subject: Understanding Video Content Delivery [print this page] Video content delivery involves setting up a network of computers, each containing digital copies of the video for broadcast. Whenever the client wishes to access the stored video, he will be connected to the nearest data node.
Creating the Best Material for Video Content Delivery
An important aspect of video content delivery is the actual creation of material. Videos should follow the standards set by Flash and Silverlight. Video delivery services are not limited to pre-assembled media; live streams and live video conferencing can also be broadcast.
A good content delivery service provider should provide the administrator with tools to monitor the quality of content delivery, gauge the popularity and even record how much of the stream viewers actually watch. Such tools make it easy for video content managers to decide what content is engaging their audience.
Video Content Delivery: Broadcasting
Once a proper backbone for the video content delivery is established, the question of how to broadcast the video needs to be addressed. There are primarily two types of broadcasting:
1.Streaming or Synchronous Video Delivery: This is the process of broadcasting video streams from server to client. It is further sub-divided into two parts: single client broadcasting and multiple client broadcasting. Both parts are technically identical because they involve sending network packets over a protocol without flow control. This is the only broadcasting mechanism that allows live streaming. This real time feature is possible because the process has the capability to skip frames in case of network glitches. This type of video content delivery is useful for both real time streaming and on-demand delivery.
2.Progressive or Asynchronous Video Delivery: This process utilizes the functionalities of a video buffer. Parts of the video are first downloaded into the buffer, the rest follows while the viewer watches the video from the buffer. It is the only method that works when streaming through unstable connections. It is not, however, feasible for real time streaming. It also has the feature of variable bitrates, which allows for better quality video streaming. This is the method preferred for pay-per-view solutions, due to better quality and the buffering option.
