TheHdStandard - Video Broadcasting News By EyePartner » HD streaming

The H.264 standard

Admin — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:11:45 +0000

H.264 is an industry standard for video compression. Video compression can be defined as the process of converting digital video into a format that reduces the file size for when it is stored or transmitted.

An H.264 video encoder carries out prediction and encoding processes to produce a compressed H.264 bitstream.

Video compression (or video coding) is an essential technology for applications such as digital television, DVD-Video, mobile TV, videoconferencing and internet streaming video. Standardizing video compression makes it possible for products from different manufacturers (e.g. encoders, decoders and storage media) to inter-operate. An encoder converts video into a compressed format and a decoder converts compressed video back into an uncompressed format.

The H.264 standard reduces the amount of information required to reproduce a video. Encoders process each frame by subdividing the picture into a grid of blocks and searching previous or future frames for each block for matching texture. This technique is known as motion estimation. When a suitable match is found, a decoder can reproduce the texture of the block in the current frame using only a vector pointing to the matching reference texture along with some information to correct any small texture differences.

The H.264 standard offers substantial performance improvements over its predecessors. For example: A standard DVD can hold one two-hour movie compressed using the MPEG-2 (the popular standard for DVD movies) codec and four hours of movies using an H.264 codec.

The biggest advantage of H.264 over previous standards is its compression performance. Compared with standards such as MPEG-2 and MPEG-4, H.264 can deliver better image quality at the same compressed bitrate or a lower compressed bitrate for the same image quality.

Here are some samples to see the difference:

The reduced image size offered by H.264 utilizes dramatically less Bandwidth that either MPEG-2 or MPEG-4.

H.264 is getting so much attention because it can encode video with approximately 3 times fewer bits than comparable MPEG-2 encoders.

Because H.264 is up to twice as efficient as MPEG-4 Part 2 (natural video) encoding, it has recently been welcomed into the MPEG-4 standard as Part 10 – Advanced Video Coding. Many established encoder and decoder vendors are moving directly to H.264 and skipping the intermediate step of MPEG-4 Part 2.

Streaming video using Flash

Mihaela — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 21:59:09 +0000

Adobe Flash is a multimedia platform and it is considered an international standard in the streaming industry. Flash is an important contender in this industry, in a close competition with Silverlight. This is the format we recommend most strongly.

There are 2 Flash formats being used primordialy:
- The first one is .swf – used for flash files integrated in web pages
- The second one is .flv considered the most common way to present animated vector graphics online. dom. Flash is capable to support H.264 files, which is a huge improvement as this standard is a reference in the streaming media market.

By having a high price Flash is not really accessible to everyone. And this because you need a Flash License in order to benefit of it’s full features. Also you need to handle the software but if you previously saw how a video editor works it shall not take you so long.

A Flash License offers you a wide range of video editing features and flexibility. Flash is now the most used method of video integration with web pages, working with a variety of customized menus and offering an interactive way of creating animated content.

Many people and magazines consider that Flash has a big plus by having the most popular and widely spread (supported) video player. It comes as a simple plugin you need to install before accessing the flash files. Even a non pro individual can embed a flash player on a website by simply adding the code on the desired webpage. Another thing confering universality is that Flash Video can be viewed on the most operating systems (using the Flash Player or the web browser plugin).

Here is how a Flash Player looks like:

Flash offers the possiblity to customize the video or audio player by modifying the embed code. This way color, buttons, themes, sizes can be easily manipulated resulting a very personal look according to the place and purposes of your video message. Open source tools can help you create the movies and other content flash compatible.

Speaking about the audio codecs, flash compatible AAC or MP3 technology are closing the circle to provide one with the best streaming or viewing experience.

You may ask why streaming with flash is a good solution. The answer is simple: Flash offers a flexible platform with HD quality for both on-demand and live streaming.

Unicast and multicast streaming

Catalin — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 21:58:59 +0000

Unicast streaming is a 1 to 1 connection between a server and a client, meaning each client gets a sepparate stream and only if they request it. Unicast streaming works either for live streaming or on demand streaming.

Here is how unicast streaming works:

Unicast streaming

Unicast is the way being used by a WM server to serve content and the middle factor between a player and a server. It also supports multiple bit rate streaming features. There are 2 factors limiting the audience size when receiving unicast signals:

a. The bit rate of the video content being streamed
b. The speed of the server.

Unicast streaming is a good solution if:

1. You want to encode with multiple-bit-rate

2. The network you are using is not multicast-enabled;

3. The size of your audience and your content bit rate are estimated according to your server and network capabilities.

Unicast is suitable when a private resource is demanded in a network process that is why applications created for mass content distribution are using multicast (this happens also because each network connection will consume its own bandwidth for data transmission).

