PCast™ Express

The PCast™ Express extends the PCast™ API to provide a single-step configuration based API for:

Publishing local media
Subscribing to published streams

This API is intended to be used as a supplement to the Room Express although it can be used to stream all on its own.

Initializing

Java

import android.content.Context;
 
import com.phenixrts.common.RequestStatus;
import com.phenixrts.environment.android.AndroidContext;
import com.phenixrts.express.PCastExpress;
import com.phenixrts.express.PCastExpressFactory;
import com.phenixrts.express.PCastExpressOptions;
import com.phenixrts.pcast.PCastInitializeOptions;
 
// IMPORTANT: Before accessing any of the static factories, make sure the context is passed to Phenix:
final Context context = ...;  // e.g. Activity.getApplication();
AndroidContext.setContext(context);
 
final PCastExpressOptions pcastExpressOptions =
    PCastExpressFactory.createPCastExpressOptionsBuilder((RequestStatus status, String description) -> {
          // Best to restart app, or attempt to re-create PCastExpress
        })
        .buildPCastExpressOptions();
 
final PCastExpress pcastExpress = PCastExpressFactory.createPCastExpress(pcastExpressOptions);

PCastExpressOptionsBuilder

Name	Type	Description
withAuthenticationToken (required)	String	The authentication token generated using the Phenix EdgeAuth library.
withPCastUri (optional)	String	Allows overriding default PCast™ URI.
withPCastInitializationOptions (optional)	PCastInitializeOptions	Use custom options when initializing PCast™.
buildPCastExpressOptions	none	Builds the `PCastExpressOptions`

Publishing Local Media

Publish local user media:

Camera
Microphone
Screen (on supported devices)

Java

import com.phenixrts.common.RequestStatus;
import com.phenixrts.express.ExpressPublisher;
import com.phenixrts.express.PCastExpress;
import com.phenixrts.express.PCastExpressFactory;
import com.phenixrts.express.PublishOptions;
import com.phenixrts.pcast.AudioEchoCancellationMode;
import com.phenixrts.pcast.DeviceCapability;
import com.phenixrts.pcast.DeviceConstraint;
import com.phenixrts.pcast.FacingMode;
import com.phenixrts.pcast.UserMediaOptions;
import java.util.Arrays;
 
final PCastExpress pcastExpress = ...;  // previously obtained
 
final UserMediaOptions userMediaConstraints = new UserMediaOptions();
 
userMediaConstraints.getVideoOptions().enabled = true;
userMediaConstraints.getVideoOptions().capabilityConstraints.put(
    DeviceCapability.FACING_MODE,
    Arrays.asList(new DeviceConstraint(FacingMode.USER)));
 
userMediaConstraints.getAudioOptions().enabled = true;
userMediaConstraints.getAudioOptions().capabilityConstraints.put(
    DeviceCapability.AUDIO_ECHO_CANCELLATION_MODE,
    Arrays.asList(new DeviceConstraint(AudioEchoCancellationMode.ON)));
 
final PublishOptions publishOptions = PCastExpressFactory.createPublishOptionsBuilder()
    .withStreamToken("DIGEST:eyJhc...")
    .withMediaConstraints(userMediaConstraints)
    .buildPublishOptions();
 
pcastExpress.publish(publishOptions, (RequestStatus status, ExpressPublisher publisher) -> {
  if (status == RequestStatus.OK) {
    // Do something with publisher
  } else {
    // Handle error
  }
});
 
 
// Create a publisher
final PublishOptions publishOptions = PCastExpressFactory.createPublishOptionsBuilder()
    .withStreamToken("DIGEST:eyJhc...")
    .withMediaConstraints(userMediaConstraints)
    .buildPublishOptions();
 
pcastExpress.publish(
    publishOptions, (RequestStatus status, ExpressPublisher publisher) -> {
  if (status == RequestStatus.OK) {
    // Do something with publisher
  } else {
    // Handle error
  }
});

Notes:

The publisher will remain active for as long as you keep a reference to it
Force release of the publisher by invoking dispose on it

Publisher Parameters

Name	Type	Description
options (required)	PublishOptions	Publish options
callback (required)	PCastExpress.PublishCallback	Callback for error/success handling

PublishOptionsBuilder

Name	Type	Description
withMediaConstraints (required)	UserMediaOptions	getUserMedia options Constraints to get the user media.
withUserMedia (optional)	UserMediaStream	alternative to `withMediaConstraints` - you can pass user media stream returned from getUserMedia.
withMonitor (optional)	MonitorOptions.SetupFailedCallback, MonitorOptions.StreamEndedCallback, MonitorOptions	Options for monitoring a publisher for failure.
withTags (optional)	Strings[]	Tags for the stream.
withStreamToken (required)	String	The publish token generated using the Phenix EdgeAuth library.
buildPublishOptions	none	Builds the `PublishOptions`

ExpressPublisher Callback Arguments

Name	Type	Description
status	RequestStatus	The status of the operation
publisher	ExpressPublisher	Publisher object

ExpressPublisher

Shares most methods with regular Publisher returned by PCast™, see Publish a Stream.

