Configure protocols with which Viz Trio interfaces:

MOS Protocol

To view MOS configuration settings, click Connectivity > MOS in the Viz Trio Configuration.

MOS Newsroom Integration

A Viz Gateway (MOS) connection allows Viz Trio to monitor rundowns from any Newsroom Computer System (NCS) that supports the Media Object Server (MOS) protocol.

Newsroom Computer Systems (NCS) that support the MOS protocol can deliver newsroom playlists to Viz Trio through the Viz Gateway and Viz Pilot’s database. This means MOS integration requires a Viz Gateway, an Oracle database and Viz Pilot’s Newsroom Component.

To establish a MOS connection, the NCS and Viz Gateway must be pre-configured with an NCS and MOS ID. These ID’s are set in the newsroom system.

Viz Gateway and MOS Configuration Settings

• Enable Gateway Configuration: When enabled, an icon is also visible in the Status Bar.

• Viz Gateway Connection: The controls in the Viz Gateway Connection section allows a start, stop, and restart action to be performed on a Viz Gateway connection.

  • Start: Starts the Viz Gateway connection.

  • Stop: Stops the Viz Gateway connection.

  • Restart: Restarts the Viz Gateway connection.

• Viz Gateway Connection Config: Define Viz Gateway connection settings.

  • Messages per second limit: Sets how many messages per second are sent from Viz Gateway to the NCS. This is done to prevent flooding of the NCS. 0 disables the message throttling.

  • Viz Gateway Host: IP address of the Viz Gateway host.

  • Viz Gateway Port: Connection port for the Viz Gateway. The default port is 10640.

  • MOS ID: Enter the ID of the connecting MOS device.

  • NCS ID: Specify the ID of the newsroom control system.

• Send status changes back to NCS: Sends new status changes to the NCS.

• Send channel assignment changes back to NCS: If enabled, instructs Media Sequencer to update channel assignments back to the Newsroom system. The next time the MOS playlist gets updated, the changed channel assignment stays at the changed element in Viz Trio and is not overwritten by the previous channel value.
  The Database Settings for the Viz Pilot Database on the Media Sequencer must be established in order for the Viz Gateway integration to work.

After applying the new settings, check that Viz Trio’s status bar shows a green status indicator for Viz Gateway (G).

Intelligent Interface (IIF)

To view the Intelligent Interface configuration settings, click Connectivity > Intelligent Interface in the Viz Trio Configuration.

The intelligent interface (IIF) configuration is used to set the parameters the automation system uses to connect to Media Sequencer over the intelligent interface protocol. It also defines which Viz Pilot playlist or Viz Trio show the automation system can control and on which output profile.

Media Sequencer listens to a communications port and acts as the Character Generator (CG) device side of the intelligent interface. Media Sequencer expects the other side of the communications port to be connected to a newsroom system or similar system that knows how to talk one of the supported dialects of intelligent interface.

Media Sequencer has two primary tasks:

• Receive callup data from a newsroom system and store it in the schedule.

• Trigger actions based on simulated keyboard commands it receives.

Properties and Parameters

• Port: Sets the serial communications port to be used.

• Baudrate: Sets the appropriate baud rate for the connection.

• Verbose: Makes the messages from the Intelligent Interface driver get displayed in the Media Sequencer console. This feature is useful when setting up the system.

• Show path: Sets the path of the playlist or show.

• Profile: Sets the appropriate profile to be used.

• Encoding: Sets the appropriate font encoding for the connection.

• Loglevel: Sets the Media Sequencer Logging for Media Sequencer.

• Space means empty: If set to Yes, the graphics template’s default text is replaced with a space when creating an element. If set to No, the graphics element shows the default text unless it is manually changed and saved with no text.

General Purpose Input (GPI)

To view the GPI configuration settings, click Connectivity > GPI in the Viz Trio Configuration.

The GPI settings allows Media Sequencer to be configured to handle GPI commands. The commands can be handled by Media Sequencer itself (Server Command) or forwarded to the Viz Trio client (Macro Command).

For example: A Viz Trio client has its own profile with two Viz Engines (program and preview) and receives a client command from a GPI on Media Sequencer. The command executes some logic on the Viz Trio client that issues commands to the program renderer. If the correct profile is not set, such commands might end up on the wrong Viz Trio client and potentially on the wrong program renderer. The same would happen if the GPI action was defined as a server command; however, it would then trigger commands from Media Sequencer to the Viz directly and not through the Viz Trio client.

GPI Settings:

• Show advanced: Displays all the settings in the GPI Settings frame.

• Box Type: Select the type of GPI box that is being configured. The Box Type can be set to SRC-8, SRC-8 III or SeaLevel.

