Wideband voice streaming applet v.1.1

For adding high-quality voice streaming to your Web site. On-line demo is here.

1. Introduction

2. Applet control panel.

3. Installation.

- Applet with Java interface

- Applet with JavaScript interface

4. The table of the voice streaming applet methods

5. Audio clip preparing.

6. How to license the applet

Introduction

Most of the other voice streaming applets operate with narrow audio bandwidth limited to 3400Hz.

VIMAS Technologies is now offering the voice streaming applet which streams wideband voice with audio bandwidth limited to 7500Hz!

The introduction of a wider audio bandwidth provides substantially improved sound quality, naturalness, intelligibility and speaker voice recognition.

VIMAS Technologies wideband voice streaming applet operates at 16kilobits per second bitrate only, so our high quality voice streaming is available on nearly all Internet connections.

Most voice streaming applets operate between 8 and 32 kilobit per second bitrate with narrow audio bandwidth. With our applet it is possible to have a wideband voice streaming at the almost the same bitrate as narrowband voice streaming!

Wideband voice streaming applet is designed in Java 2. If on the client computer the Java 1.1 is installed only, applet works also, but as narrowband applet with 3800Hz audio bandwidth. So, to take advantage of wideband voice streaming, we recommend to install the Java plug-in 1.4(1.3) on the client computer.

The applet is compatible with Windows OS, Internet Explorer and Netscape browsers.

The applet is available with the Java or JavaScript interface. The applet with Java interface is applet with control panel and controls developed by java.awt package. The applet with JavaScript interface is applet which uses LiveConnect for interaction between Java applet and JavaScript. To applet control the JavaScript possibilities can be used. The JavaScript interface allows to design the own buttons and passes the names of files for playback from JavaScript to applets. Also, the applet sends the status message and duration of audio clip to JavaScript and others.

The demo version duration of sounding is limited - 20 sec. The full version of applet is associated with web site URL because license reasons.

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Applet control panel

(Java interface)

Applet has buffer for audio file and if you listen the audio clip for the first time, the buffer is filled. So, when you listen audio clip next times, you listen it from buffer but not from server. For fast forward and backward rewind take the knob and put on the new position within the downloaded fraction of audio file.

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Installation

a) Applet with Java interface:

1. Upload the VPlayer16k.jar, VPlayer16k.cab to the server into the same directory. The path to this directory must be indicated in the CODEBASE applet parameter.

2. Upload the encoded voice files to the server. The path to voice files must be indicated in the "pathToFile" or in the “urlFile” applet parameter.

3. Insert the applet call to html code of your Web page.

Please, see the source code of the examples in the player1.html, player2.html and player3.html.

- 1^st example (player1.html) shows you how to call applet and pass the name of voice file into applet as applet parameter.

- 2^nd example (player2.html) shows you how to call applet and pass the name of voice file into applet by JavaScript possibility. If you simultaneously pass the name of file via applet parameter and JavaScript, the applet parameter has priority.

- 3^rd example (player3.html) shows you how to call the applet and choose name of voice files from the list of files.

In the 1^st and 2^nd cases you should pass full path and name of the voice file. More examples is here .

4. In the examples URLs and paths of VIMAS Technologies server are used. So, please, do not forget to change them accordingly to your server.

Table of applet parameters:

Applet parameter name	Parameter value	Parameter description
“urlFile”	For instance: "http://www.vimas.com/voicefiles/demo_e.wrm"	URL and name of audio file.
"pathToFile"	For instance: "http://www.vimas.com/voicefiles/"	URL of audio file.
“autoPlay”	“true” / ”false”	“true” - player starts automatically. “false” (or parameter is absent) – to playback user should click on the Play button.
“statusBar”	“true” / ”false”	“true”(or parameter is absent) –applet with status bar. “false”-applet is without status bar.
"sliderPanel"	“true” / ”false”	“true”(or parameter is absent) –applet with slider. “false”-applet without slider.
"bannerPanel"	“true” / ”false”	“true” (or parameter is absent) – applet with banner. “false” – applet without banner. Demo applet always with banner. Banner can be hidden with special registration key. It is available on your request.
"bgColor"	Color number. For instance: “FFFFF”	Applet control panel background color.
“downButtonColor”	Color number	Pressed button color.
"labelActiveColor"	Color number	Active Play, Pause and Stop graphic symbols color.
"labelInactiveColor"	Color number	Inactive Play, Pause and Stop graphic symbols color
"sliderFillColor"	Color number	File downloading indicator color
“registration”	“demo” / ”Registration file name”

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5. You can change the applet dimensions by changing the width and height of applet. Also you can hide some elements of applet interface.

