Video on Demand (VOD) permits television viewers to choose, view and pause a program whenever they want. Quality VOD requires a substantial broadband connection (up to 5 Mbps) to every user. It also requires a server that can support a unicast delivery system with multiple viewers requesting the same program at different times.
While VOD has suffered many unsuccessful attempts, the dramatic drop in
cost of hard drive and fiber-optic technology makes VOD financially viable today
in various targeted applications - most notably in the hotel industry.
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Three competing technologies offer some of the capabilities of VOD at a
lower cost:
- Near Video On Demand (NVOD) repeats a small number of popular programs at
frequent intervals for large groups of users, but has no ability to pause or
rewind the program.
- Personal Video Recorders (PVR) such as TiVo pre-cache limited content on
a hard drive in the viewer's set-top-box, offering full VOD functionality
for favorite pre-selected programs.
- Internet streaming provides the choice and control of VOD, at a much
lower quality because of the lower bandwidth. (See PC Dinners:Streaming)
SERVES
Subscribers to VOD Services.
INGREDIENTS
Broadband Delivery
- Local Area Network
- Wide Area Network
- Cable Modem
- DSL Modem
- Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS)
- IP Over Satellite
- Wireless Broadband (Third generation wireless: 3G)
- ITFS (Instructional Television Fixed Services)
Return Path to Control Content and Provide Billing Data
- Cell phone
- Wired phone
- Internet
- Satellite uplink
- Wireless PDA or computer
- Local Area Network
- Wide Area Network
Content Provider Ingredients
- Analog or digital program acquisition, storage and playback system
- Broadband connection to customer premises
- Two way customer / vendor communications
- Edge servers to support multiple user controllable program streams
- Optional pay-per-view accounting system
INSTRUCTIONS
1 - Place content on appropriate server
2 - Provide viewer with links to requested media
3 - Activate viewer request line
4 - Monitor viewer requests and increase server capacity as needed
RESOURCES
Concurrent Computer Corp
- VOD solutions for homes, hospitality, intranets, and in-flight entertainment
