Autodesk 64006-051108-9001 User Guide - Page 12

Streaming Basics, Progressive Streaming

Page 12 highlights

4 Chapter 1: Introduction Streaming Basics There are two common approaches to streaming today: Progressive streaming and Real-Time streaming. Media files that are served from a Web (HTTP) server are progressively streamed. Real-Time streaming files are delivered using a streaming media server. Cleaner also creates files that must be downloaded entirely to the hard drive before they can be played. Downloading files is a common practice for MP3 and MPEG files, but can also be used for other file types. Progressive Streaming Progressive streaming, also known as progressive download, refers to online media that users can watch as the files are downloaded. The user can see the part of the file that has downloaded at a given time, but can't jump ahead to portions that haven't been transferred yet. Progressive streaming files don't adjust during transmission to match the bandwidth of the user's connection like a Real-Time streaming format. Progressive streaming is often called HTTP streaming because standard HTTP servers can deliver files in this fashion and no special protocols are needed. The QuickTime fast start feature is an example of a progressive streaming technology. Progressive streaming delivery is well suited to short movies that you want to be viewed at high quality, such as movie trailers and product advertisements. This method guarantees the quality of the final movie because the viewed portion of the file is downloaded before it is played. This means users will experience a delay before the movie starts, especially with slower connections. Progressive streaming is especially useful for modem delivery of short pieces because it enables you to create a movie with a higher data rate than a modem could stream in realtime. Although doing this causes the viewer some delay, it also enables you to present a much higher quality movie. Progressive streaming is not a good solution for long movies or material the user may want to randomly access, such as lectures, speeches or presentations.

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • 32
  • 33
  • 34
  • 35
  • 36
  • 37
  • 38
  • 39
  • 40
  • 41
  • 42
  • 43
  • 44
  • 45
  • 46
  • 47
  • 48
  • 49
  • 50
  • 51
  • 52
  • 53
  • 54
  • 55
  • 56
  • 57
  • 58
  • 59
  • 60
  • 61
  • 62
  • 63
  • 64
  • 65
  • 66
  • 67
  • 68
  • 69
  • 70
  • 71
  • 72
  • 73
  • 74
  • 75
  • 76
  • 77
  • 78
  • 79
  • 80
  • 81
  • 82
  • 83
  • 84
  • 85
  • 86
  • 87
  • 88
  • 89
  • 90
  • 91
  • 92
  • 93
  • 94
  • 95
  • 96
  • 97
  • 98
  • 99
  • 100
  • 101
  • 102
  • 103
  • 104
  • 105
  • 106
  • 107
  • 108
  • 109
  • 110
  • 111
  • 112
  • 113
  • 114
  • 115
  • 116
  • 117
  • 118
  • 119
  • 120
  • 121
  • 122
  • 123
  • 124
  • 125
  • 126
  • 127
  • 128
  • 129
  • 130
  • 131
  • 132
  • 133
  • 134
  • 135
  • 136
  • 137
  • 138
  • 139
  • 140
  • 141
  • 142
  • 143
  • 144
  • 145
  • 146
  • 147
  • 148
  • 149
  • 150
  • 151
  • 152
  • 153
  • 154
  • 155
  • 156
  • 157
  • 158
  • 159
  • 160
  • 161
  • 162
  • 163
  • 164
  • 165
  • 166
  • 167
  • 168
  • 169
  • 170
  • 171
  • 172
  • 173
  • 174
  • 175
  • 176
  • 177
  • 178
  • 179
  • 180
  • 181
  • 182
  • 183
  • 184
  • 185
  • 186
  • 187
  • 188
  • 189
  • 190
  • 191
  • 192
  • 193
  • 194
  • 195
  • 196
  • 197
  • 198
  • 199
  • 200
  • 201
  • 202
  • 203
  • 204
  • 205
  • 206
  • 207
  • 208
  • 209
  • 210
  • 211
  • 212
  • 213
  • 214
  • 215
  • 216
  • 217
  • 218
  • 219
  • 220
  • 221
  • 222
  • 223
  • 224
  • 225
  • 226
  • 227
  • 228
  • 229
  • 230
  • 231
  • 232
  • 233
  • 234
  • 235
  • 236
  • 237
  • 238
  • 239
  • 240
  • 241
  • 242
  • 243
  • 244
  • 245
  • 246
  • 247
  • 248
  • 249
  • 250
  • 251
  • 252
  • 253
  • 254
  • 255
  • 256
  • 257
  • 258
  • 259
  • 260
  • 261
  • 262
  • 263
  • 264
  • 265
  • 266
  • 267
  • 268
  • 269
  • 270
  • 271
  • 272
  • 273
  • 274
  • 275
  • 276
  • 277
  • 278
  • 279
  • 280
  • 281
  • 282
  • 283
  • 284
  • 285
  • 286
  • 287
  • 288
  • 289
  • 290
  • 291
  • 292

Chapter 1: Introduction
4
Streaming Basics
There are two common approaches to streaming today: Progressive streaming and Real-Time
streaming. Media files that are served from a Web (HTTP) server are progressively streamed.
Real-Time streaming files are delivered using a streaming media server.
Cleaner also creates files that must be downloaded entirely to the hard drive before they can be
played. Downloading files is a common practice for MP3 and MPEG files, but can also be used
for other file types.
Progressive Streaming
Progressive streaming, also known as progressive download, refers to online media that users
can watch as the files are downloaded. The user can see the part of the file that has downloaded
at a given time, but can’t jump ahead to portions that haven’t been transferred yet. Progressive
streaming files don’t adjust during transmission to match the bandwidth of the user’s
connection like a Real-Time streaming format. Progressive streaming is often called HTTP
streaming because standard HTTP servers can deliver files in this fashion and no special
protocols are needed. The QuickTime fast start feature is an example of a progressive streaming
technology.
Progressive streaming delivery is well suited to short movies that you want to be viewed at
high quality, such as movie trailers and product advertisements. This method guarantees the
quality of the final movie because the viewed portion of the file is downloaded before it is
played. This means users will experience a delay before the movie starts, especially with slower
connections.
Progressive streaming is especially useful for modem delivery of short pieces because it enables
you to create a movie with a higher data rate than a modem could stream in realtime. Although
doing this causes the viewer some delay, it also enables you to present a much higher quality
movie.
Progressive streaming is not a good solution for long movies or material the user may want to
randomly access, such as lectures, speeches or presentations.