- Start: 01/01/2010
- End: 31/12/2010
- External site
Projectleader: Niels Laukens
The COSYN2 (“Content Syndication and Delivery”) project handles the distribution of audiovisual content towards the consumer via the internet, through computer-based, mobile and other applications.
State of the art
Live streaming of multimedia content over broadband internet is becoming more and more “Business as usual”. Most radio-stations provide an internet feed apart from their conventional delivery via FM. But as well video streaming is becoming popular. In either case, linear streaming requires little integration effort: encoders are simply put in series with the master output.
More complex projects such as BBC’s iPlayer and Hulu.com provide on demand access to individual programmes. An electronic programme guide serves as a catalogue; that includes a recommendation engine, search functionality, etc. This type of integration requires a more complex integration into the media asset management system.
Future media experiences will require even more: Seamless transition from a mobile device, connected over a 3G cellular network, to a full HDTV set with broadband internet; Integration of live and on-demand content. Besides more complex usage patterns, a new ecosystem is beginning to develop around added-value providers. iPhone apps such as Radio.be play the live-stream, but add a button to purchase the current song on iTunes. These kinds of integrations are only possible by providing the necessary API’s to 3rd parties.
Next generation content delivery
This project aims to explore the possibilities of this future media experience. This ranges from video encoding algorithms and settings, over streaming protocols and technologies, towards client devices. We will as well investigate the impact on the production environment if it is to provide its content in a versatile way.