes the command syntax. The syntax conventions are:

Table 2: VideoMarker Syntax Conventions
Syntax Description
ovlhttpd.exe The command that starts the server.
-l vmarker.log The -l flag sets the name of a log file, in this case, the text file that stores all VideoMarker service requests and errors.
-f vmarks.txt The -f flag sets the name of a file, in this case, the videomark file.
-p 80 The -p flag sets the port number, in this case, the port number of the VideoMarker server.
-d c:\orawin95\vm21\ovlhome The -d flag sets a directory, in this case, the web root directory for the VideoMarker server that contains index.html (splash screen page) and menu.html (VideoMarker menu page).
-v The -v is an optional flag that enables users to view videos from lists of videos and videomarks but not create videomarks1
1The [v] flag isn't necessary if your users have the Oracle Video plug-in. Include this flag to provide view-only access for users who have the VideoMarker plug-in. For example, you might include this flag when starting up a separate server with a customized list of videomarks that you don't want changed, as explained in Example 2: Running Multiple VideoMarker Servers.

Starting the VideoMarker Server

To start the VideoMarker server, select the VideoMarker Startup file from the Start Menu, or double-click the vmarker95.bat shortcut located in the orawin95\vm21\win95 folder.

If the default VideoMarker port is in use, you won't connect to the VideoMarker server (ovlhttpd doesn't appear in the task list). To change the port number, open the vmarker95.bat file in a text editor and change the port number (using the -p option) to one that is not in use.

Setting up the Oracle VideoMarker Client Application

The VideoMarker client application enables users to view video segments stored on the server.

To Set up Client PCs

  1. Install Netscape Navigator 3.0, Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0, or any browser that supports Netscape plug-ins.
  2. Install the Oracle Video Client on the PCs of users who want to access and play videos from video and videomark lists.

    If users require the additional functionality of creating and deleting videomarks, replace the plug-in that comes with Oracle Video Client with the VideoMarker Plug-in, as described in Step 6 of Setting up the Oracle VideoMarker Server.

  3. Notify your users that they can connect to the VideoMarker server from their PC by entering the URL and port number for the VideoMarker server in their browser. For example: 
    4. http://win95pc:80/

Creating Videomarks

You can easily create as many videomarks as you like from the All Videos window.

  1. From the list of videos in the left frame select the video you want to mark. The video starts playing. You will see a title bar at the bottom of the video window with a title in it.
  2. At the point you wish to mark, click the left mouse button to pause the video.
  3. Select, or place your cursor in, the title bar, and replace the text with a new title, for example, VideoMark 1.
  4. Click the right mouse button, and from the pop-up menu, select New VideoMark.

The new videomark now appears both in the title bar and in the list of videomarks in the All VideoMarks window.

Reloading Videomarks

On occasion, you may need to reload videomarks due to manual changes you have made to the videomark file (vmarks.txt). If you, for example, edit the file of videomarks and comment out some videomarks, or delete some, those videomarks will still appear on the droplist of videomarks until the videomarks are reloaded.

To reload all videomarks:

  1. Select a video title from the list of All Videos.
  2. Click the right mouse button to bring up the VideoMarker Plug-in menu.
  3. From the drop list select Reload Videomarks.

All videomarks are reloaded.

Generating HTML Pages for All VideoMarks

The Generate HTML Pages for All VideoMarks feature is provided so that pages can be moved to a different web server and videomarks do not have to be accessed through the VideoMarker HTTP daemon (ovlhttpd).

When you select Generate HTML Pages for All VideoMarks from the menu, VideoMarker builds an HTML page for each videomark. You may then edit each corresponding HTML page to customize the content as you wish. For example, you may wish to change the title of the page or of each videomark to more aptly describe the video segment to your users, or you may want to substitute your company logo for the VideoMarker .gif file.

Editing the HTML Pages

All generated HTML pages are stored in C:\videomarker\vmpage\. The initial page, ovlmk-all.html, is a page that contains left and right frames, ovlmk-toc.html and ovlempty.html respectively.

The left frame is the Table of Contents and contains the list of available videomarks. The text initially generated in this page is directed towards the administrator, so it is clear to what videomark each generated page points. It is intended that the administrator modify this page for the end users' benefit. To edit the Table of Contents, open ovlmk-toc.html in your text editor.

The right frame contains the VideoMarker logo. The VideoMarker logo, ovltile2.gif, can be replaced by your company logo. To replace the .gif file in the right frame with your company logo .gif, replace the reference to ovltile2.gif in the file ovlempty.html with your preferred image.

Preventing Users from Making Changes

If you want to make sure that no one can change the videomark list, including those users who have the VideoMarker plug-in functionality, append the [-v] flag when starting up the server. For example: 

ovlhttpd.exe -p 82 -d c:\orawin95\vm21\ovlhome -l vmarker3.log -f vmarks3.txt -v

You may also change this option at any time, but you must bring down the HTTP daemon to make the server change. See Shutting Down the HTTP Daemon (ovlhttpd) on page 7 for more information.

