PHP Media API Wrapper

About

This project provides a starting point for integrating the Brightcove Media API into your application. It provides simple ways to interact with the API, as well as a long list of helper functions.

Compatibility Notice

Please note that the PHP MAPI Wrapper v2.0 is not compatible with any previous versions (when it was known as "Echove"). The class name has been changed, numerous functions have been re-named, and methods have been updated to take advantage of Brightcove API changes.

If you need assistance in determining what changes have been made, please send an e-mail to opensource@brightcove.com with your request.

Requirements

PHP version 5.2 or greater, or you must have the JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) PECL package. For more information on the JSON PECL package, please visit the PHP JSON package website.

Using Cache Extension

The PHP MAPI Wrapper includes a caching extension. To use this feature, include the file on your page along with the core PHP MAPI Wrapper file.

require('bc-mapi.php');
require('bc-mapi-cache.php');

Then, after instantiating the core class, you can instantiate the caching extension.

// Using flat files
$bc = new BCMAPI(API_READ_TOKEN, API_WRITE_TOKEN);
$bc_cache = new BCMAPICache('file', 600, '/var/www/myWebSite/cache/', '.cache');

// Using Memcached
$bc = new BCMAPI(API_READ_TOKEN, API_WRITE_TOKEN);
$bc_cache = new BCMAPICache('memcached', 600, 'localhost', NULL, 11211);

The parameters for the constructor are:

[string] The type of caching method to use, either 'file' or 'memcached'
[int] How many seconds until cache files are considered cold
[string] The absolute path of the cache directory (file) or host (memcached)
[string] The file extension for cache items (file only)
[int] The port to use (Memcached only)

Examples

Instantiation

This example shows how to instantiate, or start, the BCMAPI PHP class. The first token, which is for the Read API, is required. The second token is for the Write API and is optional.

// Include the BCMAPI SDK
require('bc-mapi.php');

// Instantiate the class, passing it our Brightcove API tokens (read, then write)
$bc = new BCMAPI(
    'READ_API_TOKEN',
    'WRITE_API_TOKEN'
);

// You may optionally include the caching extension provided with BCMAPI...
require('bc-mapi-cache.php');

// Using flat files
$bc_cache = new BCMAPICache('file', 600, '/var/www/myWebSite/cache/', '.cache');

// Using Memcached
$bc_cache = new BCMAPICache('memcached', 600, 'localhost', NULL, 11211);

Properties

This example shows how to set and retrieve some of the BCMAPI properties that can be used for debugging and additional settings.

// Turn on HTTPS mode
$bc->__set('secure', TRUE);

// Make our API call
$videos = $bc->find('allVideos');

// Determine how many possible results there are
echo 'Total Videos: ' . $bc->total_count . '&lt;br /&gt;';

// Make our API call
$videos = $bc->findAll();

// Determine how many times we called the Brightcove API
echo 'API Calls: ' . $bc->__get('api_calls');

Regional Support (Internationalization)

This example shows how to change the API URLs for supporting international regions.

// Change our region to Japan
$bc->__set('url_read', 'api.brightcove.co.jp/services/library?');
$bc->__set('url_write', 'api.brightcove.co.jp/services/post');

Error Handling

This example shows how to utilize the built-in error handling in BCMAPI.

// Create a try/catch
try {
    // Make our API call
    $video = $bc->find('find_video_by_id', 123456789);
} catch(Exception $error) {
    // Handle our error
    echo $error;
    die();
}

Find Query

This example shows how to retrieve a video from a Brightcove account.

// Make our API call
$video = $bc->find('find_video_by_id', 123456789);

// Print the video name and ID
echo $video->name . ' (' . $video->id . ')';

Find Query - Shorthand

This example shows how you can use shorthand method names to make code easier to write and read.

// Make our API call
$video = $bc->find('videoById', 123456789);

Find Query - Additional Parameters

This example shows how to define additional API call parameters using a key-value array.

