"Stream: Large File Create Small"
What is the definition of the stream?
If we open a dictionary, then the stream could mean flux or stream. In the Internet, streaming more refer to a technology that is capable of compresion size or reduce audio and video files so easily transferred through the Internet network. process transferring audio and video files is done in a "stream", aka ongoing. From the point of view of the process, streaming delivery technology means a file from the server to the client through the packet-based network such as the Internet. The file is a series of time-stamped package called the stream.
If we open a dictionary, then the stream could mean flux or stream. In the Internet, streaming more refer to a technology that is capable of compresion size or reduce audio and video files so easily transferred through the Internet network. process transferring audio and video files is done in a "stream", aka ongoing. From the point of view of the process, streaming delivery technology means a file from the server to the client through the packet-based network such as the Internet. The file is a series of time-stamped package called the stream.
While the user's point of view, streaming is a technology that allows a file can be executed immediately without waiting finish downloaded entirely and continue to "flow" without any interruptions. Indeed, before the streaming technology is introduced widely, we need to download a full audio or video file before we can hear or watch on our computers. To download the file to finish, of course, takes quite a lot. Just an example, if a file size of the video is 10 Mb, then we need about 15 minutes if you use Internet access at speeds of 56 KBps.
In fact, according to some surveys, the limit of patience, the average Internet user to wait for view something that is only accessible to just 8 seconds. More than that, they will leave the site. In February 1999, Lucas film released a snippet of the film (trailer) Star Wars on the site. Large trailer file is 50 Mb! Traffic and queue pendownload was really very high up to 48 hours.
Unfortunately, the files are not using the streaming technology, so most people can not download the file perfectly and finally not at all can enjoy the trailer. Now with the broadest use of streaming technology, the obstacles mentioned above can be overcome.
In fact any file that you can do stream?
All file types can actually. Both the audio files, video, image, text, data, 3D, software, and so forth. But streaming sejatinya more to the time-based media, especially audio and video, which can be enjoyed as soon as possible and based on the exact timing, because to be able to enjoy a song or movie, to be played in sequence from beginning to end (sequential) without lost -dropouts (uninterrupted). One of the applications that are very familiar with technology is an application streaming Internet broadcasting, namely broadcasting audio or video-based Internet Protocol (IP).
All file types can actually. Both the audio files, video, image, text, data, 3D, software, and so forth. But streaming sejatinya more to the time-based media, especially audio and video, which can be enjoyed as soon as possible and based on the exact timing, because to be able to enjoy a song or movie, to be played in sequence from beginning to end (sequential) without lost -dropouts (uninterrupted). One of the applications that are very familiar with technology is an application streaming Internet broadcasting, namely broadcasting audio or video-based Internet Protocol (IP).
Internet Broadcasting.
The use of streaming technology on the Internet allows a broadcasting station or television channels to siarannya using the Internet. Actually there are two types of services that can be by the Internet are broadcasting this, the on-demand and live. For the on-demand, broadcasting is usually the broadcast media files that have been previously recorded. Indonesian television station that is using Internet technology, on-demand broadcasting is SCTV. SCTV provide re-broadcast news coverage 6 events that can be witnessed at the site http://www.liputan6.com. For the radio station on-demand such as a BBC radio broadcast edition of the English can be heard on the site http://www.bbc.co.uk/indonesian.
Meanwhile, the live Internet broadcasting, or usually known by the term also livecasting, broadcast a media file at the time when an incident is also ongoing (real time). One of the radio station of a technology such as radio livecasting this Elshinta Jakarta, which can be heard through siarannya site PNM: / / elshinta.indosat.net.id / live.ra. While for the television station in Indonesia, which do not have livecasting, except for one or two specific events that are only incidental. Main problem is the readiness of the Internet infrastructure in Indonesia, because livecasting require network bandwidth to the Internet and the speed adequate.
Abroad, particularly in the United States, livecasting even this has become an entertainment industry itself. For example, such as those offered by the site and http://www.liveconcerts.com www.liveonthenet.com.
Technically, the Internet broadcasting using streaming technology is divided into two types, namely unicasting and multicasting. Sometimes we rancu term between broadcasting, multicasting and unicasting.
Broadcasting in the daily (non-Internet) is actually the process of sending data from one point to many periods, such as sending us an e-mail to the mailing-list, each point (mailing-list members) would not want to receive e-mail us. The process of broadcasting is in effect on the radio or television broadcasting through the air waves (frequency) that all the actual frequency is received by our antenna receiver. Live where we choose the frequency that we hear akan (tuning).
Whereas unicasting is the process of sending data from one point to a point that other, non-real time, and the withdrawal of basic services-based IP. Unicasting process as we send e-mail the same contents one by one to our colleagues. With unicasting, a media file that was created, we store the first in a media storage. If there are Internet users who want to enjoy the media file, the file will stream-in-a first by a streaming server before presented to the computer user. The process of delivery of media files from storage media to the user's computer happens repeatedly, depending on how many people who want to enjoy the file. Therefore it is suitable for unicast Internet broadcasting of non real time and on-demand.
Then, multicasting is the process of sending data from one point to multiple point that is part of one particular group and who want the data, such as when we send an e-mail to a mailing-list groups that work is limited. Multicasting is a real time and to share routes between point to point to a variety of these goals. With multicasting, a media file that we create the middle brought directly to the streaming server to stream in-and-a direct result was also channeled to a single point to be certain. The process of delivery of media files from the process of making up to the user's computer can only happen once, that was when the media file was made for the first time. Therefore it is suitable for Internet multicast broadcasting a live and real time (livecasting).
Interactive streaming.
Interactive streaming is concerned and continues to be developed by the Internet industry. The interactive stream is increasing the involvement of Internet users in communicating with other Internet users. What actually is streaming interactive? If we use technology, Internet broadcasting, unicast (on-demand / non real time) and multicast (live / real time), we can only sit, watch and listen to just in front of our monitors. Internet broadcasting the same as when we watch TV or listen to the radio which is a one-way communication.
With interactive streaming, both parties can jointly receive and send information at the same time (real time and live) without having to first save to storage media or brought to the streaming server. Both parties are interactive stream is not necessarily the same as using pictures and sound, such as Internet video conference. Can be only one party that broadcast images and sound, while the other parties only to respond or reply via voice or text that diketikkan. Software such as ICQ and Yahoo! Messenger is a chat application based on the text stream.
Interactive streaming itself consists of 2 types, namely two-way and multi-directional. For two-way interaction is 1-to-1 over the Internet. Post-September 11 terrorist incidents in 2001 in New York and Washington, many of the business that the Internet video conference in his office to hold meetings with other offices in a separate remote. This of course is the time and cost of travel. Mark Plus also often make the Internet a video conference with experts in marketing overseas when a marketing seminars.
While the multi-directional, interaction is one-to-many or many-to-many. Examples are such impressions political debate through the Internet that allows the broadcasting pemirsanya at the time directly to ask questions via audio or text. When launching the site Liputan6.com a few years ago, held a discussion about the Internet-based mass media to bring some of the editor in chief. Discussions on-a-streaming and broadcast live and in real-time via the site is Liputan6.com. Discussion audiences can ask a question or comment to the discussion of the sources through the text in the chat room provided by the SCTV.
Streaming Format.
Up to now there are at least three types of streaming formats that are used in many Internet sites. Output format is Real Media (. Rm /. Ra /. Ram), Windows Media (. Asf /. Wmf /. Asx) and QuickTime (. Mov). Each format has advantages and lack of its own. Real Media format and Windows Media is very powerful in the process stream, but not too powerful for local editing and playback. QuickTime format, while the average is quite reliable for the streaming, local playback and editing. To note, QuickTime streaming format is the most old age, ie since 1991.
Third format is a kind of player or plug-in installed on the client computer to be able to enjoy streaming offered a site. Of course, the format is not compatible with each other player that is not peruntukkannya. Typically in a computer akan player installed three at once, because every site on the Internet do not necessarily choose the format that uses streaming. Player for Real Player, can be downloaded in http://www.real.com/player, Windows Media and QuickTime in http://www.windowsmedia.com in http://www.apple.com/quicktime.
CODEC.
CODEC is short of compression / decompression. Codec, in the context of streaming, a method or algorithm that is in a streaming player that function is to make the process pengkompresan and pengdekompresan streaming media files. Think a media file (audio or video) like a piece of bread. Volume of bread is of course a lot of eating places, because the physical characteristics of bread is not dense.
If we knead the bread, the weight or contents of the bread is still the same, but the volume has been reduced. CODEC function on a media file is not much different from the process peremasan bread on it. CODEC squeeze (mengkompresi) media files so that its size may be, and the file is streamed through the Internet and dibroadcast. After the computer to the client, then the file size to didekompres home to be able to listen to or watch. This process allows us to be able to enjoy streaming media more quickly.
Science CODEC is a digital art. Many things that must be considered if we want to make the process of compression-dekompresi media files. Just an example, the greater our media files, the larger the size of the file. The more we do the file compression, the quality is also reduced when the file again enjoyed. For video files, the less we specify a small frame per second (fps), then the resulting picture will be broken-broken. To overcome this, then we will often find that the size of the screen video streaming relatively smaller size rather we monitor.
This is to offset the compression that is done with the resulting video quality is not that broken-broken. As information, use the Windows media variants of MP4 Codec, Real Network using Intel-based Codec and QuickTime using the Sorenson Codec based. There are still many other CODEC owned and used by certain parties. In the August 1999 code, MPEG-4 (MP4) become open source. MP4 is initially used to do the ripping (pengkopian) DVD, because it is a CODEC that is flexible, with a powerful compression technique.
Bandwidth.
streaming for the world, bandwidth is the king who holds a key role. Section, so that a file in the media-streaming and on-we can enjoy the broadcast, as appropriate, access to the Internet we must have adequate bandwidth. Not only from the type of access that we use, is 56.6 Kbps, Leased Line or cable Internet, but also the bandwidth of Internet Service Provider (ISP) to our streaming server that we thrust. Assume an initial size of the video file per frame is equal to 75 Kb. The file was successfully compressed to 25 Kb.
If we access the Internet only 56.6 Kbps, then we can enjoy only 2 frames per second (frames per second - fps). 56.6 Kbps, but it is the ideal condition. Often we get down in the turns. So that we can only enjoy only 1 fps. 1 fps with the quality that is equal to 50 Kb direduksi, akan may not produce the quality image that we expect. That is why in the business stream, bandwidth is king. From our side of Internet users, not easy to get to enjoy the satisfaction of quality when streaming bandwidth and speed of Internet access we are small.
From an entertainment-based provider of streaming, the need for the funds to rent a large enough bandwidth. Because for both unicast and multicast, both require a large bandwidth, depending on the size of the file in the media-streaming, and in the broadcast and many-point of dituju. Data is transmitted from the server to the Internet we can be hundreds of Mbps. The greater Mbps is, the larger the cost of which must be issued. Some sites that offer video streaming is: http://realguide.real.com, www.sputnik7.com, www.adcritic.com, and www.atomfilms.com www.bigstar.com.
*) The author is Coordinator of ICT Watch TI and independent journalists. Can be contacted via e-mail donnybu@ictwatch.com. This paper was published by Infonet / Infokomputer, vol.IV No.6 . This freely cited the source of origin.