Quickplay – Democratizing OTT performance: unlocking concurrency for all
Ashwani Kumar, Associate Director, Software Engineering, and Rajan Chinnadurai, Principal Software Engineer, Quickplay
In the rapidly evolving world of Over-The-Top (OTT) streaming, access to cutting-edge technology should not be limited to industry giants. Democratizing TV technology means empowering every content provider, regardless of size, with the tools and knowledge to deliver exceptional user experiences. A crucial aspect of this democratization is understanding and managing user concurrency – the number of viewers accessing your platform simultaneously. This article breaks down how to derive this vital metric, making advanced performance analysis accessible to all.
Why concurrency matters for everyone
For any OTT platform, from a niche community channel to a global streaming service, understanding user concurrency is fundamental. It allows for accurate performance testing, ensuring your platform can handle peak viewership without buffering or crashes. This knowledge empowers you to optimize your infrastructure and provide a seamless experience, a key differentiator in today’s competitive landscape.
Accessible methodologies for concurrency derivation
While sophisticated Quality of Service (QoS) tools and active session tracking offer the most precise data, they can be costly. However, there are accessible methods for deriving meaningful concurrency estimates, even without extensive resources.
Heartbeat calls: a simple starting point
Heartbeat calls, periodic signals sent by clients to servers, can provide a basic estimate of active users. If you know the frequency of these calls, you can approximate the number of concurrent viewers. For instance, if heartbeats occur every 30 seconds, each call roughly represents an active user during that period. This method is straightforward and requires minimal technical overhead.
EMA Analysis: smoothing trends with playback requests
Playback requests, indicating content initiation, offer a more granular view of user behavior. Exponential Moving Average (EMA) analysis smooths these requests, revealing trends and peaks in concurrency. EMA prioritizes recent data, making it adaptable to fluctuating user engagement. This method, while requiring some data analysis, is accessible to those with basic spreadsheet skills.
Democratizing the process: tools and techniques for everyone
To further democratize concurrency analysis, it’s essential to utilize accessible tools and techniques. Open-source monitoring tools like Prometheus and Grafana provide real-time insights without hefty licensing fees. These tools, often used in conjunction, allow for the creation of dashboards that visualize user concurrency data, making it easier to identify trends and respond to performance fluctuations.
Load testing frameworks like Apache JMeter and Locust allow even smaller teams to simulate high levels of user concurrency, ensuring their platforms can handle peak loads. Integrating these tools into CI/CD pipelines allows for continuous testing and validation, ensuring consistent performance.
Addressing limitations and ensuring accessibility
It’s crucial to acknowledge the limitations of request-based analysis methods. They primarily capture users actively watching content, neglecting those browsing or searching. Additionally, they may not be suitable for platforms with minimal user activity or stringent privacy requirements.
However, by understanding these limitations and utilizing accessible tools and techniques, every content provider can gain valuable insights into their platform’s performance. The goal is to democratize access to these technologies, empowering everyone to deliver a high-quality streaming experience.
Conclusion: empowering the future of OTT
Democratizing TV technology means giving everyone the tools and knowledge to compete in the digital age. By making concurrency analysis accessible, we empower content providers to optimize their platforms, ensuring a seamless user experience for all. This is not just about technology; it’s about leveling the playing field and fostering innovation in the ever-evolving world of OTT.