// Define our parameters
$params = array(
    'id' => 123456789,
    'video_fields' => 'video_id,name,shortDescription'
);

// Make our API call
$video = $bc->find('videoById', $params);

Find Query - True Find All

Brightcove limits the "find_all_videos" call to 100 results, requiring pagination and numerous API calls. This example shows how to use the findAll() method to do this automatically. WARNING: Use very carefully * // Define our parameters $params = array( 'video_fields' => 'id,name' );

// Make our API call
$videos = $bc->findAll('video', $params);

Search Query

This example shows how to search for a video about "gates", but not "Bill Gates".

// Define our parameters
$params = array(
    'video_fields' => 'id,name,shortDescription'
);

// Set our search terms
$terms = array(
    'all' => 'display_name:gates',
    'none' => 'display_name:bill'
);

// Make our API call
$videos = $bc->search('video', $terms, $params);

Search Query (Multiple-Field Search)

This example shows how to search for a video with "jobs" in the title AND tags.

// Define our parameters
$params = array(
    'video_fields' => 'id,name,shortDescription'
);

// Set our search terms
$terms = array(
    'all' => 'display_name:jobs,tag:jobs'
);

// Make our API call
$videos = $bc->search('video', $terms, $params);

Create - Video

This example details how to upload a video to a Brightcove account. This code is handling data that was passed from a form. Note that we re-name the uploaded movie to its original name rather than the random string generated when it's placed in the "tmp" directory; this is because the tmp_name does not include the file extension. The video name is a required field.

// Create an array of meta data from our form fields
$metaData = array(
    'name' => $_POST['videoName'],
    'shortDescription' => $_POST['videoShortDescription']
);

// Move the file out of 'tmp', or rename
rename($_FILES['videoFile']['tmp_name'], '/tmp/' . $_FILES['videoFile']['name']);
$file = '/tmp/' . $_FILES['videoFile']['name'];

// Upload the video and save the video ID
$id = $bc->createMedia('video', $file, $metaData);

Create - Image

This example details how to upload a image to a Brightcove account. This code is handling data that was passed from a form. Note that we re-name the uploaded image to its original name rather than the random string generated when it's placed in the "tmp" directory; this is because the tmp_name does not include the file extension.

// Create an array of meta data from our form fields
$metaData = array(
    'type' => 'VIDEO_STILL',
    'displayName' => $_POST['imageName']
);

// Move the file out of 'tmp', or rename
rename($_FILES['bcImage']['tmp_name'], '/tmp/' . $_FILES['bcImage']['name']);
$file = '/tmp/' . $_FILES['bcImage']['name'];

// Upload the image, assign to a video, and save the image asset ID
$id = $bc->createImage('video', $file, $metaData, 123456789);

Create - Playlist

This example shows how to create a playlist in a Brightcove account. The code is handling data that was passed from a form. The name, video IDs, and playlist type are all required fields.

// Take a comma-separated string of video IDs and explode into an array
$videoIds = explode(',', $_POST['playlistVideoIds']);

// Create an array of meta data from our form fields
$metaData = array(
    'name' => $_POST['playlistName'],
    'shortDescription' => $_POST['playlistShortDescription'],
    'videoIds' => $videoIds,
    'playlistType' => 'explicit'
);

// Create the playlist and save the playlist ID
$id = $bc->createPlaylist('video', $metaData);

Update - Video / Playlist

This example shows how to update a video, but the same method will work for a playlist.

// Create an array of the new meta data
$metaData = array(
    'id' => 123456789,
    'shortDescription' => 'Our new short description.'
);

// Update a video with the new meta data
$bc->update('video', $metaData);

Delete - Video / Playlist

This example shows how to delete a video, but the same method will work for a playlist. Cascaded deletion means that the video will also be removed from all playlists and players.

// Delete a 'video' by ID, and cascade the deletion
$bc->delete('video', 123456789, NULL, TRUE);

Status - Video Upload

This example shows how to determine the status of a video being uploaded to a Brightcove account.

// Retrieve upload status
$status = $bc->getStatus('video', 123456789);

Share Video

This example shows how to share a video with another Brightcove account. A list of the new video IDs will be returned. Note that sharing must be enabled between the two accounts.

