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StreamOnTheFly network
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Overview
StreamOnTheFly [1] is an open source and open content media network, fed by community radio stations, which allows easy exchange of content for broadcasting and podCasting. The architecture is based on a decentralized network of software components using automatic metadata replication in a peer-to-peer manner. The network also promotes a new common metadata schema and content exchange format.
Introduction
Thousands of community radio stations would like to be able to archive, exchange and stream content over the Internet or make it available to mobile phones. Their daily program relies on exchanging content, however appropriate tools have not been available at an affordable price. They expressed a demand to set up a robust distributed infrastructure with a technological solution which is flexible, effective and low-cost. StreamOnTheFly has gained popularity among a number of central European radio stations and is also serving the podCasting community. Now, with StreamOnTheFly, hundreds of radio shows on culture, arts, leisure, business, social, political or gender issues can be listended to more than once!
Vision and Objectives
In 2005, the vision of narrowcasting has come true with the paradigm of "The Long Tail" in the recent discourse of personalised services. We have been contributing to this vision by designing a node-network for audio content, built on real use cases and open standards in 2002-2003 and we have helped a number of radio stations to adapt their workflow to make optimum use of StreamOnTheFly. In 2004 we have integrated Creative Commons licensing and some side projects have been launched, such as Literadio or Hyper-Audio-Learning. In 2005, we have added podCasting features and added more radio stations to the network. In 2006, we are extending StreamOnTheFly for several video codecs, serving now community TV stations as well.
Project Organisation
StreamOnTheFly started in 2002 as a consortium of an IT-research institute in Budapest (www.sztaki.hu), a radio station in Vienna (www.o94.at) the free software co-op PUBLIC VOICE Lab (www.pvl.coop) and the technology transfer agency ENEA in Bologna. They own jointly the copyrights on the software, which is published under the GPL license. Today, many more partners have joined the StreamOnTheFly network and some of them are actively contributing to software enhancements. Developer Sprint Events are being organized by the Competence Network for Media Design (www.media.coop), which has been launched by Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences (www.fhv.at) and Fachhcoschule St. Pölten (www.fh-stpoelte.ac.at) in 2003 and which is lasting until the end of 2006. Customized solutions are being offered by PUBLIC VOICE Lab in close co-operation with its co-op members.
Target organisations are operators and journalists of
Community Radio or TV stations
Campus Radio or TV stations
Specific target group broadcasting services,
Corporate radio providers.
Furthermore, listeners to special interest radio or TV shows now may download them as podCasts to various devices.
Transferability
StreamOnTheFly is built on open standards, open source and open content. With its node concept and interfaces (XML-rpc) it has been already applied to other areas, such as literature, e-Learning or for art projects. Developers are sharing their expertise, code and wishes at the berlios developer platform (http://developer.berlios.de/projects/sotf). Any radio station can join the network, if they are willing to contribute content. With an investment of approx. €500 for hardware an additional regional node can be established. Support is granted through the community or on a commercial basis by PUBLIC VOICE Lab. Lately, Telcos and mobile phone network providers showed interest in a subscription based streaming service of content, hosted at the StreamOnTheFly network.
Bridges to the network
As new applications of the StreamOnTheFly suite appeared, several new connections were established with other systems (Figure 1). The basic goals of these connections are
to enable the reuse of the content stored in the network,
and to enable sending new content into the archive, thus migrating or merging existing archives.
For the goal of content reuse RSS proved to be the most supported approach. Up to now, Manila, Plone and Typo3 content management systems have integrated StreamOnTheFly content via RSS feeds.
RSS feeds of the StreamOnTheFly node not only offer the latest content from radios, series or people, but also provide all important information for single radio shows including metadata, listening URLs and statistics. With this foundation, new front-ends can be built easily for the integration of node content into weblogs, static web pages or portals.
Figure 1. Bridges between StreamOnTheFly network and external systems
An example for connecting StreamOnTheFly with a portal engine is the case of Campus Radio "Achwelle". The Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences supports the StreamOnTheFly network and maintains a node for its campus radio. Radio Achwelle started broadcasting in 1997. In 2005 the distribution channels were extended with a 24/7 live stream and a live stream with all archived broadcasts. For these new possibilities a new website was implemented using Plone, an open source, standards compliant (XHTML, CSS, WAI-AA) content management system.
XBMF and the XBMF import feature on the node are used to upload data from Plone to the node.
For the display of StreamOnTheFly content from the node on the Plone CMS we use RSS 2.0 feeds. In order to extend the amount of exported information, a new namespace was defined for RSS 2.0 which allows to access single data elements of the stations, series, programmes and even queries. This namespace supports sending very detailed information also about available media files.
This bridge is also included in the Plone product “PloneRadio”, developed under an Open Source license. PloneRadio [15] allows the display of up to two independent live streams in two qualities each in a convenient portlet with display of currently playing track with album cover art and a list of the last played tracks. The other part of the project enables the use of Plone as a portal to StreamOnTheFly nodes, allowing established community platforms to deploy nodes as media archive.
