Streaming Media Standards

Streaming Media Standards

Document number: 18288

This document defines the Standards for Streaming Media for Live Webcast Streaming and On-Demand Streaming. These standards encompass the technology, content types and codecs for all types of streaming media. The standards are meant to be a guideline which content creators use when creating and publishing content. While compliance with some of the guidelines is optional, giving authors freedom to form content in the way they see fit, other guidelines compliance is mandatory for content to be compatible with our infrastructure. These are outlined in the Encoding section. By adhering to the standards, users of the service ensure that their media will be delivered in a timely and productive manner. This document is relevant for:

Content Creators
Content Encoders
Persons/Groups interested in using this service

If you are having a third party vendor create streaming content, please ensure that they comply with the standards listed in Streaming Media Standards for Vendors (PDF).

PeopleSoft has standardized on Microsoft’s Windows Media Technology for distributing multimedia content internally. This technology encompasses the player and server components as well as the encoding algorithms (codecs). These standards must be strictly adhered to in order to ensure compatibility with the current PeopleSoft infrastructure. The following table outlines the Windows Media Technology used for Streaming media delivery.

Component	Software	Comments
Player	Windows Media Player 9 Series	Version 9.00.00.3075
Server	Windows Media Services 9 Series	Windows Server 2003 WM9 Version 9.00.00.3374
Encoder	Windows Media Encoder 9 Series	Version 9.00.00.2980 Codecs Video: Windows Media Video 9 Audio: Windows Media Audio 9

Bitrate Levels

There are two levels of bitrate that determine which employees can access your content.

Low bitrate content (<=40Kbps) will reach everyone, including users in smaller offices and users connecting via RAS and VPN.
High bitrate content (40Kbps<>=300Kbps) will reach all clients in Hub Offices (82% of all employees), including those visiting from other offices.

	Content Type	Description	Bitrate	Available Audience
Low	Audio – Low Bitrate	Audio Only	<=40Kbps – Sugg. 10Kbps for max simultaneous audience	Everyone
	Illustrated Audio – Low Bitrate	PowerPoint slides with Audio, Screen Captures	<=40Kbps	Everyone
	Video – Low Bitrate	Video and Audio – Small 160x120 Window	<=40Kbps	Everyone
High	Video – High Bitrate	Video and Audio – 320x240 Window	<=40Kbps	Clients residing in or visiting Hub Offices (82%)

High bitrate content is supported in all Hub Offices, reaching 82% of employees. Low bitrate content is supported in all of the Hub Offices as well as in all the Satellite Offices and is also accessible to users connecting via RAS or VPN.

On-Demand Encoding

The encoding standards are suggestions based on experience with Microsoft’s Windows Media Encoder 9. Codec and bitrate settings are to be strictly adhered to for infrastructure compatibility. For specific instructions on how to create on-demand content for PeopleSoft, refer to Eureka! document 18291 — Creating Streaming Content. For the customized PeopleSoft profiles needed to follow these standards, download them from \\pshmms01\wmspublishing\profiles.

Content Type	Codec(s)	Total Bitrate	Size	fps	Key	Misc
Audio	Windows Media Audio 9 Voice @ 10Kbps to reach max audience	<= 40Kbps	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Illustrated Audio/App. Demos - Low	Audio: Windows Media Audio 9 Voice 5Kbps.Video: Windows Media Video 9 Screen	<= 40Kbps	1024x768 or 800x600	4	30 sec	De-Interlace if Video Source
Illustrated Audio/App. Demos - High	Audio: Windows Media Audio 9 Voice 16Kbps.Video: Windows Media Video 9 Screen	>40 Kbps<= 300Kbps	1024x768 or 800x600	10	30 sec	De-Interlace if Video Source
Video – Low	Audio: Windows Media Audio 9 Voice @5Kbps.Video: Windows Media Video 9	<= 40Kbps	160x120	15	20 sec	De-Interlace if Video Source
Video - High	Audio: Windows Media Audio 9 @ 32Kbps or greater.Video: Windows Media Video 9	<= 300Kbps	320x240	30	6 sec	De-Interlace if Video Source

Live Webcast Encoding

Live Webcasts can be audio only (radio) or video, and the video can be synchronized with an accompanying frame for slides next to it. This content is streamed over multicast and reaches all offices on the PSFT network.

The encoding for Live Webcast is done on-the-fly with Microsoft’s Windows Media Encoder 9. Codec and bitrate settings are to be strictly adhered to for infrastructure compatibility.

Content Type	Codec(s)	Total Bitrate	Size	fps	Key	Misc
Live Audio Webcast (PSRadio)	Audio: Windows Media Audio 9 @ 20Kbps, 22kHz, stereo CBR	24Kbps	N/A	N/A	N/A
Live Video Webcast (PSTV)	Audio: Windows Media Audio 9 @ 12Kbps, 8kHz, stereo CBR.Video: Windows Media Video 9 @84KbpsScript: @ 4Kbps	100Kbps	320x240	15	8 sec	De-Interlace if Video Source