// List the accounts to share the video with
$ids = array(
    123456789
);

// Share the videos, and save the new video IDs
$new_ids = $bc->shareMedia('video', 123456789, $ids);

Add To / Remove From Playlist

This example shows how to add an asset to a playlist, as well as how to remove an asset from a playlist. You may pass an array of video IDs, or a single video ID.

// Add two videos to a playlist
$bc->addToPlaylist(555555555, array(123456789, 987654321));

// Remove a video from a playlist
$bc->removeFromPlaylist(555555555, 987654321);

SEF URLs / Time Formatting

This example shows the BCMAPI convenience methods that convert video titles into a search-engine friendly format and video lengths into formatted strings.

// Make our API call
$video = $bc->find('videoById', 123456789);

// Print the SEF video name and formatted duration
echo 'Name: ' . $bc->sef($video->name) . '&lt;br /&gt;';
echo 'Duration:' . $bc->time($video->length) . '&lt;br /&gt;';

Automatic Timestamp Conversion

To more seamlessly bridge the Brightcove API into PHP the 'from_date' parameter for the "find_modified_videos" call should be provided as seconds since Epoch (UNIX timestamp) instead of minutes since, as the Brightcove Media API documentation states. You can still pass minutes if you prefer.

// Set timestamp to 7 days ago (in seconds)
$time = time() - 604800;

// Make our API call
$videos = $bc->find('modifiedVideos', $time);

// Set timestamp to 7 days ago (in minutes)
$time = floor((time() - 604800) / 60);

// Make our API call
$videos = $bc->find('modifiedVideos', $time);

Tag Filter

This example shows how to remove all videos that don't contain any of the listed tags.

// Make our API call
$videos = $bc->find('allVideos');

// Remove all videos without specified tags
$videos = $bc->filter($videos, 'published=true,include=true');

Methods

BCMAPI

The constructor for the BCMAPI class.

Arguments

token_read The read API token for the Brightcove account

Default: NULL Type: String
token_write The write API token for the Brightcove account

Default: NULL Type: String

Properties

api_calls Private - The total number of API calls that have been processed

Type: Integer
media_delivery Private - What type of URL to return for UDS assets

Type: String
page_number Public - The value of the last 'page_number' return

Type: Integer
page_size Public - The value of the last 'page_size' return

Type: Integer
secure Private - Whether BCMAPI is operating over HTTPS

Type: Boolean
show_notices Private - Whether BCMAPI will send error notices

Type: Boolean
timeout_attempts Private - The number of times to retry a call in case of API timeout

Type: Integer
timeout_delay Private - Number of seconds to delay retry attempts

Type: Integer
timeout_retry Private - Whether to automatically retry calls that fail due to API timeout

Type: Boolean
token_read Private - The read Brightcove token to use

Type: String
token_write Private - The write Brightcove token to use

Type: String
total_count Public - The value of the last 'total_count' return

Type: Integer

__set

Sets a property of the BCMAPI class.

Arguments

key The property to set

Type: String
value The new value for the property

Type: Mixed

Return Value

The new value of the property

Type:       Mixed

__get

Retrieves a property of the BCMAPI class.

Arguments

key The property to retrieve

Type: String

Return Value

The value of the property

Type:       Mixed

find

Formats the request for any API "Find" methods and retrieves the data. The requested call may be written in a shortened version (e.g. "allVideos" or "all_videos" instead of "find_all_videos"). If the call supports get_item_count, it is defaulted to TRUE.

Arguments

call The requested API method

Type: String
params A key-value array of API parameters, or a single value that matches the default

Default: NULL Type: Mixed

Return Value

An object containing all API return data

Type:       Object

findAll

Finds all media assets in account, ignoring pagination. This method should be used with extreme care as accounts with a large library of assets will require a high number of API calls. This could significantly affect performance and may result in additional charges from Brightcove.

