Graphical user interface for creating assets

• US 6,963,910 B1
• Filed: 03/03/2000
• Issued: 11/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Farrington, Shannon Matthew, Taylor, Lucy Anita, Bender, Todd Robert, Rohwer, Cary Lane, Belknap, William Russell, Veliah, Sundar
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANG, JUNGWON
• Application Number:
  US09/518,359
• Time in Patent Office: 2,076 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223, 709/229, 709/224, 345/716, 345/760, 386/125, 707/1, 707/2, 707/3, 707/104.1
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/82 using signals not modulated onto a carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/06 Arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2385 Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/24 Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth, upstream requests monitoring of server performance or load G06F11/34; arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/12

Abstract

A process is provided for managing operations including encoding operations in a network system including an administrator terminal, at least one server communicatively coupled to the administrator terminal via a computer network, and at least one multimedia device operative to generate media data and being communicatively coupled with a corresponding one of the servers. Each of the servers is operative to selectively activate the corresponding multimedia device, and is also operative to encode media data received from the corresponding multimedia device, and is further operative to access a corresponding memory device for storing media data. The process includes the steps of: displaying a graphical user interface including a server select interface component enabling a user of the administrator terminal to select one of the servers, and a mode select interface component enabling the user to select between a manual encoding mode of operation enabling the user to manually start and stop a manual encoding process performed by a selected server, and a scheduled encoding mode of operation enabling the user to define a schedule for automatically starting and stopping a scheduled encoding process to be performed by a selected server. User input is received, the input including server identification information indicative of a selected server, mode information indicative of a selected mode of operation, and encoding operation information defined based on the selected mode of operation. Commands and associated parameters, generated based on the encoding operation information, are transmitted to the selected server via the network.

Claims

1. A method for providing a centralized user interface at an administrator terminal in a network for managing operations including encoding operations performed on media data by selected ones of a plurality of media servers, the process comprising the steps of:

displaying a graphical user interface at the administrator terminal, said interface including a plurality of interface components enabling a user to select between a manual encoding mode for manually starting and stopping manual encoding processes to be performed by selected ones of the media servers, and a scheduled encoding mode for defining schedules for scheduled encoding processes to be performed by selected ones of the media servers;

receiving information input by the user indicating a selection of one of the media servers, a selected mode of operation, an encoding operation, and a notification circumstance;

generating commands and associated parameters based on the input information for instructing the selected media server to execute the specified encoding operation in accordance with the selected mode of operation;

transmitting said commands and said associated parameters to said selected media server; and

selectively generating a notification of said specified encoding operation based on said notification circumstance.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein each of the media servers is communicatively coupled with at least one corresponding multimedia device capable of generating media data, and wherein each of the media servers is operative to activate a selected one of said multimedia devices, and also operative to encode the media data generated by said selected multimedia device.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the encoding operations include a preview operation, and wherein the administrator terminal also includes a processing unit, a browser application executed by the processing unit, and a display unit, and wherein the selected multimedia device is a video camera which generates media data including video data, and wherein said steps of displaying, receiving, generating, and transmitting further comprise:

displaying a preview select interface component enabling the user to select a preview option for executing a preview operation including displaying video data generated by a selected video camera coupled with said selected server;

receiving information input by the user indicating that said preview option has been selected;

generating preview commands and associated preview parameters for instructing said selected server to execute said preview operation;

transmitting said preview commands and said associated preview parameters to said selected server;

receiving preview video data from said selected server; and

displaying said preview video data in a browser window on the display unit of the administrator terminal.

4. A process as recited in claim 2 wherein if said scheduled encoding mode is selected, said steps of displaying a graphical user interface, receiving information, and generating commands further comprise the steps of:

displaying scheduling interface components enabling the user to select a start time and a start date for the scheduled encoding operation;

receiving information input by the user indicating a selected start time and a selected start date for initiating said scheduled encoding operation; and

generating encoding commands and associated encoding parameters for instructing said selected server to encode media data received from said selected multimedia device at said selected start time on said selected start date.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein said steps of displaying said scheduling interface components, and receiving information further include the steps of:

displaying duration interface components enabling the user to select from time duration specification options including,

selecting a scheduled stop date and stop time for terminating said encoding operation, and

selecting a time duration for which said encoding operation is to continue following said selected start time on said selected start date; and

receiving information input by the user indicative of a selected time duration specification option.

6. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the administrator terminal also includes a processing unit, a browser application executed by the processing unit, and a display unit, and wherein a selected one of the multimedia devices is a video camera which generates media data including video data, and wherein if said manual encoding mode is selected, said process further comprises the steps of:

generating manual mode initiation commands and associated parameters for instructing the selected server to initiate a manual encoding operation;

transmitting said manual mode initiation commands and associated parameters to said selected server via the network;

receiving video data from said selected server via the network;

displaying said video data in a browser window on the display unit of the administrator terminal, and also displaying manual encoding mode control interface components enabling the user to select from manual control options including a start option for starting and resuming the manual encoding process, and a stop option for stopping the manual encoding process;

receiving information input by the user indicating a selected one of the manual control options;

if said start option is selected, generating a start command for instructing said selected media server to start the manual encoding process, and transmitting said start command to said selected server; and

if said stop option is selected, generating a stop command for instructing said selected media server to stop the manual encoding process, and transmitting said stop command to said selected server.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the administrator terminal also includes a processing unit, a browser application executed by the processing unit, and a display unit, and wherein said process is initiated by performing the steps of:

transmitting an applet to the administrator terminal via the network; and

executing said applet over the processing unit of the administrator terminal, said graphical user interface being displayed within a browser window generated by said browser application on the display unit.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein each of the servers is operative to access at least one corresponding memory device for storing media data, and wherein each of the servers is further operative to record selected portions of encoded media data that are encoded during said encoding operations, and wherein said steps of displaying a graphical user interface, receiving information, and generating commands and parameters further comprise the steps of:

displaying a storage selection interface component enabling the user to select a storage location by browsing a list of available storage locations including predetermined mapped ones of the memory devices associated with said selected server;

receiving information input by the user indicating a selected storage location; and

generating record commands and associated record parameters for instructing said selected server to store the selected portion of encoded media data at said selected storage location.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein said steps of displaying a graphical user interface, and receiving information further comprise the steps of:

displaying a name selection interface component enabling the user specify an asset name for said encoded portion of media data to be stored at said selected storage location; and

receiving information input by the user indicating a specified asset name;

wherein said record commands and associated record parameters provide for instructing said selected encoder media server to store said encoded portion of media data at said selected storage location under said specified asset name.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein said steps of displaying a graphical user interface, and receiving information further comprise the steps of:

displaying an overwriting option selection interface component enabling the user to select from a plurality of overwriting options for specifying attributes of the recording operation if a file having said specified asset name exists at said selected storage location at the time of execution of said recording operation, said overwriting options including, a first option for specifying that the user is to be prompted if a file having said specified asset name exists at said selected storage location at the time of execution of said recording operation, a second option for specifying that any file having said specified asset name, existing at said selected storage location at the time of execution of said recording operation, is to be overwritten with said encoded portion of media data, and a third option for specifying that any file having said specified asset name, existing at said selected storage location at the time of execution of said recording operation, is to be appended with said encoded portion of media data.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the network further includes a plurality of end user terminals communicatively coupled to the administrator terminal and to the servers, each of the servers being further operative to stream media data to selected ones of the end user terminals, the operations further including streaming operations, and wherein said steps of displaying a graphical user interface, receiving information, and generating commands and associated parameters further comprise the steps of:

displaying streaming interface components enabling the user to define a streaming operation for streaming the encoded media data to selected ones of the end user terminals;

receiving streaming operation information input by the user; and

generating streaming commands and associated streaming parameters based on said streaming operation information, said streaming commands and associated streaming parameters for instructing said selected server to execute a streaming operation for streaming the encoded portion of media data from said selected encoder media server to corresponding selected ones of the end user terminals via the network.

12. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said steps of displaying streaming interface components, and receiving information further comprise the steps of:

displaying streaming destination selection interface components enabling the user to select at least one of the end user terminals as a destination for streaming said encoded portion of media data; and

receiving information input by the user indicative of at least one selected end user;

wherein said commands and associated parameters further include a streaming command and associated streaming parameters for instructing said selected encoder media server to stream said encoded portion of media data to said selected end users.

13. A method as recited in claim 11 wherein the network further includes a plurality of end user terminals communicatively coupled to the administrator terminal and to the servers, each of the servers being further operative to stream media data to selected ones of the end user terminals, the operations further including streaming operations, and wherein the operations further include playback operations for streaming the stored portion of encoded media data from said selected server to corresponding selected ones of the end user terminals in accordance with a user defined playback schedule.

14. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein said steps of displaying a graphical user interface, and receiving information further comprise the steps of:

displaying playback destination selection interface components enabling the user to select at least one of the end user terminals as a destination for streaming said encoded portion of media data in accordance with a user defined playback schedule;

displaying play-back schedule interface components enabling the user define a play-back schedule; and

receiving information input by the user indicative of a user defined play-back schedule;

wherein said commands and associated parameters further include a play-back command and associated play-back parameters for instructing said selected encoder media server to stream said stored portion of encoded media data to said selected end users via the network in accordance with said user defined play-back schedule.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein said play-back schedule interface components comprise:

a first group of components enabling the user to select a start time and a start date for said play-back schedule; and

a second group of components enabling the user to select from a plurality of options for specifying a play-back schedule duration.

16. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein said operations further include notification operations associated with corresponding ones of the playback operations, said notification operations for sending notification messages to selected network addresses associated with selected ones of the end user terminals and the administrator terminal.

17. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein the notification operations include determining success or failure of the streaming specified by the corresponding playback operation, and wherein said steps of displaying a graphical user interface, and receiving information further comprise the steps of:

displaying notification circumstance selection interface components enabling the user to select from the notification circumstance options of, a first option of sending a notification message to selected network addresses if the streaming specified by the corresponding playback operation fails, a second option of sending a notification message to selected network addresses if the streaming specified by the corresponding playback operation is successful, and a third option of sending a notification message to selected network addresses if the streaming specified by the corresponding playback operation fails of is successful; and

receiving information input by the user indicating a selected notification circumstance option;

wherein said commands and associated parameters further include a notification command and associated notification parameters for instructing said selected encoder media server to send notification messages to the selected network addresses in accordance with said selected notification circumstance option.

18. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

presenting a preview select option to the user;

if the preview select option is selected, transmitting a preview command to one of said plurality of media servers and receiving preview video data in response thereto; and

displaying said preview video data on the display unit of the administrator terminal.

19. A method for providing a centralized user interface at an administrator terminal in a network for remotely controlling encoding operations performed on media data by selected ones of a plurality of media servers, the process comprising the steps of:

generating initiation commands and associated initiation parameters for instructing a selected media server to initiate a manual encoding operation;

transmitting said initiation commands and said associated initiation parameters to said selected media server via the network;

receiving encoded media data from said selected media server via the network;

displaying said encoded media data at the administrator terminal, and also displaying interface components enabling the user to select from manual control options including a start option for starting and resuming the manual encoding process, and a stop option for stopping the manual encoding process;

receiving information input by the user indicating a selection of one of the manual control options;

if said start option is selected, generating a start command for instructing said selected media server to start the manual encoding process, and transmitting said start command to said selected media server;

if said stop option is selected, generating a stop command for instructing said selected media server to stop the manual encoding process, and transmitting said stop command to said selected media server; and

selectively generating a notification of an operation of said manual encoding process.

20. A method as recited in claim 19 wherein each of the media servers is communicatively coupled with at least one corresponding multimedia device capable of generating media data, and wherein each of the media servers is operative to activate a selected one of said multimedia devices, and also operative to encode the media data generated by said selected multimedia device, and wherein said interface components include a multimedia device enabling a user to select from said multimedia devices.

