Capture Software Failure Handling and Recovery

Overview

With the release of EchoSystem 5.4 Service Pack 5 (5.4.2014-12-19.3), the Classroom Capture and Personal Capture for Windows applications have been updated to include a number of improvements related to capture reliability and proper handling of failure scenarios. These new features include:

• System tray notifications when USB input devices are disconnected or unavailable during scheduled recordings
• Delaying graceful logout, restart, or shutdown events in order to finalize capture media
• Finalization of capture media after events such as hard reboot, power loss or forced application closure
• Ability to connect a missing audio device before or during a scheduled recording
• Notifications for loss of network connectivity and incompatible display drivers

These features are currently not available in the Mac version of Personal Capture. The following sections outline specific details on what to expect during each failure scenario.

Required Audio Device Missing

Scheduled Recording (Classroom Capture Only)

Prior to the start of a scheduled recording, if the selected audio device (as defined on the Configuration > Devices > Device Details page in the EchoSystem Server) is not connected to the machine or is unavailable to the Classroom Capture software, a balloon notification message will appear in the system tray informing the user. For example:

When this occurs, the application expects the audio device to be re-connected and there are three final outcomes:

• If the audio device is re-connected before the scheduled start time, the recording will proceed as planned.
• If the audio device is re-connected after the scheduled start time and during the recording window, the final Echo produced will contain content starting from the time the audio device is accessible again.
• If the audio device is never connected, the scheduled recording will not start.

Ad hoc Recording (Classroom or Personal Capture)

You will be unable to start an ad hoc recording if the audio device is unavailable. The Record button will be grayed-out.

Video or VGA Input Device Stopped Delivering Frames

In certain situations, USB webcams or display devices will stop delivering frames to Classroom or Personal Capture due to a lack of available system resources or a failure of the hardware itself. In this case, the following message will appear:

We have stopped receiving a signal for this capture. Your capture is now being finalized and uploaded to the server.

The recording will be stopped, finalized and uploaded to the server automatically.

USB Input Device Unplugged

Scheduled Recording (Classroom Capture Only)

During a scheduled recording if a selected USB audio or video input device (as defined on the Configuration > Devices > Device Details page in the EchoSystem Server) is unplugged from the machine, the following balloon notification message will appear in the system tray:

 

The recording will be stopped, finalized and uploaded to the server automatically.

Ad Hoc Recording (Classroom or Personal Capture)

During an ad hoc recording, if a selected USB audio or video input device is unplugged from the machine a warning message will appear in the software. For example:

 

The recording will be stopped, finalized and uploaded to the server automatically.

User Logout or Graceful Restart/Shutdown

During either an ad hoc or scheduled recording in Classroom or Personal Capture, if the user chooses to log out of their account, restart or power off the machine via the Start > Shutdown menu, the application will stop the current recording and delay the user-requested process in an attempt to finalize the capture media. The following message will appear in the presented list of applications that are still running on the system:

Scheduled Recording (Classroom Capture Only)

If the recording was scheduled, it will automatically resume if the user logs back in during the scheduled window. Once the recording has run the allotted time, all created media will be uploaded to the server. This will result in multiple final Echoes produced as a new set of capture media is created after a user logs back into the machine.

Ad Hoc Recording (Classroom or Personal Capture)

If a user chooses to log out of their account, restart or power off the machine via the Start > Shutdown menu during an ad hoc recording, they will be required to log back into the machine and start a new recording. Media recorded prior to the log out/restart/shutdown will be stopped, finalized and uploaded to the server automatically.

Hard Shutdown or Loss of Power

In the event that the Classroom or Personal Capture software is recording and the machine loses power or has a system fault, media recorded prior to the failure will be finalized and uploaded to the server once a user is logged back into the system.

Scheduled Recording (Classroom Capture Only)

If the recording was scheduled, it will automatically resume if the user logs back in during the scheduled window. This will result in multiple final Echoes produced as a new set of capture media is created after a user logs back into the machine.

Ad Hoc Recording (Classroom or Personal Capture)

If the recording was ad hoc, the user will be required to start a new one if they wish to continue recording.

Force-Closing Application

When performing an ad hoc recording via Classroom or Personal Capture, if a user chooses to close the application the following message will appear:

If the user then selects Yes to force-close the application, the recording will be stopped, finalized and uploaded to the server automatically. 

Loss of Internet Connectivity

Ad Hoc Recording (Personal Capture Only)

When logged in to the Personal Capture application with an ESS user account, if network connectivity is lost and a user attempts to publish a recording the login window will re-appear with the following error:

Check the network connection, then attempt to publish again.

Video Card and Driver not DirectDraw Compatible

When the Classroom or Personal Capture application is launched, automatic detection of the installed video card and it's driver take place to ensure support for DirectDraw. If the video card does not support DirectDraw, the preview window thumbnails will not appear and the software will not be able to record. In this case, the following message will appear:

Cannot initialize graphics. Please make sure your video card and driver are compatible with DirectDraw, and try again.

Ensure that the video card supports DirectDraw functionality and the latest drivers for the device are installed on the system, then try again.