Forsway’s new Xtend Multicast FRM (Forsway Reliable Multicast) features “Live video streams” over multicast. Sending live video via multicast opens up several new methods of offering content in Forsway’s ecosystem – and not limited to Live Streaming.
The new Forsway multicast innovation delivers live video using existing standards such as HLS which allows seamless integration with third party devices. FRM also comes with an API, allowing operators to easily build custom apps on top of Forsway’s multicast platform.
New “Directory Synchronization” feature! See details below.
Flexible multicast
Network Agnostic: Forsway Xtend Multicast FRM can be run over virtually any IP network, even unstable networks where long outages could occur.
Can be run over virtually any IP network, even unstable networks where long outages could occur.
FRM offers a variety of options in order to transmit content in a highly robust manner.
Comes with an advanced queue management system for full transmission operational control.
Supports transcoding of video streams to suit most network conditions.
Click on image to enlarge
Click on image to enlarge
Forsway Xtend Multicast FRM’s features and functionality
Directory Synchronization (NEW!)
Forsway Multicast FRM has launched a brand-new feature! “Directory Synchronization” allows a FRM system admin to mirror entire directory structures on the server hard drive to any number of FRM clients. It is similar to “dropbox/onedrive/google drive”, yet instead of syncing files between devices via the cloud, files are synced in one direction from the server to the clients. Thus, all clients have an up-to-date version of the server folder (click for example). On the client, Forsway technology enables you to access the synced files in different ways:
- Use a browser to access the direct sync Web UI
- Build your own apps using the REST API
- Or, use the “WebDav” standard which allows system-level integration with 3rd party device
Robust Transmission
FRM offers a variety of options in order to deliver content in a highly robust manner.
Negative Acknowledgment Transmission – FRM is built with full support for Negative Acknowledgment, meaning that clients can detect and notify the sender of any data loss in a transmission. The sender calculates and schedule repair segments which will restore losses in the network infrastructure. FRM fully implements the NACK-Oriented Reliable Multicast (NORM) Transport Protocol as described by RFC 5740.
Forward Error Correction – FRM includes configurable forward error correction (FEC) via Reed-Solomon codes. FEC codes can be sent both proactively, requiring no client feedback, as well as in response to client feedback of lost data. The FRM system coordinates multiple client FEC requests in order to minimize network overhead.
Carousel Mode – Data can be sent in a “carousel type mode” in which data is immediately scheduled for re-transmission upon completion. This allows clients to repair potentially incomplete transmissions.
Network Agnostic
FRM can be run over virtually any IP network, even unstable networks where long outages could occur.
Flexible API inlucded
The FRM system includes an API which allows for the creation of custom applications built on top of the FRM platform. An API is present on both the server and client. The server side API can be used to configure and control the operations of the FRM system while the client side API can be used in order to access data multicasted to the clients.
File Package Framework
The FRM system has a built-in, extensible framework for different types of file-based data such as media files (audio, video, podcasts), Push-Video on Demand (PVOD), websites, etc. This framework can be used in order to multicast a wide variety of content while providing a means to sort and categorize data. The file package framework is fully extensible allowing for user-defined content to be created.
Advanced Queue Management
The FRM system comes with an advanced queue management system allowing the administrator fine-grained operational control over the transmissions. Data can for example be queued with various bandwidth restrictions, parallel/sequential ordering, various robustness and scheduling.
Live Streaming
The FRM system fully supports Live streaming of video. Any MPEG-TS stream can be transmitted via the FRM system and consumed on the clients. The FRM system fully support the HLS standard which enable playback on multiple devices as well as via the web. Additionally, the FRM system supports transcoding of video streams in order to suit most network conditions.