Compatibility
All versions of MCS
are compatible with Media Center in Windows Vista, Windows Media
Player, or Microsoft XP Media Center Edition 2005 Update Rollup 2.
Two way IP & RS-232
Control Protocol
MCS provides
real-time feedback and media control for all functions of an Media
Center and Windows Media Player using a robust, two way TCP-IP
communications protocol. A control system client can manipulate the
transport, navigation, and media library features of Windows Media
Center (WMC) through a
local area network, or remotely through the internet.
Multiple
Server Control and Media Center Extenders
Multiple servers and Media Center
Extenders can
be browsed and controlled. A network consisting of a Media Center Computer and
multiple extender devices can all be controlled through the same
server instance residing on the host WMC computer. This is extremely
valuable for multi-zone, multi-room applications. Since each user
instance on an MCE computer can maintain an individual media library,
personalized media collections can be maintained and accessed by end
users.
Media Transport and Metadata Feedback
MCS provides
control systems with real time transport feedback and meta-data for
music, video, DVD, and television media such as album, artist, title,
duration, genre, release date, composer, chapter, director, rating,
channel, station id, program guide title, and more.
Browse Music, Movies,
Recorded TV, Videos, and Pictures
MCS provides a rich interface for
browsing and searching the computer’s media library by genre,
album, DVD, artist, actor, rating, play list, title, and more. Media
can be randomly accessed for instant playback or added to the
play-queue at any level. (ie, the command ‘PlayGenre “Jazz”
Queue=True’ instructs the server to add all jazz titles in the
media library to the queue without interrupting the currently played
media)
Album
and DVD Cover Art
Display album and DVD art
on your device for the currently playing media, or provide album and
DVD art in the browsing interface. MCE Control Server provides a HTTP
image host and sends your client a URL to the cover art.
IR-Remote Control Emulation
Command the server to issue any IR
command available on the MCE Remote Control.
Transport
Control
Command and receive feedback for play,
pause, stop, skip next, skip previous, random (shuffle), and repeat
transport controls.
Discreet
Navigation Commands
Control systems can command MCS to randomly access most areas of the MCE Interface. Commands are
available for direct navigation to Start, MyMusic, Music Albums, Music
Artists, My Pictures, My TV, Recorded TV, start a Slideshow, and many
more. Refer to the MCS TCP-IP Protocol document for a complete
list.
Real-Time Transport, Media, and Event Feedback.
MCS Clients can issue a command to the
server to subscribe to real-time events within the MCE interface.
These events can be used for real time touch-screen feedback, even
when the user is interfacing directly with the MCE box. Events are
sent for transport controls, navigation, start-up and shutdown, and
more.
MCE
Interface Messages and Prompts
MCS can send messages and prompts directly to the MCE
Interface for display on the TV. Display Caller ID, Alarm Zone
status, prompts, and any text message to Media Center's television
interface. Users can be prompted to select from multiple choice
options and the response is sent back to the control system for
processing.