21. A method as recited in claim 19 wherein the administrator terminal includes a processing unit, and a viewing application executed by the processing unit, and wherein said step of displaying said encoded media data at the administrator terminal includes displaying said encoded media data in a window generated by said viewing application.

22. A method as recited in claim 19 further comprising:

presenting a preview select option to the user;

if the preview select option is selected, transmitting a preview command to one of said plurality of media servers and receiving preview video data in response thereto; and

displaying said preview video data within a browser window on the display unit of the administrator terminal.

23. A machine readable storage device having stored therein encoding instructions for executing a process of providing a centralized user interface at an administrator terminal in a network for managing operations including encoding operations performed on media data by selected ones of a plurality of media servers, the process comprising the steps of:

displaying a graphical user interface at the administrator terminal, said interface including a plurality of interface components enabling a user to select between a manual encoding mode for manually starting and stopping manual encoding processes to be performed by selected ones of the media servers, and a scheduled encoding mode for defining schedules for scheduled encoding processes to be performed by selected ones of the media servers;

receiving information input by the user indicating a selection of one of the media servers, a selected mode of operation, an encoding operation, and a notification circumstance;

generating commands and associated parameters based on the input information for instructing the selected media server to execute the specified encoding operation in accordance with the selected mode of operation;

transmitting said commands and said associated parameters to said selected media server; and

selectively generating a notification of said specified encoding operation based on said notification circumstance.

24. A machine readable storage device as recited in claim 23 wherein each of the media servers is communicatively coupled with at least one corresponding multimedia device capable of generating media data, and wherein each of the media servers is operative to activate a selected one of said multimedia devices, and also operative to encode the media data generated by said selected multimedia device.

25. A machine readable storage device as recited in claim 24 wherein the encoding operations include a preview operation, and wherein the administrator terminal also includes a processing unit, a browser application executed by the processing unit, and a display unit, and wherein the selected multimedia device is a video camera which generates media data including video data, and wherein said steps of displaying, receiving, generating, and transmitting further comprise:

displaying a preview select interface component enabling the user to select a preview option for executing a preview operation including displaying video data generated by a selected video camera coupled with said selected server;

receiving information input by the user indicating that said preview option has been selected;

generating preview commands and associated preview parameters for instructing said selected server to execute said preview operation;

transmitting said preview commands and said associated preview parameters to said selected server;

receiving preview video data from said selected server; and

displaying said preview video data in a browser window on the display unit of the administrator terminal.

26. A machine readable storage device as recited in claim 24 wherein if said scheduled encoding mode is selected, said steps of displaying a graphical user interface, receiving information, and generating commands further comprise the steps of:

displaying scheduling interface components enabling the user to select a start time and a start date for the scheduled encoding operation;

receiving information input by the user indicating a selected start time and a selected start date for initiating said scheduled encoding operation; and

generating encoding commands and associated encoding parameters for instructing said selected server to encode media data received from said selected multimedia device at said selected start time on said selected start date.

27. A machine readable storage device as recited in claim 26 wherein said steps of displaying said scheduling interface components, and receiving information further include the steps of:

displaying duration interface components enabling the user to select from time duration specification options including, selecting a scheduled stop date and stop time for terminating said encoding operation, and

selecting a time duration for which said encoding operation is to continue following said selected start time on said selected start date; and

receiving information input by the user indicative of a selected time duration specification option.

28. A machine readable storage device as recited in claim 23 wherein the administrator terminal also includes a processing unit, a browser application executed by the processing unit, and a display unit, and wherein said process is initiated by performing the steps of:

transmitting an applet to the administrator terminal via the network; and

executing said applet over the processing unit of the administrator terminal, said graphical user interface being displayed within a browser window generated by said browser application on the display unit.