• Port: Sets the port that the GPI box is connected to. The Port can be set to COM1-COM17, or None.

• Base Entry: This is the node in the Media Sequencer’s data structure where the systems look for the GPI actions. The base entry is by default set to /sys/gpi.

• Baudrate: Sets the maximum rate of bits per second (bps) that you want data to be transmitted through this port. The Baud rate can be set to 110-921600. It is recommended to use the highest rate that is supported by the computer or device that is being used.

• Stopbits: Sets the interval (bps) for when characters should be transmitted. Stop bits can be set to 1, 1.5, or 2.

• Databits: Sets the number of data bits that should be used for each transmitted and received character. The communicating computer or device must have the same setting. The number of data bits can be set to 5, 6, 7 or 8.

• Parity: Changes the type of error checking that is used for the selected port. The communicating computer or device must have the same setting. The parity can be set to:

  • Even: A parity bit may be added to make the number of 1's in the data bits even. This enables error checking.

  • Odd: A parity bit may be added to make the number of 1's in the data bits odd. This enables error checking.

  • None: No parity bit is added to the data bits sent from this port. This disables error checking.

  • Mark: A parity bit set to 0 is added.

  • Space: A parity bit set to 1 is added.

• Flowcontrol: Changes how the flow of data is controlled. The flow control can be set to:

  • None: No control of data flow.

  • XonXoff: Standard method of controlling the flow of data between two modems. XonXoff flow control is sometimes referred to as software handshaking.

  • Hardware: Standard method of controlling the flow of data between a computer and a serial device. Hardware flow control is sometimes referred to as hardware handshaking.

• Verbose: If enabled, the Media Sequencer’s GPI handler outputs log information. This information is useful for debugging.

• Reversed Input Order: Note that this check box is only available if Box Type is set to SRC-8. If enabled, the signal line that originally triggered GPI action DL0/DH0 triggers GPI action DL7/DH7, the signal line that originally triggered GPI action DL1/DH1 triggers GPI action DL6/DH6, and so on.

• GPI action: Shows a list of the available GPI actions.

• Server/Client: Double click to open a drop-down list box in every row, where the selected GPI action should apply to either Media Sequencer (Server option) or the local Viz Trio client (Client option).

• Server Command: Double click to show a drop-down list box in every row, where the action to be performed on this GPI line can be selected.

  

  Server commands are GPI actions that apply to Media Sequencer. When right-clicking an item in a Create Playlist or Playlist Modes, a context menu opens. In this menu, select Set External Cursor. A red arrow appears next to the selected element in the playlist, which indicates that this is the current GPI cursor. The server commands can be set to:

  • advance_and_take: The cursor shifts to the next element in the playlist, and then runs the Start operation.

  • take_and_advance: Runs the Start operation on the current element, and then shifts to the next element in the playlist.

  • take_current: Runs the Start operation on the current element (the element with the cursor).

  • next: Shifts to the next element in the playlist.

  • previous: Shifts to the previous element in the playlist.

  • continue: Runs the Continue operation on the current element.

  • out_current: Runs the Take Out operation on the current element.

• Macro Command: Macro commands are silent GPI actions. Clicking the ellipsis (...) button opens the Add Command window.

• Profile: Sets the profile to be used for the GPI action. This profile must match the profile set for the playlist that is to be triggered by the GPI actions. The drop-down list shows the profiles configured on Media Sequencer.

• Description: Shows the description of the GPI action, as it was specified in the Add Command window.

Assigning a Server Command

1. Select a GPI action, and select Server in the Server/Client column.

2. Select a Server Command.

3. Select a Profile.

4. Click Apply.

Assigning a Client Command

1. Select a GPI action, and select Client in the Server/Client column.

2. Select or create a Macro Command.

3. Select a Profile.

4. Click Apply.

Adding a Macro Command

1. Select the Macro Command column, and click the small ellipse (...) button to open the Add Command dialog box.

2. Enter the command in the Command text field, or alternatively click the ellipse (...) button to open the Predefined Functions window.

Video Disk Communication Protocol (VDCP)

To view the VDCP configuration settings, click Connectivity > VDCP in the Viz Trio Configuration.

The Video Disk Control Protocol (VDCP) configuration allows a VDCP connection for Media Sequencer to be established in order to externally control a Viz Pilot playlist or Viz Trio show.

With VDCP, Media Sequencer acts like a server that controls the graphics through the VDCP protocol. It sets up a serial connection, and on the other end of the connection typically a video controller is placed. Over this connection VDCP commands are sent, and in this way the video controller is able to control a playlist/show.

The configuration of Media Sequencer is twofold. There are the general VDCP settings, and there is the configuration for which playlist to control.

The VDCP protocol defines recommended serial settings, but it is also possible to configure VDCP over TCP.

