Travailler avec une régie TV
If you're asked to provide real time data for TV broadcasting of the race, here is a summary of your options.
There are basically 2 sets of tools offered by Wiclax, which can be complementary:
the API access
the exporters
While both can provide standard JSON data sets, their core differences lie in the way the communication can be set up, and the use cases they're respectively good at solving.
L'API Wiclax
Les détails concernant l'API sont décrits ici.
Nothing to do for you on Wiclax, the API is simply opened for external requests.
Whenever it's convenient for the TV team to be the initiator: typically they want to get the current start list, or the general classification of the race after a stage finish.
Yes, if you have the API through the Web option attached to your license. TV teams quite often prefer a local connection though, considered as more robust.
How to prepare it
Ahead of the race, you will need to know which kind of information the other team will need. Using the API tool in Wiclax you can play with the data selectors to obtain those data on your sample race file, which gives you what to share:
the URLs to call, noting that the exact IP address will be dependent on the network settings on the race place
some samples of the JSON returned data, that you can put in the clipboard from the data preview pane
Some tips here:
as far as possible, try to stick to the Active race and Active stage selectors. The addresses will remain the same and it less prone to errors if for example some race names are not labeled as expected. Just remember that Active race use in a request requires that you're actually setting a race as the active one on Wiclax. Assuming there is only one at a time.
if you have the option for the API through the web, you can make your life easier: instead of copy-pasting addresses + data samples, you can arrange a test session with the remote team so they can make their own calls to the API. Regardless whether they would just work on the local network on the race day.
Les exporteurs Wiclax
Exporters are described here.
You need to prepare some exporters for the different data sets to forward. They can mainly be file writers, socket clients or TCP servers. On the race day, these exporters must be activated and the G-Live session running. You must also monitor eventual errors logged by their execution.
Best suited for information like athletes crossing a line, as it will be broadcasted immediately. This way the TV team doesn't have to make a constant polling and check if there is anything new.
Yes, if you have the Web services option attached to your license. This is valid for a Socket type of exporter.
How to prepare it
As for the API, once your exporters are in place you can ask for a preview of the result data so you can copy and forward it.
If working with files you'll have to agree on their production path and naming.
If working with TCP client, you'll have to agree at which end point(s) the data is sent. There can be more than one involved for the needs of sorting out different kinds of information.
If working with TCP server, you can make use of the optional welcome phrase (data to send on connection) to make the exporter identify itself.
Mis à jour