Technical details of Netflix

Netflix is a global provider of streaming movies and TV series.

Streaming

Initial discs sent to customers via US mail often received criticisms of being scratched and unable to fully play the rented movie. The popularity of Netflix dramatically increased with the addition of streaming through an online queue. This led to the majority of Netflix users reliably streaming movies and television shows rather than receiving physical DVD discs by mail.

Initially streaming solely using Microsoft technologies and codecs such as VC-1 for video and WMA for audio, the rapid expansion and diversity of Netflix-capable devices have necessitated encoding into many different formats – including H.264 (AVC), VC-1, H.263 and H.265 (HEVC) for video, and Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, AAC and Ogg Vorbis for audio.[1] According to Netflix, the vast number of codec and bitrate combinations can mean having to encode the same title 120 different times before it can be delivered to all streaming platforms.[2]

Netflix uses adaptive bitrate streaming technology to adjust the video and audio quality to match a customer's broadband connection speed and realtime network conditions.

In 2015, BT's YouView launched Ultra HD channels and a 4K box to watch it on in the UK.[3] As of December 2015, Netflix's 4K catalogue can be watched on BT's Ultra HD box. In order to stream the Ultra HD content, users need the top-tier subscription option.[4]

Netflix provides users the ability to choose their download rates quality of video on its website.

Netflix API

On October 1, 2008, Netflix launched an application programming interface (API).[5] The Netflix API[6] allows access to data for all Netflix titles as well as access on a user's behalf to manage his or her movie queue. The API is free and allows commercial use.[7] The Developer Network includes a forum for asking and answering questions.[8]

A variety of services has been created around or has integrated the API. Examples include Rotten Tomatoes and The New York Times, which allow users to click to add titles to their Netflix queue or begin watching on "Watch Instantly" from their pages,[8] and Jinni, which enables one to search within Watch Instantly and imports some user information such as reviews.[9]

Additionally, the API has allowed many developers to release Netflix applications for mobile devices. For example, on November 16, 2009, Netflix released an official Nokia app that allows some trailer streaming,[10] and on August 26, 2010, Netflix released an official iPhone app."Netflix on iPhone?". Netflix. April 2, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2010.  However, in June 2012, Netflix began to cut back the availability of its public API.[11] In June 2014, Netflix announced that they would be retiring the API. This would be effective November 14, 2014, with the intent of allowing Netflix to focus on supporting a growing member base and increasing numbers of devices. In retiring the public API, Netflix will partner with the developers of eight services deemed to have been the most valuable to Netflix users. These eight applications will be allowed to operate beyond November 14, and include Instant Watcher, Fanhattan, Yidio, and Nextguide.[12]

IT infrastructure

In 2010, Netflix migrated its infrastructure to Amazon EC2. Master copies of digital films from movie studios are stored on Amazon S3, and each film is encoded into over 50 different versions based on video resolution and audio quality using machines on the cloud. In total, Netflix has over 1 petabyte of data stored on Amazon, and the data is sent to content delivery networks (including Akamai, Limelight and Level 3) that feed the content to local ISPs. Netflix uses a number of pieces of open-source software in its backend, including Java, MySQL, Gluster, Apache Tomcat, Hive, Chukwa, Cassandra and Hadoop.[13]

Netflix Open Connect CDN

Netflix settlement freely peers with ISPs directly and at common Internet exchange points; for larger ISPs that have over 100,000 subscribers Netflix offers free Netflix Open Connect storage appliances that cache Netflix content within the ISPs' data centers or networks to further reduce Internet transit costs.[14][15] The Open Connect Appliances are purpose-built servers that focus on low power and high storage density, and run the FreeBSD operating system, nginx and the Bird Internet routing daemon.[16]

References

  1. ↑ Ronca, David (May 2013). "A Brief History of Netflix Streaming" (PDF).
  2. ↑ McEntee, Kevin (December 17, 2012). "Complexity In The Digital Supply Chain".
  3. ↑ "4K Netflix comes to YouView thanks to BT: Watch Ultra HD shows and films on your box – Pocket-lint". www.pocket-lint.com. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
  4. ↑ "BT's Ultra HD box can now stream Netflix in 4K". Engadget. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
  5. ↑ "Netflix API Launches Tomorrow". ReadWriteWeb. Retrieved September 30, 2008.
  6. ↑ "Netflix API – Welcome to the Netflix Developer Network". Netflix. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Netflix API Management Solution".
  8. 1 2 "New York Times & Rotten Tomatoes Add Netflix "Add" & "Watch" Links". HackingNetflix. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
  9. ↑ "Jinni Searches Netflix better than Netflix". CNET. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  10. ↑ Hart, Michael (November 16, 2009). "Netflix for Nokia Phones". Netflix. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Upcoming Changes to the Netflix API Program". Netflix. June 15, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  12. ↑ Jacobson, Daniel (June 13, 2014). "Retiring the Netflix Public API". Netflix. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  13. ↑ OSCON Data 2011, Adrian Cockcroft, "Data Flow at Netflix" on YouTube
  14. ↑ "Netflix Open Connect Content Delivery Network". netflix.com. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  15. ↑ Eric Savitz (June 5, 2012). "Netflix Shifts Traffic To Its Own CDN; Akamai, Limelight Shrs Hit". Forbes. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  16. ↑ Netflix Content Delivery
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