Dedicated streaming server for the exclusive distribution of media (audio/video) files.
Why is a professional streaming service needed for your audio/video or rich media webcast project? Compare the different server operating modes and the possibly resulting pro and cons for your project.
Different technique/protocols:
=> Web - or Homepage Server:
Mostly a relativ low amount of data gets loaded with the http protocol (normally homepage sites) with the call of the user. Every file is saved as a download on the computer of the user.
If it comes to delivery of big amounts of data, as for example with videos, than the download based web server system is often not suitable. For a better understanding, following comparision of sizes: Image ~ 3 KB, homepage site ~ 25 KB, encoded video 20 min. ~ 115.000 KB.
=> IMS - Media Delivery Network:
Unlike to the Download, Streaming stands for the continous delivery (exclusively) of audio/video formats with a extra transmission protocol (rtmp, rtmpt, mms, etc.) Only the content which is needed for playing a certain media sequence gets delivered. Already played content disappears without an effect - nothings gets saved.
Bandwidth/traffic:
=> Web- or Homepage Server:
With the call of a audio/video file the downlaod starts at the same time, depending on the available bandwidth of the user. Regardless of how long the media file actually plays, the whole file, gets downloaded. The evolved traffic rises up extremely.
It gets critcal as soon as several others users start the download of audios/videos at the same time, for example at peak times. Only a few concurrent accesses could outrun the available bandwidth of a webserver (~ 100 Mbits/s) within the data center and might endanger the operation of all other running applications (homepage, shopsystems, etc.).
=> IMS - Media Delivery Network:
Only what is played gets delivered. A user who clicks himself through various videos or only plays videos half through, causes only a fraction of traffic. The delivery depends on the video encoding rate- not in dependency of the available bandwidth of the user.
Technically a worldwide replication results from the upload of audio/video in our server cluster in various data centers and continents. The hole external connection of the IMS - Media Delivery Networks amounts up to 100 Gbit/s.
Depending on the location of your viewer, the content will be delivered over the nearest and at the moment most performant system of streaming server. As a result of plurality of separate systems with a high direct connection, we can garantie each of our streaming accounts "unlimited" ~ 10.000 concurrent calls.
Protection of content:
=> Web- or Homepage Server:
files are saved in "temporary directories" and are, depending on the settings of the user, offline available. In addition to that, the unsecurded download (right mouse buttion/target save as...) is possible at any time.
=> IMS - Media Delivery Network:
The user only gets the data packages which are needed for playing the audio/videos. Beyond that nothing else gets saved - the call is not possible offline. There is no download option.
Further the combination IMS Custom-Player and Steaming Server offers more options for protection of your content, up to DRM (Digital Right Management).
Video control:
=> Web- or Homepage Server:
Audio/video files can only be controlled after downloading. This means that particular parts of the video or agenda points of a video webcast can only be activated after the download has completed. But this can take several minutes, in other words, valuable time of the whole length of stay of your visiter.
=> IMS - Media Delivery Network:
The user defines which sequence gets delivered. It doesn´t make any difference, whether it is the beginning or any other point in time within the audio/video. Especially with long videos or Rich Media webcasts it is important to give the user the possibility to skip to the required point.
Conclusion:
Due to the limitation and difficulties of audio/video deliveries through web- or homepage server we recommend our business customers our streaming technologie.
With our Media Delivery Network we offer individual accounts within a worldwide and professional organisied infrastructure. Inclusive free of charge support and convenient conditions.
Your Partner for Audio/Video & Interactive Webcasts
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