Live Streaming - Architectural Recommendations

[jdigs]

Despite all my research, this isn't as clear cut as I would think as I haven't found the answers ...

Goal:
Live stream a cam on a broadband connection to unlimited and all types of connected devices

Architectural Components:
(1) Camera Site => (2) Video Server => (3) PCs, Macs, mobile devices, etc

Recommendations:
(1) Camera and Sofware to use?
Seems an IP camera with low light capability and can stream MPEG4 would work best, given setting and mobile devices. And what software to upstream?

(2) Live streaming video host and software/network connection handling software?
Is a provider with a CDN necessary? Who's best?
It's tricky to me how the connections work and (2) only asks (1) for the one stream when multiple people are requesting it from (2). This of course would be a requirement because (1) could only handle the one upstream. What manages this?

Really appreciate any help or comments you could provide as this project is really not progressing as we'd all hope...

[edDV]

Despite all my research, this isn't as clear cut as I would think as I haven't found the answers ...

Goal:
Live stream a cam on a broadband connection to unlimited and all types of connected devices

Architectural Components:
(1) Camera Site => (2) Video Server => (3) PCs, Macs, mobile devices, etc

Recommendations:
(1) Camera and Sofware to use?
Seems an IP camera with low light capability and can stream MPEG4 would work best, given setting and mobile devices. And what software to upstream?

(2) Live streaming video host and software/network connection handling software?
Is a provider with a CDN necessary? Who's best?
It's tricky to me how the connections work and (2) only asks (1) for the one stream when multiple people are requesting it from (2). This of course would be a requirement because (1) could only handle the one upstream. What manages this?

Really appreciate any help or comments you could provide as this project is really not progressing as we'd all hope...

Your research would have shown most requirements are possible depending on budget and local shooting conditions. At the high end, TV broadcasters opt for high quality so use uncompressed or low compressed cameras, switch uncompressed, then "uplink" to sat or more often point to point fiber networks. Internet is considered problematic due to latency and variability

A "streaming pro" will select a streaming video server provider (cost generally varies by # connections and streaming bit rate) then attempt to connect a single stream to the server at the best quality local conditions allow (e.g. best internet uplink speed available).

A typical hobbiest will try to connect via his/her ISP. That is a difficult engineering project.

Easiest for a reasonable quality connect is a MiniDV cam feeding live IEEE-1394 to MS Media encoder (Windows). The number of direct watchers is limited by ISP upload bit rate (about one to six-ish).

Webcams are the next step down. They can be used with or without a hired streaming server provider.

What are you trying to do?

[jdigs]

edDV,

appreciate the comments and will try to lay out some more details here...

out of your three categories, i would fall in the streaming pro. we want to have a live feed of our showroom as they're constantly rotating and bringing new ones in. our repeat customers have mentioned being able to view this and we think it could help in attracting new business as well.

as such, a feed that would be quality enough to see the lustrous colors and curves of these beauties, but we also don't particularly wish to upgrade our broadband connect. is it possible to have a 'good' quality stream when it's being sent up on broadband? we're not looking for broadcast quality, just something at 320x240 that can show a 3x3 area of cars with decent detail. yes, i realize this is small; just good, decent quality, better is always better but at this size. an ip camera seemed to be the way to go as we'd be hanging it at ceiling level and running the connect about 30ft back to our router. suggested camera then and software to upstream?

we are okay in signing on with a streaming host provider because we could end up doing this in more of our showrooms and expect to be able to carry the load of 250 people viewing at one time given our website traffic. suggested provider then and how is the networking of one upstream and many outstreams managed?

please let me know if i can bring more clarity to a particular area.

[edDV]

Picture quality will be a function of your broadband upload capability. Try speed test.


Start with MS Media encoder at 320x240, 256Kb/s then move up until the feed drops frames, then back off a bit.

[jdigs]

i was looking for a little more in terms of what you'd recommend for the overall architecture. would be great if you could elaborate on the pieces and how they play together.