DLNA streaming support for external subtitle files .srt

[matthias]

Displaying subtitles for videos played through DNLA would really be nice.

It should be possible for us to do this with a some effort and programming skills using the Jointspace API. With that, it's possible to overlay text over the TV image.

One way to do this would be to write a separate (external) Control Endpoint (e.g. running on the DNLA Server) that has access to the subtitle files. It would then start&control the playback on the TV and at the same time render the subtitles through remoteJointspace.

What I'm not sure though whether the control endpoint has information on the current playing positon, which is needed to synchronize the subtitles. Otherwise, the subtitle overlay through Jointspace must probably embedded directly into the DNLA server.

Update: I actually have something in the back of my mind that Philips bought and extended a DNLA Media Server software. Maybe Philips can use Jointspace to make this extension directly into the media server?

Update2: New facts: DLNA _does_ support external subtitles,
see below for details.

[damian_gtn]

Thanks bluevoice, I've read your previous post and I'm accepting to resign the feature until Philips changes his mind.

Meanwhile, user adb1973 write about PS3 Media Server. Seems to have the hability to transcode the video and add subtitles on the fly. Maybe what our TV doesn't support can be fixed at the DLNA side with no effort.

Anyone tested it on a Philips TV? Maybe what our TV doesn't support can be done at the Server side with no additional effort.

I spoke to a Philips representative on this matter and he told me Philips is not going to implement this function (subs via DLNA) as they think the costs are greater than the advantages of having this function. Besides, according to Philips, there's just a small user base that uses DLNA streaming and even a smaller base of customers using subs via DLNA. I told them for not English natives this function is a must but he told me it's not going to happen.

Personnally, I never use the DLNA function because of the lack of subs. Now I have to copy a movie and subs to a USB stick and plug it in the TV or Bluray player. Why make things better?

[adb1973]

Thanks bluevoice, I've read your previous post and I'm accepting to resign the feature until Philips changes his mind.

Meanwhile, user adb1973 write about PS3 Media Server. Seems to have the hability to transcode the video and add subtitles on the fly. Maybe what our TV doesn't support can be fixed at the DLNA side with no effort.

Anyone tested it on a Philips TV? Maybe what our TV doesn't support can be done at the Server side with no additional effort.

Yes I did and it works ) It's not the most comprehensible DLNA server but it's working well and it's free. Apart from that it's platform independent afaik.

@philips: yeah... If your hardware is super, but your software implementation and UI are crappy on more than a few points nobody is going to use those features. When do you learn?? So cut the crap about 'costs and benefi' and start to live up to you own slogan!

[bluevoice]

Yes I did and it works ) It's not the most comprehensible DLNA server but it's working well and it's free. Apart from that it's platform independent afaik.

Does it work well? Where can I download this PS3 Media Server, do you have a link? I'd like to give it a try on my Qnap 219 NAS.

[el_lama]

www.ps3mediaserver.org or you can try www.serviio.org

[matthias]

we checked if there is any possibility to add Subtitles also to network streamed files.
Sorry to say but with the current DLNA Standards and implimentations this is not possible.

Sorry, but I have to disagree with this.

The DLNA standard actually does support additional subtitle (.srt) files, and is already used by many DNLA media renderers, e.g. Philips HMP5000, Samsung B/C/D TV series, LG TV/player, Panasonic Viera and WD TV HD Live (see profiles.xml from Serviio Media Server and their page on subtitle support for details).
It is specified in the DMR profile by using e.g. <SubtitlesMimeType>text/srt</SubtitlesMimeType>


This is what serviio returns as item within the ContentDirectory: "urn:schemas-upnp-org:service:ContentDirectory:1"

