We need a solution! 

We need a software-based solution for large-scale delivery of video (or data) on the Public Internet.

IP delivered linear channels are sprouting up, but how will they conquer the point to-point delivery problems associated with IP video?  Even Akamai’s huge and expensive “edge” delivery system, which uses the Internet Engineering Task Force’s Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP), is limited to about 300,000 simultaneous viewers.

The CBS March Madness sporting event is a detailed exploration of the point to-point video delivery problems and corresponding limitations.  Despite this event’s success at serving approximately 300,000 viewers, many more potential viewers were frustrated and had to wait in line. 

Stanford University professor, Steven Deering invented the system we need (thanks Steve),  but Deering’s specification – which he called “IP Multicast” – was not a reliable protocol (set of rules).  IP Multicast is prone to a percentage of data (or packet) loss.  Deering’s “IP Multicast” protocol was never intended to be a complete solution, just a “building block.”