RSS 2.0 gave rise to a new phenomenon called podcasting. With special software one can download not only the new headlines like in traditional RSS, but also audio files for radio shows. Users select series they like and download new episodes directly to their iPod or other MP3 listening device. After that, they can listen to their favorite programs anytime anywhere. Since early 2005, StreamOnTheFly is capable of serving content for podcasters.
As an experimental feature, playlists or query results created by users can also be offered via RSS or podcasting. This way not only series editors, but any user may create his/her own sharable personalized radio.
An Open Archives Initiative (OAI) data provider [17] has also been implemented for the node, which is another way of offering data export for external systems.
For the goal of new content archival, XBMF acts as a base technology. XBMF can be compiled by any application following the open specification. Nodes have a special directory for incoming new or modified content as XBMF. Any usual network protocol can be used to upload XBMF into this directory, for example rsync, ftp or scp. Incoming XBMF files are periodically processed by the node software, radio shows are accordingly created or updated, and audio files are automatically converted to recommended formats. There are several ongoing efforts to implement desktop tools for the creation and upload of XBMF to StreamOnTheFly nodes.
Managing Metadata
Community radios and other smaller audio producers are in need of common data exchange solutions. XBMF (Exchange Broadcast Binary and Metadata Format) was planned and established based on these user needs, with the participation of producers. The requirements did not allow for the complexity of emerging formats supported by large broadcasters [1], [2], [3].
XBMF enforces the coupling of metadata with content, and also creates possibility for providing content in different audio formats, or attaching different media (images, text) to the audio content.
Standardization efforts have been performed in collaboration with public broadcasters resulting in the XBMF metadata description for radio shows [6]. The metadata part of XBMF is based on the latest status of Dublin Core [4] and uses the application profile building rules for metadata schema definition. XBMF metadata is also compatible with the recommendation of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) on core metadata set for radio archives [5].
XBMF can be used for transfer and archival of radio programmes coupled with metadata. This is a simple container format, in which metadata (in XML format), content files, and other associated files can be packaged together.
Technically, an XBMF file is a compressed directory structure, where naming conventions and placement of files identify the data they convey. Implementation of software for handling XBMF files is straightforward, and existing open software can be used.
The metadata schema for XBMF can be seen as an application profile of Dublin Core for radios. This profile is constructed from DC elements and the StreamOnTheFly element set according to the rules implemented for metadata schema registries in the CORES project [11].
Usage
The StreamOnTheFly network is operational since October 2003. The core of the network (excluding experimental and stand-alone nodes) is accessible in 4 languages, and contains more than 1700 hours of audio content (http://radio.sztaki.hu).
Medien.welten is the permanent exhibition on the development of media at the Technical Museum in Vienna. StreamOnTheFly illustrates the convergence of radio and computers, as it records the complete programme of Ö1, and segments and categorizes programmes automatically. Programmes are available for 30 days in the archive of the exhibition. Due to copyright issues this node is not available outside the museum.
Figure 2. Audio content in the archive and reused on a portal
During the past 3 years Christian Berger’s team had broadcasted live from the Frankfurt Book Fair. In 2004, the webcast and archive were realized using StreamOnTheFly technology. The Frankfurt Book Fair is Europe’s largest come-together of the European literature scene. Literadio is a joint project of German and Austrian community radios, and covers lectures, round tables, speeches and interviews in a daily webcast live from the studio at the Literadio booth. Recorded material was stored at a node, and integration with other portals was done using the RSS feed of the node. A similar project based on StreamOnTheFly was the live radio broadcast at the 2002 IST conference in Copenhagen.
The Volkswirtschaftliche Gesellschaft applies StreamOnTheFly technology for operating a web radio station at www.schulradio.at. The project started in summer 2004, and will include up to 10 involved schools in the "lower Austrian region".
Radioswap.net uses this platform for content collection for Belgian community radio stations. At the moment, their node cannot join the network because of legal and copyright issues. They are also working on a desktop tool for easy upload of radio shows to StreamOnTheFly nodes.
A trial for a music publication site was developed to proof-of-concept stage at the Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences. A StreamOnTheFly node was used as a backend, while the user interface was completely developed in Typo3, a widely used extensible Content Management System. The interaction with the node was implemented using the XML-RPC API and the RSS distribution methods.
The XBMF metadata schema as a derivative of Dublin Core is fitting well with the standard formats of eLearning. IEEE’s Learning Object Metadata and SCORM are easily connectable to XBMF. Developing an own eLecturing product called “AudioLectureLib”; Team Teichenberg broadens the spectrum of possible usages [12]. A bridge between content syndication in broadcast sector, eLearning and eGovernment was established. The system is now used in the scientific context (Austrian Academy of Science) as well as in eGovernment for bringing Lectures to desperate located development agents of rural areas (NÖ Dorf- und Stadterneuerung). But potential of the bridging of these various worlds goes far beyond. First trials to cover artists’ works as well as develop further augmented services are planned and underway.
