Large Scale Multimedia Streaming in Heterogeneous Network Environments

Abstract

SynonymsHierarchical VoD architecture; Peer-to-peer VoD architecture; Hybrid P2P VoD frameworkDefinitionThis article describes three main approaches for building a large scale VoD system in heterogeneous network environment in a cost-efficient way.IntroductionVideo-on-demand (VoD) is an enabling technology [1] allowing geographically distributed users to interactively access video files from remote VoD servers. With this technology, users can playback the video content without waiting for the entire file to arrive and also enjoy the flexible control of video playback with VCR-like functions. Compared with conventional data communications, delivery of video data has more stringent requirements on network bandwidth, delay and loss [2]. However, the current Internet is inherently a packet-switched network that was not designed to handle isochronous (continuous time-based) traffic such as audio and video. The Internet can only provide best-effort services and ...