Modern digital devices have made it possible for the consumers to watch their favorite movie or a live show anywhere anytime and the technology used is called as ‘video place-shifting’.
Anyone with a broadband Internet connection can leverage video place-shifting technology. IP-connected consumer electronic devices can provide place-shifting functionality from a video source, such as a television, a set-top box, or a DVR.
Precisely, video place-shifting enables consumers to remotely watch their desired streamed video or time-shifted content on a mobile phone, a netbook, or a computer that has access to high-speed Internet connection. The streamed video can be got from a home television set, DVR, DVD player, or home security camera and this video can be viewed at any place at any time using place-shifting.
The Technology Involved
Internet and wireless technology have a key role in the video place-shifting technology. Eliminating the need for a second cable or satellite TV subscription, the video place-shifting technology generally utilizes IP-connected consumer electronics devices.
The ‘S-Video out’ video signal, which comes out descrambled from the cable box, is first captured and then directed to a transcoder - an OEM device – where the descrambled signal is converted into MPEG 4 format for streaming. The streaming video is then sent wirelessly to a remote device such as a mobile phone or a netbook or a PC that has Internet connection.
Multi-Screen Delivery of Content
The video place-shifting technology ultimately involves multi-screen delivery of entertainment video content, which is generally implemented using real-time transcoding or on-demand transcoding. However, real-time transcoding is challenging. This is due to the fact that the transcoder has to convert the media stream from one codec to another while maintaining appropriately short input to output latency. In order to maintain the video quality, the real-time transcoder has to make use of coding strategies that predict the changing bandwidth needs of video frames, and encode them accordingly.
Opportunities
Large MSOs, such as cable and satellite TV service providers, have already started offering video place-shifting services. Various manufacturers of IP-connected hardware devices have started integrating place-shifting functionality into their devices, thereby creating new opportunities in the entertainment category of consumer electronics industry. In addition, cellular network providers are also finding new opportunities to complement their mobile TV offerings with place-shifting services.
Brands Available in the Market
Already rolling in consumer market are Sling Media's Slingbox, Sony's LocationFree, Monsoon Multimedia HAVA, and more. These systems, when connected to a home entertainment system, allows users to stream video to another device such as a computer, netbook or mobile phone.
Future of Video Place-Shifting
The future of video place-shifting technology is promising. Integration of place-shifting functionality with consumer electronic devices, such as a set-top box, DVR or other IP-connected device, not only helps in reducing the hardware required, but also increases convenience by offering entertainment anywhere any-time with less interfaces.
Jayashree (Hegde) Adkoli - Jayashree (Hegde) Adkoli is a freelance writer covering science and technology topics such as VoIP, IP communications, contact centers, ...
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