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The
Octoshape plugin is not a codec but a peer-to-peer technology that
enables efficient webcast of high demand programs like live events. CNN
recently used it for the President Obama inaguration live webcast. In
addition to Eurovision many foreign language networks use the
Octoshape. There are other examples of Octoshape streams.
Peer-to-peer
networking works similar to Skype or file sharing. As you are
downloading to your computer your machine is uploading to other users
who are viewing the same content. Unlike central distribution from a
single server(s) like YouTube, the Octoshape plugin depends on the grid
of interconnected users to distribute the content. The topology of this
network removes the bandwidth burden from the central server and
minimizes service drops when there are hundreds of thousands of viewers
watching the stream.
Because
the Octoshape uses your Internet connection to upload the stream to
other users you may want to verify if peer-to-peer setups violate terms
of agreement with your Internet service provider. Allegedly the plugin
does not utilize your upload bandwidth in the idle mode.
The plugin can be deployed on the client side via Flash or Windows Media Player.
The
picture quality of Octoshape payload is determined by the codec (FLV,
H.264, etc.) and the bitrate employed by the broadcaster. A high
quality bitrate may peak around 800 kbps and will adjust lower if
your connection can not handle the bandwidth. For reference, the
average bitrate on a good quality DVD is around 7,000 kbps (MPEG-2).
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