Streaming Media
ECE 6322
Data Comm and Networks II
April 8, 2002
Georgette Michko
Manager
UH Academic Technology Support Center
Greg Johnson
UH Digital Media Developer
Streaming Media
 Audio and/or video over the Internet
 Processed and displayed as it is received
 Nothing is stored on user’s computer
Minimal disk space requirements
Real Applications
• Distance Learning/Education
• Intra/Intercompany Communications
• Telecommuting
• Training
• Kiosk presentations
• Security
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UH Streaming Media History
 Started in early 1990s
 1993 - Microsoft
 1995 - Progressive Networks
 1997 - Microsoft NetShow
 1998 – Microsoft Windows Media
 1999 – Apple QuickTime 4.0
UH Streaming Media Project
 Started in Spring 1998
 Team of faculty and staff
 Pilot project
 Seek out educational applications
 Evaluate logistics of delivery
Underpinning Technologies
for Streaming Media
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•
•
•
Processors
Audio compression
Video compression
Networks
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Problems
 Ordered Delivery
 Retransmission strategy
 Duplication detection
 Flow control
 Connection establishment
 Connection termination
 Crash recovery
Unicast vs. Multicast
 Unicast
User requests stream
Server sends one stream for each user
 Multicast
Server announces broadcast
Server sends one stream that can be viewed
by many users
Not widely used yet
Streaming Media Production
 Create high quality audio/video
 Digitize
 Encode
 Create web link
 Serve content
 Configure user
Streaming Media Components
 Encoder
 Server
 Network
 Decoder/Player
Components
Video/Audio
Content
Creation Station
Streaming Server
Users
Streaming Media Vendors
 RealNetworks
 www.realnetworks.com
 Microsoft Windows Media
www.microsoft.com/windows/windows
media/default.asp
 Apple QuickTime Pro
 www.apple.com/quicktime/
Streaming Media Servers
 RealNetworks RealServer
 $/concurrent stream
 Microsoft Windows Media Server
 Free with Windows 2000 Server
 Apple Streaming Server
 Free with Mac OS X
Streaming Media Encoders
 RealNetworks RealProducer
 $200
 Microsoft Windows Media Encoder
 Free
 Apple QuickTime Pro
 $30
Streaming Media Players
 RealNetworks RealPlayer or
RealOne Player
 Free or $30
 Microsoft Windows Media Player
 Free on Windows PCs
 Apple QuickTime Player
 Free
RealNetworks
 Formerly Progressive Networks
 Encoder, Server and Player
 Limited versions - Free
 Full version - $$$
 www.realnetworks.com
RealProducer
Audio Codecs
 Proprietary
 Named by bit rate and type of
content
 Codecs control most audio
parameters
 Default to standard rates
RealProducer
Video Codecs
 Proprietary
 Named by bit rate and type of
content
 Codecs control most video
parameters
Windows Media
 Formerly NetShow
 Free encoder, server and player
 Limited players for non-
Windows systems
 www.microsoft.com/windows/
windowsmedia/
Windows Media Encoder
Video Codecs
 Microsoft MPEG-4 V1
 Microsoft MPEG-4 V2
 Microsoft MPEG-4 V3
 Microsoft H.263
 VDOnet VDO Wave
 TrueMotion RT 2.0 by Duck
Windows Media Encoder
Audio Codecs
 ACELP.net
 Lernout&Hauspie CELP 4.8 kbps
 Microsoft Audio
 MPEG Layer 3
 Voxware MetaSound
 Voxware MetaVoice
Streaming Media Delivery
Issues
 Bandwidth
 Server disk space
 User configuration
 Network connection
 CPU and memory
 Browser and player
Bandwidth Considerations
 Calculate Bandwidth Required at Server
= Number of users x speed of clip
 100 users x 100 kbps
 100 users x 56 kbps
 100 users x 28.8 kbps
= 10 mbps
= 5.6 mbps
= 2.88 mbps
File Sizes for 1 Hour Video
Digitize
1 GB
Windows Media
Encode at 28.8k
Encode at 56k
Encode at 100k
11 MB
24 MB
49 MB
RealNetworks
10 MB
17 MB
39 MB
File Sizes for 3 Semester
Hour Class
 At all 3 speeds
 Windows Media
 84 MB x 45 hours = 4 GB
 RealNetworks
 66 MB x 45 hours = 3 GB
Other issues
 Copyright
Streaming Media
Information
 http://is.asu.uh.edu/r&d/video
Streaming Media Samples
 http://cybermedia.uh.edu
PROJECT
DEMONSTRATIONS
Windows Media Encoder
Audio Codecs
 ACELP.net
 Lernout&Hauspie CELP 4.8 kbps
 Microsoft Audio
 MPEG Layer 3
 Voxware MetaSound
 Voxware MetaVoice