streaming time limits

please please add a time limit for streaming content (not like the one already there that limits the age ratings at times) what i mean is a time limit that lets a user watch anything between the hours set also i must cut the stream when out of the time range and not let the user watch anything intill back within there set times. please please add this teens are a pain they hate rules and i find myself manual turning on and off there streams it would be good to have this in a update. :)

regards
stewart

Thanks for the suggestion, Stewart. It's a nice idea. We'll add it to our development task list for inclusion into a future version of Mezzmo.

I've run into this exact same issue recently - largely to block savvy kids from waking up at 2am and streaming shows when they should be sleeping. Any update on this feature?

BTW - Love Mezzmo - been using it for years. I've tried XBMC, Plex and a handful of others. Best out there by far - all the effort into making such a great product is appreciated!

It is on our todo list, we will use the content ratings time limits as a template and implement the ability to block out time periods to prevent streaming.

ooo yea cant wait for this addon lol kids are going to hate me lol

Thanks Peter! I'm as excited as Stewart is. Now it's time to work on a chart where X hours of weekly chores = X hours of Mezzmo streaming...

just remember it needs to be automatic eg if a user is watching a stream it will automatically cut the stream and block when out side the time zone intill they are back in there time zone then it will automatically unblock. Thanks again keep up the good work :)

We have added the basic functionality, no user interface yet but you can configure it via the MezzmoMediaServer.ini file. We will send you details about how to download the patch via private message, please check your forum messages for this message. After installing the patch you will need to edit the ini file and under the section starting with [DB] add the following:

StreamingRestrictionLimit_FromHour=0
StreamingRestrictionLimit_FromMin=0
StreamingRestrictionLimit_ToHour=6
StreamingRestrictionLimit_ToMin=0

Here you have the starting time for the restricted time and the ending time in 24hour time. You can set the restricted time to the starting and end time, for example 0 to 6, which is 12am to 6am. The starting time has to be lower than the ending time for it to work, so 23 to 5 (11pm to 5am) will not work. We will think about this some more to try and implement it so that the starting time can be lower than the ending time as well.

You will need to save the file and restart your Mezzmo media server for the changes to be applied. Find the MezzmoMediaServer.ini in your Mezzmo database folder (see Options for the location).

ok sounds good but how do you set the limit per user i need to set the times for 4 kids all with different times they each have there own room with there own tv and mezzmo account thanks

Currently it is a global setting so you can only set one time to exclude everyone from using the server, we will add support for devices/users when we get time.

ok thanks ill wait intill it can be set to per user

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Peter

We have added the basic functionality, no user interface yet but you can configure it via the MezzmoMediaServer.ini file. We will send you details about how to download the patch via private message, please check your forum messages for this message. After installing the patch you will need to edit the ini file and under the section starting with [DB] add the following:

StreamingRestrictionLimit_FromHour=0
StreamingRestrictionLimit_FromMin=0
StreamingRestrictionLimit_ToHour=6
StreamingRestrictionLimit_ToMin=0

Here you have the starting time for the restricted time and the ending time in 24hour time. You can set the restricted time to the starting and end time, for example 0 to 6, which is 12am to 6am. The starting time has to be lower than the ending time for it to work, so 23 to 5 (11pm to 5am) will not work. We will think about this some more to try and implement it so that the starting time can be lower than the ending time as well.

You will need to save the file and restart your Mezzmo media server for the changes to be applied. Find the MezzmoMediaServer.ini in your Mezzmo database folder (see Options for the location).

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Thanks Peter (and the rest of the staff)! That was a quick turn-around and very much appreciated!

I'll start tinkering with it - it may not be able to limit by user just yet, but this is a great start and allows me to start blocking out times when the kids should all be asleep.

Thanks!

One other option is to look at the firewall options on your home router. Some allow you to implement time based access control lists that would block traffic between defined time periods (I.e., block access to Mezzmo from the client tv\laptop\iPad\whatever). If the kid's devices are using static IPs then this might be a possible solution? I know some routers can use the Device MAC as a key to block on, Vs. the IP address, so it may even be possible to implement if you have DHCP'd LAN addresses, or your kid's are savvy enough to re-assign their IP :).

Infact - you might even be able to implement such rules on the Mezzmo host itself (windows firewall, IP tables config etc), if your router doesn't support it.