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Chongo Service Training

• Software Summary
• James Pearce ltjames.pearce_at_thomson.netgt

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Architectural Overview

• Software Architecture
• Operating Systems
• Operating System Communications
• System Components
• Services

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Software Architecture Overview

• Almost identical to M-Series architecture.
• Exceptions
• File System stack
• Newer Streaming/Transcoding subsystem
• New Application front-end

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View as Notes Page
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Operating Systems

• Chongo is a multi-tier system, compromising
  multiple processing components.
• Each component runs an appropriately targeted
  operating system
• Host Windows XP Embedded
• Front Panel Windows CE
• RTS vxWorks

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Windows XP Embedded

• Componentized version of Windows XP
• Using Service Pack 2
• Not all components are installed (eg Solitaire)
• Installation of 3rd party tools and applications
  is not permitted
• QFEs and patches are only available from Grass
  Valley
• Consider it a Grass Valley Operating System

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Windows CE 4.2

• Windows for Consumer Devices, and PDAs
• The version we use is built and targeted
  specifically at the panel device
• OS Image is downloaded and flashed from the host
  only when necessary.
• Not all system updates will require a reflash of
  the front panel.

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VxWorks

• The CODEC runs VxWorks
• Provides Real-Time capabilities
• Good intertask communication and synchronization
• Fast interrupt responses
• RTS image is flashed on system update

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OS Communication

• Windows CE and Windows XP Embedded communicate
  through USB.
• The software uses DCOM (a remote inter-process
  communication framework).
• DCOM Permissions must be configured correctly on
  the host
• To check DCOM permissions
• msdtc install
• dcomcnfg
• Firewall must be disabled
• If in doubt run a system repair

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WinCE to XPe Communication
DCOM Application communication layer
TCP Maintains a reliable pipe-like connection
IP Internet datagram (packet) protocol
PPP Point-to-point protocol provides networking support over serial lines
USB Physical layer
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OS Communication

• vxWorks and Windows XP Embedded communicate
  across the PCI bus
• Use short KIPM messages to communicate with each
  other
• Mechansim provided by a device driver
  (kipmdrv.sys)

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System Software Components

• Installed on top of the Windows XPe OS
• DirectX
• MSDE
• MSXML
• MainConcept MPEG
• ActiveSync
• Quicktime
• Windows Media libraries

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DirectX 9

• A set of loosely related media technologies
• We use DirectDraw and DirectShow for streaming,
  transcoding (importing and exporting), and
  firewire device imports
• DirectShow is an API for streaming media. Very
  flexible supports any format or device

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MSDE 8 SP3

• Microsoft Desktop Engine
• A cut-down version of SQL Server for desktop
  applications
• Includes hard-wired resource limitations
• Its free

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MSXML

• XML itself is Extensible Markup language
• MSXML is an API from Microsoft for manipulating
  XML

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MainConcept MPEG libraries

• The MainConcept libraries are used for MPEG2
  encoding and decoding in software
• We use them for file imports and exports and
  firewire imports
• Provide good performance and support for HD

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ActiveSync 3.8

• Normally used for synchronization of PDA devices
• We use it for communication with the Front Panel
• Provides TCP/IP support over USB
• Provides RAPI access from the host for image
  flashing and file copying

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Quicktime 6.5

• A set of libraries from Apple for reading and
  writing Quicktime files, as well as editing and
  streaming services
• We use if for Quicktime file decoding when
  importing files

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Windows Media Format 9.5 libraries

• A set of libraries from Microsoft for the
  encoding and decoding of Windows Media Audio and
  Video
• Used by file transcode subsystem for the import
  and export of Windows Media files

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Services

• Since XP Embedded is a targeted operating
  syystem, all services are critical to normal
  usage
• If suspicious services appear in the list,
  perform a system repair/update
• Do not stop or remove services

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Software Operation

• System Installer
• AppCenter
• Front Panel
• Configuration
• MediaMonitor
• Recorder
• Player
• Playlist

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System Installer
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System Installer

• Runs from a bootable CD
• Simply put the CD in the CDROM tray and reboot
• Follow the on-screen instructions
• No Setup.exe
• Replaces the OS too
• Fire and forget
• Once installation started, no user input required
• Two options available
• Update/Repair
• Reset to factory defaults

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System Installer

• Update/Repair
• Replaces the system software
• Overwrites contents of C drive
• Media and Configuration is retained
• May not be available if system is badly corrupted
  or a existing version could not be found

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System Installer

• Reset to Factory Condition
• Overwrites all data
• Rebuilds partition table
• All media lost
• All configuration lost

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System Installer

• Secret options
• Press CtrlO to enter option mode -- asterisk
  appears in title bar. Press the following to
  enable/disable features
• CtrlB Disable reboot on completion
• CtrlL Disable RTS loader stage
• CtrlF Switch on low-level disk formatting
• CtrlP Open a command prompt

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AppCenter
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AppCenter

