Edited & Last Updated 9/23/2001 by jow

Live Streams and Video On Demand

About Our Live Streams
How To Access the WMP Stream
How To Access the IP/TV Stream

   ABOUT OUR 24/7 LIVE STREAMS: 

Our Sandbox head-end and event control videoconferencing endpoint, a Zydacron Z360 based system donated by Viewcommunications, is cross-connected by its auxiliary A/V output to a  Windows Media Player (WMP) encoder and server and also to an IP/TV encoder and server.  The WMP encoder and server were donated by Veraview.  The IP/TV encoder and server were donated by Cisco Corporation.  

The WMP stream is targeted for lower bandwidth and dial-up users.  It is produced in several bandwidths ranging from a little over 30 Kbps to slightly over 100 Kbps.  No specialized software is required for viewing the stream.  Simply point your Internet Explorer 5+ browser at http://wny-wmp.buffalo.edu/ub.  The majority of problems with reception have been traced to either local institutional firewall issues or out-of-date or corrupted DirectX drivers. 

The live IP/TV stream, which is multicast, is MPEG-1 at about 1.3 Mbps and requires a higher bandwidth multicast-enabled Internet connection for viewing.  For sites without multicast connectivity who are collaborating on one of our demonstration/trial projects, we'll be happy to configure a tunnel from the broadcast server to a local on-site IP/TV server that can multicast the live stream within the collaborating site's LAN.  

Both stream types can be recorded and made available for after-the-fact replay and review as video on-demand (VOD) files.  VOD files are normally accessed and viewed with specialized client software that presents a catalogue of stored content and allows for accurate positioning for replay of specific sections of the recording.  VOD file playback makes use of unicast protocols, however, and consequently has a greater impact on transport networks.  Since our interests are primarily with high-quality video, it is our normal practice to limit VOD file production and presentation to the live IP/TV MPEG-1 streams of significant demonstration events.

As multicast deployment proceeds on University at Buffalo campuses, more information on obtaining, installing, and configuring the IP/TV viewer software will be posted on these pages.  Those with immediate interests and need should review the simple instructions below and contact Jim whitlock for assistance.

To access the WMP stream:

1. From your browser (if it is Internet Explorer) or Windows media player enter the following URL   http://wny-wmp.buffalo.edu/ub

2. From this link

3. From an embedded player    Embedded

To install and configure an IP/TV Viewer:

• Live broadcast IP/TV streams can only be received by Viewers located on IP-multicast enabled campus network segments.  If you or your department have strong interests in making use of campus IP/TV developmental facilities for instructional or research proof-of-concept trials, contact Jim Whitlock.  Users on network segments that do not enjoy IP-multicast connectivity with our <128.205.10..>Net will only be able to view On-Demand content.

• Download and install an IP/TV R3+ Viewer from either:

  • http://videolab.uoregon.edu/download.html or

  • http://wny-hpnvi.buffalo.edu/wny-hpnvi/tools.htm

• Be sure to install supplied patch files if they apply to your release level.

• When you first try to use your viewer, it will prompt for site identification and a Content Manager location.  Please do fill-in meaningful site identification data for our trials of usage analysis tools.  Our central Content Manager is located at <wny-iptv.buffalo.edu>, Port 80.