Monsoon offers Placeshifting and multi-screen technologies to semiconductor, STB and smart TV manufacturers

SAN MATEO, USA: Monsoon Multimedia, a leading provider of convergence products, is licensing its TV Anywhere placeshifting Linux-based software engines to OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). TV Anywhere capabilities are in high demand as the explosion in tablets and smartphones is driving MSOs (Multiple System Operators), such as Comcast and Time Warner, Smart TV companies, such as Sony and Samsung, and set-top box suppliers, such as Cisco, Motorola and Pace, to have a TV-on-the-go solution.

Only Monsoon’s solutions enable MSOs to manage which channels and shows can be placeshifted, recorded or side loaded, to avoid recent controversies between service providers and content owners. Furthermore, similar to Sling/EchoStar’s offerings, Monsoon’s solutions can also employ analog capture, providing a solution for streaming content to multiple screens anywhere.

“Strong demand from OEMs for our TV Anywhere technology has been the impetus behind our new licensing strategy,” said Paul Friedman, EVP of Business Development at Monsoon Multimedia. “We are currently the only proven independent one-stop-shop for companies looking to quickly deploy a live TV placeshifting solution for smartphones, tablets and computers.”

Monsoon’s integrated Placeshifting Linux modules
Monsoon has developed five integrated modules that enable semiconductor encoder companies to easily begin offering placeshifting capabilities. Including Adaptive Bit-Rate Encoding and Transcoding, Http Live Streaming (HLS) for Live Video Sources, Proprietary Streaming Protocol, Connection Management and Multi-Screen Client Technologies. Monsoon has already ported these modules on multiple encoders.

Monsoon will also make a large number of applications, such as YouTube, VoD, Web Browser, Time Shifting, UPnP/DLNA and other Smart TV applications, available as part of its licensing arrangements.

Adaptive Bit-Rate Encoding continuously measures the available network bandwidth and adjusts the encoding bit rate to deliver smooth video streaming Quality of Service (QOS) over a wide range of network conditions.

Http Live Streaming (HLS) has been extended by Monsoon to support a real-time bit-rate control method of delivering live video sources via the industry standard HLS protocol, without requiring pre-encoding and caching of multiple bit-rate copies of the file.

Proprietary Streaming Protocol moves video from inside the house to outside the house with much finer granularity of the video encoding and without requiring any router set up. UDP protocol with hole punching and NAT (Network Address Translator) traversal is deployed to eliminate the need for router port forwarding.

Connection Management is a secure cloud-based service that allows clients to connect to servers without using fixed IP addresses or DNS (Domain Named Service).

Multi-Screen Client Technologies include video playback of placeshifted live TV streams, recording and trick play (Pause/FF/RW) on clients, and virtual on-screen remote control for set-top boxes, EPGs and side loading. Client technologies are available on iPads, iPhones, Android smartphones and tablets, Blackberry phones and tablets, PCs and Macs.