Multicast streaming is the opposite technology for delivering datas to more than one sources at the same time, creating copies only when the links to the multiple destinations split.
Multicast is most of the time used to speak about IP multicast (used in the streaming media sector and Internet TV solutions).

Multicast streaming is basicly the communication between a WM server and many clients capturing the stream. The server uses a single IP address to deliver the content then clients are able to access it by subscribing to that specific IP. Everybody receives the same content and cannot control the playback.

Basicly this type of connection reduces the network bandwidth needed to stream over the network so a very good solution for low bandwidth LAN’s.

Multicast streaming

For delivering multicast content the routers you are using must be multicast-enabled (this means that it can transmit IP addresses class D.

Multicast is suitable in the situations when:

1. You have a large audience and bandwidth and server limits;

2. The network you are using is multicast-enabled;

Catalin
Professional Streaming Consultant

Streaming media glossary

Catalin — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 21:58:49 +0000

Here is a short glossary with the terms you may need to know when streaming live or on demand videos:

FPS = framerate, frames per second

B = byte = 8 bits

MB = Megabyte

Mb or Mbit= megabit

KB = kilobyte

Kb or kbit = kilobit

Codec (from coder/decoder) – software and/or hardware used to code/decode audio or video data.

Bpp – bits per pixel, describes color depth or compression ratio

Bitrate – number of bits that are conveyed or processed per unit of time

Chrominance (chroma) – color information

Luma (don’t confuse with Luminance) – brightness information

CRT – cathode ray tube

FMS – Flash Media Server

API – application programming interface

AAC – Advanced Audio Coding

Bandwidth – the amount of data that can be sent over a connection in a given amount of time without distortion. It should not be confused with band.

Band – A specific range of frequencies (for example those between 1850 MHz and 1995 MHz) are called a band.

Broadband – In data communications, a “broadband connection” is a connection with a high speed of data transfer (greater than 56 kbps). Generally, it is fast enough to support streaming video.

FTP – File Transfer Protocol

GB – Gigabyte

HTML – Hypertext Markup Language

IP – Internet protocol

MHz – Megahertz

RSS – Rich Site Summary

USB – Universal Serial Bus

VoIP – Voice over Internet Protocol

Buffering – The receiving and storing of data before it is played back.

Broadcast – To deliver a presentation, live or prerecorded. Opposite to on-demand

Client – A software application that receives data from a server.

Download – To send a file over a network with a nonstreaming protocol such as HTTP. Opposite to stream

DSL – Digital Subscriber Line. Technology used for transmitting digital data over a telephone line faster than through dial-up modems

Encoding – Converting a file into a compressed, streaming format

HTTP – Hypertext Transport Protocol. The protocol used by Web servers to communicate with Web browsers

ISP – Internet Service Provider. A company providing Internet access

LAN – Local Area Network. A computer network operating to a local area (single location)

URL – Uniform Resource Locator. A location description allowing a Web browser to receive data stored on a Web server

AVI – (Audio Video Interleaved) A Microsoft video format which contains multiple streams of different types of data, such as audio and video

DNS – (Domain Name System) DNS servers are located at strategic points on the Internet to resolve the routing of e-mail and Internet connections

GUI – (Graphical User Interface). An operating system interface between the user and the computer based on graphics

Hyperlink – A link in a web page that brings you to another webpage when activated

WMV – Windows Media Video

WMA – Windows Media Audio

WAV – sound format developed by Microsoft and used in Microsoft Windows

VOD – (Video on Demand): Video that can be accessed at any time by the user, opposite to live streaming

JavaScript – A script language released by Netscape for creating small programs embedded in a web page

I will update it periodically to keep you informed with the newest information.

Catalin
Professional Streaming Consultant

Video conferencing software

Admin — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 21:58:39 +0000

Video conferencing is a technology integrating video, audio and specific content to offer a very close to reality communication experience. Participants need a computer,a microphone, a webcam and a broadband internet connection to participate in video conference. This way they will be able to see and hear each other in real time.

Digital compression of audio and video streams in real time is the technical explanation of how a video conference is being set up. Video Conferencing is a good solution for the following scenarios:

• Simulate ‘Face to face’ communication
• A lot of visual content needs to be shared
• Easier to log in into the online meeting than meet at the same location

VOIP solutions combined with desktop sharing is the perfect solution to host a business meeting without leaving your desk. Companies doing business in multiple locations can benefit the most by taking down travel expenses. Videoconferencing is now adopted by the online networking websites in order to develop business relationships faster and with the lowest time resources.