• Brings channel applications, asset management and
  configuration together
• Launches automatically at system start
• Manages resource control with front panel
• Runs as a collection of applications running in
  separate address spaces

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Front Panel

• Provides a large sub-set of the functionality
  available from AppCenter
• Functionality not available from the front panel
  includes
• Network streaming
• Asset metadata editing and searching
• On-line help

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Configuration

• Access from AppCenters File menu
• Configurable items
• System
• Channel
• GPI
• Front Panel
• Configuration is stored as XML files in
  V\System\ltHOSTNAMEgt\config

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Configuration

• System includes
• Reference Standard
• Set to NTSC for 59.94 Hz recording and playout
• Set to PAL for 50 Hz recording and playout
• Data rate
• Sets the MPEG bit-rate for recording

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Configuration

• Channels
• Recorder includes
• Video/Audio input type
• Selects the baseband inputs for audio and video
• Noise reduction
• Enables and sets the level of the Lee Filter
• Audio Input Format
• For digital audio recording selects AC-3 or PCM
  audio

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Configuration

• Channels
• Players include
• Output Format
• SD or HD video format
• Aspect Ratio
• the ratio of the playout monitor
• Aspect Ratio conversion
• How to convert mismatching formats

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Aspect Ratio

• A clip can be 43 or 169
• A clips aspect ratio is independent of its
  format or resolution.
• For example, a 720x480 SD clip could be 43 or
  169
• A clips aspect ratio is simply an indication of
  its intended display format

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Aspect Ratio

• Asset aspect ratio is separate to output monitor
  aspect ratio
• For example, a clip might be 169, but a display
  projector might be 43
• The asset aspect ratio is set when it is recorded
• The output aspect ratio is set thru configuration
• Conversion hints indicate how a 43 clip should
  be displayed on a 169 display or vice versa
• Bars pads the picture with black bars
• Crop removes parts of the active frame to fit
  the display
• Bars and Crop half and half

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MediaMonitor

• Used for Asset Management
• View asset properties
• Send assets to file, stream, or another bin
• Import assets from file or stream
• Rename and Delete assets
• Search for assets
• Apply metadata to clips

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MediaMonitor

• Drag-drop assets into Players and PlayList
• Cut and Paste assets between bins
• Create new bins, Delete bins
• Drag-drop files from desktop to initiate imports

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MediaMonitor

• Streaming, File Import and Export
• Supported file formats are controlled through
  plugins
• Imports, Exports and Streaming run in parallel to
  normal operation
• View ongoing operations from the Transfer Monitor
  (File? Transfer Monitor)
• Executables called Sessions run the import,
  export or stream instance
• A maximum of 4 sessions are executable at one
  time

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Recorder

• New Clip creates a named, empty clip
• Preview loads the currently recording clip into
  the player
• Properties shows properties of the currently
  recording clip
• TimeDome shows space remaining

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Recorder Options

• Recorder options are available in the Recorder
  menu item when the recorder is active
• Widescreen (169) or Standard (43)
• Configures the recorded clip as 169 or 43
  material
• IEEE1394 or base-band recording
• Configures the recorder for Firewire import
• Supports DV, MPEG and HDV devices
• Transport controls control device
• Other options available in Channel Configuration

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IEEE1394 Recorder

• Frame accurate fixed length records for DV.
  Non-frame accurate for MPEG.
• IEEE1394 imports from DV require transcoding to
  MPEG
• A special sparse buffer file is used to allow
  background transcode from a real-time source
• Once the device record is finished, the clip can
  be ejected the transcode will continue
• Can record from devices without transport
  controls (such as camcorders in Camera mode, or
  DTV decoders)

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Player

• Load Clip loads a clip from a bin
• Subclip allows the user to create a subclip
  from the loaded clip
• Goto allows scrollbar access to any position in
  the clip

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Player

• Fully Agile
• Format of clip and format of output channel are
  independent
• System Reference must match
• EE supported
• Simple Editing
• Trimming
• Subclips

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Playlist

• Insert inserts a new clip
• Properties shows the properties of the
  currently active clip
• Goto allows scrollbar access to any position in
  the playlist

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Playlist

• Mixed Media supported
• Can mix HD and SD clips in the same list

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Software Diagnostics

• Log
• System Traps
• DbgView

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Log

• System Logs are stored as mmf files in c\logs
• View logs using the system log viewer
• c\profile\log.exe
• Export log using the export log utility
• c\profile\exportlog.exe

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System Traps

• System traps are viewable from AppCenter
• Help?System Status
• Provide more user-friendly errors than the log
• Can be generated from non-Grass Valley components
• Motherboard devices (fans, etc)
• Hard Disks
• Etc

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DbgView

• DbgView is a 3rd party tool from SysInternals
• Views Windows System log
• Useful for lower-level debugging
• Not all components log to the Windows System log
• Useful as a last resort
• Download from http//www.sysinternals.com

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QA