Overview

MvTv Server

The MvTv Video Scheduling System is video scheduling software that allows the creation of “Private, Programmable TV Stations”, with remote video scheduling for uses such as scheduled broadcasting for cable TV or IPTV, low power TV stations and digital signage type scenarios. 

The MvTv Video Scheduling System is comprised of 3 software programs or components, the MvTv Video Server, the MvTv Video Administrator, and the MvTv Video Channel, all of which communicate to each other via "IP" or "Internet Protocol". Since communication between the software components is IP based, you can configure the system to listen on specific ports, port 80 being the default. The MvTv Video components can be installed on the same or different PC's residing anywhere on your LAN, WAN, Intranet or the Internet itself.

MvTv Video Systems come in 2 types: the MvTv Video Repeater, and the MvTv Video Scheduler Systems. The MvTv Video Repeater System plays the content it finds in its playlist, starting at any time, and then "repeats" the content in the playlist over again, and continues to do so until  it finds a new or modified playlist. Hence the name "Repeater" System.

The MvTv Video Scheduler System on the other hand, is based on time... in that it plays content according to a schedule, using playlists that contain videos totalling up to 4 hours in duration. Example: at 10am the MvTv Video Scheduler Channel plays "X" playlist which contains a 2 hour movie, then at 12 pm, it plays the "Y" playlist. It does NOT repeat any content... it just plays the clips found in its playlist once when the playlist is scheduled. If there isn't a playlist scheduled at 12pm, then the 10 am playlist will play... and play again every hour until a new playlist is scheduled. New to the MvTv Video Scheduler is the ability to schedule "live" broadcasts. Now you can schedule a "live" breakfast show at 9 am, then a movie at 10 am, and "live" news at noon.

The MvTv Video Scheduling Systems allow anyone who has visual content and/or text messages (such as universities and colleges, high schools, hospitals, doctor’s offices, retail outlets, etc.) to broadcast their content locally or over the Internet using smart MvTv Video Channels which output the scheduled content onto individual TV screens or cable TV plants.  

The MvTv Video Scheduling System software components are installed onto standard off the shelf hardware with generic Microsoft Operating Systems like Windows XP, Vista and 7.

The MvTv Video Scheduling Systems are constantly being upgraded. Check back often for the latest offerings!

MvTv Video System Components and Hardware / Software Requirements:

MvTv Video Server:

The MvTv Video Server is a service that operates on the Microsoft Windows family of Operating Systems. Low volume systems (under 10 Channels) can easily operate from Windows XP, Vista and 7 while heavy load systems should use Windows Server products like 2000, 2003 and 2008.

The server stores video content for distribution to the MvTv Video Channels in its Library, and also stores Channel and Playlist information in its database.  Databases are MS Access, but can be upgraded to MS SQL.

The MvTv Video Server uploads playlists, scrolling text messages and videos to the MvTv Video Channels as they're required. 

Suggested Minimum Hardware Requirements for the MvTv Video Server:

Intel Pentium 1 GHz or better processor, and 128 MB of RAM, min. 80 GB drive, Internet access to retrieve valid MvTv licenses

Minimum Software Requirements for the MvTv Video Server:

• Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, Vista or 7, or the Windows Server family of Operating Systems, such as 2000, 2003 and 2008.

• Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5.

• MvTv Server Software (and valid license). 

• Optional: Microsoft Access 2000 (or higher) or MS SQL depending on database configuration.

MvTv Video Administrator:

The MvTv Video Administrator is used to create MvTv Video TV Networks and Channels, create scrolling text messages, upload video content to the MvTv Video Server, as well as create and schedule playlists for the MvTv Video Channels. The MvTv Video Administrator can also (optionally) provide complete reporting of all clips played by the MvTv Video Channels.

Suggested Minimum Requirements for the MvTv Video Administrator: 

• Intel Pentium 1 GHz or better processor, and 64 MB of RAM, min. 80 GB drive

• Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, Vista or 7, or the Windows Server family of Operating Systems, such as 2000, 2003 and 2008.

• Microsoft Windows Media Player 9 or higher

• Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5.

• MvTv Video Administrator Software requires the MvTv Video Server to have valid component licenses.

MvTv Video Channel: 

The MvTv Video Channel plays full-motion, full-screen video with or without scrolling text, to TV screens, computer monitors, as well as digital and flat panel monitors, by connecting the video outputs on the PC to the video inputs on the display device (or to a modulator if the Channel is to provide content for a cable plant). The video output can also be screen captured, or connected to video capture cards, and streamed to the Internet.

The MvTv Video Channels continuously poll (every minute is the default configurable setting) the MvTv Video Server for new playlists and automatically download new content from the MvTv Video Server when required. Each MvTv Video Channel can have a unique ID, so that the administrator using the MvTv Video Administrator can create unique content for all MvTv Video Channels in that TV Network. 

The MvTv Video Channel software is smart, in that Internet or network connection disruptions do NOT affect its video playback quality, as all content is stored and played from the Channel's hard drive. Resumption of broken Internet or network connections result in resumptions of downloading content playlists and scrolling text messages without requiring the downloads to restart from the beginning.  (Broken Internet or network connections however WILL affect "live" streaming content).

The MvTv Video Channel supports any Codec that runs on the Windows platform, such as ASF, AVI, MPEG-1 and 2, Microsoft’s Windows Media WMV formats, FLV, DIVX, VOB, and even MOV, as long as the corresponding DirectShow filters are installed on the MvTv Video Channel PC. New Codecs like VC-1, and H.264 allow the playback of High Definition content on MvTv Video Channels. (Note that the MvTv Video products do NOT include any 3rd party Codecs or DirectShow filters, but those provided with the Windows Operating Systems are supported). You should also ensure that you only display content on the MvTv Video System that you have display rights for. Use the MvTv Video Tester Tool on your MvTv Channel PC to make sure your clips have the appropriate Codecs installed. Need Codecs? Check out Nanocosmos!