29. A machine readable storage device as recited in claim 23 wherein each of the servers is operative to access at least one corresponding memory device for storing media data, and wherein each of the servers is further operative to record selected portions of encoded media data that are encoded during said encoding operations, and wherein said steps of displaying a graphical user interface, receiving information, and generating commands and parameters further comprise the steps of:

displaying a storage selection interface component enabling the user to select a storage location by browsing a list of available storage locations including predetermined mapped ones of the memory devices associated with said selected server;

receiving information input by the user indicating a selected storage location; and

generating record commands and associated record parameters for instructing said selected server to store the selected portion of encoded media data at said selected storage location.

30. A machine readable storage device as recited in claim 29 wherein said steps of displaying a graphical user interface, and receiving information further comprise the steps of:

displaying a name selection interface component enabling the user specify an asset name for said encoded portion of media data to be stored at said selected storage location; and

receiving information input by the user indicating a specified asset name;

wherein said record commands and associated record parameters provide for instructing said selected encoder media server to store said encoded portion of media data at said selected storage location under said specified asset name.

31. A machine readable storage device as recited in claim 30 wherein said steps of displaying a graphical user interface, and receiving information further comprise the steps of:

displaying an overwriting option selection interface component enabling the user to select from a plurality of overwriting options for specifying attributes of the recording operation if a file having said specified asset name exists at said selected storage location at the time of execution of said recording operation, said overwriting options including,

a first option for specifying that the user is to be prompted if a file having said specified asset name exists at said selected storage location at the time of execution of said recording operation,

a second option for specifying that any file having said specified asset name, existing at said selected storage location at the time of execution of said recording operation, is to be overwritten with said encoded portion of media data, and a third option for specifying that any file having said specified asset name, existing at said selected storage location at the time of execution of said recording operation, is to be appended with said encoded portion of media data.

32. A machine readable storage device as recited in claim 29 wherein the network further includes a plurality of end user terminals communicatively coupled to the administrator terminal and to the servers, each of the servers being further operative to stream media data to selected ones of the end user terminals, the operations further including streaming operations, and wherein the operations further include playback operations for streaming the stored portion of encoded media data from said selected media server to corresponding selected ones of the end user terminals in accordance with a user defined playback schedule.

33. A machine readable storage device as recited in claim 23 wherein the network further includes a plurality of end user terminals communicatively coupled to the administrator terminal and to the servers, each of the servers being further operative to stream media data to selected ones of the end user terminals, the operations further including streaming operations, and wherein said steps of displaying a graphical user interface, receiving information, and generating commands and associated parameters further comprise the steps of:

displaying streaming interface components enabling the user to define a streaming operation for streaming the encoded media data to selected ones of the end user terminals;

receiving streaming operation information input by the user; and

generating streaming commands and associated streaming parameters based on said streaming operation information, said streaming commands and associated streaming parameters for instructing said selected server to execute a streaming operation for streaming the encoded portion of media data from said selected encoder media server to corresponding selected ones of the end user terminals via the network.

34. A machine readable storage device as recited in claim 32 wherein said steps of displaying streaming interface components, and receiving information further comprise the steps of:

displaying streaming destination selection interface components enabling the user to select at least one of the end user terminals as a destination for streaming said encoded portion of media data; and

receiving information input by the user indicative of at least one selected end user;

wherein said commands and associated parameters further include a streaming command and associated streaming parameters for instructing said selected encoder media server to stream said encoded portion of media data to said selected end users.

35. A server operative to provide an applet to a client via a network, the applet including encoding instructions for executing a process of providing a centralized user interface at the client in a network for managing operations including encoding operations performed on media data by selected ones of a plurality of media servers, the process comprising the steps of:

displaying a graphical user interface at the client, said interface including a plurality of interface components enabling a user to select between a manual encoding mode for manually starting and stopping manual encoding processes to be performed by selected ones of the media servers, and a scheduled encoding mode for defining schedules for scheduled encoding processes to be performed by selected ones of the media servers;

receiving information input by the user indicating a selection of one of the media servers, a selected mode of operation, an encoding operation, and a notification circumstance;

generating commands and associated parameters based on the input information for instructing the selected media server to execute the specified encoding operation in accordance with the selected mode of operation;

transmitting said commands and said associated parameters to said selected media server; and

selectively generating a notification of said specified encoding operation based on said notification circumstance.

