Media Streaming Architecture

Media Streaming Database Architecture

Submitted by mccartyp on Wed, 03/17/2004 - 16:18. Media Streaming Architecture

Patrick McCarty - Created 3/16/2004

Tables in the media_stream database:

Name	Description
archived_events	Holds stored event information
archived_links	URLs for events based on codec
archived_events_hits	Stores hit counts
event_codecs	Enumerates codecs of events
event_types	Enumerates types of events
live_events	Holds live event information
upcoming_events	Holds upcoming event information

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Current Media Streaming Component Diagram

Submitted by jjanssen on Wed, 03/17/2004 - 14:06. Media Streaming Architecture

Changed title

» 640x480 | 800x600 | 1024x768 | original image | image gallery

Issues with Current Streaming Architecture

Submitted by jjanssen on Wed, 03/17/2004 - 13:08. Media Streaming Architecture

Whats wrong with the current system?

More formats needed - Currently only Real (RTSP or HTTP)

Quicktime in largest demand
Looking for an open standard, most aren't cross platform.
MPEG 4 closest to open standard
Difficulty with bandwidth and quality with MPEG-4 encoding
Problem with Real format is that the downloaded file includes all bitrate (currently doing 56Kbps 225Kbps) Will auto-scale down.

Need Ability to Download not just stream

Some would like to download and Use for ministry (911 chapel for instance)
Can do this now through adminstrator but no front end

No User Documentation
Self Service Content Creation

Could have a web form to upload file add metadata
Instructions -standards -departmental level
Graphics Center has video editing, heavily used
Architecture should allow for obvious direction of allowing departmental/faculty media creation without handing off encoding to IMT

Scalability, Reliability of Hardware

NAS used for data store
Scalability, reliability issues
Windows NAS with SMB mounted filesystem, Gig eth, but won't scale

Keys to Existing/Future Architecture

Continue to be Database Driven
Take from a live source without pre-post-processing
Data entry form to store event metadata

Bandwidth Concerns

20% of hits from RezNet, 10-15% on campus, meaning 65-75% off campus
We are using more of our pipe for longer periods of the day
Suggest bandwidth shaping etc.

Current Media Streaming Architecture

Submitted by mccartyp on Wed, 03/17/2004 - 12:31. Media Streaming Architecture

Architecture Diagram

Components

Streaming Server

Helix DNA Server

Using open source server with closed source extensions

Database structure

Highlights

Event types allow for categorizing content
Active Flag - administrative disable of content
Public Flag - AuthN necessary (CAS basic authN no groups authZ)

Current Web Interfaces

Apache/PHP code for the front end. Rewritten Summer '05
www.apu.edu has links to content as well

UR queries our database, but proper querying validation is not being done

Logic recreated for display in den

Media Streaming Architecture

Submitted by jjanssen on Wed, 03/17/2004 - 11:38. Media Streaming Architecture

A review of the current and proposed enhancements to the Media Streaming Architecture, currently used to broadcast and archive audio and video events at APU.