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Upcoming PHP project..challenge with streaming server.. advi

Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 2:38 pm
by hanji
Hello

I have a potential upcoming project ahead of me, and I'm trying to figure out some options on how to tackle the challenge.

Basically, they have a MS Streaming Server (Windows Media Services on Win2003 server) and they're wanting to offer video feeds on a paid/subscription basis to watch local sporting events. They want a interface that accepts payments and allows the public to view the streams. The primary web site will be build on LAMP platform.

Now, the payment process.. no problem, login no problem. but the problem is how do I maintain security to the physical streams on another server.

I obviously want to avoid security through obscurity on stream URLs, etc. So does anyone have any ideas/resources/suggestions on how I can maintain a security state to a MS server, and have it dynamically controlled via database (the process needs to be real time). Also, subscribed users, depending on their plan, can't view other plan level streams, so once authenticated the security needs to be applied at the stream level vs. server level?

I hope I'm making sense.

Thanks in advance everyone!
hanji

Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 4:15 pm
by fredrik
I know where you're coming from, we had the same "problem" at my place. We did alot of research into it but in the end we skipped out on what's commonly known as "DRM" (Digital Rights Management). The best route is probably to write a .NET plugin for the Windows Media Services-Server that handles authentication and validation of your users through talk to your database. I'll try to give more thought through reply tomorrow, but now i gotta hit the sack ;)