Unreal Media Server 5.5

The server supports live media sources and recorded media files.

File formats include all the types supported by Microsoft DirectX, namely: AVI, MPEG-1 (VCD), MPEG-2 (SVCD, DVD), MPEG-4, MPA, WMV, WMA, ASF, MP3, QuickTime (version 2 and lower). Other file formats and compression types are supported with additional installation of corresponding codecs, such as Ogg, DivX, XVid, VP6, Apple mp4, AC3, h.264.

Unreal Media Server does not transcode or decode files when streaming; the files are streamed "as is"; the player is able to playback these files if appropriate codecs are installed on player's computer.

Playlist functionality allows automatically playing all the files of server's virtual folder in a loop mode. Files can be unicasted in "on-demand" mode or multicasted in "live" mode.

Supported live media sources include: USB/Firewire digital cameras, microphones, TV-tuner cards, analog video sources (analog camera or TV) connected to Graphics card, Video Capture card or hardware encoder appliance that supports DirectShow interface. There can be multiple live sources on a single computer. Hardware-encoded content can be streamed "as is" without software transcoding.

Codecs used for live video compression: Microsoft MPEG-4 V2 and WMV. Codecs used for live audio compression: Fraunhofer MPEG Layer-3 (MP3), GSM 6.10 and WMA.

Two streaming delivery modes are supported: Near-Real-Time and Buffered. Conferencing applications requiring low latency can take advantage of 0.2 - 2 seconds latency provided by Near-Real-Time mode, where buffer sizes are minimal and aggressive leaking-flushing bucket algorithms are enforced. When low latency is not required, Buffered mode can be used, allowing servers to buffer media in order to compensate on network jitter and congestions.

Modem, Slow DSL, DSL, T1, T3, LAN and Advanced compression profiles are supported, allowing choosing specific codecs/bitrates to serve audience with specific network connection speeds.

Live content can be recorded based on scheduler or motion detection, independently of streaming.

TCP, HTTP, HTTPS and RTP Multicast transport protocols are used for streaming content from Media Server to clients.

Client playback applications run on Desktop PCs and on Handheld Devices running Windows Mobile 5 operating system. Player can be embedded into web page as an ActiveX control for IE browser or as Mozilla plugin for Gecko based browsers such as FireFox and Netscape.

Incoming content is not stored on client computer's hard disk and user is not allowed to save media locally, thus author's rights are fully protected. User authentication and access restrictions enable trusted access to media resources. User logging provides means to track user activity.

SDK allows automation and customization of Server behavior.

Version 5.5 supports streaming with MMS protocol to Windows Media Player, QuickTime player, MPlayer on Windows, MAC and Linux.