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Kontiki's [[peer-to-peer]] software, the Kontiki Delivery Manager provides the basis of many of the UK's [[video on demand]] services, including [[Sky Anytime]]<ref name="sky_anytime">{{cite web | url=http://www.kontiki.com/company/press/2005/pressreleasesky.html | title=Sky chooses Kontiki's secure peer-to-peer delivery management system | date=2005-10-01 | accessdate=2007-05-01}}</ref>, [[4od]]<ref name="4OD">{{cite web | url=http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=194858 | title=VeriSign Provides Peer-to-Peer Delivery Infrastructure Enable Channel 4 On-Demand | date=2006-12-14 | accessdate=2007-05-01}}</ref> and the [[BBC iPlayer]]<ref name="bbc_iplayer">{{cite web | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,16749-1771573,00.html | title=BBC aims to become big in online television | date=2005-09-09 | accessdate=2007-05-01}}</ref>.
Kontiki's [[peer-to-peer]] software, the Kontiki Delivery Manager provides the basis of many of the UK's [[video on demand]] services, including [[Sky Anytime]]<ref name="sky_anytime">{{cite web | url=http://www.kontiki.com/company/press/2005/pressreleasesky.html | title=Sky chooses Kontiki's secure peer-to-peer delivery management system | date=2005-10-01 | accessdate=2007-05-01}}</ref>, [[4od]]<ref name="4OD">{{cite web | url=http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=194858 | title=VeriSign Provides Peer-to-Peer Delivery Infrastructure Enable Channel 4 On-Demand | date=2006-12-14 | accessdate=2007-05-01}}</ref> and the [[BBC iPlayer]]<ref name="bbc_iplayer">{{cite web | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,16749-1771573,00.html | title=BBC aims to become big in online television | date=2005-09-09 | accessdate=2007-05-01}}</ref>.
[[Image:P2P-network.svg|thumb|A peer to peer network]]
[[Image:P2P-network.svg|thumb|A peer to peer network]]
Kontiki works using [[peer to peer]] technology. Rather than the user downloading the television program from a central server, the users download from each other. This may be why Kontiki reseller ioko claim that using Kontiki "reduces IT & network costs by 70%-90%" <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ioko.com/Partners/Kontiki/ | title=Kontiki | date= | accessdate=2007-08-15}}</ref> but this claim is removed from their site and ISP's [[http://www.iptv-watch.co.uk/14082007-isps-complain-iplayer-uses-too-much-bandwith.html claim]] the opposite: that P2P sharing extremely increases the network load compared to server-client delivery for downloading or streaming.
Kontiki works using [[peer to peer]] technology. Rather than the user downloading the television program from a central server, the users download from each other. This may be why Kontiki reseller ioko claim that using Kontiki "reduces IT & network costs by 70%-90%" <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ioko.com/Partners/Kontiki/ | title=Kontiki | date= | accessdate=2007-08-15}}</ref> but this claim is removed from their site and ISP's [[http://www.iptv-watch.co.uk/14082007-isps-complain-iplayer-uses-too-much-bandwith.html claim]] the opposite: that P2P sharing extremely increases the network load compared to server-client delivery for downloading or streaming, increasing the delivery costs on a macro level.

P2P has more data overhead for communication between peers compared to server-client delivery solutions.
P2P also requires multiple peers to upload the same data chunks to the viewer in order to offer a reliable stream or a fast download.
P2P is also unaware of the location of other peers, resulting in traffic hopping over many networks using expensive transit and peering connections.
The P4P initiative tries to prevent this, but this requires each ISP to implement P2P intelligence in their network. Optimizing for P2P can be illegal (in the past ISP's were sued for promoting illegal file sharing) and is an issue with [Net Neutrality].
P2P relies on consumer grade networks and can never offer a [QoS] unless the number of extra parity feeds is increased even more (resulting in more network load)
Most P2P clients are always redistributing even when not in use. This saturates upstream links and slows down network performance.


