Interactive Live Video Streaming

QUANTIL supports push and pull mode for interactive live video streams.

Push mode
An interactive live stream is pushed from the broadcaster to QUANTIL network via customer origin server or third-party origin server. Traditionally, an interactive live video stream is pushed using RTMP.

Pull mode
The interactive live video stream file(s) are pulled to the broadcaster from the QUANTIL network, when there are multiple broadcasters.

QUANTIL has multiple security features to protect the integrity and access to interactive live video streams, including:

URL Token Validation
URL tokens are generated at the customer origin and then added to the URL in a query string. The customer creates a URL for a live video stream, which is configured to expire at a specific time and/or date. The customer also configures the URL with a key, which QUANTIL uses to validate the stream before the content is distributed to the viewer.

Geoblocking

QUANTIL provides geoblocking for interactive live video streams that are broadcast and viewed in the United States or Europe. This is used for location-based access management.

HTTP Referer

A HTTP referer is an optional field that enables the customer to specify the address of a HTTP request. The URL of the page where a viewer accesses an interactive live video stream is recorded and the information is stored in the web server log. In this way, the HTTP referer is used to determine the traffic performance of an interactive live video stream.

IP Whitelisting

A whitelist is used to provide permissions to an interactive live video stream for select IP addresses.

IP Blacklisting

A blacklist is used to block access to an interactive live video stream for select IP addresses.

An example of the URL Token Authentication process is shown below.

Step 1
Generate request URL
http://www.example.com/test.flv

Step 2
Input parameters
Key = ABC
IP Address = 192.168.1.1
Origin Timestamp (Unix timestamp) = 4d024e80
Output after MD5 encryption = 84579e4b82787870e418004c59f696b0

Step 3
Generate final URL
http://www.example.com/test.flv?wsSecret=84579e4b82787870e418004c59f696b0&wsTime=4d024e80

Our multi-protocol conversion feature supports and converts the following protocols for interactive live video streaming:

Real Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP)

Apple HTTP Live Streaming (HLS)

Adobe HTTP Dynamic Streaming (HDS)

HTTP Smooth Streaming (HSS)

Multi-protocol conversion allows an interactive live video stream to be optimized for different devices. Given that many applications for video streaming are based on numerous mobile and desktop platforms, multi-protocol conversion provides the best user experience for any device.

No. Software used on an origin server does not affect the entry of an interactive live video stream into the CDN Ingress Point since the stream is pushed from the customer origin server or third-party origin server.

Interactive live video stream load times can vary based on network conditions. However, QUANTIL has carried out performance and optimization testing, achieving load times as low as 400 ms.