Still images can easily be made into WMV videos (and used on the MvTv Video System) by using Windows Movie Maker that comes free with Windows XP, Vista and 7. With these programs you can add narration or music to your movies created from still images or digital photographs. With Windows Movie Maker, you can also zoom in and out, as well as add titles and other special effects to your videos.

Suggested Minimum Hardware Requirements for the MvTv Video Channel:

Intel Pentium 1 GHz or better processor, and 128 MB of RAM, min. 80 GB drive, Internet access

Suggested Minimum Software Requirements for the MvTv Video Channel: 

• Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, Vista or 7, or the Windows Server family of Operating Systems, such as 2000, 2003 and 2008.

• Microsoft Windows Media Player 9 or higher

• Microsoft .Net 3.5 Framework

• MvTv Video Channel Software requires the MvTv Video Server to have valid component licenses.

• Optional: additional Codec Packs (DirectShow filters) to playback various types of video content other than Windows Media

Scenarios of the MvTv Video System at work:

Scenario 1: video scheduling for Internet video broadcasting:

By connecting the MvTv Video Channel's video and audio outputs to a video capture card, other video formats can be streamed to the Internet, such as H.264, Flash or MPEG4/2.

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Scenario 2: video scheduling for Low power TV stations:

Scenario 3: video scheduling for TV stations:

The MvTv Video Enterprise broadcasting system utilizes a high end MvTv Video Server with MSSQL, to distribute and log clips played by Channels connected via the Internet. Any type of Codec can be used for playback, which is converted to MPEG2 by the 1A2ASI Encoder. The MvTv is a cost effective solution which is perfectly suited for delivering infomercials.

Scenario 4: Hospitals:

Another example of the MvTv Video System in operation is delivering health content to hospital patient and waiting room TV sets. Suppose the hospitals wish to use the MvTv Video System are up to a hundred miles apart. The MvTv Video Server is to be located at one of the Health Organizations' offices, connected to the Internet. By using the Internet for communications, the MvTv Video System can be deployed using any ISP for the various MvTv Video Channels, including dialup providers where broadband is not available (as long as the "live" streaming feature is not required). Since MvTv Video Channels play content that is stored on their hard drives, the speed of their Internet connections are irrelevant regarding their playback performance. 

The MvTv Video Administrator can be located and operated anywhere there is an Internet or network connection… in the Health Organizations' offices, or even on the video editors’ home edit suite. The MvTv Video Administrator is used to upload video content or text messages to the MvTv Video Server, as well as to create playlists and schedule the playlists. In effect, the Health Organizations' video editor can create health content at home, or at the Health Organization's editing suites (located in different physical buildings), and upload the content to the MvTv Video Server from any location. The editor can also program (from anywhere) what content plays in which hospital, at what time, and at anytime in the future… the schedule is NOT limited to 7x24, it’s an open-ended calendar schedule.

Smart MvTv Video Channels:

The MvTv Video System has been designed with ease of use for the operator in mind. In potential installations where hundreds of MvTv Video Channels could be deployed, programming each Channel would be a horrendous task. With this in mind, the MvTv Video System was designed such that MvTv Video Channels would be members of an MvTv Video Network, where all members of a specific MvTv Video Network would play the same content at the same time. Unlimited numbers of TV Networks and Channels can be created with the MvTv Video System. In turn, custom programming can be created for each individual MvTv Video Network.

Rather than push content to each MvTv Video Channel individually, the Channels are smart, and pull the content they’re required to play from the MvTv Video Server. Every minute, the MvTv Video Channels call the MvTv Video Server and report on what they’re currently playing, and at the same time, download a new playlist (which tells the MvTv Video Channel what to play and when). If the MvTv Video Channel does not have those video clips already residing on its own hard drive, it will automatically begin to download the files from the server. The MvTv Video Channel is built with real world ISP’s in mind. Should the Internet connection between the MvTv Video Channel and Server fail, the downloads will automatically resume when the Internet connection resumes. The downloading of new content happens in the background, while the MvTv Video Channel is playing its current content (playlist). Should clips no longer be required in the playlist schedules, they can be automatically deleted from the Channels via commands received over the Internet… so as not to waste valuable hard drive space on the Channel. 

The MvTv Video Scheduler Channels check the server for updated playlists every minute, to see what it needs to play during the upcoming hour. If any new video content has not yet arrived in the Channel, the MvTv Video Channel will play the previous hours content. Downloading of video content from the server in most cases is faster than real time play, so that 60 minutes of content might take 45 minutes to download with broadband connections. It is wise therefore to schedule "new" content to play in MvTv Video Channels no sooner than an hour after it has been added to the MvTv Video Server. 

Because of MvTv Video Administrator’s (optional) reporting capabilities, it is possible to add “sponsor clips” to playlists, and report to third party programming sponsors, how many times their clips played across the entire MvTv Video System… during any given day, month, etc., and at which location. This feature rounds out the “Private TV Station” concept… advertisers know their viewing audience, and can be provided reports on their actual played ads (impressions).

Click here to preview the MvTv Video Scheduler System Interface

Purchasing MvTv Video Components:

MvTv Video Scheduler System Components can be downloaded for free from http://4mvtv.com/mvtv_download_page.htm. Demo licenses and pricing may be obtained by requesting them by emailing support@microvideo.com, or by calling 403-286-0913.

MvTv Video Scheduler System Contact Info:

Phone: 403-286-0913

Email: support@microvideo.com