36. A server recited in claim 35 wherein each of the media servers is communicatively coupled with at least one corresponding multimedia device capable of generating media data, and wherein each of the media servers is operative to activate a selected one of said multimedia devices, and also operative to encode the media data generated by said selected multimedia device.

37. A server recited in claim 36 wherein the encoding operations include a preview operation, and wherein the client also includes a processing unit, a browser application executed by the processing unit, and a display unit, and wherein the selected multimedia device is a video camera which generates media data including video data, and wherein said steps of displaying, receiving, generating, and transmitting further comprise:

displaying a preview select interface component enabling the user to select a preview option for executing a preview operation including displaying video data generated by a selected video camera coupled with said selected media server;

receiving information input by the user indicating that said preview option has been selected;

generating preview commands and associated preview parameters for instructing said selected media server to execute said preview operation;

transmitting said preview commands and said associated preview parameters to said selected media server;

receiving preview video data from said selected media server; and

displaying said preview video data in a browser window on the display unit of the client.

38. A server recited in claim 36 wherein if said scheduled encoding mode is selected, said steps of displaying a graphical user interface, receiving information, and generating commands further comprise the steps of:

displaying scheduling interface components enabling the user to select a start time and a start date for the scheduled encoding operation;

receiving information input by the user indicating a selected start time and a selected start date for initiating said scheduled encoding operation; and

generating encoding commands and associated encoding parameters for instructing said selected media server to encode media data received from said selected multimedia device at said selected start time on said selected start date.

39. A server recited in claim 38 wherein said steps of displaying said scheduling interface components, and receiving information further include the steps of:

displaying duration interface components enabling the user to select from time duration specification options including,

selecting a scheduled stop date and stop time for terminating said encoding operation, and

selecting a time duration for which said encoding operation is to continue following said selected start time on said selected start date; and

receiving information input by the user indicative of a selected time duration specification option.

40. A server recited in claim 36 wherein the client also includes a processing unit, a browser application executed by the processing unit, and a display unit, and wherein a selected one of the multimedia devices is a video camera which generates media data including video data, and wherein if said manual encoding mode is selected, said process further comprises the steps of:

generating manual mode initiation commands and associated parameters for instructing the selected media server to initiate a manual encoding operation;

transmitting said manual mode initiation commands and associated parameters to said selected media server via the network;

receiving video data from said selected media server via the network;

displaying said video data in a browser window on the display unit of the client, and also displaying manual encoding mode control interface components enabling the user to select from manual control options including a start option for starting and resuming the manual encoding process, and a stop option for stopping the manual encoding process;

receiving information input by the user indicating a selected one of the manual control options;

if said start option is selected, generating a start command for instructing said selected media server to start the manual encoding process, and transmitting said start command to said selected media server; and

if said stop option is selected, generating a stop command for instructing said selected media server to stop the manual encoding process, and transmitting said stop command to said selected media server.

41. A server recited in claim 35 wherein each of the media servers is operative to access at least one corresponding memory device for storing media data, and wherein each of the media servers is further operative to record selected portions of encoded media data that are encoded during said encoding operations, and wherein said steps of displaying a graphical user interface, receiving information, and generating commands and parameters further comprise the steps of:

displaying a storage selection interface component enabling the user to select a storage location by browsing a list of available storage locations including predetermined mapped ones of the memory devices associated with said selected media server;

receiving information input by the user indicating a selected storage location; and

generating record commands and associated record parameters for instructing said selected media server to store the selected portion of encoded media data at said selected storage location.

42. A server recited in claim 41 wherein said steps of displaying a graphical user interface, and receiving information further comprise the steps of:

displaying a name selection interface component enabling the user specify an asset name for said encoded portion of media data to be stored at said selected storage location; and

receiving information input by the user indicating a specified asset name;

wherein said record commands and associated record parameters provide for instructing said selected encoder media server to store said encoded portion of media data at said selected storage location under said specified asset name.