The configuration consists of the general VDCP settings, and the selection of which playlist to control.

• VDCP handler: This displays the currently selected VDCP handler. You can change, add or delete multiple VDCP handlers.

• Enable/Disable handler: The handlers can only be modified when they are disabled.

• Connection: Selects whether the VDCP handler communicates over serial port or TCP.

• Port: Select the appropriate COM port or TCP port for the selected VDCP handler.

• Profile: Select the profile to use. The profile defines the Viz Engines and video devices where the command is to be executed. In the VDCP handler, the configured playlist must be active on the configured profile. (See also Profile Configuration in the Viz Pilot User Guide).

• Element identifier: Use either the element’s name or description as the VDCP ID. The Name is a unique identifier, assigned to each element by the Media Sequencer, whereas the Description is the textual description of the data element, as entered when the item was created in Director/Viz Trio.

• Use 8 byte IDs: Allow the use of 8 character IDs. For more information about 8 byte IDs and the Media Sequencer VDCP plugin see the “8 characters identifiers” section in the Media Sequencer User Guide.

• Targets: Select the Director playlists or Viz Trio shows which targets are Primary and Fallback.
  When the vdcp_client handler receives a command over the VDCP protocol, it iterates over the primary target collection, looking for the element with the specified ID. If a matching item is found, the command is executed on it. If no match is found in the primary target collection, or if there is no primary target collection specified, then it searches the fallback target collection. If there are still no matches, then an error is returned over the VDCP protocol, and it is also reported in the Media Sequencer logs.
  Click the buttons next to the primary and fallback target slots to select a playlist or show. Double click a slot to clear it.
  A ‘Path not found’ warning, or a missing playlist/show icon, indicates that the selected playlist or show is invalid (eg. playlist has been deleted)

• Target Candidates: Suggests some of the playlists and shows that are available. If you do not find the one you want, use the buttons next to the Primary and Fallback target slots.
  Drag a candidate to a target slot or double click one to make it the Primary target.

MCU/AVS

To view the MCU/AVS configuration settings, click Connectivity > MCU/AVS in the Viz Trio Configuration.

MCU/AVS Configuration Settings

This configuration is primarily used to configure settings for a Newstar (News*) newsroom system connection.

• Port: Select the appropriate Com port for the communication.

• Baudrate: Select the appropriate baud rate.

• Show path: Base directory for the MCU/AVS integration. Newsroom stories are placed here.

  

• Range begin and Range end: Pages received from the newsroom system are numbered within this range.

  • Example: If Range Begin is 1000 and Range End is 5000 and Offset is 100. Then Callup pages in story 1 are numbered 1000, 1001, 1002, and so on. Callup pages in story 2 are numbered 1100, 1101, 1102, and so on.

• Offset: Sets the offset value that is used to separate pages from different stories.

• Verbose: Enables notification messages from the MCU/AVS driver. The messages are shown on the Media Sequencer console. This feature is useful when setting up the system.

• Replace delimiter: Replaces a character with the super-delimiter. For example if set to ‘|’. slashes ‘/’ can be put into tab-fields by entering ‘|’.

• Super-delimiter: Delimiter used in News* to separate tab-fields. Standard value is ‘/’.

• Ignore incorrect events: Incomplete scripts from News* send invalid protocol data. Typically template specifications and supers could be missing. If this option is set to "Yes", then the system accepts incomplete/incorrect story descriptions. Should be set to "Yes" in most cases.

• Unconditional deletes: Removed in version 1.10. On older versions of Viz Trio, this option should be enabled. This means that a transfer of messages from Newstar starts with deleting existing messages within the specified range. To maintain a proper state handling this method must be used.

Socket Object Settings

To view the Socket Object configuration settings, click Connectivity > Socket Object Settings in the Viz Trio Configuration.

Socket Object Configuration Settings

The Socket Object Settings section allows for socket connections to be defined for the Viz Trio client. It can either act as client or a server in a socket connection. A serial port connection which uses the same command set can also be set up.

• Socket type:

  • Client socket: When Viz Trio is set up to be a client socket it connects to the specified server socket. Specify a host name and a port for the machine that runs the server socket.

  • Server socket: When Viz Trio is set up to be a server socket it waits for a client socket connection. Specify the port it should listen on.

  • Serial port (Com port): The serial port connections work in principle as a socket connection, but instead of using TCP/IP it uses a null modem cable. The command-set is the same.

• Text encoding: Select a text encoding for the connection.

• Serial port config: If a serial port connection is to be set up the COM port number and the data baud rate must be specified here.

• Autoconnect: With this option set, a server socket or a serial port connection is open/active at all times, but a client socket is active when data is sent. If this option is not checked, a "connect_socket" command must be sent before sending the data.

