http://it.toolbox.com/wiki/index.php/Abacast_Streaming
Abacast is a client-server based distributed streaming media software technology for use in one-to-many real-time streaming of Internet Radio services.
Abacast streaming, in contrast to other streaming media service like the Shoutcast server technology, requires the download of a small plug-in device which sets up a client-server software on the client computer. It also may use some available upstream bandwidth, but only while the client computer is actively connected.
This distributed streaming network that Abacast uniquely creates, brings down the number of clients directly connected to the media server source by up to 98 percent. This is based on the bitrate (KiloBits Per Second) of the source stream and the connection capacity of the audience. (See Digital Signal Level.)
The way the bandwidth is reduced is by having each client act as a server, thereby greatly reducing the output requirements from the server. The distributed network is created by having each user of the system act as servers for one to several other clients by re-distributing the complete stream, or a portion of the stream using any available, unused upstream bandwidth.
The server continuously and closely manages this distributed network. If at any time a distributing client becomes unable to continue to relay the stream to its receiving clients, those receiving clients are moved to other distributing clients or directly back to the server without interruption, or skipping in the stream.
Server-side optimization routines continuously monitor and adjust the network topology. The client-side plug-in provides end-to-end quality of service monitoring and real-time network healing creating a stream with less buffering than standard unicast streaming.
Abacast has designed and patented its own unique hybrid peer-to-peer technology, taking the best qualities from Peer-to-Peer and Unicast Streaming and combining them, creating a higher quality, stabler and more adaptable connection. All this has been achieved while reducing the bandwidth normally required to achieve this sort of streaming webcast. The quality remains the same, but at lower cost.
Features
Ad Injection 2.0: Abacast's patent pending Ad Injection System™ 2.0 (AIS 2.0) permits the webcast of easily switchable streams from over-the-air (terrestrial) content to online only content on a heartbeat. And this can all be done manually or it can be completely automated by triggers that are sent from all standard radio play-out systems. During over-the-air ad breaks where over-the-air ads cannot be played in the online portions, this feature comes into its own, greatly facilitating multi-source webcasts. Certainly the population of a combined webcast with bread-winning ads is valuable when it can be easy and effortless.
The AIS™ system permits the webcaster to fill these online breaks with a completely different ad inventory thereby increasing the stations revenue. These breaks can be filled with any other type of content like music trailers, station IDs, or DJ promos, if the online ad inventory has not yet been sold. So there need be no break in continuity. An online ad sales package can easily be customized to meet the purchaser's needs at any time.
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