An implementation of an overlay network architecture scheme for streaming media distribution

We introduce the implementation of a streaming video distribution scheme based on client relay modules. The purpose is the formation and maintenance of an overlay network architecture responsible for the dispensation of streaming traffic to end-clients. This architecture has been based on the use of modular system components that can accommodate the integration of existing commercial solutions for media reproduction such as video players (used in the implementation as black box components). The result is a system design capable to manage and sustain a media distribution scheme based on an overlay network infrastructure. The presented implementation has been developed in the context of the EU IST OLYMPIC project and is part of a large network architecture for supporting personalised multimedia distribution for covering major athletic events (Ch. Z. Patrikakis et al., 2003).