HP ProLiant 3000 Video Streaming Technology - Page 22

ECG068/0798 WHITE PAPER (cont.) 2...2 Video Servers Application Software The goal of a video server is to match end users to video content, store and retrieve video data as efficiently as possible, transmit it across the network continuously without interruption, and finally, to respond to user interactive VCR-like control. To accomplish this, specialized video server application software runs on a dedicated video server hardware platform that is optimally configured for real-time video delivery. The software running in the video server performs a variety of complex tasks including: q Managing video streaming sessions with clients-allocating server resources, limiting transmission by number of streams or network bandwidth consumed, maintaining a list of video content for streaming, refusing sessions that exceed bandwidth or stream licensing limits q Managing the playing of individual streams-playing, pausing, stopping, seeking, fast forwarding, rewinding q Managing the streaming to multiple clients-sending the same video to several clients simultaneously, or sending different videos to individual clients at the same time q Transmitting video over the network-reading, buffering, formatting, packetizing, and sending data over the network using the specified network protocols q Storing video data-providing fault-tolerant support q Detecting abnormal client termination-e.g., power failure or power off at the client q Allowing the loading of new content in real time without interrupting current streams Video Server Application Software NT Operating System Video Server Hardware Processor(s) Memory Disk Storage Disk Controller(s) Network Interface(s) Video Server Software Manages Video Sessions Handles multiple client requests in real-time Manages play interaction -pause, stop, rewind Reads, buffers, formats, packetizes, transmits data using network protocols Maintains list of content Limits transmission by no. of streams, licenses, or network bandwidth The client may also perform bandwidth negotiation with the server to determine a preferred bit rate, and therefore which optimized binary file to send to the client or how to adjust a dynamic bandwidth file.