TCP/IP and Streaming Media Protocols in Depth

Duration: 3 days
Registration Fee: $1,950
Upcoming class dates & Locations:

Registration Form

---

Course Description

This course describes in detail the major protocols of IP-based networks, as well as those of streaming media systems running on IP networks. The major competing streaming technologies are also described. Exercises throughout this course provide practical experience with IP networks and multimedia streaming systems. Exercises include:

• Investigating the impact of different congestion control mechanisms
• Investigating the impact of noisy channels and packet loss on throughput
• Calculating the cost of different multicast algorithms
• Investigating the trade-offs between latency and the impact of network jitter
• Configuring a server for both RTSP and multicast connections
• Analyzing the logs and statistics on a multimedia server

Course Benefits

The IP protocol is at the heart of the Internet. Any web-based application will run on top of an IP network. Gaining a good understanding of the core protocols of IP-based networks will enable participants to make optimal use of their network resources. It will also enable them to troubleshoot issues faster, and protect data more effectively. IP networks were initially developed for computer data. The development of new protocols has expanded their use to include streaming of real-time media such as audio and video. Participants will be able to evaluate the various streaming media technologies, and make an informed choice when purchasing network components and IP-based appliances.

Participants Will Learn to

• Configure IP-based hosts, network components and appliances
• Efficiently deploy components of a multimedia streaming system across their network
• Make optimum use of their network for streaming audiovisual content
• Use GUI-based protocol analysis tools

Who Should Participate

Anyone who is developing, deploying or managing IP networks and, in particular, IP-based streaming systems. Both corporate users and developers of IP-based audiovisual products will benefit from this course. This includes managers, engineers, network administrators, IT managers and support staff.

Course Content

Introduction and Overview

• Importance of IP to the Internet and the Web
• Streaming Media Applications

TCP/IP

• Overview and History of TCP/IP
• Network Components
• IP and ICMP
• UDP and TCP
• Common Application Layer Protocols
• IP Routing
• IP Multicasting
• IPv6

Technical Definitions

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

Streaming Media Protocols

• RTP: an instance of Application Layer Framing (ALF)
• RTCP: a control protocol for enabling synchronization
• RTSP: A mechanism for remote stream control (VCR functions)
• Session Description Protocol (SDP)
• Session Announcement Protocol (SAP) for multicast streams
• Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)
• Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
• MPEG-2Transport Stream
• Real Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP)

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