43. A server recited in claim 42 wherein said steps of displaying a graphical user interface, and receiving information further comprise the steps of:

displaying an overwriting option selection interface component enabling the user to select from a plurality of overwriting options for specifying attributes of the recording operation if a file having said specified asset name exists at said selected storage location at the time of execution of said recording operation, said overwriting options including,

a first option for specifying that the user is to be prompted if a file having said specified asset name exists at said selected storage location at the time of execution of said recording operation,

a second option for specifying that any file having said specified asset name, existing at said selected storage location at the time of execution of said recording operation, is to be overwritten with said encoded portion of media data, and a third option for specifying that any file having said specified asset name, existing at said selected storage location at the time of execution of said recording operation, is to be appended with said encoded portion of media data.

44. A server recited in claim 35 wherein the network further includes a plurality of end user terminals communicatively coupled to the client and to the media servers, each of the media servers being further operative to stream media data to selected ones of the end user terminals, the operations further including streaming operations, and wherein said steps of displaying a graphical user interface, receiving information, and generating commands and associated parameters further comprise the steps of:

displaying streaming interface components enabling the user to define a streaming operation for streaming the encoded media data to selected ones of the end user terminals;

receiving streaming operation information input by the user; and

generating streaming commands and associated streaming parameters based on said streaming operation information, said streaming commands and associated streaming parameters for instructing said selected media server to execute a streaming operation for streaming the encoded portion of media data from said selected encoder media server to corresponding selected ones of the end user terminals via the network.

45. A server recited in claim 44 wherein the network further includes a plurality of end user terminals communicatively coupled to the client and to the media servers, each of the media servers being further operative to stream media data to selected ones of the end user terminals, the operations further including streaming operations, and wherein the operations further include playback operations for streaming the stored portion of encoded media data from said selected media server to corresponding selected ones of the end user terminals in accordance with a user defined playback schedule.

46. A server recited in claim 45 wherein said steps of displaying a graphical user interface, and receiving information further comprise the steps of:

displaying playback destination selection interface components enabling the user to select at least one of the end user terminals as a destination for streaming said encoded portion of media data in accordance with a user defined playback schedule;

displaying play-back schedule interface components enabling the user define a play-back schedule; and

receiving information input by the user indicative of a user defined play-back schedule;

wherein said commands and associated parameters further include a play-back command and associated play-back parameters for instructing said selected encoder media server to stream said stored portion of encoded media data to said selected end users via the network in accordance with said user defined play-back schedule.

47. A server recited in claim 46 wherein said play-back schedule interface components comprise:

a first group of components enabling the user to select a start time and a start date for said play-back schedule; and

a second group of components enabling the user to select from a plurality of options for specifying a play-back schedule duration.

48. A server recited in claim 45 wherein said operations further include notification operations associated with corresponding ones of the playback operations, said notification operations for sending notification messages to selected network addresses associated with selected ones of the end user terminals and the client.

49. A server recited in claim 48 wherein the notification operations include determining success or failure of the streaming specified by the corresponding playback operation, and wherein said steps of displaying a graphical user interface, and receiving information further comprise the steps of:

displaying notification circumstance selection interface components enabling the user to select from the notification circumstance options of,

a first option of sending a notification message to selected network addresses if the streaming specified by the corresponding playback operation fails, a second option of sending a notification message to selected network addresses if the streaming specified by the corresponding playback operation is successful, and

a third option of sending a notification message to selected network addresses if the streaming specified by the corresponding playback operation fails of is successful; and

receiving information input by the user indicating a selected notification circumstance option;

wherein said commands and associated parameters further include a notification command and associated notification parameters for instructing said selected encoder media server to send notification messages to the selected network addresses in accordance with said selected notification circumstance option.

50. A server as recited in claim 35, wherein the process further comprises:

in response to a user preview selection command, obtaining preview video data from at least one of said media severs and displaying said preview video data within a window on the display unit of the administrator terminal.