Name	Signature	Returns	Description
stop	()	void	Stops publisher. Subscribers will receive stream ended.
stop	(reason)	void	Stops publisher with a custom reason. Subscribers will receive `StreamEndedReason.CUSTOM` reason.
enableAudio	()	void	Unmutes audio.
disableAudio	()	void	Mutes audio.
enableVideo	()	void	Unmutes video.
disableVideo	()	void	Mutes video (black frames).
setDataQualityChangedCallback	(callback)	void	Listen for Data Quality Feedback
limitBandwidth	(bandwidthLimitInBps)	Disposable	Temporarily limit published video bitrate, see Limit Bitrate
getStreamId	()	String	Returns stream ID of publisher
hasEnded	()	bool	Indicates whether publisher has ended, e.g. by `stop` having been invoked

Subscribing to Published Media

Subscribe to streams published with the Phenix platform

Java

import android.view.SurfaceView;
import com.phenixrts.common.RequestStatus;
import com.phenixrts.express.ExpressSubscriber;
import com.phenixrts.express.PCastExpress;
import com.phenixrts.express.PCastExpressFactory;
import com.phenixrts.express.SubscribeOptions;
import com.phenixrts.pcast.Renderer;
import com.phenixrts.pcast.android.AndroidVideoRenderSurface;
 
final PCastExpress pcastExpress = ...;  // previously obtained
final SurfaceView view = ...;  // previously obtained
 
final AndroidVideoRenderSurface renderSurface = new AndroidVideoRenderSurface(view.getHolder());
 
final SubscribeOptions subscribeOptions = PCastExpressFactory.createSubscribeOptionsBuilder()
    .withStreamId("us-west#us-west1-b.zzzzzzzz.20000000.xxxxxxxx")
    .withStreamToken("DIGEST:eyJhc...")
    .withRenderer(renderSurface)
    .buildSubscribeOptions();
 
pcastExpress.subscribe(
    subscribeOptions,
    (RequestStatus status, ExpressSubscriber subscriber, Renderer renderer) -> {
  if (status == RequestStatus.OK) {
    // Do something with subscriber
 
    if (renderer != null) {
      // Returned if `withRenderer...` option was enabled - Do something with renderer
    }
  } else {
    // Handle error
  }
});

Notes:

The renderer will already have been started by the time it is received by your callback
If a renderer is provided, your ExpressSubscriber will be kept alive for as long as you are referencing that renderer. There is no need to also store a reference to the subscriber in that case
Once subscriber and renderer references have been released, the renderer and subscription will automatically be stopped
To force release renderer or subscriber, you can invoke dispose, which will dispose the underlying resources

Name	Type	Description
options (required)	SubscribeOptions	Subscribe options
callback (required)	PCastExpress.SubscribeCallback	Callback for error/success handling

Name	Type	Default	Description
withStreamId (required)	String		The stream ID of the published stream
withStreamToken (required)	String		The subscribe token generated using the Phenix EdgeAuth library.
withRenderer (optional)	AndroidVideoRenderSurface		Render layer on which to display stream. If none of the `withRenderer...` methods are called, no renderer will be instantiated.
withRenderer (optional)	none		Will trigger instantiation of renderer. Useful for audio only type streams that do not require a render surface.
withRendererOptions (optional)	RendererOptions		Options passed to renderer. Will trigger instantiation of renderer.
withMonitor (optional)	MonitorOptions.SetupFailedCallback, MonitorOptions.StreamEndedCallback, MonitorOptions		Options for monitoring a subscriber for failure.
withTags (optional)	NSString[]		Tags for the stream
buildSubscribeOptions	none	Builds the `SubscribeOptions`

ExpressSubscriber

Shares most methods with regular MediaStream returned by PCast™, see Subscribe to a Stream.

