A high-level look at why different video technologies behave differently at the user experience level. Prepared for education at Observer.

1. Video Delivery
A High-Level Look
Sunday, May 17, 2009

2. Disclaimer
The following slides are meant only to
describe high-level interactions. Many
more variables exist in any video
discussion.
Sunday, May 17, 2009

3. Issue at Hand
• Video Performance
• Sometimes slow, choppy - Why?
• Bandwidth
• Video Encoding and Delivery
• Receiving Video
Sunday, May 17, 2009

4. Bandwidth
• Bit rate = data transfer rate and/or
the encoded quality of a video file
• Larger bit rates require more network
and storage use
• Resolution = video display size/quality
• Larger resolutions require more network
and storage use
Sunday, May 17, 2009

5. Video Encoding/Delivery
• Video Encoding
• Different formats, such as Windows
Media or Flash, require different
technologies for delivery
• Delivery from Server
• Streaming = delivers in small chunks
• Download = delivers all at once
Sunday, May 17, 2009

6. End Users
• Players
• Some are plug-ins only, others are plug-
ins calling local applications
• Browser
• Different browsers handle plug-ins and
delivery protocols differently
• Act differently depending on OS
Sunday, May 17, 2009

7. Use Cases
• Common
• Streaming Video - server to client
• Downloading Video - server to client
• Uncommon
• Streaming Video - server to terminal
server to client (terminal services)
Sunday, May 17, 2009

8. Delivery - Server/Client
Streaming Progressive Download
Streaming Server Download Server
vs.
Client Client
connection connection connection connection
begins ends begins ends
Sunday, May 17, 2009

9. Perfect Storm (Part I)
• All variables must match for good end user
experience
• Server technology, client technology,
bandwidth capacity, etc.
• Now, let’s add another layer - Terminal
Server, which acts like a streaming
technology (delivers in small chunks)
Sunday, May 17, 2009

10. Delivery - Terminal
Streaming Progressive Download
Streaming Server Download Server
Terminal Server vs. Terminal Server
Client Client
connection connection connection connection
begins ends begins ends
Sunday, May 17, 2009

11. Perfect Storm (Part II)
• All variables still must match for good end
user experience
• Server technology, client technology,
bandwidth capacity, etc.
• Terminal Server introduces conflicting
technologies for downloaded video, which is
main Charlotte.com delivery
• Download too heavy to transfer seamlessly
Sunday, May 17, 2009

12. Questions?
• Jason Silverstein
Interactive | General and Product Mgmt
jsilverstein@charlotte.com
Sunday, May 17, 2009

13. (intentionally blank)
Sunday, May 17, 2009

14. Backup Slides
Sunday, May 17, 2009

15. Video Encoding
• Windows Media
• Microsoft proprietary from client to
server to encoding to delivery
• Live and on-demand are high quality
• Streaming is most prevalent delivery
• Capable of Digital Rights Management
(“DRM”) and HD quality
Sunday, May 17, 2009

16. Video Encoding (con’t)
• Flash Technology
• Format created by Macromedia (now
Adobe), made famous by YouTube
• Encoding more efficient than Microsoft
but relies on third-party video (On2) and
audio (mp3)
• Usually delivered via download
• Lacks HD and DRM capabilities
Sunday, May 17, 2009

17. Video Encoding (con’t)
• QuickTime
• Apple proprietary application
• Uses proprietary and/or standards for
encoding content
• Capable of HD and DRM (both are
industry standards)
• Download is most common delivery
Sunday, May 17, 2009

18. Bit Rate & Resolution
• Part of encoding process
• Bit rate rises as quality increases; dial-up
video = 56 kbps, DSL = 300 kbps, e.g.
• Resolution measures pixels high and wide;
larger numbers create larger file sizes
• Bit Rate and Resolution both affect
playback, especially for downloads
Sunday, May 17, 2009

19. Client Technologies
• Windows Media Player
• Plays Windows Media primarily; can do
some other online formats
• Can play live or on-demand
• Plug-in calls in application from OS,
meaning longer start times
• Tightly integrated into OS through
delivery chain
Sunday, May 17, 2009

20. Client Technologies
(con’t)
• Flash
• Lightweight plug-in
• Plays Flash video only (on purpose)
• Can play live or on-demand
• Considered best “web” experience by
many
Sunday, May 17, 2009

21. Client Technologies
(con’t)
• QuickTime
• QuickTime primarily; other online
formats are possible
• Can play live or on-demand
• Plug-in calls in application from OS,
meaning longer start times
Sunday, May 17, 2009

22. Video Delivery
• Progressive Download (aka “PDL”)
• Using a web server to deliver video in an
on-demand capacity only
• Once request is made, entire file is
delivered at once
• No further requests or communication
with server
Sunday, May 17, 2009

23. Video Delivery (con’t)
• Streaming
• Uses a specialized server and software
to deliver video in small, streamed bits to
the client
• Connection between client and server is
constant through delivery
• Can be used for live or on-demand
Sunday, May 17, 2009

24. (intentionally blank)
Sunday, May 17, 2009