Digital 5 Streaming Media Server Project / News: Recent posts

I've committed the source code that I've been working with thus far. A working media server is a ways off, but some of the necessary protocols have been implemented, including:
-SSDP (Simple Server Discovery Protocol)
-SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol)

The DIDL-Lite protocol, a subset of SOAP for UPnP devices (like the connected players), is currently being implemented. A shell framework for the ContentDirectoryService, one of the three necessary services for a MediaServerAV (i.e. what the D5 Server Software is), was also included.

This project has definately expanded its reach since it first started! Originally, the project was intended to replace the D5 Streaming Media Server for the Gateway ADC-220 and ADC-320 Connected DVD Players. Thus, the project was called the Gateway Connected DVD Player Project, or "gwcdvd" for short.

However, I've discovered that there are many more players that were developed for vendors by Digital 5, including the GoVideo D2730 and D2740 Networked DVD Players, and the Netgear MP101 and MP115 Wireless Digital Media Players.... read more

Based on the preliminary packet capture, I've been able to determine that the original Gateway server software makes use of the following protocols:
1) SSDP (for locating servers/announcing server presence)
2) SOAP (for file listings/file organization)
3) RTSP (for controlling playback of streams)

I'm also under the impression that the software sends out MPEG-1 video encapsualed in RTP and RTCP packets when a video file is being played back, but I'm not entirely sure about this. Ethereal couldn't identify these packets properly at first; I forced it to decode them as RTP and RTCP on a hunch, and most of the fields seem to match up. However, playback of the RTP dump from this hasn't been very successful -- tests with RTPPlay and VLC Player indicate that the packets are being sent too fast or are not really proper RTP packets (I get some blocks of video and audio, but they are incomplete or are sent too fast). I need someone to verify this for me.... read more

Any features that users of the Gateway Connected DVD Player (either the ADC-220 or ADC-230) would like to see should be added to the feature request tracker as soon as possible. I want to get a feel for what types of things users really want.

This project aims to create a new multimedia server application for the Gateway Connected DVD Player series, including the ADC-220 and ADC-230 models. The original server software provided with the players will need to be reverse-engineered and studied to determine how to emulate the appropriate protocols.

Users of the Gateway Connected DVD Player series often find that the server application is adequate for most uses, but has serious drawbacks. One of the most serious drawback is the limited support for DivX AVI files with MP3 or AC3 audio. Another drawback is that the server application does not properly handle VBR MP3 audio tracks, so, if the user chooses to fast-forward or rewind such a file during playback, audio-video sync is lost. AC3 audio support is entirely broken -- there is no sync in files that have AC3 audio tracks. These aside, the GUI has a very poor system of letting the user organize video files into playlists or separate shows. Many users already sort their video files into a folder hierarchy, and the server software should allow the user to choose to display files in this way.... read more