• Socket Host: The socket server’s host name must be set here if the Viz Trio client is to function as a client socket.

• Socket Port: For client and server socket a port number must be specified here.

• Data separator (escaped)- Specifies a data separator for incoming data.

  • Receiving data separator triggers the OnSocketDataReceived event in Scripts. If unprintable ASCII characters are used as data separators, special character sequences called "escape codes" are needed. All escape codes start with a backslash. For details, see Escape Sequences.

  • When the socket object receives the data separator, the OnSocketDataReceived event is triggered, and the data received since the last separator is issued (not including the separator itself). If Data separator has no value, the OnSocketDataReceived is called continuously as long as data is received.

Proxy Settings

To view the Proxy configuration settings, click Connectivity > Proxy in the Viz Trio Configuration.

Proxy Configuration Settings

The proxy function is mostly relevant when Viz Trio and Viz Engine are set up with a direct network link to be controlled by an external control application. A dedicated network card on the Viz Trio client together with a crossed network cable directly to Viz is the normal way to make such a link.

All data sent over the configured listener port is treated as Viz commands and forwarded by the Viz Trio client to Viz. With the proxy function enabled, the data sent over the configured listener port is treated as Viz commands by the Viz Trio client. Viz Trio does this by acting as a proxy transmitting commands back and forth between Viz and the external control application.

• Enabled: Enables the proxy feature.

• Listen on port: Sets the listener port for Viz Trio that the sender uses.

• Viz location (port host): Sets the listener port for Viz Engine and the hostname (default is 6100 and localhost).

Viz One Configuration

To view the Viz One connectivity settings, click Connectivity > Media Engine in the Viz Trio Configuration.

Viz One Connectivity Settings

Media Sequencer communicates with Viz One when show and playlist elements that contain Viz One elements residing on Viz One are initialized for playout.

• Enable the Viz One handler: If selected, enables the Viz One handler.

• Service document URI: Defines the Viz One instance to use.

It is possible to define the Viz One server instance based on either an IP address or hostname. It is recommended to use hostname. Host comparisons in the system are generally done by string comparison, not by lookup. This is why either IP or hostname must be selected. This also means that you should not mix hostnames and fully qualified domain names; http://vizone01.vizrt.com/thirdparty_ is not the same as _http://vizone01/thirdparty_, even if it is possible to ping both. The system allows using both _http and https, although http is recommended. Whatever options being selected (IP vs. hostname, hostname vs. domain name, http vs. https), choose one or the other, and stick with it throughout the entire setup process.

• Username: Searches Viz One using the following Viz One username.

• Password: Searches Viz One using the following Viz One password.

• Preview Server Host: Specify the host of the Preview Server (hostname:port). This service is used to generate preview graphics in the timeline editor. If the ZeroConf service is installed and running, you can also select servers on the local network.

Configuring a Viz One connection

1. Make sure that the Enable the Viz One handler check box is selected.

2. Type the hostname of the relevant Viz One in the Uri to service document box.

3. Enter working login credentials in the Username and Password boxes.
   If the Viz One configuration is successful, a green Viz One icon appears in the Status Bar.

Viz One Error Message

If the configuration is not working properly, the Viz One icon is red. Scenarios where the icon is red can for example, be a Viz One-search that fails, or a more serious error, a non-responsive Viz One with no video playout. In such serious situations where Viz One is unavailable, an error message appears, stating that videos that have already been transferred to Viz One still work, but new videos will not be transferred.

Configuring Viz One Server Time-out Handling

In the event of a network failure or other unforeseen events the Viz Trio client can be instructed by scripting to switch to a backup Viz One server. In order to prepare for this you should:

1. Use the macro commands settings:set_mam_service_document_uri [uri [username password]] and settings:set_media_search_credentials username password to instruct the switch to an alternate Viz One server.

2. Update the active configuration (also updates the Media Sequencer VDOM) with the new publishing point using the command: channelcontrol:set_asset_storage <host-name> <storage-name>.

3. Make sure that the timeout value for the Media Sequencer VDOM value mam/get_publishing_points_timeout is appropriate for your network environment. By default it is 10000 (ms), i.e. 10 seconds. If the value is too low, the settings:set_mam_service_document_uri command could possibly return with error without making the required change due to perhaps network glitches. Note that you have to restart your Viz Trio client for a change to this parameter to take effect.
   In order to get or set the timeout value you can:

• Get the current value with: settings:get_setting mam/get_publishing_points_timeout.

• Set the timeout with: settings:set_setting mam/get_publishing_points_timeout [VALUE IN MS]. To allow for (max) 15 seconds : settings:set_setting mam/get_publishing_points_timeout 15000.
  A basic switchover-script example: