Looking for video solutions for OTT and streaming services via CDN were hot topics at the NABShow 2018 in Las Vegas. Implementing such networks requires low latency and at the same time a high level of security for data packets. I was invited by HAIVISION for their product presentation on solutions for professional media distribution. HAIVISION is known for enterprise video streaming solutions used in many industries that require reliable transmission of real-time content. It's not just solutions for one industry, like entertainment and media, but also corporate data communications where video offers solutions to collaborate and share information quickly and in real time.
Utilizing the cloud as not only infrastructure, but a distribution platform, is allowing content creators to be able to deliver content to a larger audience without requiring their own data center. The StreamSRT allows enabling low latency, secured and reliable contribution from any encoder to Microsoft Azure. Using SRT, an open source video streaming protocol, developers can use Azure-based video processing workflows including Azure Media Services. This allows content to be distributed to a wider audience from the Azure cloud. There are 2 components to StreamSRT, a desktop application and a native Azure application. The desktop application runs Windows and takes RTMP or TS streams and transmits them securely using the SRT protocol to the StreamSRT Gateway. The Azure application then receives the SRT streams and converts them to a choice of RTMP for Azure Media Services CDN delivery, TS for broadcast processing through the Azure cloud or SRT for performance delivery across the Internet to SRT-enabled endpoints. The use of hybrid cloud and local networks is the way for many organizations that already have their own networks in place. SRT provides the following:
-AES encryption
-Packet Loss Recovery
-End-to-End Network Statistics
-Firewall Traversal
From the looks of it, this is one way to develop an open source solution that is secure and cost cutting. It's all part of a video stream workflow that performs encoding and decoding for a secure transport of video packets for content delivery. What makes this an effective solution is it's reliability over a public IP network like the Internet. That way there is no need to use a separate network if there is an IP-based network like the Internet that is already available. HAIVISION implements this with their Makito Encoders/Decoders and Media Gateway. This allows enterprise networks to distribute high quality video over the Internet for video applications like conferencing, training and collaboration. This allows greater scaling to accommodate needs for content delivery to multiple sites and locations across the world.
Another solution that was presented is the HAIVISION Media Gateway as a video transport on any network. It allows for transport of live linear 24/7 channel content or live events to OTT datacenters for delivery, reducing the need for costly solutions such as satellite or fiber, and replacing them with flexible and secure IP workflows.
Further Reading:
https://www.haivision.com/azure/
https://www.haivision.com/products/media-gateway/