Streaming video, how does it work?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the mechanics of live video streaming on the internet, exploring how video data is transmitted, the role of packetization, and the implications of multicasting in this process. Participants delve into both theoretical and practical aspects of streaming technology.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how live video is streamed, asking if it is sent in small pieces or as a continuous flow, and inquires about the size of these pieces.
  • Another participant explains that video is delivered through multicasting, which is a method that combines aspects of broadcasting and unicasting, and mentions different modes of multicasting.
  • It is noted that data is broken into packets for transmission over standard IP networks, with a typical maximum packet size of 1500 bytes, although this can vary based on the device capabilities.
  • Some participants argue that the server does not need to send data at maximum speed, but rather at a rate sufficient to prevent playback issues, emphasizing the importance of bandwidth considerations.
  • There is contention regarding the relevance of Ethernet and the specifics of packet sizes in relation to streaming video, with some asserting that these details are not essential to understanding the concept of streaming.
  • One participant emphasizes the necessity of understanding multicasting to grasp how video content is distributed, while another suggests that basic concepts of packetized streaming can be understood without delving into multicasting.
  • Concerns are raised about the use of technical jargon and acronyms without definitions, which may confuse less knowledgeable participants.
  • A participant mentions regulatory issues in the US regarding multicasting and its implications for service providers.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the importance of multicasting in understanding streaming video, with some asserting it is essential while others believe basic concepts can be conveyed without it. There is no consensus on the necessity of technical jargon in explanations.

Contextual Notes

Some participants highlight the complexity of the topic, indicating that a deeper understanding of networking concepts may be required to fully grasp the intricacies of streaming video technology.

  • #31
See, this is a perfect example of you not knowing what you're talking about, this has nothing to do with them multicast enabling their IP backbone so that end users can view multicasts via the internet.

You seem to be unable to understand the difference between multicasting over cable or Verizon's plan to offer it over fiber to a subscriber's premise (FiOS) and multicasting over the public internet. They are not the same.

What are you talking about? Amazing, I am attempting to explain to you they are different, and either you are building a strawman or we have a communication problem. As I have asked you to verify if you know the difference in several posts now!
 
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  • #32
Anttech said:
Did you even look at the link I posted, regarding the level of Class D routing? Level 3 is the "main pipe" of the world...
Level 3 is a business to business only company in the US, they do not sell to non-business customers.

Routing Multicasts is transparent to Telco's its like routing Unicasts, as I explained before. It is the same thing, up till closer to the requestor, or rather up till what we call a Rendevous point for the Mcast group.
This has nothing to do with the Telco environment. To do multicasting to non-dedicated business internet users, you need to be on one of the 2-3 ISP's that offer multicasting to consumers, since these ISP's mainly only sell to businesses, there are very few consumers on these companies. If someone wants to view your video and they are on an ISP that isn't multicast enabled (the vast majority) the instant your ISP hands off to their ISP the multicast stops. You do understand hot potato routing?

I know what the confusion is about here, you are talking about IPTV over dsl or whatever.
Uhm, no. See you don't understand.

The OP is not a business, he is a consumer, as are the vast majority of anyone reading in this forum. Video on the internet is gaining popularity, but because of the multicast issue, popular sites like youtube actually use flash.
 
  • #33
BTW Some more food for thought, on whether Multicasting is 'allowed' or is in use across the Public internet. It is very easy to Tunnel a Class D address or rather a Multicast stream inside a Unicast stream, so in fact it can be tunneled across 'Hostile' Transport Teleco's.

One can use a GRE (simple Generic Router tunnel) to do this:

Outlined here:

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk828/technologies_configuration_example09186a00801a5aa2.shtml

This means even if an 'Inbetween' Autonomous System does not allow Mcasts, it can still cross that AS.
 
  • #34
The OP is not a business, he is a consumer, as are the vast majority of anyone reading in this forum. Video on the internet is gaining popularity, but because of the multicast issue, popular sites like youtube actually use flash.
Youtube isn't Live. Its a recording that's the difference, and the reason why they wouldn't multicast.. You would never multicast that type of content!

Can you stop telling me I don't understand, when you are the one who keeps giving incorrect information. If you understood the reason why one uses multicasts, you certainly would not have mentioned youtube!
 
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  • #35
Anttech said:
Youtube isn't Live. Its a recording that's the difference, and the reason why they wouldn't multicast..
True, but there is live video with the flash media server, but I'm not knowledgeable about the limitations.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the OP was really thinking of video such as youtube, google video, etc... which are not streaming video and we've been arguing this for nothing.

I think we've been on two different pages on the multicasting, I'm only talking about the streaming capabilities to consumers which here in the US has been virtually blocked by the big ISP's. I apologize for being terse.
 
  • #36
I apologize for being terse.

ok, I apologise also if I have been blunt, or not communicative enough
 

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