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Multimedia Streaming Systems in Depth

Duration: 4 days
Registration Fee: $2,395
Upcoming class dates & Locations:

1-4 Feb. 2010, Washington, D.C.
1-4 Mar. 2010, New York, NY
26-29 Apr. 2010, Washington, D.C.
24-27 May 2010, New York, NY

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Course Description

This course describes in detail the major components and technologies required to build an IP-based multimedia system. These include capture devices, clients, servers and network elements, IP network protocols and the science of audio and video compression. Various competing systems are also dissected. Exercises throughout this course provide practical experience with multimedia streaming systems. Exercises include:

  • Configuring and tuning a video encoder
  • Configuring and tuning an audio encoder
  • Streaming Pre-recorded content from a server
  • Live videoconferencing
  • Multicasting
  • Scalable bitstreams
  • Investigating the impact of noisy channels and packet loss on audio and video quality
  • Investigating the trade-offs between latency and the impact of network jitter
  • Measuring the effect of codecs on network bandwidth consumption
  • Configuring a server for both RTSP and multicast connections
  • Analyzing the logs and statistics on a multimedia server

Course Benefits

Effective use of live and stored audiovisual content can significantly improve communications (both internally between management and employees, as well as externally with customers and vendors), reduce costs, improve training and accelerate learning curves, and improve security. These benefits are illustrated with real-world examples. The course will help developers of systems and components with product road maps, while enabling IT managers to make an informed choice when deciding which systems to purchase.

Participants Will Learn to

  • Make optimal use of video and voice communication technologies and products
  • Evaluate different product offerings and match their features against their needs
  • Efficiently deploy components of a multimedia streaming system across their network
  • Configure and tune audiovisual products for best results
  • Store and Manage audiovisual assets
  • Build better, more efficient and more robust networked, audiovisual products

Who Should Participate

Developers of multimedia systems or major components for these systems, as well as IT staff managing complex systems, will benefit from this course. The course is geared toward technical staff with an engineering or computer science background. A basic knowledge of IP networks is recommended.

Course Content

Applications of Multimedia Streaming

  • Corporate Presentations
  • Distance Learning
  • Videoconferencing
  • Monitoring and Surveillance
  • Entertainment

Major Components of Multimedia Streaming Systems

  • Cameras and microphones
  • Encoders and decoders
  • IP networks and protocols
  • Servers
  • Recorders
  • Displays and speakers
  • Portals
  • Reflectors
  • Media Aware Network Elements (MANEs)

Definitions and Terminology

  • Downloading
  • Streaming
  • Progressive Downloading
  • Scalable Bitstreams
  • Unicast, multicast, simulcast

Technical Challenges

  • Network Challenges
  • Processing power and storage challenges
  • Assessing Quality
  • Digital Rights Management

Underlying Technologies

  • Video Compression
  • Audio Compression
  • File Formats
  • Network Protocols

Competing Streaming Technologies

  • Windows Media Multiple Bit-Rate (MBR)
  • H.264 Scalable Video Coding (SVC)
  • Adaptive Streaming from Move Networks
  • Dynamic Streaming from Adobe
  • Smooth Streaming for Silverlight from Microsoft
  • Adaptive bit rate streaming over HTTP from Apple