Arguments

type The type of object to retrieve

Default: video Type: String
params A key-value array of API parameters

Default: NULL Type: Array

Return Value

An object containing all API return data

Type:       Object

search

Performs a search of video meta data

Arguments

type The type of objects to retrieve

Default: video Type: String
terms The terms to use for the search

Default: NULL Type: Array
params A key-value array of API parameters

Default: NULL Type: Mixed

Return Value

An object containing all API return data

Type:       Object

createMedia

Uploads a media asset file to Brightcove. When creating an asset from an upload it is suggested that you first move the file out of the temporary directory where PHP placed it and rename the file to it's original name. An asset name and short description are both required; leaving these values blank will cause them to be populated with the current UNIX timestamp. Certain upload settings are not allowed depending upon what default have already been set, and depending on the type of file being uploaded. Setting the incorrect values for these parameters will trigger a notice.

Arguments

type The type of object to upload

Default: video Type: String
file The location of the temporary file

Default: NULL Type: String
meta The media asset information

Type: Array
options Optional upload values

Default: NULL Type: Array

Return Value

The media asset ID

Type:       String

createPlaylist

Creates a playlist.

Arguments

type The type of playlist to create

Default: video Type: String
meta The playlist information

Type: Array

Return Value

The playlist ID

Type:       String

update

Updates a media asset. Only the meta data that has changed needs to be passed along. Be sure to include the asset ID, though.

Arguments

type The type of object to update

Default: video Type: String
meta The information for the media asset

Type: Array

Return Value

The new DTO

Type:       DTO

createImage

Uploads a media image file to Brightcove. When creating an image it is suggested that you first move the file out of the temporary directory where PHP placed it and rename the file to it's original name.

Arguments

type The type of object to upload image for

Default: video Type: String
file The location of the temporary file

Default: NULL Type: String
meta The image information

Type: Array
id The ID of the media asset to assign the image to

Default: NULL Type: Integer
ref_id The reference ID of the media asset to assign the image to

Default: NULL Type: String
resize Whether or not to resize the image on upload

Default: TRUE Type: Boolean

Return Value

The image asset

Type:       Mixed

createOverlay

Uploads a logo overlay file to Brightcove. When creating a logo overlay it is suggested that you first move the file out of the temporary directory where PHP placed it and rename the file to it's original name.

Arguments

file The location of the temporary file

Default: NULL Type: String
meta The logo overlay information

Type: Array
id The ID of the media asset to assign the logo overlay to

Default: NULL Type: Integer
ref_id The reference ID of the media asset to assign the logo overlay to

Default: NULL Type: String

Return Value

The logo overlay asset

Type:       Mixed

deleteOverlay

Deletes a logo overlay.

Arguments

id The ID of the media asset

Default: NULL Type: Integer
ref_id The reference ID of the media asset

Default: NULL Type: String
options Optional values

Default: NULL Type: Array

delete

Deletes a media asset. Either an ID or Reference ID must be passed.

Arguments

type The type of the item to delete

Default: video Type: String
id The ID of the media asset

Default: NULL Type: Integer
ref_id The reference ID of the media asset

Default: NULL Type: String
options Optional values

Default: NULL Type: Array

getStatus

Retrieves the status of a media asset upload.

Arguments

type The type of object to check

Default: video Type: String
id The ID of the media asset

Default: NULL Type: String
ref_id The reference ID of the media asset

Default: TRUE Type: String

Return Value

The upload status

Type:       String

shareMedia

Shares a media asset with the selected accounts. Sharing must be enabled between the two accounts.

Arguments

type The type of object to share

Default: video Type: String
id The ID of the media asset

Type: Integer
account_ids An array of account IDs

Type: Array
accept Whether the share should be auto accepted

Default: FALSE Type: Boolean
force Whether the share should overwrite existing copies of the media

Default: FALSE Type: Boolean

Return Value

The new media asset IDs

Type:       Array

removeFromPlaylist

Removes assets from a playlist.

Arguments

playlist_id The ID of the playlist to modify

Type: Integer
video_ids An array of video IDs to delete from the playlist

Type: Array

Return Value

The new playlist DTO

Type:       Array

addToPlaylist

Adds assets to a playlist.

