Bytemobile's Web Fidelity Service delivers PC-quality video from the open Internet to mass-market handsets with standard media players.
Integrated in the network core, Web Fidelity™ Service (WFS) enables discovery of Adobe Flash video internet content, automatically transcoding it into the 3GPP codec required by the subscriber's device type (H.264 or MPEG4). Optimizing the media stream to the device's supported bandwidth, WFS then dynamically modifies the stream bit rate to support varying network conditions and ensure an optimal user experience.
Multimedia Features
The service enables a consistent, superior video playing quality and user experience with little or no buffering or stalls. It is the only mobile video and multimedia solution to integrate discovery and access, content adaptation and optimization all in one service.
Media Discovery
WFS identifies or discovers media content on a web page by seeking Adobe Flash video (FLV) content that is played in an Adobe Flash plug-in. If the video requires a user action to start, such as clicking a play button, then a Bytemobile plug-in already installed in the integrated Web Fidelity Module mimics the action. The Bytemobile plug-in continues to execute until all videos are identified.
Transcoding and Optimization
When subscribers browsing the open Internet or a portal click on a video link, the request passes through handset optimization, the web adaptation module and the multimedia adaptation module installed in the network core. Working together, these services intercept PC audio/video codecs and signal protocols and automatically transcode and adapt them to the mobile device's capabilities. WFS then optimizes the download bit rate of the media stream to a bit rate supported by the device, so subscribers can enjoy rich, PC-quality streaming video and multimedia through the standard media player on their handsets.
Dynamic Bandwidth Shaping
Because wireless network bandwidth is constantly changing, sending a fixed-rate media stream to the handset is not optimal. WFS constantly monitors the link to the handset, based on the feedback provided by the device's media player. When the service detects a bandwidth drop, it lowers the bit rate of the media stream that it sends to the handset, thereby decreasing the likelihood of re-buffering. This is accomplished through a combination of techniques, such as reducing the quality of the media stream and reducing the frame rate of the video stream. The end result: subscribers enjoy continuous streaming video with minimal stalls, if any.
Provisioning and Performance
Ease of deployment. WFS is an easy software upgrade within the Unison™ platform of mobile internet services. It operates with any streaming server and does not require new streaming media infrastructure. Provisioning is further simplified because no downloads or changes to the mobile device are necessary.
Network bandwidth. Reducing load by over 50%, WFS helps operators make more efficient use of their networks' available bandwidth, thereby decreasing overall data costs.
