Complete Introductory Guide to Video Networking & IPTV

Introduction

For some applications, it may be interesting to monitor one or more video feeds over the Internet, or over a corporate intranet.  Ideally, such monitoring should be done using a web browser – the user opens a link, and the video plays on a window.  Another desirable feature is that no special network configuration should be needed for this monitoring.

The VidOvation VEN-5000 Encoder offers this feature.  Encoders can be set in a number of ways that allow the monitoring using a web page.

Application Scenario

The application scenario is illustrated below.  One or more VEN-50000 encoders are connected to audio/video sources to be monitored.  In order to see the video (and hear the audio), the user simply points a web browser at the encoder’s IP address, and selects the encoder channel.  The video then plays on the web page, without any need for further configuration or setting up streaming parameters.

Video Delivery Options

The VEN-5000 offers two video delivery options for this application scenario:

1. If the monitoring is to be performed over the Internet, the encoder can deliver the audio/video over a standard HTTP connection.  The web browser loads the monitoring page from the encoder, and that page starts a plugin that connects to the encoder and pulls in the audio/video over HTTP.
2. If the encoder is already streaming over UDP/IP/multicast or RTP/IP/multicast, and the monitoring station has multicast connectivity to the encoder, the web page generated by the encoder will direct the monitoring station to join the correct multicast with the correct protocol.  This is especially suitable for occasional monitoring on IPTV headends, where the encoder is being used to generate content for end-user set-top boxes.

If you have a dual-channel VidOvation VEN-5200 encoder, the following application scenario is possible:

• Use one channel as your primary encoder channel, encoding at full resolution (possibly HD 1080i or 720p). The primary encoder can come out in any of the supported outputs (UDP/RTP multicast, ASI, etc.), and will be your application feed.
• The second channel is used for monitoring. Configure it to take the same input as the primary channel, and for one of the low resolutions; for example, 320×240.  The bit rate can be set to a low value.  This channel is then configured to deliver the bitstream over HTTP.
• If you need to monitor your primary feed from a remote location, just use a web browser to connect to the low-resolution version of the content, available from the second channel. Since this is low bit rate, it can be done through the Internet without any special requirements.

Complete Introductory Guide to Video Networking & IPTV