XCMD
XCMD
XCMD
<rds><item
X-Command
for RDS Encoders
<artist>
A guide how to broadcast tagged information
using a RDS encoder’s text command
based on markup language
</item></rds
Ing. Jan KoIar, PlRA DigitaI s.r.o. Pira.cz
>
Introduction
Benefit of the X-Command is well illustrated on following situations. A typical
broadcast automation system is taking internal text fields and loading the RDS
encoder by a text describing current program being broadcast.
RDS ENCODER
RT+
12V D C ETHERNET R S -232 OUTPUT IN P U T G P IO
X-COMMAND
LOOP S ID E
Radiotext Plus (RT+) is a technology based on Radio Data System (RDS) standard
that tags text messages so specific content type can be retrieved from them. The RT+
enhances possibilities of existing Radiotext service as it helps the receivers to
recognize and classify what kind of information is currently put in the Radiotext. The
purpose of RT+ is to enable analogue FM RDS radios to display metadata such as
Artist and Title details for songs, scrolling news headlines, information about the radio
station, etc. The investment in RT+ is future proof – RT+ equivalents exist in all digital
radio and mobile audio technologies: DMB/DAB/DAB+, DRM+, HD Radio, MP3 etc.
The RT+ specification has been published before more than 10 years. After this period
we can make following summarization:
The reason is primarily not inside the products themselves but in the manner how the
products communicate between themselves. Loading the RDS encoders with RT+
metadata has not yet been covered by any suitable standard which could help mass
deployment of the RT+. Let's look at some methods which are currently in use:
The X-Command brings a solution for all the disadvantages listed above. It
unambiguously tells the RDS encoder what do to, without solving how to do that. One
text, one line, metadata included.
Even through the broadcast automation system does not handle the RDS RT+ feature,
the X-Command allows forwarding the metadata to the RDS encoder without losing
any information. Just send the X-Command and forget. The RDS encoder does the
entire job – parsing of the command, loading the text, RT+ coding and optimization
and sending everything to your listeners.
Root element
The X-Command content is delimited by element <rds>...</rds>. Anything outside
this root element is ignored by the X-Command parser (but it’s still counted in the total
length limit). If the root element is not found or incomplete, no operation is performed.
Character encoding
The X-Command always expects UTF-8 encoding. Conversion to EBU Latin CP is
made inside the RDS encoder. Systems using 8-bit ANSI encoding must perform
either conversion to UTF-8 or removal of all characters with ASCII code 128 or higher.
Terminating character
The X-Command entry must be terminated by CR character (0x0D) in case of serial or
TCP connection. The terminating character is not required for file input type.
Code Destination
If the destination is not specified or its code is set to 0, a default
0 destination will apply. In the Pira.cz products the default destination is
Radiotext (RT1) without RT+.
1 Radiotext
3 Radiotext incl. RT+
4 Dynamic PS
5 Radiotext and Dynamic PS
7 Radiotext incl. RT+ and Dynamic PS
32 to 255 (The RDS encoder's manufacturer may define proprietary codes)
Length limits
The Radiotext lenght is limited by RDS standard to 64 characters maximum. The same
limit applies to RT+ (sum of all tags). The Dynamic PS text length is usually limited to
128 characters maximum. Overflowing characters are truncated by the RDS encoder.
List of tags supported in the text
The tags in the text are optional. Following table summarizes the tags supported and
their RT+ equivalent:
XCMD=<rds><item><dest>7</dest><text>Now Playing:
<artist>Prodigy</artist> - <title>Full Throttle</title> (<album>Music
for the Jilted Generation</album>)</text></item></rds>
Radiotext Now Playing: Prodigy - Full Throttle (Music for the Jilted Gener
Prodigy
RT+
Full Throttle
Dynamic PS Now Playing: Prodigy - Full Throttle (Music for the Jilted Generation)
Keep the text actual by sending it once when the playing song changes or on
similar event.
Include the information in your promotional documents and user guide for quick
access.
X-Command History
Date Event