Download The significance of Hybrid Flash Multicasting

WebCaster and Hybrid Flash Multicasting
Briefing
Agenda
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Introduction and context
About MediaPlatform
What is multicasting?
Limitations of traditional multicasting
What is hybrid Flash multicasting?
The significance of hybrid Flash multicasting
WebCaster and hybrid flash multicasting
The pilot
Takeaways
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About MediaPlatform
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Provider of webcasting and media management software since 2005
Two core products:
– WebCaster – enterprise webcasting software
– PrimeTime – media management/video portal
Serving Fortune 500 and media producer clients
Known for excellence in engineering and professional grade offerings
– Many “firsts” in the industry
– Highest scaling webcasting platform (100,000+ live viewers)
– Most customizable viewer interface
– Most dynamic, production-oriented back end webcast controller
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Introduction and Context
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On September 9th, MediaPlatform will announce that its WebCaster enterprise
webcasting software will support hybrid Flash multicasting with the industry’s
first OSMF player for Flash multicast player.
Adobe will announce the availability of Flash Media Server 4 (FMS4) on the
same day, making Flash multicasting a reality in the enterprise.
This is significant news:
– Flash is the dominant video standard on the Web, but has not had much
presence behind the firewall due to its inability to multicast. This will likely
now change, with Flash making inroads in the enterprise.
– FMS4, coupled with WebCaster, enable a breakthrough in multicasting:
• Going beyond traditional IP multicasting
• Introducing Application Level (Peer Assist) multicasting
• 100% multicast penetration without the need for network upgrades
• Radical improvements in network efficiency for video, with
minimal investment.
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What is Multicasting?
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Background: Data networks have limited bandwidth, while
online video files tend to be very large.
If a group of end users want to watch a video on a unicast
basis, where each user receive a separate, dedicated stream
(Unicasting), the volume of data flowing through the network
can have catastrophic consequences on network availability.
– Remote offices are cut off from video
– Video quality uneven
Multicasting is a network technology for the delivery of video to
a group of destinations simultaneously using the most efficient
strategy to deliver the video stream over each link of the
network only once, creating copies only when the links to the
multiple destinations split.
Multicasting was designed to make data-intensive video
compatible with corporate networks.
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Limitations of Traditional IP Multicasting
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Until now, enterprises have only had “IP Multicasting”
– Requires extensive and costly network infrastructure upgrades
– Is not able to reach 100% of users
– Limited to Windows Media video format
Business impact:
– High costs
– Continuous re-investment in infrastructure to keep pace with video
usage growth
– Lack of potential impact from video, as not all workers can see it
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The significance of Hybrid Flash Multicasting
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FMS 4 introduces a new type of multicasting: application level (peer
assist) multicasting.
Application level multicasting enables sharing of a multicast stream
between peers, avoiding the need for IP multicast infrastructure. (“IP
Multicast enabling the network”)
Benefits:
– Reach 100% of users, but without investment in IP Multicast
enabling the network
– Cross-platform, cross-OS, cross-browser (PC, Mac, Linux)
– No need to produce two streams (Windows Media and Flash) for
videos that stream both inside and outside the enterprise
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WebCaster and Flash Multicasting
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WebCaster offers the first and only video player that enables the end
user to watch a Flash multicast video
Proven with FMS4 to deliver Flash multicasting in the enterprise
Based on Open Source Media Framework (OSMF) standards –
www.osmf.org
WebCaster leverages the advantages of Flash multicasting technology:
– Custom-branded player
– Professional production back-end
– Produce anywhere, view anywhere
– Multiple locations and presenters, switched in real time
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The Flash Multicasting Pilot
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MediaPlatform was selected by Adobe to pilot FMS 4 using WebCaster at one of
MediaPlatform’s long-term Fortune 500 clients
Client profile:
– 115,000 end users
– 95 countries
– 6 continents
– 2 network environments (one IP multicast enabled, the other not)
Approach:
– Deployment of WebCaster with OSMF player on top of FMS 4
– Live stream multicast to global audience
Results:
– Successful tests
– IT stakeholders pleased with highly efficient network utilization for video
streaming
– Business stakeholders impressed with video quality and ease of use.
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Takeaways
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Hybrid Flash multicasting is a game-changer in enterprise video
IT no longer in a race to keep up with video demand
Pervasive video now a reality, but without the need for continuous
infrastructure investment
Production is simplified – no more need for multiple streams
Viewership is expanded, with Mac, PC, Linux, and multiple browsers
now accessible
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