<item id="V_T^INI_65^V_9" parentID="V_T^INI_65" restricted="1">
<dc:title>Arzak Rhapsody 01</dc:title>
<upnp:class>object.item.videoItem</upnp:class>
<res protocolInfo="http-get:*:video/x-msvideoLNA.ORG_PN=AVI;DLNA.ORG_OP=01;DLNA.ORG_CI=0;DLNA.O RG_FLAGS=01500000000000000000000000000000">http://192.168.178.27:8895/resource/9/MEDIA_ITEM/AVI*0</res>
<res protocolInfo="http-get:*:image/jpegLNA.ORG_PN=JPEG_TN;DLNA.ORG_OP=00;DLNA.ORG_CI=1;DL NA.ORG_FLAGS=00D00000000000000000000000000000">htt p://192.168.178.27:8895/resource/9/COVER_IMAGE</res>
<res protocolInfo="http-get:*:text/srt:*">http://192.168.178.27:8895/resource/9/SUBTITLE.srt</res>
</item>

As you can see, the URI to the .srt file is given in the media directory and can be read through HTTP.

Now it's just a matter of the Philips TV to actually detect and load the text/srt resource entry and display it like an USB-based srt file.

I realize Philips' limited manpower in adding such functions, but of course I still hope to see this one day in the distant future as firmware update for our TVs.

Matthias

Update: Technical stuff
One additional note: The reason to assume that the DLNA spec doesn't support external subtitles, is probably, because it's already supported but not mentioned explicitly.
That assumption is wrong, however: One or several external subtitle files can be added like any other additional resource, such as JPEG thumbnails, to the ContentDirectory.

This document on AVTransport mentions this (p.56&58), but even though people from Philips are listed as co-authors, it didn't seem to have spread around the company.

Update: Actually, as the HMP5000 supports external subtitles through DLNA, it _did_ spread around, just not to the TV guys.

[damian_gtn]

www.ps3mediaserver.org or you can try www.serviio.org

I've tested both.

Serviio doesnt work for me. I couldn't get subtitles in the transcode.

PS3 media server really works like a charm!!!!

Thanks adb1973!!!

[matthias]

Serviio doesnt work for me. I couldn't get subtitles in the transcode.
PS3 media server really works like a charm!!!!

Thanks for this info. You're right, Serviio doesn't do transcoding with subtitles, while PS3 MS does.
(You're lucky, as unfortunately, my DLNA NAS is not powerful enough todo realtime transcoding).

[bluevoice]

www.ps3mediaserver.org or you can try www.serviio.org

Thanks for the links! I just tested the PS3 media server on my Mac and it works great, subtitles are also displayed! This is nice.

However I keep all my movies on a QNAP 219 NAS. This media server is unfortunately not available for the QNAP NAS.

Any suggestion about a media server that works on a QNAP 219 NAS and also displays subs will be highly appreciated!

[kikonen]

Support of sub-titles over DLNA is indeed feature what Philips must add on their TVs if they want to remain competive. Well, of course in addition to nettv which doesn't actually constantly crash TV.

[matthias]

Maybe of interest is this thread:
The Philips media player HMP5000 does support external .srt subtitles over DLNA.

[nimbystripes]

I am just thinking if it is possible to show the subtitle, where this file is not linked to the video, but in the same folder? Will it work?

Thanks in advance.

[Toengel]

Hi,

movie and srt file should have the same name...

Toengel@Alex

[bluevoice]

I installed Serviio Media Server on my Qnap 219P last night and tried the "Philips" profile. Did not work on both my TV (58PFL9956H/12) and HTS (8562/12). Playback stopped after 7 seconds.

I also tried the "Generic DLNA" profile and on the TV playback worked without stuttering, but no sutitles. On the HTS playback was stuttering.

It would be nice if someone could make a working profile that works with 2011 Philips devices.

[sibo]

I have both Samsung and LG smart TVs and both have .srt DLNA support out of the box. You browse media server, press play - that's it. It would seem Philips' "smart-TV" sadly just aint as smart as other brands. I regret buying my Philips already.

Philips: This is standard for other successful brands damn it, just fix it (if not for us do it to keep up with your competitors).
And what's that talk about the customer base using DLNA with subs aint big? We decide what we want and you sell it to us, not the other way around.

Response please!