For more information on syntax options, see Table 2: VideoMarker Syntax Conventions.

Displaying Help

To display Help:

  1. Connect to the VideoMarker server from your browser.
  2. Click the Help button icon in the All Videos or All Videomarks section.

Tip

If the help window is hidden from view, press the Alt-tab keys to cycle through the open windows until you see the Help window.

Shutting Down the HTTP Daemon (ovlhttpd)

You may wish to shut down the VideoMarker HTTP daemon (ovlhttpd). This would be necessary, for example, to change syntax options. To shut down the daemon:

  1. Press Control-ALT-Delete.
  2. From the task list select ovlhttpd.
  3. Select End Task.

To restart the daemon, select VideoMarker from the Start Menu, or double-click the vmarker95.bat icon.

Customizing VideoMarker with Your HTML Pages

The VideoMarker server includes two HTML pages, index.html (splash screen) and menu.html (VideoMarker menu page). All other pages are dynamically generated, meaning that when the user clicks the All Videos link from the menu.html page, the VideoMarker server builds an HTML page that lists the videos and a page that plays a selected video. You can create your own HTML source from the dynamically generated HTML pages, and customize it for your own use, or you can use and modify the HTML pages generated in the vmpage subdirectory by the Generate HTML Pages for All VideoMarks option. See Examples of Creating Your Own Pages following this section for instructions.

To create a link on your own HTML page that bypasses the menu.html page and links directly to the All Videomarks page, copy or include a VideoMarker URL reference in your link.The URL references are used to dynamically generate the All Videomarks page. For a list of these URL references, see URLs Reserved by Oracle VideoMarker.

Keeping Your Pages Up-to-Date

The VideoMarker server dynamically updates the All Videos and Videomarks pages, but HTML pages that you create are static. To keep your pages up-to-date as new videos or videomarks become available, periodically save the video file name and videomark frame source. Compare the listings with those on your HTML pages, and then make any necessary changes to your pages.

Running Multiple Servers

VideoMarker sets up a default server during installation, but you can set up additional servers to distribute traffic, or to separate administrative and user access. You might then store all video and videomark information on an administrative server and set up another user server where users could view videos by accessing a customized list of videomarks. (See Example 1: Accessing Videos from an HTML Page and Example 2: Running Multiple VideoMarker Servers.)

Examples of Creating Your Own Pages

The following examples illustrate ways to create your own pages.

Example 1: Accessing Videos from an HTML Page

This example copies videomark information from the videomark's frame source to an HTML page stored on your local PC.

To copy videomark information:

  1. On your local PC, make sure that you have an oracle.mpg file in the same directory that stores your HTML page.

    2. The oracle.mpg file is a dummy file that VideoMarker expects to find in the directory with your HTML pages. For information about the oracle.mpg files, refer to the Oracle Video Client Software Guide.

  2. Using your web browser, enter the URL and port number for the PC running the VideoMarker server. For example: 
    3. http://win95pc:80
  3. Click All Videomarks to display the list of available videomarks.
  4. Click the videomark that you want to include on your own HTML page.
  5. Click the right frame to make the video player frame active.
  6. Choose Frame Source from your browser menu. (If you're using Netscape it's the Netscape View menu.)
  7. In the Frame Source, locate the VideoMarker embed command; in this example, an embed command for "oracle1.mpi." 
    8. <EMBED SRC=oracle.mpg WIDTH=480 HEIGHT=360 mdsfile=oracle1.mpi 
server=UDP:192.25.102.201:5000 autostart=true controls=false 
playfrom=4300>
  8. Open the document source for your HTML page and manually copy the videomark embed command to your page.

    9. Note

    When you copy the HTML code to your page, don't modify the address information or you won't be able to connect to the server.

  9. Save your HTML page.

You can now view the video from your HTML page.

Example 2: Running Multiple VideoMarker Servers

This example sets up two additional VideoMarker servers with different videomark information on each one.

To set up the new servers

  1. Copy and rename the current videomark file to create two new files, for example, vmarks2.txt and vmarks3.txt.
  2. Open the vmarker95.bat file in a text editor. 
    3. Each videomark is a single line of text, shown below, that contains four 
fields: the medianet address of the video server, the name of the file on the 
video server, the timecode of the videomark in milliseconds, and the 
videomark name.
# UDP:192.25.102.201:5000|oracle1.mpi|69000|interview begins

    To remove a videomark, comment it out by inserting a pound sign (#) character at the beginning of the line. To permanently remove it, delete the line.