As a follow up of efforts already started within the StreamOnTheFly project, a transnational consortium (Slovenia, Slovakia, Austria, Germany, and Italy) is using the repository developed for creating a European archive of spoken word content. The “Acoustic Literature Map of Europe” takes existing modules of StreamOnTheFly, and integrates new user interface and taxonometries [13]. Connecting with Typo3 as CMS, we get full compatibility to existing nodes and can provide an adapted GUI to the literature community for their better usability.
StreamOnTheFly is also being used to network campus radio stations. Under the umbrella of the Competence Network for Media Design [14], educational institutions are joining forces to enable local content production under Creative Commons licenses. Meanwhile, the network, as being open to other partners in the design world, is also serving concepts and content to agencies, IT-companies or cultural organizations.
The StreamOnTheFly suite is open-source and licensed under the GPL. The StreamOnTheFly suite uses only established and open protocols and standards making the content accessible to all. The StreamOnTheFly suite is agnostic towards content right and licensing schemes thus freeing the operators of node networks to implement their own policies. No digital rights management is presupposed, and while watermarking and DRM technologies may be integrated, they need not be.
Supporting Creative Commons
When uploading content to a StreamOnTheFly node, relating rights to the work can be defined for any time slice. A simple DRM mechanism is provided by restricting the quality: a content provider may decide not to offer the audio in broadcast quality without contacting her. We engage users to apply Creative Commons (CC) licenses [21]. Even if those licenses are not optimal for the European (which is based on the French) copyright system and even if it does not offer a registry for creative works, we strongly recommend users to apply Creative Commons licenses. We have supported transferring CC licenses into national law and presented our work at Ars Electronica 2004, when Creative Commons won a Golden Nica [22].
Copyright clearing is a delicate issue, to which we are taking a closer look at the Competence Network for Media Design [14]. When stored content has various copyrights assigned, and that content should be available publicly on the web, we recommend providers of a node to make an agreement with a Royalty Collecting Agency. If the content is being used only for re-broadcasting, then the radio station usually has such an agreement already in place.
Future Development
The StreamOnTheFly network is steadily growing: a number of radio stations are currently in the phase of adapting their workflow suitable to online archiving. Collaboration with software houses for station management has been established recently and will open a new set of potential customers. We are currently extending the network for archiving and exchanging video shows. The user interfaces will be translated in more languages (currently English, German, French, Hungarian). A presentation at the AXMEDIS conference on 30 Nov 05 in Florence has brought various contacts to the Telco industry and to a worldwide network of 2700 religion/ethical-oriented radio programmes, operating in 200 languages. StreamOntheFly is a finalist at the Stockholm Challenge 2006 in the section of culture, having the award ceremony at May 12th 2006 in the Stockholm City Hall, similar to the Nobel Banquet.
References
[2] AAF (Advanced Authoring Format) Association, http://www.aafassociation.org/
[3] MPEG-7, http://www.mpeg-industry.com/
[4] Dublin Core Metadata Initiative, http://dublincore.org/
[5] EBU Core Metadata Set for Radio Archives (Tech3293), http://www.ebu.ch/tech_32/tech_t3293.pdf
[6] Shared Online Media Archive (SOMA) metadata format 1.0, http://soma-dev.sourceforge.net/
[7] András Micsik, Thomas Hassan, László Kovács: "Distributed Archive and Web Services for Radio Stations", 12th International World Wide Web Conference, 20-24 May 2003, Budapest, Hungary
[8] L. Kovács, A. Micsik, B. Pataki, I. Zsámboki: "AQUA (Advanced Query User Interface Architecture)". Research and Advanced Technology for Digital Libraries, proceedings of the 4th European Conference, ECDL 2000 (José Borbinha, Thomas Baker eds.), Lisbon, Portugal, September 2000, Springer LNCS 1923
[9] András Micsik, László Kovács, Robert Stachel: Collaboration of loosely coupled repositories using peer-to-peer paradigm. DELOS Workshop: Digital Library Architectures 2004: 85-92
[10] Hauver, D. B. and J. C. French. "Flycasting: Using Collaborative Filtering to Generate a Playlist for Online Radio." International Conference on Web Delivering of Music (WEDELMUSIC'2001).
[11] Rachel Heery, Pete Johnston, Csaba Fülöp, András Micsik: "Metadata schema registries in the partially Semantic Web: the CORES experience". 2003 Dublin Core Conference, DC-2003, 28 Sept - 2 Oct 2003, Seattle, Washington USA
[12] AudioLectureLib, http://www.teichenberg.at/all
[13] Acustic Literature Map of Europe http://locker.teichenberg.at/alme/node/www
[14] Competence Network for Media Design, http://www.media.coop
[15] PloneRadio, http://ploneradio.sourceforge.net
[16] RSS 2.0 Specification, http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss
[17] Open Archives Initiative, http://www.openarchives.org/
[18] The Frequency Clock, http://www.frequencyclock.net
[19] Ourmedia, http://ourmedia.org
[20] Internet Archive, http://archive.org
[21] Creative Commons, http://CreativeCommons.org
[22] Creative Commons Austria, http://CreativeCommons.at