fs Streaming Media a presentation by Florian Seidel

fs Streaming Media2 Agenda What is Streaming Media? –idea –alternatives –comparison How does Streaming Media Work? –broadcasting –bandwidth –buffering –quality Needed Components for Streaming Quiz

fs Streaming Media3 The first idea displaying content like text, graphics, links, etc. is easily realizable with standard browser displaying audio/video data adds the time aspect which blows up the file size and the download time another solution was needed

fs Streaming Media4 Traditional Method of Media Delivery Normal Downloading –Entire file is delivered to client’s computer and saved to the hard disk (Temporary Internet Files folder) –In most cases, the media cannot be played until the entire file is downloaded –Quality is always assured

fs Streaming Media5 Advantages of Traditional Method A downloaded file is available for later use by the user Downloaded media can provide higher image quality if needed A downloaded media file can be stepped frame by frame No special software needed

fs Streaming Media6 Another idea vs

fs Streaming Media7 Another idea Streaming –Only a small portion of the file is downloaded before the file can be played (buffer) –The media plays as it is being delivered in the background –Different quality (bit rate) streams are sent to the user depending on the limits of the internet connection.

fs Streaming Media8 Advantages of Streaming Streaming files are not saved to your hard disk After being played, the data is discarded saving disk space Anyone with a network connection can view a multimedia file through the internet (at different quality levels)

fs Streaming Media9 How Does Streaming Work? Uses special standards-based codecs and protocols to deliver multimedia information over a network RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) –Control Protocol to handle bandwidth and error control RTP (Real-Time Packet) –Standards-based packet (companion to RTSP) CODECS (that use RTSP\RTP) –Real: RM, RA, RT –MS: ASF, WMA, WMV –Apple: MOV (most)

fs Streaming Media10 Unicast vs. Multicast Each client has an individual stream. Each client uses one stream.

fs Streaming Media11 Example of Streaming Advantage 24 min. (download) + 00:57 (listening) = 24:57 min. 00:57 (listening)

fs Streaming Media12 Bandwidth

fs Streaming Media13 A Real Player Stream

fs Streaming Media14 Bandwidth sufficiency Minimum bandwidth needed to view this presentation This presentation will play on a 28.8Kbps connection, but there will be a lot of “buffering”. 25 Kbps

fs Streaming Media15 Bandwidth insufficiency If connected via a 28.8Kbps connection, RealPlayer will not playback the presentation smoothly, browser download will slow-down and checking will take longer. 40 Kbps

fs Streaming Media16 Buffering - with insufficient bandwidth

fs Streaming Media17 Buffering - under ideal conditions

fs Streaming Media18 Components for Streaming Web Server (IIS, NES, Apache, etc.) –stores and serves the multimedia files –stores text files that point to encoded media files Web Client (any browser) –accesses the internet –lauches the Streaming Media Client Software

fs Streaming Media19 Components for Streaming Streaming Media Client Software (RealPlayer, Windows Media Player, QuickTime) –launched by web browser –decodes, plays and manages streaming media files Streaming Server (RealMedia Server, Windows Media Services, Quicktime) –runs streaming software –serves encoded multimedia files

fs Streaming Media20 In conclusion Streaming Media is a method to deliver and play multimedia data in real-time Saves disk space as processed data is discarded after use Time saving compared to download- before-playing approach Quality depends on bandwidth, but is leveled out through buffering

fs Streaming Media21 Recommended Sites for internet radio station search: – for internet radio developers: – for people interested in streaming media: –

fs Almost there... The Quiz

fs Streaming Media23 Quiz Question 1: –Name some differences between traditional downloading and streaming of multimedia files

fs Streaming Media24 Quiz Question 2: –Name some advantages of streaming media.

fs Streaming Media25 Quiz Question 3: –Name components for working with streaming media –Describe their basic functionality

fs Streaming Media26 End of Presentation Thank you for your attention