Global Video Delivery Made Easy with GCP Video on Demand Solution

Introduction

In the digital age, video and animation video content content has captivated audiences worldwide. Google Cloud Platform (GCP) offers a powerful Video on Demand (VOD) solution designed to address the challenges of managing, processing, and delivering video content efficiently. This blog will explore the fundamental building blocks of GCP’s VOD architecture, uncovering the key services and their roles in creating a seamless and engaging video streaming experience.

Video on Demand (VOD) pertains to providing video content to viewers whenever they desire to view it. It enables users to reach a repository of videos and effortlessly stream them on various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs. New video content is ingested in Google Cloud Storage, transcoded with the Transcoder API, and played globally with Google Cloud Media CDN by an HLS/MPEG-DASH compatible video player.

Key services and their roles

Google Cloud Storage (GCS) – Google Cloud Storage provides a reliable and scalable storage solution for storing video content. It offers options for storage classes, data redundancy, and high availability. In this VOD workflow, we need 2 Storage buckets for source content, and another serves as a destination bucket.
Google Cloud Transcoder API – It is a managed service that handles video transcoding, converting the video content into desired output formats, including MP4, HLS, and MPEG-DASH, suitable for different devices and network conditions. For each input video, Google Cloud Transcoder API delivers output versions based on your configurations, such as SD (less than 1280×720 pixels) to HD (1280×720 pixels) to UHD (more than 1920×1080 to 4096×216 pixels). The transcoded videos are placed into a separate Cloud Storage bucket, which serves as the origin storage for Google Cloud Media CDN.
Google Cloud Functions – Google Cloud Functions is a serverless execution environment designed for constructing and linking cloud services. It facilitates the automation of video transcoding. When video files are added to a Google Cloud Storage bucket, Google Cloud Functions automatically detects the presence of a new video in the bucket and initiates the transcoding process.
Google Cloud Media CDN – Google Cloud Media CDN is Google Cloud’s media delivery solution. Google Cloud Media CDN complements Google Cloud CDN, which is Google Cloud’s web acceleration solution. It is used for content delivery caching video content in edge locations worldwide. It reduces latency and improves the delivery performance to end-users by serving content from the nearest location.
Google Cloud Armor – Google Cloud Armor is a powerful security service offered by Google Cloud Platform (GCP), specifically designed to protect web applications and online services from various threats. In the realm of Video on Demand (VOD) solutions, Cloud Armor plays a vital role in ensuring the security and availability of video content for global audiences.
Google Cloud Monitoring – Google Cloud Monitoring is an essential service that helps optimize Video on Demand solutions by tracking key performance metrics and identifying potential issues. Its comprehensive monitoring and analytics enable timely troubleshooting, scalability adjustments, and proactive maintenance, ensuring a smooth and reliable video streaming experience for users.

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Architecture Diagram

gcp

Working of GCP Video on Demand

Create Google Cloud Storage buckets (Source and Destination buckets). Ingest a new video file into the Google Cloud storage source bucket.
Once video files are ingested into Google Cloud Storage, the Google Cloud function detects that new video file in the bucket and initiates a transcoder job.
Transcoder API reads the source from the Google Cloud Storage bucket and transcodes the video files into a desired output format.
Transcoded videos are then placed into a separate cloud storage bucket (Destination bucket), the origin storage for the Google Cloud Media CDN to deliver the media content.
Google Cloud Media CDN then distributes these transcoded video files at the edge locations closer to the user.
The user can stream the newly ingested and transcoded video files on any device.

Pricing Model

Google Cloud Transcoder API Pricing

When you utilize the Transcoder API, you will be billed for every minute of transcoded video output. The price per minute is based on the output video resolution.

Transcoding Pricing Table

tabel1

Pricing Example

The below example illustrates how Transcoder API pricing is calculated.

Example 1: Multiple output resolutions

Imagine if a request is sent to the Transcoder API with a 20-minute input video file and four specified output resolutions:

Resolution of 640×480
Resolution of 1280×720
Resolution of 1920×1080
Resolution of 3840×2160

The cost for each output is determined by the video category associated with the requested resolution. The following video classes and price points are assigned for the above example.

tabel2

To obtain the total cost for the requested transcoding job, multiply the length of the input video by the calculated total price per minute for all the requested video outputs.

20 minutes * $0.135 per minute = $2.7 charged for transcoding job

Conclusion

GCP’s Video on Demand solution provides the essential tools for content providers to store, process, and deliver videos smoothly to audiences worldwide. With Google Cloud Storage, Google Cloud Transcoder, and Google Cloud CDN, videos are managed efficiently, ensuring a seamless viewing experience for viewers. GCP’s architecture simplifies the process, allowing content providers to focus on creating engaging content for their audience while leaving the technical complexities to the Google Cloud Platform.

Drop a query if you have any questions regarding GCP Video on Demand and we will get back to you quickly.

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FAQs

1. How does GCP Video on Demand handle multi-device support?

ANS: – GCP Video on Demand is tailored to distribute video content to various devices, including smartphones, tablets, desktops, and smart TVs. Google Cloud Transcoding ensures video content is optimized for different resolutions and formats, ensuring a consistent experience across multiple devices.

2. Can I customize the Video on Demand architecture to fit my specific requirements?

ANS: – Yes, GCP’s modular architecture allows you to customize and extend the Video on Demand setup based on your unique needs. You can choose different components and configure settings to match your use case and performance requirements.

WRITTEN BY Rajeshwari B Mathapati

Rajeshwari B Mathapati is working as a Research Associate (WAR and Media Services) at CloudThat. She is Google Cloud Associate certified. She is interested in learning new technologies and writing technical blogs.