Arguments

playlist_id The ID of the playlist to modify

Type: Integer
video_ids An array of video IDs to add to the playlist

Type: Array

Return Value

The new playlist DTO

Type:       Array

convertTime

Converts milliseconds to formatted time or seconds.

Arguments

ms The length of the media asset in milliseconds

Default:
Type: Integer
seconds Whether to return only seconds

Default: FALSE Type: Boolean

Return Value

The formatted length or total seconds of the media asset

Type:       Mixed

convertTags

Parses media asset tags array into a key-value array.

Arguments

tags The tags array from a media asset DTO

Default:
Type: Array
implode Return array to Brightcove format

Default: FALSE Type: Boolean

Return Value

A key-value array of tags, or a comma-separated string

Type:       Mixed

tagsFilter

Removes assets that don't contain the appropriate tags.

Arguments

videos All the assets you wish to filter

Default:
Type: Array
tag A comma-separated list of tags to filter on

Default:
Type: String

Return Value

The filtered list of assets

Type:       Array

sef

Formats a media asset name to be search-engine friendly.

Arguments

name The asset name

Default:
Type: String

Return Value

The search-engine friendly asset name

Type:       String

BCMAPICache

The constructor for the BCMAPICache class.

Arguments

type The type of caching method to use, either 'file' or 'memcached'

Default: file Type: String
time How many seconds until cache files are considered cold

Default: 600 Type: Integer
location The absolute path of the cache directory (file) or host (memcached)

Default:
Type: String
extension The file extension for cache items (file only)

Default: .c Type: String
port

Default: 11211 Type: Integer

Properties

extension Public - The file extension for cache items (file only)

Type: String
location Public - The absolute path of the cache directory (file) or host (memcached)

Type: String
memcached Public - The Memcached object, if valid

Type: Object
port Public - The port to use (Memcached only)

Type: Integer
time Public - How many seconds until cache files are considered cold

Type: Integer
type Public - The type of caching method to use, either 'file' or 'memcached'

Type: String

Errors

BCMAPIApiError

This is the most generic error returned from BCMAPI as it is thrown whenever the API returns unexpected data, or an error. The API return data will be included in the error to help you diagnose the problem.

BCMAPIDeprecated

The requested item is no longer supported by Brightcove and/or BCMAPI. Stop using this method as early as possible, as the item could be removed in any future release.

BCMAPIDtoDoesNotExist

The specified asset does not exist in the Brightcove system. Ensure you're using the correct ID.

BCMAPIIdNotProvided

An ID has not been passed to the method (usually a "delete" or "share" function). Include the ID parameter to resolve the error.

BCMAPIInvalidFileType

The file being passed to the function is not supported. Try another file type to resolve the error.

BCMAPIInvalidMethod

The "find" method being requested is not supported by BCMAPI, or does not exist in the Brightcove API. Remove the method call and check both the BCMAPI and Brightcove API documentation.

BCMAPIInvalidProperty

The BCMAPI property you are trying to set or retrieve does not exist. Check the BCMAPI documentation.

BCMAPIInvalidType

The DTO type (video, playlist, image, etc) you specified is not allowed for the method. Check both the BCMAPI and Brightcove API documentation.

BCMAPISearchTermsNotProvided

Please specify one or more search parameters. Verify you are passing the parameters in an array.

BCMAPITokenError

The read or write token you provided is not recognized by Brightcove. Verify you are using the correct token.

BCMAPITransactionError

The API could not be accessed, or the API did not return any data. Verify the server has cURL installed, enabled, and able to retrieve remote data. Verify the Brightcove API is currently available.

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Latest Source

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Support

Found a bug? Report it at the GitHub issue tracker

Get Involved

Anyone can join the Open Source @ Brightcove team. Dive right in and start responding to issues, answering forum questions or submitting code patches through our GitHub repository.

Check out our Submission Guidelines to learn how to get your Brightcove-related open source project listed on this site or email us at opensource@brightcove.com to let us know how you'd like to help.