TERM DEFINITION
API Application Programming Interface
ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange
DASH Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP
EMS EvoStream Media Server
ERS EvoStream Rendezvous Server
EWS EvoStream Web Server
FLV Flash Video
HDS HTTP Dynamic Streaming
HLS HTTP Live Streaming
HTTP Hypertext Transfer Protocol
IDR Instantaneous Decoding Refresh - This is a specific packet in the H.264 video encoding specification. It is a full snapshot of the video at a specific instance (one full frame). Video players require an IDR frame to start playing any video. “Frames” that occur between IDR Frames are simply offsets/differences from the first IDR.
IIS Internet Information Services
JSON JavaScript Object Notation
lua A lightweight multi-paradigm programming language
MOV MPEG 4 video container file format used in Apple’s QuickTime program
MPEG Moving Picture Experts Group
MPEG-TS MPEG Transport Stream
MP4 A digital multimedia format most commonly used to store video and audio
MSS Microsoft Smooth Streaming
OSMF Open Source Media Framework
RTCP Real Time Control Protocol - An protocol that is typically used with RTSP to synchronize two RTP streams, often audio and video streams
RTMP Real Time Messaging Protocol - Used with Adobe Flash players
RTMPT Real Time Messaging Protocol Tunneled - Essentially RTMP over HTTP
RTP Real Time Protocol - A simple protocol used to stream data, typically audio or video data.
RTSP Real Time Streaming Protocol - Used with Android devices and live streaming clients like VLC or QuickTime. RTSP does not actually transport the audio/video data; it is simply a negotiation protocol. It is normally paired with a protocol like RTP, which will handle the actual data transport.
swfURL Used in the RTMP protocol, this field is used to designate the URL/address of the Adobe Flash Applet being used to generate the stream (if any).
SDP Session Description Protocol file
tcURL Used in the RTMP protocol, this field is used to designate the URL/address of the originating stream server.
URI Universal Resource Identifier. The generic form of a “URL”. URI’s are used to specify the location and type of streams.
VOD Video On Demand

Purpose

This document is intended for Engineers and System Integrators. It provides descriptions of common EvoStream Media Server (EMS) functionality as well as example commands to achieve that functionality.

It augments the EMS Application Programming Interface (API) Definition document. Familiarization with EMS API is recommended before proceeding with this How To document.

The sample commands provided in this document refer to API calls that can be made to either the ASCII (telnet) or the HTTP interfaces. These example commands can be copied and modified to meet the project’s needs.

Please see the EMS API Definition document for instructions on using the ASCII or HTTP interfaces, further descriptions of these commands and for optional function parameters not used in the preceding examples.

Any players that natively support the target protocol will work with EMS.

Below are the recommend players for the following protocols and delivery formats that are compatible with EMS.

Protocol / Delivery Format Recommended Players
RTMP Any Flash Based Player (JW Player, Flow player) or Flash Media Player
RTSP QuickTime, VLC and Android native players
HLS Safari
HDS OSMF based players (Strobe Media)
DASH Any DASH player (bitdash)
MSS Smooth Streaming Health Monitor (http://smf.cloudapp.net/Healthmonitor)
MPEG-TS QuickTime, VLC