Streaming Video Webcasting
It's possible to do a budget version of streaming video webcasting, but for professional results you need to invest in professional equipment. This is because streaming video webcasting requires more resources than Video On Demand (VOD).
For one, live webcasting requires the use of a streaming server, while VOD can often be hosted on a regular HTTP server. Streaming video webcasting also requires the use of live video streaming software which operates on dedicated computers for encoding the video stream.
This equipment is necessary to get the highest quality images for streaming video webcasting. A streaming server is capable of delivering streaming video at 15 to 25 frames per second (fps) - a huge performance boost over an HTTP server delivering perhaps one frame per second.
Live Video Streaming Software
All streaming video must be encoded in a special format. VOD can be encoded on any desktop computer because there are no particular demands for speed. Streaming video webcasting, on the other hand, requires the use of dedicated computers which can encode the video stream in real time.
Digital video cameras are connected directly to the encoding computer, which in turn is connected directly to the Internet. The computers on which the live video streaming software is installed can usually accept inputs from several video cameras at the same time.
Multicast
Streaming video webcasting uses a protocol called multicast. This establishes a single live video stream which anyone on the Internet can access. VOD, on the other hand, works by setting up an individual channel between the hosting computer and the viewing computer. This allows any computer to connect to the video stream at any time.
Since webcasting is a live event, there is no need to set up individual channels. Multicast is a much more efficient protocol for live streaming video which allows a potentially unlimited number of viewers to watch.
Video Conferencing
Multicast can also be used for video conferencing. Each participant in the conference delivers a multicast data stream which can be viewed by all of the other participants, who are themselves delivering a multicast data stream.
Multicast is more cost effective than setting up individual channels between participants, so this is a good solution for video conferencing which involves a large number of participants.
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