Live Internet Broadcast Made Possible

Kin Yip Chow

Live Internet broadcasting service is now provided by the Computing Services Centre. This service uses equipment that support streaming media technology, allowing users to capture video and audio signals to be viewed over the Internet instantaneously. It is suitable for live broadcast of ceremonies, public speeches, and performances, such as the City University Alumni Reunion ’98 taken place in May 1998.

How it works

A video camera captures an event and the encoded video and audio signals are transferred to the RealVideo server, which is then ready for a real-time broadcast on the Web. The encoded signals can also be archived as computer files if viewing is desired on an on-demand basis. To enable the audience to access the live (real-time) and archived version of the event, appropriate links can be created on a Web page. Whichever route the target audience chooses for viewing the event, whether it is via the Internet, Intranet, or dial-up modems, the resolution and frames per second can be optimised for best viewing results.

How viewers watch a broadcast event

On-campus viewers using the standard Web browser on the staff or student LAN can simply click the appropriate link on a pre-announced Web page. They do not need any extra software since what are needed have been installed on the network. Home and external users can download a free copy of RealPlayer from vendor's Web site (http://www.real.com/products/player/index.html) and install it as a plug-in into any standard Web browser.

What the service provides

CSC will provide the following to users who would like to use this service:

Assists the party that will do the filming of the event in connecting the filming equipment with PCs that do the capturing and encoding.

Sets up PCs and servers for capturing and broadcasting the event.

Advises the user on setting up the telecommunication link between the venue of the event (on-campus or off-campus) and the machine containing the RealVideo and Web servers at the City University.

Assists the user in designing the Web page to include links for downloading the RealPlayer and for playing the event. If viewing on-demand is required, the CSC can help the user to capture the event as files and transfer them to the server for storing.

[Issue No. 16]

Computing Services Centre
City University of Hong Kong
ccnetcom@cityu.edu.hk

Live Internet broadcasting service is now provided by the Computing Services Centre. This service uses equipment that support streaming media technology, allowing users to capture video and audio signals to be viewed over the Internet instantaneously. It is suitable for live broadcast of ceremonies, public speeches, and performances, such as the City University Alumni Reunion ’98 taken place in May 1998. How it works A video camera captures an event and the encoded video and audio signals are transferred to the RealVideo server, which is then ready for a real-time broadcast on the Web. The encoded signals can also be archived as computer files if viewing is desired on an on-demand basis. To enable the audience to access the live (real-time) and archived version of the event, appropriate links can be created on a Web page. Whichever route the target audience chooses for viewing the event, whether it is via the Internet, Intranet, or dial-up modems, the resolution and frames per second can be optimised for best viewing results. How viewers watch a broadcast event On-campus viewers using the standard Web browser on the staff or student LAN can simply click the appropriate link on a pre-announced Web page. They do not need any extra software since what are needed have been installed on the network. Home and external users can download a free copy of RealPlayer from vendor's Web site (http://www.real.com/products/player/index.html) and install it as a plug-in into any standard Web browser. What the service provides CSC will provide the following to users who would like to use this service:
	Assists the party that will do the filming of the event in connecting the filming equipment with PCs that do the capturing and encoding.
	Sets up PCs and servers for capturing and broadcasting the event.
	Advises the user on setting up the telecommunication link between the venue of the event (on-campus or off-campus) and the machine containing the RealVideo and Web servers at the City University.
	Assists the user in designing the Web page to include links for downloading the RealPlayer and for playing the event. If viewing on-demand is required, the CSC can help the user to capture the event as files and transfer them to the server for storing.