To hide the status bar you must add to applet parameters the following:

To hide the slider:

To hide the VIMAS Technologies banner, please, contact us: info@vimas.com

- Setting of applet control panel size. No hidden elements of the panel:

x –is basic dimension.

a=x*6/11 – height of applet. Non-integer value must be rounded to nearest integer.

d – size of slider. It is arbitrary value.

In the applet parameters: WIDTH=x+d, HEIGHT=a.

Example 1:

x=110, d=340;

a= 110*6/11=60;

WIDTH=450, HEIGHT=40.

- Setting of applet control panel size. Status bar or VIMAS Technologies banner is hidden:

x – is basic dimension.

b=x*23/55 - height of applet. Non-integer value must be rounded to nearest integer.

d – size of slider. It is arbitrary value

In the applet parameters: WIDTH=x+d, HEIGHT=b.

Example 2:

x=110, d=85;

b=110*23/55=46;

WIDTH=195, HEIGHT=46.

- Setting of applet control panel size. Status bar and banner are hidden.

x – is basic dimension.

c=x*3/11 - height of applet. Non-integer value must be rounded to nearest integer.

d – size of slider. It is arbitrary value

In the applet parameters: WIDTH=x+d, HEIGHT=c.

Example 3:

x=110, d=290;

c=110*3/11=30;

WIDTH=400, HEIGHT=30.

- Setting of applet control panel size. Status bar, banner and slider are hidden.

x – is basic dimension.

c=x*3/11 - height of applet.

In the applet parameters: WIDTH=x, HEIGHT=c.

Example 4:

x=110;

c=110*3/11=30;

WIDTH=110, HEIGHT=30.

6. Voice streaming applet supports the autoPlay mode. In this mode applet automatic playbacks when you open the web site where applet is used.

To switch on AutoPlay mode, add to applet parameters the following:

5. To change the color of control panel and controls use the “bgColor", “downButtonColor”, "labelInactiveColor", "labelActiveColor", "sliderFillColor" parameters.

If you will use “bgColor" parameter only, the color of other controls will be set by default. Their color based on the background color.

To set the pressed button color use “downButtonColor” parameter. To set the color of active and inactive Play, Pause and Stop graphic symbols use the "labelActiveColor", "labelInactiveColor" parameters.

By default the "bgColor" parameter is gray. On-line demo is here .

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b) Applet with JavaScript interface:

1. Upload the VPlayerSDK16k.jar and VPlayerSDK16k.cab to the server into the same directory. The path to this directory must be indicated in the CODEBASE applet parameter.

2. Upload the encoded voice files to the server. The path to the voice files must be indicated in the "pathToFile" or “urlFile” applet parameter.

"pathToFile" parameter must be used if name of voice file passed to applet via JavaScript. For instance, if you want to choose the file name from list.

“urlFile” must be used if you pass the name of voice file via applet parameter. It is recommended if applet will play one voice file only.

3. Insert the applet call to html code of your Web page.

Please, see the source code of the examples in the play_auto.html, play_app.html, play_select.html, play_no_slider.html and play_no_buffering.html.

- 1^st example (play_auto.html) demonstrates how to call the applet, pass the name of voice file into applet by JavaScript possibilities and player starts automatically.

- 2^nd example (play_app.html) demonstrates how to call the applet and enter the file name from web site.

- 3^rd example (play_select.html) demonstrates how to call applet and choose the file name from the list of voice files

- 4^th example (play_no_slider.html) demonstrates how to call the applet with hidden slider and choose the file name from the list of files.

- 5^th example (play_no_buffering.html) demonstrates how to call the applet with disabled buffering. It is means that every time when you push the Play button, the voice file streaming from server will be started. If buffering is able, the streaming from server is started when you play the voice file for the first time only. Next playback will be from buffer.

On-line demo is here.

Note! We recommend you to use as first step the examples which included in the package. URLs and paths of VIMAS Technologies server in the examples are used. So, please, do not forget to change them accordingly to your server.

