Service Category: IPTV Functionality

Any device accessing the PackeTV system can browse the library or search for content to play as Video-on-Demand (VoD). An administrator can also push specific content to an individual STB/Display, group or all STB/Displays by browsing the content library and sending it to that STB/Display. This functionality is useful for turning every display to a specific live channel or playing a piece of pre-recorded content at a designated time (e.g. town hall meetings, corporate messaging, etc.).

As well as uploading content into the library, live streams may be recorded directly into the content management system. PackeTV provides the capability to record a number of channels simultaneously which can either be scheduled or started with the click of a button. All of the functionality is available as commands within the PackeTV Control API so this functionality is also available via third party control systems to start and stop recording from a touch panel or tablet.

Once the folders have been set up in My Channels, accessing the content is via the Manage Content function. Content can be recorded or uploaded into the library and be filtered by channel. PackeTV simultaneously supports all of the main video formats including MPEG2 TS, H.264, MP4, AVI, MOV, FLV and WMV as well as 1080P HD and 4K UHD streams and content. The video library may be searched using favorites, metadata tags, and thumbnails.

‘My Channels’ enables configuration of categories in the database where the type/genre of content applicable to an organization is accessed, e.g. Recordings, Health & Safety, Corporate Communications, Training, etc. My Channels also provides access to the pre-recorded video content stored within the library. The My Channels are listed by those categories and each category can hold an unlimited number of pre-recorded videos relevant to that category.

My Channels has three functions, firstly it allows the administrator to create specific library folders for types of content such as genre, department, recordings, health and safety etc. Secondly, it allows the administrator to create an internal channel that can play and schedule content on a rolling program and thirdly it provides access to creating signage outputs.

The live channels and VoD content are simultaneously available to set top boxes when installed as a decoder for a display. Live channels can be TV channels, encoded sources or streams. The VoD content library is available via an easy-to-use interface providing metadata for each individual video. The STBs are managed either locally via an RCU or centrally via the management portal or room control system.

PackeTV manages live streams from IP cameras or 3rd party encoders and can even include Internet streams as part of the live channels list. Add the multicast or unicast address and details into the Manage Live Channels page.

Click the button to repurpose any live H.264 stream into a Native or Transcoded HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) channel. A new channel will be added to the bottom of the live channels list viewed in PC browsers, mobile devices like iPhones, iPads, Android tablets and phones.

PackeTV Live provides the capability to manage terrestrial, satellite and cable tuners simultaneously. Scan the tuners, choose the channels and set the multicast details and publish the channels. Alternatively, insert specific tuning and multicast details into the tuner.

From a PC web browser, users can see pre-recorded content stored in the central library. Each piece of content is stored with a thumbnail image and users can filter content by type, genre, metadata tags etc.