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Flash Communication Server Article

 

Delivering Flash Video: Dynamic Bandwidth Detection with Macromedia Flash Communication Server


Stefan Richter

Stefan Richter

FlashComGuru
POPview
Team Macromedia

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Setting Up the Server-Side Application
  3. Creating the Client-Side Application
  4. Integrating the Detection Routine into Existing Applications
Created:
6 December 2004
User Level:
Advanced

In this tutorial you will learn how to detect a specific user's download speed using Flash Communication Server MX. You will learn how to set up the detection routine and use the test results to serve a video clip that is suitable for the user's connection speed.

The sample file bwcheck.fla contains a simple video streaming application as your starting point (I refer to it as your main application) and during the course of this article you will extend it to use the speed test results that the detection routine gathers. This article focuses on implementing the detection routine, not the video playback application.

This article is based on a script by Pritham Shetty, director of engineering for Flash Communication Server, and was published by Giacomo "Peldi" Guilizzoni on his blog at www.peldi.com/blog/.

Requirements

To complete this tutorial you will need to install the following software and files:

Flash Communication Server (version 1.5 updater 2)

Note: If you need to obtain the updated version, download it from the Macromedia Flash Communication Server Support Center.

Flash MX Professional 2004

Tutorials and sample files:

Prerequisite knowledge:

You should be familiar with ActionScript, including basic server-side ActionScript. You should also have a basic understanding of Flash Communication Server MX. This tutorial does not require you to write much code; instead, it encourages you to modify the provided source files to suit your needs.

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About the author

Stefan Richter is a Certified Flash Developer who has been involved with Flash Media Server since its very early days, when it was Flash Communication Server. Shortly after relocating from Germany to the UK, he became the driving force behind Europe's first FCS-centric hosting company, flashcomstudio.com. Stefan now runs his own popular community at flashcomguru.com. Having moved on from his role as developer and webmaster at Monster Worldwide, he now holds the position of VP of application development at Dallas-based POPview. From his home office in the UK he is handling projects for a variety of clients including McAfee, USA Network, and Unilever.