The Kontiki client (KService.exe) continues to run when a user closes the provider's application and will continue to share the user's downloaded content with other users on the network, using up the user's bandwidth without notifying them (except for the iPlayer which provides an option to stop sharing when the client closes). This can be particularly troublesome for users with broadband connections that include a capped monthly upload limit.<ref>{{cite web | last=Christostomou | first=Chris | url=http://mou.me.uk/2007/05/09/kserviceexe-channel-4-and-the-stolen-bandwith/ | title=kservice.exe, Channel 4 and the stolen bandwith... (sic) | date=2007-05-09 | accessdate=2007-06-13}}</ref>
The Kontiki client (KService.exe) continues to run when a user closes the provider's application and will continue to share the user's downloaded content with other users on the network, using up the user's bandwidth without notifying them (except for the iPlayer which provides an option to stop sharing when the client closes). This can be particularly troublesome for users with broadband connections that include a capped monthly upload limit.<ref>{{cite web | last=Christostomou | first=Chris | url=http://mou.me.uk/2007/05/09/kserviceexe-channel-4-and-the-stolen-bandwith/ | title=kservice.exe, Channel 4 and the stolen bandwith... (sic) | date=2007-05-09 | accessdate=2007-06-13}}</ref>

Revision as of 08:34, 24 July 2008

File:Kontiki logo animate.gif
For other uses, see the digital media distribution technology.

Kontiki is a digital media distribution technology company, founded in 2000. It was acquired by VeriSign in March 2006. VeriSign as part of a major divestiture sold Kontiki to MK Capital in May 2008.[1]

Kontiki's peer-to-peer software, the Kontiki Delivery Manager provides the basis of many of the UK's video on demand services, including Sky Anytime[2], 4od[3] and the BBC iPlayer[4].

A peer to peer network

Kontiki works using peer to peer technology. Rather than the user downloading the television program from a central server, the users download from each other. This may be why Kontiki reseller ioko claim that using Kontiki "reduces IT & network costs by 70%-90%" [5] but this claim is removed from their site and ISP's [claim] the opposite: that P2P sharing extremely increases the network load compared to server-client delivery for downloading or streaming, increasing the delivery costs on a macro level.

P2P has more data overhead for communication between peers compared to server-client delivery solutions. P2P also requires multiple peers to upload the same data chunks to the viewer in order to offer a reliable stream or a fast download. P2P is also unaware of the location of other peers, resulting in traffic hopping over many networks using expensive transit and peering connections. The P4P initiative tries to prevent this, but this requires each ISP to implement P2P intelligence in their network. Optimizing for P2P can be illegal (in the past ISP's were sued for promoting illegal file sharing) and is an issue with [Net Neutrality]. P2P relies on consumer grade networks and can never offer a [QoS] unless the number of extra parity feeds is increased even more (resulting in more network load) Most P2P clients are always redistributing even when not in use. This saturates upstream links and slows down network performance.

The Kontiki client (KService.exe) continues to run when a user closes the provider's application and will continue to share the user's downloaded content with other users on the network, using up the user's bandwidth without notifying them (except for the iPlayer which provides an option to stop sharing when the client closes). This can be particularly troublesome for users with broadband connections that include a capped monthly upload limit.[6]

In addition, this software has several known issues, such as taking up 100% of processor time when running.[7]

This extra bandwidth used could make UK ISPs put up their prices or use technical measures such as blocking or traffic shaping to deal with iPlayer traffic. It is estimated that an hour of iPlayer downloads at peak time would cost them 67 pence at BT wholesale prices.[8]

Kontiki has four parts: Network Publisher, Network Protector, Network Manager and Analyser. [9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "MK Capital Completes Acquisition of Kontiki from VeriSign". 2008-05-05. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
  2. ^ "Sky chooses Kontiki's secure peer-to-peer delivery management system". 2005-10-01. Retrieved 2007-05-01.
  3. ^ "VeriSign Provides Peer-to-Peer Delivery Infrastructure Enable Channel 4 On-Demand". 2006-12-14. Retrieved 2007-05-01.
  4. ^ "BBC aims to become big in online television". 2005-09-09. Retrieved 2007-05-01.
  5. ^ "Kontiki". Retrieved 2007-08-15.
  6. ^ Christostomou, Chris (2007-05-09). "kservice.exe, Channel 4 and the stolen bandwith... (sic)". Retrieved 2007-06-13.
  7. ^ "Battle Encoder Shirase". 2008-02-09. Retrieved 2008-04-29.
  8. ^ "iPlayer Politics: Behind the ISPs vs BBC row". 2007-08-14. Retrieved 2007-08-15.
  9. ^ "Kontiki Delivery Management System". Retrieved 2007-08-15.
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