Overview of Video on Demand Systems

Overview of Video On Demand Systems

Joseph Newcomer

SCOPE

INTRODUCTION

THE INITIATIVE FOR WORLDWIDE MULTIMEDIA TELECONFERENCING AND VIDEO

SERVER STANDARDS

NEW BUSINESS IMPERATIVES

STARTING WITH STANDARDS

TWO STANDARDS, ONE GOAL

STANDARDS FIRST

SUMMARY

CONTENT PREPARATION:

REQUIREMENTS:

CODECs/Compression

Object Oriented Database Management Systems

Encoding Verification

SUMMARY

VIDEO SERVER

REQUIREMENTS

LIMITATIONS

PRODUCTS

DISTRIBUTION NETWORK:

LAN TYPES

PROTOCOLS

WAN TYPES

SCOPE

Video on demand has evolved as a major implementation problem for

network integrators. Clients want the ability to retrieve and view stored video

files asynchronously at near broadcast quality, on a local host. Some problems

integrators face to achieve this goal include: video content preparation, server

storage, network throughput, latency, client interfaces, quality of service, and

cost. This paper addresses the design considerations for a private video on

demand implementation.

INTRODUCTION

The Initiative for Worldwide Multimedia Teleconferencing and Video Server

Standards

The market for multipoint multimedia teleconferencing and video server equipment

is poised for explosive growth. The technology for this necessary and much-

anticipated business tool has been in development for years. By the turn of the

century, teleconferences that include any combination of video, audio, data, and

graphics will be standard business practice.

Compliance with teleconferencing standards will create compatible solutions from

competing manufacturers, feeding the market with a variety of products that work

together as smoothly as standard telephone products do today. Specifically, with

the adoption of International Telecommunications Union (ITU) recommendations

T.120, H.320 and H261, multimedia teleconferencing equipment manufacturers,

developers, and service providers will have a basic established connectivity

protocol upon which they can build products, applications, and services that

will change the face of business communications.

New Business Imperatives

Voice on Demand systems are starting to be required by commercial, industrial,

governmental and military associations to retrieve past information in order to

prepare and anticipate future events. This preparation and anticipation can be

crucial to the survival of these industries because of the key roll of the

individuals or groups being monitored. It is this monitoring and collection of

data that allows these organizations to make informed decisions and to take the

appropriate action to current events.

Multipoint multimedia teleconferencing and video servers offer the required

solution. As defined here, it involves a user-specified mix of traditional voice,

motion video, and still-image information in the same session. The images can be

documents, spreadsheets, simple hand-written drawings, highly-detailed color

schematics, photographs or video clips. Participants can access the same image

at the same time, including any changes or comments on that image that are

entered by other participants. Video servers allow users to view stored video

files of specific events, conferences, news clips and important information in

near realtime.

The benefits are obvious. Instead of text interpretation of a video clip, all

interested parties can access the information. Little is left to verbal

interpretation since all users have access to the original video. In the case

of video clips, a persons actions, verbal tones, mannerisms and reactions to

events around them can be viewed and interpreted. Increased productivity,

reduced cost, and reduced travel time are the primary benefits while proprietary

technology and solutions are specified as the primary inhibitors of using video

on demand products and services.

Starting with Standards

While multimedia teleconferencing and video servers promise to revolutionize

vital everyday corporate