Help developing an interface for Windows Media Center extender

Dev Community Dev/API Corner
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I understand Plex doesn't  have any interest in this dying platform, but I find myself really wanting to put together an interface for Windows Media Center that will work with an Xbox 360 extender.  There are alternatives that work (My Movies, Media Browser), but are lacking capability/features and providing a consistent interface to the PMS.

 

So first question, has anyone attempted this?  If so, are there any pitfalls that will make this project a waste of time in the end?

 

Looking at the Windows Media Center SDK, most of the interface can be driven with HTTP, which should make things relatively easy, but I can't really find updated HTTP API documentation for Plex.  The examples here doesn't show how to find the location of a file in the library.

 

Can someone show me how to construct a URL to play a file in the library?  I think this is the first step to seeing if playing through an extender is feasible.

 

Thanks!

 

X

 

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Not sure how I found this page, but the following is very helpful in what I was looking for.  Maybe a reference to this page in the above HTTP API Controls page would help others.

 

http://wiki.plexapp.com/index.php/PlexNine_AdvancedInfo

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Dissecting the following example from the HTTP API/Controls, what is the URL to pick up the stream?  I would assume there is some URL to point WMC or even VLC at...

http://MacPro.local:32400/system/players/192.168.1.6/application/playFile?path=http://mac-mini.local:32400/library/parts/438/file.m4v

MacPro.local is the server, so what is mac-mini.local, some other server (maybe shared)?  Is this command asking MacPro.local to play a file from PMS running on mac-mini.local?

What is 192.168.1.6 supposed to represent?  It is supposed to be the IP address for either MacPro.local or mac-mini.local?

I'm looking for a command that will start a stream for a particular file and dictate where to stream it, assuming a destination IP and port.  Does this exist?

Thanks.

X

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Not familiar with developing WMC extensions, but I wholeheartedly support this endeavor.

DLNA streaming leaves *much* to be desired. An extender-compatible add-in would be an amazing solution...

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it's actually pretty easy to get the file-download, which could be used for direct play streaming. not sure how to get the transcoder running.

if you look at the listing for one section (http://:32400/library/sections//all/ ), you see a lot of elements. each element has a key property which links to the metadata for this movie. if you are looking at tv shows, you need to follow the key properties deeper, until you get to the episode (first there is a season listing, then episode listing for the selected season and then finally the episode metadata).

the url to the metadata looks like this: http://:32400/library/metadata/.

on the metadata page you'll find a element, which has the download url as key property (e.g. /library/parts/8990/file.avi). so to download/play the file, use http://:32400/library/parts/8990/file.avi

hope this helps :)

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