Big videos on small networks. A hierarchical and distributed architecture for a video on demand distribution service

The paper proposes a hierarchical and distributed architecture for a video on demand distribution service. The service has been conceived to distribute video over a digital video network composed of servers interconnected by an IP network. Also, the service was designed to distribute video in a way that is independent of the video format and to interact with different types of clients. The experimental prototype has been tested over the backbone of the Brazilian National Research Network (RNP), as part of the work of the RNP's digital video workgroup, showing the viability of distributing high quality video in environments with restricted bandwidth.