• Multi Format Compatibility:  The V-Button player is format agnostic.  It functions with the same features and efficiency in any of the supported streaming formats (RealPlayer, Windows Media, and QuickTime).  The principle benefit of this feature is that statistically, at least 80% of all Internet users have one of these video players already installed, hence users don't need to download and install a new player in order to see a V-Button program.

• Multi Modem Speed Compatibility:  Most Internet users are still accessing the Internet with a "Dial-up" modem.  This restricts the access data rate to a maximum of 40 kbps (40,000 bits per second).  Many times a dial-up modem may only connect at a speeds as low as 20 kbps because of traffic at the ISP (Internet Service Provider) or hardware limitations.  The V-Button will function at data rates as low as 12 kbps.  It reaches a maximum data rate of 125 kbps for users on DSL or Cable modems.

• Cross-Browser Compatibility:  The V-Button features are specifically designed to remain compatible with a broad range of browser software.  Many interesting new features are "possible" with the latest browsers, but most consumers don't immediately upgrade to the "latest" versions.  Hence, in order to insure universal functionality, the V-Button player's features remain backwardly compatible to at least 2 major revisions.

• Firewall Compatibility:  A significant number of users access the Internet from behind a firewall.  Most of these are from within a business network where many computers share a single Internet connection.  In order to conserve bandwidth, it is the policy of most network administrators to block normal streaming video ports.  The V-Button, within its "Firewall" option, redirects its program streams through another open port.  In addition, it keeps the data rate to no more than 20 kbps in order to conserve bandwidth on the business network.

• Player Detection System:  As part of the "Testing" process the V-Button player scans the user's installed software to determine, in advance, which players (Real, WMP, and QT) are already resident on the system.  The scan can determine if the software is present, but not if it is installed properly, hence the player software still needs testing.  The scanning process modifies the initial indicators to the user to state, "TEST" on the players that are present, and "NEED INSTALL" on the players that are not detected.  A second stage of the player testing process checks to see if the reason an initial test fails is due to the fact that a firewall is present.

• Configuration Recall:  The preferences each user determines during the testing process are stored for each user.  Once a user makes their selections, the Universal Player will present each subsequent program in that configuration (Real, WMP, or QT formats, and at Cable/DSL or Dial-up speeds).  This is true of any V-Button anywhere on the Internet.  The setting are compatible on all V-Button enabled site.

• Cross-Format User Interface:  On of the features of V-Button system is the common Graphical User Interface (GUI) that is presented no matter what the user's format preference.  This common "look" enables the user to concentrate on the content rather than navigating functions that are not related to the content being presented.  In addition, the V-Button user interface does not provide for any third-party links away from the advertiser's own content.

• Small foot-print launch point:  The V-Button Universal Player can be spawned from any conventional link.  Its V-Button icon "" is used in all links as part of the format branding.  The most common V-Button applications is as a streaming commercial (or presentation) for a business listing in online Yellow Page sites (such as Verizon's SuperPages, YellowPages.com, SBN.com, and hundreds of other regional directory sites).

• Streaming "Friendly" Video:  The image quality of a streamed file is dramatically affected by the data rate use to deliver it, but another factor that impacts image quality significantly is the nature of the video footage being compressed.  For example, shots that change very little from frame to frame are easy to compress because the compression algorithm only keeps track of the changes.  Fewer changes means less data to reproduce it.  The inverse is true also.  Video shots that change dramatically from frame to frame (zooms and pans for example) take much more data to reproduce, hence in order to fit the video into a fixed data rate, image details must be discarded.  V-Button programs are shot in a way that minimizes camera motion and rapidly changing pictures.  This greatly improves the subjective image quality for end users.

• Publisher Defined ID Banner:  On each V-Button Universal Player there is a "ID" banner across the lower half.  This banner is designed to provide the publisher with a logo impression.  The banner is dynamically changeable form site to site.

• Publisher Defined Player Skin:  A new feature of the V-Button version 4.0 is its ability to appear in different "skins."  This gives the publisher the ability to re-design the appearance of the Universal Player to blend into the art direction of the publisher's web site.  WebcastingTV makes available over 100 pre-produced skin designs, but publishers are free to create their own custom presentation.

• Page Embedding:  A feature introduced in version 3.0 is the Universal Player's ability to function while embedded with a publisher's existing web page.  WebcastingTV's typical implementation is in catalog sites, since most directories and web pages don't prefer to modify the page layout when a video is initiated.

• Stream Accounting:  WebcastingTV keeps a running total on the accumulated presentations of each video clip, despite the player media format or modem speed.  Typical stream management contracts make provision for a minimum monthly rate which provides for up to 3,000 monthly plays.

• Online Production Management System (PMS):  The process of creating a V-Button program is a collaborative effort between the client and WTV's production staff.  It involves numerous stages and participants.  The current status of a project is available through the Production Management System (PMS) located in the HELP section of WebcastingTV's site.  A client can enter the system and check the status of their project any time.  Resellers can gain access to a report showing the status of all of the projects they currently have in production.

