A Transcoding Server for the Home Domain

Abstract

This paper discusses the implementation of a video transcoding service for the Home Domain. The Home Domain is composed of personal computers, consumer electronics and mobile devices that communicate with each other via an IP network. However, due to the diversity of the capabilities of these devices (formats supported, memory, processing power, etc.), interoperability is a challenge. For instance, set-top boxes and DVD players support the MPEG-2 video format while mobile phones only support H.263 and/or MPEG-4. Adding a video transcoding service, acting as an intermediate between a digital media server and various digital media players, would allow transparent sharing of the media content within the network. This study has two main objectives. Firstly to insert transparently a transcoding service within the existing Home Domain architecture; and secondly to implement such a service using only open source software components. An FFmpeg-based video transcoding server for the Home Domain was implemented.