Streaming Videoconferences Soh Hock Heng National University of Singapore Doug Pearson Internet2 Commons Site Coordinator Training December 3, 2003 National University of Singapore

2 Streaming  Streaming is the one-way delivery of digital content from a streaming server to a streaming client in a continuous, paced, and controlled flow.  Streaming alleviates the need to download an entire media clip as a file. Live events don’t exist as a file yet! Allows playing to start before download is completed Protects copyright

3 Streaming a Videoconference  Streaming a videoconference makes it possible for any number of people to view a conference – either live or recorded for on-demand access.  Viewers use desktop computers with standard media players such as Real, Windows Media, or QuickTime.

4 What Kinds of Things Can You Do?  Key individuals participate interactively by videoconference; a larger audience views the live stream.  Save the proceedings of a meeting.  Make a class or lecture available on- demand for student review.  In fact, maybe all you want to do is stream an event – you don’t need to videoconference. You have a videoconferencing appliance in the room, and…

5 Interactive for Live Events  Streaming is a one-way delivery of media.  Participants in a live, streaming event can participate interactively by: to a conference facilitator On-line chat

6 Four Methods to Stream a Videoconference  All-in-one box solutions  Combination of videoconferencing terminal and standard streaming encoder  Videoconferencing appliances with built-in H.26x/G.7xx multicast streaming  Application service providers

7 All-In-One Box  As either an H.323 terminal and a streaming server, or H.323 MCU and streaming server.  These devices Take the H.26x video and G.7xx audio out of an H.323 envelope and stuff into the envelope of a common streaming format such as Real, Windows Media, or QuickTime, and Serve the unicast or multicast stream. Can store the stream for VOD.

8 All-In-One Box  Examples: STARBAK Torrent CE FVC Conference Server with Streaming Support Virtual Rooms Videoconference Service (VRVS)

9 Combo Terminal and Encoder  Two standard devices… H.323 videoconference terminal Streaming encoder  Are interconnected A/V out of H.323 terminal into A/V input of encoder  Encoder can be just about anything Real, Windows Media, QuickTime; or MPEG-1,-2,-4; unicast or multicast  Video can be recorded and stored for VOD

10 Terminals with Built-In  Some high-end terminals such as Polycom FX Tandberg 880  Can multicast the H.26x/G.7xx audio and video in standard streaming envelopes (QT, etc.).  No ability to record for VOD.

11 Application Service Providers  Many videoconference bridging service providers also provide a streaming option.  The technology that an ASP will employ will either be an All-In-One Box or a Combination Terminal and Encoder

12 Pros and Cons  Video and audio quality CON: Both All-In-One Box and Terminals with Built-In repackage H.26x and G.7xx video and audio. – H.26x & G.7xx are not optimized for streaming. The video quality is more susceptible to degradation due to network congestion than made-for-streaming formats such as Real and Windows Media encoders. – H.26x doesn’t provide dynamic bandwidth adjusting capability like Real SureStream and Windows Intelligent Streaming.

13 Just because…  You’re getting a Real, QT, or WM stream out of an All-in-One Box, doesn’t mean optimized-for-streaming encoders are being used!  All-In-One Box and Terminals with Built- In DO NOT use the Real or WM encoders. They stuff H.26x and G.7xx encoded video and audio into Real, WM, or QT envelopes.

14 Pros and Cons  Video and audio quality PRO: Solution Combo Terminal and Encoder uses optimized-for-streaming encoding formats. – H.26x & G.7xx from the videoconference are decoded to baseband video and audio and re-encoded in an optimized-for-streaming format.

15 Pros and Cons  Networking CON: Terminals with Built-In require IP multicast. – Multicast is sparsely supported in the commercial Internet. – Multicast support in university and commercial intranets is varied and typically not robust. – Internet2 supports multicast. – Terminals with Built-In are only feasible if your audience is on multicast-enabled networks.

16 Pros and Cons  Networking PRO: All-in-One Box and Combo Terminals and Encoders support IP unicast and multicast transmissions.

17 Pros and Cons  Operations and Management CON: Combo Terminal and Encoder can be complex to manage – Have to schedule and manage the encoder. Videoconference scheduling systems don’t support viewing the pair of devices as a single logical device.  Features CON: Terminals with Built-In don’t have the ability to record a videoconference.

18 All-In-OneComboBuilt-In Initial set up moderate to complex simple Management & operation moderatecomplexsimple Network transmission unicast or multicast requires IP multicast Transmission speed fixed to speed of conference flexible modem to broadband fixed to speed of conference Perf under net congestion fair to poorgoodfair to poor Record for VODyes only w/ extra special tech

19 All-In-One Combo Term & Encoder Built-In Cost to support a small number of concurrent conferences highmoderatelow Cost to support a large number of concurrent conferences moderatehigh moderate-to- low

20 Internet2 Commons VC Streaming Service  Utilizes STARBAK Torrent CE all-in- one box  Available to any Internet2 Commons member who requests a conference

21 Internet2 Commons VC Streaming Service  Simple web interface Video uses QuickTime, Windows Media Player, or RealOne  Can add slides and chat, if you want them  Stream has about a 1 to 1 ½ second delay over the actual videoconference Comparatively speaking, a very short amount of time

22 Internet2 Commons VC Streaming Service  If you request that the Commons record your conference, you will need to store the stream on your own server.  Can be played back in QuickTime or Real.  When filling out the conference request form, select streaming.  You will need to describe the anticipated audience.