  3. Start a second server, specifying an unused port for the second VideoMarker server (81), the new log file (vmarker2.log), and the new VideoMarker file (vmarks2.txt). 
    4. ovlhttpd.exe -p 81 -d c:c:\orawin95\vm21\ovlhome -l vmarker2.log -f vmarks2.txt
  4. Start a third server, specifying an unused port for the third VideoMarker server (82), the new log file (vmarker3.log), and the new VideoMarker file (vmarks3.txt). 
    5. ovlhttpd.exe -p 82 -d c:c:\orawin95\vm21\ovlhome -l vmarker3.log -f vmarks3.txt

You now have three VideoMarker servers. Users can access the global list of videomarks at the default server (80), and access customized lists of videomarks at port 81 and port 82. The customized lists are static. To keep the contents updated with recent video or videomark information, you will need to do so manually, as explained in Keeping your pages up-to-date in Customizing VideoMarker with Your HTML Pages.

Note

If you want to make sure that no one can change the videomark list, including those users who have the VideoMarker plug-in functionality, append the [-v] flag when starting up the server. For example: 

ovlhttpd.exe -p 82 -d c:c:\orawin95\vm21\ovlhome -l vmarker3.log -f vmarks3.txt -v

Example 3: Adding Your Own Pages

This example creates a page that lists available videos by title instead of the video server file names (tag files), then adds a link to this page on the VideoMarker home page (menu.html). This procedure has two parts:

Creating a Page

  1. On the client, enter the URL for the Microsoft Windows 95 PC running the VideoMarker server. For example: 
    2. http://win95pc:80/
  2. Click All Videos.
  3. Click the left frame to make it active. This frame contains the list of video file names.
  4. Choose Frame Source from the View menu.
  5. Copy the frame source to a text editor and save it as "mypage.html."
  6. In mypage.html, locate the video titles you want to change. 
    7. <A HREF="ovlvideoview?videotag=oracle1.mpi&videotitle=oracle1.mpi"

TARGET=content><B>oracle1.mpi</B></A>
<A HREF="ovlvideoview?videotag=oracle2.mpi&videotitle=oracle2.mpi" 
TARGET=content><B>oracle2.mpi</B></A>
  7. Edit the video titles and link titles and replace them with more meaningful titles; in this example replacing "oracle1.mpi" and "oracle2.mpi" with "Oracle_Products and "Oracle_New_Products."

Note

Replace the spaces in video titles with underscores. 

<A HREF="ovlvideoview?videotag=oracle1.

mpi&videotitle=Oracle_Products" TARGET=content>

<B>Oracle Products</B></A>

<A HREF="ovlvideoview?videotag=oracle2.mpi

&videotitle=Oracle_New_Products" TARGET=content><B>Oracle New 
Products</B></A>
  • Save the edited file as mypage.html (text-only file) in the same directory as menu.html.
    • Changing the menu.html page

    1. Open the menu.html page in a text editor.
    2. Add the following lines to create a new link where the left frame (leftpage) becomes mypage. 
      3. <A HREF="ovlframe?leftpage=mypage;rightpage=ovlempty">

<B>Oracle Product Information</B></A>
    3. Save the menu.html page.

    Users can now click mypage to go to a list of videos by title.

    URLs Reserved by Oracle VideoMarker

    The following is a list of URL references reserved by Oracle VideoMarker. References with asterisks next to them are helper URLs that require parameters.

    URL Reference

     

    Description

     

    		 
    /ovlhomepage

     

    Displays the built-in VideoMarker menu.html home page if the file menu.html isn't found.

    For example, if the server doesn't find the menu.html file because you moved it to a different directory, it generates the built-in one.  

    		 
    */
ovlframe?leftpage=ovlvideotags;
 rightpage=ovlempty

     

    Creates a frame.

    Parameters:

    • leftpage=ovlvideotags creates a left page that displays the list of videos
    • rightpage=ovlempty creates a right page that is empty

     

    		 
    /ovlvideotags

     

    Displays a list of video files stored on the video server in a single frame.  

    		 
    /ovlvideotagsframe

     

    Displays two frames. The left frame contains the list of video files stored on the server. The right frame is initially empty, but when the user clicks on a video link, the frame contains the video player.  

    		 
    /ovlvideomarks

     

    Displays the entire list of videomarks in a single frame.  

    		 
    /ovlvideomarksframe

     

    Displays two frames. The left frame contains the list of videomarks stored on the server. The right frame is initially empty, but when the user clicks on a videomark link, the frame contains the video player.  

    		 
    */ovlvideoview

     

    Displays the frame used to view videos and set videomarks. Parameters:

    • videotag="tagfilename" for example file.mpi
    • videotitle=string of text in which every embedded space is replaced by an underscore

     

    		 
    */ovlvideoviewonly

     

    Displays the video without enabling the creation of videomarks.

    Parameters:

    • videotag="tagfilename" for example file.mpi
    • videotitle=string of text in which every embedded space is replaced by an underscore
    • videooffsets=number, time code of the videomark, milliseconds into the video

     

    		 
    /ovlempty

     

    Displays an empty right frame. Use this URL when you want to display a list of videos, but not stream the videos. Replace the rightpage title with ovlempty if you want to show a list of videos only on the server. (ovlframe?leftpage=title; rightpage=title)  


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