Load a media resource using MediaPlayerItemLoader

Using MediaPlayerItemLoader helps you obtain information about a media stream without instantiating a MediaPlayer instance. This is especially useful in pre-buffering streams so that playback can begin without delay.

The MediaPlayerItemLoader class helps you exchange a media resource for the current MediaPlayerItem without attaching a view to a MediaPlayer instance, which would allocate video decoding hardware resources. Additional steps are necessary for DRM-protected content, but this manual does not describe them.

1. Create an instance of MediaPlayerItemLoader.

   private MediaPlayerItemLoader createLoader() {
       MediaPlayerItemLoader itemLoader =
         new MediaPlayerItemLoader(this, new MediaPlayerItemLoader.LoaderListener() {
           public void onError(PSDKErrorCode mediaErrorCode, String description) {
               //Do something
           }
   
           public void onLoadComplete(MediaPlayerItem playerItem) {
               loader.prepareBuffer();
           }
   
           public void onBufferingBegin() {
               //Do something
           }
   
           public void onBufferPrepared() {
               mPlayer.reset();
           }
       });
   
       itemLoader.setKeepRebufferingForLive(true);
       return itemLoader;
   }
   
   

   TIP

   Create a separate instance of MediaPlayerItemLoader for each resource. Do not use one MediaPlayerItemLoader instance to load multiple resources.

2. Implement the ItemLoaderListener class to receive notifications from the MediaPlayerItemLoader instance.

   private MediaPlayerItemLoader createLoader() {
       MediaPlayerItemLoader itemLoader =
         new MediaPlayerItemLoader(this, new MediaPlayerItemLoader.LoaderListener() {
           public void onError(PSDKErrorCode mediaErrorCode, String description) {
               //Do something
           }
           public void onLoadComplete(MediaPlayerItem playerItem) {
               loader.prepareBuffer();
           }
           public void onBufferingBegin() {
               //Do something
           }
           public void onBufferPrepared() {
               mPlayer.reset();
           }
       } );
   
       itemLoader.setKeepRebufferingForLive(true);
       return itemLoader;
   }
   

   In the onLoadComplete() callback, do one of the following:

   • Ensure that anything that might affect buffering, for example, selecting WebVTT or audio tracks, is complete and call prepareBuffer() to take advantage of instant on.
   • Attach the item to the MediaPlayer instance by using replaceCurrentItem().

   If you call prepareBuffer(), you receive the BUFFER_PREPARED event in your onBufferPrepared handler when the preparation is finished.

3. Call load on the MediaPlayerItemLoader instance and pass the resource to be loaded, and optionally the content ID, and a MediaPlayerItemConfig instance.

   loader = createLoader();
   MediaResource res = new MediaResource(mVideoUrl, MediaResource.Type.HLS, metadata);
   loader.load(res, 233, getConfig());
   

4. To buffer from a point other than the beginning of the stream, call prepareBuffer() with the position (in milliseconds) at which to start buffering.

5. Use the replaceCurrentItem() and play() methods of MediaPlayer to start playing from that point.

6. Wait for idle status and call replaceCurrentItem.

7. Play the item.

   • If the item is loaded but not buffered:

     1. Wait for initialized status.
     2. Call prepareToPlay().
     3. Wait for the PREPARED status.
     4. Call play().

   • If the item is buffered:

     1. Wait for the buffer prepared event.
     2. Call play().