Thread: Digital Signage Player

Hello,

Not sure if this fits under theory but I guess Im trying to find the concept on how to make this work. I want the user to be able to upload multiple videos and then display it all out in one instance of a media player. What is the approach to achieve this? I want the user to be able to select where the video goes on the player as well.

Thank you all for reading and helping.!

P.S im attempting to create a open source digital signage application

Re,
Mark

Can you kindly elaborate it a little?
Users can upload multiple files at a time. Why do you want the media player to show all instances as soon as user upload the files?
Sorry, i couldn't understand your description. Elaborate it. Thanks

Originally Posted by Mr.777

Can you kindly elaborate it a little?
Users can upload multiple files at a time. Why do you want the media player to show all instances as soon as user upload the files?
Sorry, i couldn't understand your description. Elaborate it. Thanks

Thanks so much for replying so quickly,

Ok so the application allows users to select different videos. After they have selected the videos it will be copied to the root folder so they have a "library" of files. They can then select like say 3 of the videos to be played, and the media player which i program will play all 3 videos in one player. So if its two players the player will play two videos in one player side by side. It must be in one player and not in two different players. I have explored and found a few libraries that have this potential capability but I would like to confirm the theories on how this will work. The advanced feature will enable users to select which part of the player they would want their seperate videos to be played. Advice please thanks.

Well, as far as i came to understand about your problem is, you want user to upload multiple videos on server and then allow him to see number of videos in her/her library. She/He can select multiple videos at a time and then run all those videos on the media player (For now i assume, there is only one instance of media player working).
Well, let's break this problem into sub-problems and see, what we need to do in modules.
1. Uploading of the files on the server. I guess, this can be done easily.
2. Storing videos in the database. Well, there can be two approaches.
(i). Store videos in the database.
(ii). Use a video server which will only store the paths to the videos and will help you to do less effort over this part.
3. Design a form that will allow users to select multiple files(videos).
4. Now, before users could play this video, your media player must be coded so properly and users have selected the option of opening such files in your media player. I hope, all files will be opened in your media player.
Just like other players.

That's all what i understood so far and told you.
If that's not what you want, go with your query, may be i or any other experts could help you.

NOTE: Don't forget to participate the community, not only for asking your problems, but try to help others too. (Though optional but still very important.) Thanks

Originally Posted by Mr.777

Well, as far as i came to understand about your problem is, you want user to upload multiple videos on server and then allow him to see number of videos in her/her library. She/He can select multiple videos at a time and then run all those videos on the media player (For now i assume, there is only one instance of media player working).
Well, let's break this problem into sub-problems and see, what we need to do in modules.
1. Uploading of the files on the server. I guess, this can be done easily.
2. Storing videos in the database. Well, there can be two approaches.
(i). Store videos in the database.
(ii). Use a video server which will only store the paths to the videos and will help you to do less effort over this part.
3. Design a form that will allow users to select multiple files(videos).
4. Now, before users could play this video, your media player must be coded so properly and users have selected the option of opening such files in your media player. I hope, all files will be opened in your media player.
Just like other players.

That's all what i understood so far and told you.
If that's not what you want, go with your query, may be i or any other experts could help you.

NOTE: Don't forget to participate the community, not only for asking your problems, but try to help others too. (Though optional but still very important.) Thanks

Thanks and yea that is the gist of the program i wish to code. I know the concept of achieving 1-3. However for step 4, coding the media player to allow multiple videos to be run at the same time at different portions of the player how would i achieve this? Ive explored GStreamer library and i am trying to work with it to achieve it. Anyone have any other library suggestions i can look into?

app_screen_retail.jpg

Like the image above but pretend that the portions on the left and right are videos, ill be adding picture capability as well.

Also, ill help people whenever i can i just joined the forum 2 days ago

Yes, ofcourse. Did you look over JMF(Java Media Framework)?
And your answer for handling multiple files in a list is:
1. Try to code your media player in such way that, it could maintain a list, say linked list.
2. Now, add all the user selected files in the list (proper exception handling must be done).
3. Now, select the root node (as we do in linked list) and play it, as soon as it ends, you can move to the very next node, that will be another media file. If next node is null, you can repeat the list or can just stop the media player.


Well, this is not really difficult to handly multiple files run at a single instance. What am i confused is, say, user selects five media files and there are two media player instances, working at the moment, why do you want your media player to divide files into two instances (like 2 files run in one instance and 3 in other?)..
I don't think if it's really a good idea to have multiple instances of media player running at a single time coz of concurrency and synchronization problems. These may occur.

Originally Posted by Mr.777

Yes, ofcourse. Did you look over JMF(Java Media Framework)?
And your answer for handling multiple files in a list is:
1. Try to code your media player in such way that, it could maintain a list, say linked list.
2. Now, add all the user selected files in the list (proper exception handling must be done).
3. Now, select the root node (as we do in linked list) and play it, as soon as it ends, you can move to the very next node, that will be another media file. If next node is null, you can repeat the list or can just stop the media player.


Well, this is not really difficult to handly multiple files run at a single instance. What am i confused is, say, user selects five media files and there are two media player instances, working at the moment, why do you want your media player to divide files into two instances (like 2 files run in one instance and 3 in other?)..
I don't think if it's really a good idea to have multiple instances of media player running at a single time coz of concurrency and synchronization problems. These may occur.

Okay, sorry to bother you again. But I may have expressed my idea incorrectly. Multiple videos must be playing at the Same Time in One media player at different regions. But the Java Media Framework appears to have promising properties and ill check it out and get back to you here. Seriously thanks for taking your time to answer my queries. I have achieved something like what i want but its using many instances of a media player and therefore is very cpu intensive. Here is what i have achieved

MultiVideo.jpg
But problem is there are actually 4 players running. That is not what i want, i want one player to play those 4 medias. Seems abit complex for me but like i said ill check out the java framework and get back to you. THANKS ALOT!

Hmmm... Do you know the concept of Threading? I mean did you ever implement this concept?
If yes, then i don't think if there is problem for doing this.
If no, then go HERE!!

Originally Posted by Mr.777

Hmmm... Do you know the concept of Threading? I mean did you ever implement this concept?
If yes, then i don't think if there is problem for doing this.
If no, then go HERE!!

THANKS SO MUCH.. im reading it now as i type..

Good luck, if you got any issues, let the community know. We all will be happy to help.