Name	Signature	Returns	Description
createRenderer	()	Renderer	Creates a new renderer. This should only be called if none of the `withRenderer...` builder methods were invoked.
createRenderer	(RendererOptions)	Renderer	Creates a new renderer with RendererOptions. This should only be called if none of the `withRenderer...` builder methods were invoked.
getAudioTracks	()	MediaStreamTrack[]	Returns all associated audio tracks of this stream
getVideoTracks	()	MediaStreamTrack[]	Returns all associated video tracks of this stream
getTracks	()	MediaStreamTrack[]	Returns all associated tracks of this stream
stop	()	void	Stops subscription. This will trigger the stream ended event.
disableAudio	()	void	Mutes audio.
enableVideo	()	void	Unmutes video.
disableVideo	()	void	Mutes video (black frames).
subscribeToNielsenId3Tag	(NielsenId3TagCallback, NielsenId3ErrorCallback)	Disposable	Register a callback to be called when a new Nielsen ID3 tag is received. When the error callback is called, no further notifications are emitted. You may re-subscribe in the error callback if you want to keep receiving Nielsen ID3 tag after an error.

NielsenId3TagCallback Arguments

Name	Type	Description
data	byte[]	The latest Nielsen ID3 tag data

NielsenId3ErrorCallback Arguments

Name	Type	Description
message	String	The message describing what caused the error

Monitor

Note: On Android, the monitor options are currently ignored, but the callbacks for stream setup and stream ended will be triggered.

Monitor callbacks and options can be passed to subscribe and publish options builders. The first callback gets invoked only when we internally fail to setup a stream. The second callback gets invoked whenever a stream ends, whether it is due to failure or not. The retry OptionalAction allows you to retry publishing or subscribing the failed stream. You must test first whether there is a retry action present by calling isPresent as it may not be possible to retry the stream (example: a stream that ended normally cannot be retried). You should call dismiss on the retry action to dismiss it, dispose has the same effect. You also may defer invoking the retry action.

Example Monitor for subscribing

Java

import com.phenixrts.common.OptionalAction;
import com.phenixrts.common.RequestStatus;
import com.phenixrts.express.ExpressSubscriber;
import com.phenixrts.express.MonitorOptions;
import com.phenixrts.express.PCastExpressFactory;
import com.phenixrts.express.SubscribeOptions;
import com.phenixrts.pcast.StreamEndedReason;
 
final MonitorOptions monitorOptions = PCastExpressFactory.createMonitorOptionsBuilder()
    .buildMonitorOptions();
 
final SubscribeOptions subscribeOptions = PCastExpressFactory.createSubscribeOptionsBuilder()
    .withStreamId("us-west#us-west1-b.zzzzzzzz.20000000.xxxxxxxx")
    .withStreamToken("DIGEST:eyJhc...")
    .withMonitor(
        (RequestStatus status, OptionalAction retry) -> {
          if (retry.isPresent()) {
            if (shouldRetry()) {  // <- Your logic goes here
              retry.perform();
            } else {
              retry.dismiss();
            }
          }
        },
        (StreamEndedReason reason, String description, OptionalAction retry) -> {
          if (retry.isPresent()) {
            if (reason == StreamEndedReason.FAILED) {  // <- Just an example
              retry.perform();
            } else {
              retry.dismiss();
            }
          }
        },
        monitorOptions)
    .buildSubscribeOptions();

OptionalAction

Name	Signature	Returns	Description
perform	()	void	Performs the action. This will cause a failure if `isPresent` is false.
dismiss	()	void	Dismisses the action (if any). Can be called multiple times, will result in `isPresent` to return false. Invoking `dispose` has same effect.
isPresent	()	boolean	Indicates whether an action can be performed.

MonitorSetupFailedCallback Callback Arguments

Name	Type	Description
status	RequestStatus	The status of the operation.
retry	OptionalAction	Optionally allow retrying the failed stream.

MonitorStreamEndedCallback Callback Arguments

Name	Type	Description
reason	StreamEndedReason	Reason for stream ended.
description	String	Optional additional ended reason description. Carries custom message.
retry	OptionalAction	Optionally allow retrying the failed stream. For normally ended streams `isPresent` will always return false.

Express Get User Media

Get local user media. For now this is merely a wrapper around Get Local User Media.

Java

import com.phenixrts.common.RequestStatus;
import com.phenixrts.express.PCastExpress;
import com.phenixrts.pcast.UserMediaOptions;
import com.phenixrts.pcast.UserMediaStream;
 
final PCastExpress pcastExpress = ...;  // previously obtained
 
final UserMediaOptions userMediaOptions = new UserMediaOptions();
 
pcastExpress.getUserMedia(userMediaOptions, (RequestStatus status, UserMediaStream userMedia) -> {
  if (status == RequestStatus.OK) {
    // Do something with user media stream
  } else {
    // Handle error
  }
});

Express Get User Media Parameters

Name	Type	Description
options (required)	UserMediaOptions	User media options
callback (required)	PCastExpress.GetUserMediaCallback	Callback for error/success handling

Express Get User Media Callback Arguments

Name	Type	Description
status	RequestStatus	The status of the operation.
userMedia	UserMediaStream	User media stream

Get PCast™

Get the underlying instance of the PCast™. This is preferred to creating another instance as this will introduce more overhead.