4. The slider length you can change by changing the width of applet.

Table of applet parameters:

Applet parameter name	Parameter value	Parameter description
“urlFile”	For instance: "http://www.vimas.com/voicefiles/demo_e.wrm"	URL and name of audio file.
"pathToFile"	For instance: "http://www.vimas.com/voicefiles/"	URL of audio file.
"bufferingDisable"	“true” / ”false”	“true” – every time when you click the Play button, the applet starts to download the voice file from server. “false” (or parameter is absent) - when you click the Play button, the streaming from server is started when you play the voice file for the first time only. Next times applet playbacks the voice file from buffer.
"sliderPanel"	“true” / ”false”	“true” - slider is shown. “false” – hidden.
“registration”	“demo” / ”Registration file name”
"bgColor"	Color number. For instance: “FFFFF”	Slider background color.
"SliderColor"	Color number.	Knob color.
"SliderFillColor"	Color number.	Indicator of voice file downloading.
“registration”	“demo” / ”Registration file name”

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The table of the voice streaming applet methods

(applet with JavaScript interface)

Accessible applet methods from JavaScript	Applet action
PLAYBACK(String filename )	Starts the playback from client PC
PAUSE( )	Playback pause
STOP_PLAY( )	Stop the playback
Accessible JavaScript methods from applet
report_P(s)	Pop-up message
setStatus_P(s)	Applet sends status message to JavaScript
setTimer_P(s)	Applet sends current recording/playback time to JavaScript

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Audio clip preparing

1. Record the voice in the following format: WAV PCM (RAW), 16000Hz, 16 bits, mono by using standard sound card, microphone and any sound recording software, for example, CoolEdit or Sound Forge. You may optimize sound file, for example, delete the pauses, filter or amplify it.

A few tips for sound quality improving:

      - Record the voice in the quite room;
      - Use good microphone;
      - The input level should not be very high, because signal will be clipped.
      - The input level should not be very low because signal-to-noise ratio will be low.
      - Use for recording the CoolEdit or SoundForge programs or other sound editing program. With these programs you will visually control the input level.

For testing purpose use the demo_e.wrm and demo_g.wrm voice files which are included into the demo package.

2. To encoding (compression) of the voice file, use the Encoder16k.exe program.

- run the program,

- Click on the Compress button,

- Choose the WAV file. Note! Batch processing is available. Mark the WAV files by Ctrl key and mouse.

- In the main window of program the “Save” and “Save As” option are available. “Save” – compressed files will be saved with the same name and WRM extension. “Save As” – you can change the compressed file name before saving.

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How to license the applet

The applet must be licensed for each web site. So, after applet purchasing you must send the URL of web site where applet will be used and number of your order to info@vimas.com. We will generate and send you the registration key which based on your web site URL.

Note! Applets with Java interface and with JavaScript interface are different applets.

The license price depends on total audio clips time and applet interface.

The license cost is following:

Total time	License price
Total time	Java interface	JavaScript interface
0…30 min	$40	$70
30…60 min	$75	$100
60…90 min	$110	$135
90…120 min	$145	$170
120…150 min	$180	$200
unlimited	$200	$220

For instance, you will use the voice streaming applet with Java interface on the 3 web pages of your web site. The duration of audio clips on the 1^st web page is12min, on the 2^nd web page -17 min, on the 3^rd web page -10 min. Total time is 12+17+10=39min. So, you must pay $75.

If audio clip on the page is periodically updates, it considered as a few clips. This case must be discussed with us.

In the case if you going to use the voice streaming applet for Application Service Providing purposes, please, contact us.

Please, read carefully the License agreement before applet purchasing!

You can purchase the applet from the Wideband Voice Streaming applet web site: http://www.vimas.com/wb_java_applet.htm

The applet can be used as demo or full functional applet. To use applets as demo applets, you must add to applet parameters the following parameter:

In this case the applet will work with limited to 20 sec playback time. It is single difference between demo and full functional applet mode.

To use applet as full functional you must :

- Order the Wideband Voice Streaming Applet from VIMAS Technologies web site http://www.vimas.com/wb_java_applet.htm.

Note! Usual license allows to use streaming applets on the one web site. Therefore, applet are associated with URL of web site where they used.

- Send to info@vimas.com the URL of web site where applet will be used. VIMAS Technologies will generate registration key, which based on the URL and send them to you. Registration key is the *.txt. Put the *.txt file on the server in the same folder with applet (*.cab, *jar files).

- Change the Registration applet parameter :

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