This kind of solutions may include some of the following functions to provide a full experience of web conferencing:

• Streaming Live Video & Audio
• Text Chat
• Whiteboard for taking notes
• Recording and Saving the entire meeting
• Conduct Polls and Surveys and report on results
• Content Sharing in the form of video and images
• Customizable Layout
• Desktop Sharing

Video conference solutions have the benefit of providing a simulated face to face meeting while cutting off the attendees travel expenses to the same location. A very interesting feature for conference software is that allows participants to see everything displayed on your desktop or on your screen. Using it you will have an easy and reliable way of communicating to your associates by letting them see exactly what you are referring to on your own computer.

Here is a short audio/video guide to properly host an online meeting:

Video input
A video camera or a web cam can be used as video input. Usually there are two video cameras, at least one camera at each location.

Video Output
Video output used can be a standard TV set, computer monitor or digital TV set.

Audio input
Audio input is usually a microphone.

Audio output
Audio output = speakers. May be professional speakers, headphones or laptop speakers.

Nowadays applications of video conferencing are just the beginning of this technological revolution. As video and voice capture software are constantly improving, the experience of video conferencing will become something close to reality and offer the feeling of making the distances disappear.

Pay-per-view concept

Catalin — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 21:58:19 +0000

Since last year there were rumours in the streaming media industry that a big number of IPTV providers will addopt the Pay Per View (PPV) platforms. Youtube, Vimeo or Hulu are just a few examples. For that reason I will present you here more about PPV.

Wikipedia and tech-faq have described Pay Per View as a service offering the option to purchase tickets for private events which then allows the users to view the content. We have integrated two types of Pay Per View options:

1. Purchasing ticket to live streaming scheduled events.
2. Purchasing the ability to view a pre-recorded video at any specific time. Think of it as adding a particular video to your own personal library.

All PPV providers depend on a merchant account to make secure financial transactions.
The integrated Merchant may effect how events can be purchased. Existing solutions offer on-screen guides and even directly contacting a live customer representative. Pay per view is great for people that don’t want or don’t have the time to reach video stores but at the same time like to view special content that is not available for free and for everybody.

The event is being broadcasted at the same time to all the people who previously ordered it ( the VOD system is the other option, this basicly offers the possiblity of accessing a file at any time).

The Pay Per View feature provides the ability to create revenue from ticket sales for both Live Events and prerecorded Video On Demand. PPV can be easily integrated with a payment merchant such as PayPal and minimal requirements are needed to get LIVE. All you have to do is to upload the VOD, set it as PPV, set a price then let the viewers purchase the content.

An additional way a site owner can create revenue is by charging a subscription for their users to view the content on their site. TikiLIVE.com is one of the websites where you can actually monetize the uploaded content by selling tickets for your videos. Have a look below:

The pay-per-view concept came into the general public’s attention in the 90′s when players like iN Demand, HBO, and Showtime were the first to use it for renting their movies and not only. By that time In Demand was focused on concerts and movies while HBO and Showtime were offering championship boxing.

Having access to pay per view services usually means you need to subscribe to a cable service or satellite TV service and own a converter box .Why you need that? Well because the video content is first downloaded on these devices. Some of the services may require DVR’s which are being rented or even bought from the cable or satellite TV company you are subscribed to.

Here is how a DVR looks like:

In most of the cases you can dial your cable operator’s number to see what pay per view packages are available, if you need to purchase additional hardware or software and what are the costs of this. YouTube is now seriously thinking to charge it’s viewers for watching the online content they offer.

Catalin
Professional Streaming Consultant

Online video platforms

Eliza — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 21:58:08 +0000

It is well known from statistics and not only that online video is the fastest growing market on the Internet. The number of people posting and sharing online video and number of online video providers has been continuously growing.

An online video platform is a free or fee-based provider that offers a variety of services, posted below. While the website functionality may be differen from platform to platform the main goal (to stream) is continuosly growing. Once an end user has registered on a particular website they are basicly able to access a variety of features like uploading videos, edit menus, publicize and monetize their videos. Having the option to embed their own channel on a specific website end users are even more attracted to this type of video sharing. solution.

Knowing this, companies have developed turnkey solutions allowing anyone to create, brand and distribute video content to their own community. A few important features available with these services are the Live HD streaming with management of shows and users, the possibility to embed players of Live and Recorded Videos onto any other websites as well as integrating Pay Per View options to generate revenue.

The services can also include:

• Encoding tools
• Flash streaming
• Embedding Video Players
• Video Editing Applications
• API
• Hosting Plans
• Asset Management
• Advertising
• Distribution of Live or on demand video content

Here are a few samples of how a video platform looks like (user end):

Sample1

Sample 2

Sample 3

One of the most important things is about interacting and connecting directly with your audience. Interactivity is a decisive factor when creating an online video platform. pay per view or subscription based plans are just two options to monetize your platform and create user’s levels, motivating people to come back on your website.