Oracle Corporation has announced the beta release of Oracle Video Server 3.0, a software solution for storing, managing and delivering full-motion, full-screen video and high fidelity audio to the desktop. Oracle Video Server allows organisations to manage their digital assets securely, reliably and economically. Version 3.0 will offer significant enhancements for corporate training and broadband/broadcast applications, including video-on-demand, news-on-demand, home banking, home shopping, music-on-demand and interactive education. Oracle Video Server 3.0 will include plug-and-play support for Web browsers and Java applications for the easy creation of Web pages and applications with embedded video content. It will also enable the delivery of multiple video files to multiple client machines from a single server as well as the ability to write and deploy innovative, multimedia business applications in native client/server environments. "Oracle Video Server 3.0 will help customers intelligently manage video and integrate media into their corporate applications as well as their broadband interactive/broadcast applications," said Shane Turner, PSR Tools manager, Oracle South Africa. "We`ve been a pioneer in this market since the introduction of our scalable Media Server technology for interactive television. This beta release adds mission-critical features such as real-time video feeds, increased scalability, logical content management and multiple platform support to make video even more useful." Video Server 3.0 features will include: VCR in a network: Oracle Video Server will offer users VCR-like control and functionality including: play, pause, seek and stop, and seamless playback of multiple video clips. Further, having the video indexed in the database, a user can point directly to a recorded segment and find their information without having to scan through the entire video. Broadcast Support: Oracle Video Server will allow customers to the ability to schedule and broadcast their programs at pre-defined times or intervals. The server includes support for the key Digital Video Broadcast (DVB) European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) standard and enables broadcasters an easy transition from analog to digital. Real-Time Feeds and Real-Time Encoding: Two of the newest features to be included in the Oracle Video Server are real-time feeds and real-time encoding. Real-time feeds offer users the ability to watch live events. These live events are also available for viewing at any time after the start of the event. This technology will be supported by encoders that make use of the Oracle Video Encoding Standard (VES). Real-time encoding allows users to replay the live event as it is encoded. Digital Asset Management: Oracle Video Server will allow customers to string together multiple pieces of video and audio to create a desired video segment. Oracle`s graphical interface will allow users to quickly and easily edit video segments without writing new software code. In addition, real-time feeds will allow users to gain access to video from both live feeds and stored video. High Capacity Archive for Digital Assets: Oracle Video Server will allow customers the ability to manipulate and archive large amounts of digital video and audio assets through bandwidth managed real-time RAID storage with integrated near-line robot tape storage devices. Increased Scalability: Oracle Video Server is designed using Oracle`s object request broker technology based on CORBA standards. This will provide customers with the ability to put together a scalable, distribution solution so that depending on corporate needs, the server can deliver anywhere from hundreds to thousands of concurrent video streams. Oracle Video Server Manager: Video managers will be able to access Oracle Video Server features through a simplified Java-based user interface, reducing the need for more complex command line administration. Users will be able to simply point-and-click to locate important information, such as status and availability of video, and to troubleshoot system problems. Ease of Authoring: Oracle Video Server will work on a variety of desktop environments, including network computers, Java devices, Netscape-compatible browser plug-ins, ActiveX controls and Active Movie, thereby allowing ease of authoring through choice of platform and development application. Availability Oracle Video Server Version 3.0 is scheduled for general availability in Q1 1998. Oracle Video Server 2.1 is currently available on a variety of platforms, including Windows NT, Digital Alpha, HP-9000, Sun Solaris, Silicon Graphics, Siemens Nixdorf/Pyramid, IBM RS/6000, NCOS, and nCube 3. Oracle Video Server 2.1 is available through Oracle`s direct sales and reseller channels.
Share