Java

import com.phenixrts.express.PCastExpress;
import com.phenixrts.pcast.PCast;
 
final PCastExpress pcastExpress = ...;  // previously obtained
 
final PCast pcast = pcastExpress.getPCast();

Handling authentication failure

To observe SDK AuthenticationStatus:

Java

import com.phenixrts.common.AuthenticationStatus;
import com.phenixrts.common.Disposable;
 
Disposable disposable = ...  // declare a property
 
this.disposable = pcastExpress.getObservableAuthenticationStatus().subscribe((change) -> {
  if (change == AuthenticationStatus.UNAUTHENTICATED) {
    this.handleUnauthenticatedStatus();
  }
});

To fetch a new fresh Authentication token and set a new fetched token to SDK:

Java

import com.phenixrts.common.RequestStatus;
 
void fetchANewAuthenticationToken(closure: (token: String) -> Unit) {
    // This method calls a client backend to fetch a new authentication token generated using [EdgeAuth library](../api/#creating-authentication-and-stream-tokens).
    // and returns a fetched token using closure callback
}
 
void handleUnauthenticatedStatus() {
    fetchANewAuthenticationToken((token) -> {
        // Set a new token to SDK
        final RequestStatus status = this.pcastExpress.setAuthenticationToken(token)
        if (status != PhenixRequestStatus.ok) {
            // Handle error when setting a new token
            // This situation can only occur if the token is invalid and cannot be processed by the SDK.
        }
    });
}

PCastExpress

Name	Signature	Returns	Description
setAuthenticationToken	(String)	RequestStatus	Setting an authentication token in the SDK triggers re-authentication if the current SDK AuthenticationStatus is unauthenticated. Otherwise, the new authentication token will be used during the next SDK re-authentication attempt.
getObservableAuthenticationStatus	()	Observable(of AuthenticationStatus)	Get the observable of the SDK authentication status. Use this to refresh the SDK's authentication token when the AuthenticationStatus becomes 'unauthenticated'.

When the SDK attempts to authenticate with an expired token, it receives an "unauthenticated" status. In this state, publish and subscribe operations are not possible.

The code sample shows how to re-authenticate the SDK when necessary.

Notes:

The implementation of ObservableAuthenticationStatus subscriber should be asynchronous and should not contain any blocking operations.
The client fetchANewAuthenticationToken method should be executed as quickly as possible. During the “unauthenticated” state, the SDK will be unable to perform publish or subscribe operations.
Attempts to publish and subscribe, when the SDK's authentication status is not authenticated, will wait for successful authentication for 18 seconds before timing out.

Clean up

Subscribers and publishers are kept alive for as long as they are being referenced in your app. To force SDK objects to release their resources, you can call dispose on them . PCastExpress will only shut down once it is no longer being referenced or dispose has been called on it.

Page Content

v2025-03-24T21:12:24.000Z

PCast™ Express

Initializing#Copied URL

PCastExpressOptionsBuilder#Copied URL

Publishing Local Media#Copied URL

Publisher Parameters#Copied URL

PublishOptionsBuilder#Copied URL

ExpressPublisher Callback Arguments#Copied URL

ExpressPublisher#Copied URL

Subscribing to Published Media#Copied URL

Subscribe Parameters#Copied URL

Subscribe Options#Copied URL

ExpressSubscriber#Copied URL

NielsenId3TagCallback Arguments#Copied URL

NielsenId3ErrorCallback Arguments#Copied URL

Monitor#Copied URL

OptionalAction#Copied URL

MonitorSetupFailedCallback Callback Arguments#Copied URL

MonitorStreamEndedCallback Callback Arguments#Copied URL

Express Get User Media#Copied URL

Express Get User Media Parameters#Copied URL

Express Get User Media Callback Arguments#Copied URL

Get PCast™#Copied URL

Handling authentication failure#Copied URL

PCastExpress#Copied URL

Clean up#Copied URL

Initializing

PCastExpressOptionsBuilder

Publishing Local Media

Publisher Parameters

PublishOptionsBuilder

ExpressPublisher Callback Arguments

ExpressPublisher

Subscribing to Published Media

Subscribe Parameters

Subscribe Options

ExpressSubscriber

NielsenId3TagCallback Arguments

NielsenId3ErrorCallback Arguments

Monitor

OptionalAction

MonitorSetupFailedCallback Callback Arguments

MonitorStreamEndedCallback Callback Arguments

Express Get User Media

Express Get User Media Parameters

Express Get User Media Callback Arguments

Get PCast™

Handling authentication failure

PCastExpress

Clean up