• Free Phone Support:  WebcastingTV provides live technical support free to any user between 9 AM and 5 PM Pacific Time.  Most technical support calls simply deal with user's unfamiliarity with streaming video, or there failure to read the online instructions.

• Online Player Installation Support and Troubleshooting:  WTV maintains a continually developing troubleshooting and FAQ material in the HELP section.  In addition, our simplified instructions, for installing each of the player software, helps users avoid being charged for unnecessary versions of the players.

Video Streaming:  WebcastingTV is not new to video streaming.  Any system using MPEG files, or Motion-JPEG, is essentially streaming media.  Streaming media over the Internet has been a popular concept which started practically simultaneously with the inception of the Internet.  It has only been in the past several years that personal computers have become powerful enough, and Internet connection speeds have become fast enough, to facilitate its popularity.  Even still, it is a technology which is just now reaching the general public's consciousness.

The mechanics of delivering video streams, in quantity, over the Internet involves file servers, Tier One connectivity, and resource management.  For example, a Silicon Graphics O2 workstation is capable of delivering thousands of simultaneous streams.  The size and bit rate of these streams are governed by the system's disk drive space and access speed. In addition, the software run by the server is licensed "by the stream" and specific to the type of viewer (Microsoft, RealNetworks, or QuickTime).

The size, frame rate, and color depth of a given stream is predetermined during its encoding.  Essentially, a video signal (along with its corresponding audio) is captured as a series of frames by a computer.  The sequential frames are processed by encoding software and compressed to fit the limited bandwidth of most Internet connections.  The encoded file is then available for download, or streaming, by the consumer.  In the case of RealNetwork's viewer, the encoding software is call RealProducer.

Viewing Software:  One other element which has enabled wider access to video streaming is the development of "viewer" software which is both powerful, compact, and free.  Currently, there are three major providers of streaming media "viewers" on the market.  These are: Microsoft's WMP (Window's Media Player); RealNetwork's RealPlayer; and Apple's QuickTime.  Each offers a comparable product, and is vying for dominance.

The encoded files for each viewer are incompatible with each other, and streaming sites tend to adopt one, or sometimes two, of the formats.  But, the new versions offer an important feature, the ability to work in parallel with the other features of your web browser.  For example, in addition to watching the video stream, you can see other photographs, take notes in your word processor, chat with personalities or other participants, or follow a link to a related product or advertiser.

Live verse Serving a Webcast:  More and more companies are using "web events" to promote their product or service.  Live webcasts of music concerts, product introductions, simulcasts of television shows, and news conferences are increasing in frequency.  The main difference between "live" verse "serving" a webcast is the ability to encode and stream the file in real time.  In addition, in a live event the viewer does not have the option to start the stream from the beginning, but must patch into it mid-stream.

The natural appeal of "live" events create an intensity that is more likely to keep a viewer tuned in and attentive.  Archival versions of the event can be served later, but the excitement of a sporting event, rocket launch, or breaking news is impossible to match with replayed events.  The main appeal of live webcasting is its simple economy.  Comparable coverage on conventional television would be hundreds of times more expensive, and completely passive for its viewers.  Whereas with a webcast, the viewer can see collateral material in their browser, and even feedback to the origin of the event.

Technical Resources:  WTV's technical resources are state-of-the-art with regard to video production and post production.  Its video streaming infrastructure maintains the cutting edge version of each of the popular streaming formats.  WTV updates its V-Button Process to use the latest version encoding and serving software.  The detailed specifications are available for review, but a general outline involves these topics: encoding engines; file servers; broadband access through co-locations; and media management strategies.
 

• Encoding Engines: The initial phase of these computer platforms are three servers configured with Unix and Windows NT operating system.  Their mission is to encode Quicktime, Windows Media Player (WMP) and RealNetworks Player files, then transmit them to the server array.  They are running "Media Cleaner Pro", Microsoft's "On-Demand Media Producer" and "RealProducer" software respectively.

• File Servers:  The initial combination of servers and software enable us to server in excess of 15,000 streams simultaneously.  The system will be scalable up to 25,000 streams and provides features such as Intelligent Media Management, Flexible Media Streaming Playback Options, and Client & Network Interoperability.  Redundant processors and RAID media content storage insure 24/7 dependability.

• Broadband Access:  The bandwidth necessary to serve our number of video streams is provided by three locations.  We co-locate several DEL PowerEdge 2300 and Mac G4 (running Unix) servers directly at both Concentric and Global Crossing's local data facilities for flexible bandwidth access to the Internet backbone.  Another NT workstation is located in WTV's Anaheim hub location and has T1 capacity to all of the co-located servers.  This provides an on-site capacity of serving, encoding, and file management in the Anaheim facility.

• Media Management:  The streaming load can be distributed and backed up at three locations, again guaranteeing 24/7 access to our client's media as well as automated load management by the WebFORCE server software.  Automatic "web-mirroring" will expand and contract the available streams based on projected client demands and spontaneous loads.  Additional capacity, into the tens of thousands of concurrent streams, is available for peak demands through agreements with other streaming providers.  Our excess capacity is also available to them when our internal demand is minimal.