The Hive Streaming solution is comprised of four general components:
Browser-based software (the HIVE Hive plug-in)
HIVE Hive Cloud Services
HIVE Hive Web Applications
Installable, endpoint-based software (the HIVE Hive Agent)
Browser-based Software
Hive Streaming extends the capabilities of partner video platforms via self-contained components commonly referred to as "Video Player Plugins" or simply the "HIVE Hive Player Plugin".
HIVE Hive Player Plugins are delivered as JavaScript libraries that are then included inside the partner's application.
The HIVE Hive Player Plugin is loaded by the web browser when a viewer loads the video event webpage.
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No additional installation is required by the partner or end-customer. |
The Hive Player Plugin acts as bridge between the partner video application and the Hive Streaming video distribution solution. Functions of the HIVE Player Plugin Include:
Communicating with an installed HIVE Hive Agent
Collecting player statistics and user behavior observed through the web browser
For HIVE Hive WebRTC (browser-based) video distribution, a HIVE Agent is not required. In this case, the HIVE Hive Player Plugin performs additional functions, including:
Resolve the HIVE Hive Ticket with the HIVE Hive Cloud Services (authenticating the viewer)
Download video fragments from the partner's video CDN (as a leader)
Share downloaded video fragments with other HIVE Hive WebRTC-enabled endpoints watching the video
Post playback metric snapshots to HIVE Hive Cloud Services
Hive Cloud Services
HIVE Hive Cloud Services are a collection of web services supporting various application functions, including statistics collection, discovery of other HIVE Hive endpoints and peer connection setup.
HIVE Hive video platform partners must authenticate with a unique security token when connecting to HIVE Cloud Services.
HIVEHive-supported endpoints (both HIVE Hive WebRTC and HIVE Hive Agent-based) must present a valid HIVE Hive Ticket or Client Certificate when connecting to a HIVE Hive Cloud Service.
Key HIVE Hive Cloud Services:
HIVE Hive Ticketing Service: HIVE’s Hive’s video platform partners invoke the HIVE Hive Ticketing Service to notify HIVE Hive of a video requiring HIVE analytics Hive Analytics or distributionOptimization; afterwards, HIVE Hive endpoints (both HIVE Hive WebRTC and HIVE Hive Agent-based) must authenticate against the Ticketing Service before streaming video
HIVE Hive Tracker Service: maintains a registry of HIVEHive-supported endpoints authorized to view a video, facilitating quick connection setup between nearby peers
HIVE Hive Snapshot Service: HIVEHive-supported endpoints report viewer statistics to the Snapshot Service regularly during video streaming
Other HIVE Hive Cloud services automate customer account provisioning, facilitate Silent Testing and support Agent AutoUpdate functionality.
HIVE Hive Cloud services are hosted in Microsoft Azure and do not host or have access to customer video content.
HIVE Hive Cloud Services respond only to secure HTTPS requests.
Hive Web Applications
HIVE Hive Web Applications deliver video experience reporting and provide management functionality of the overall solution.
HIVE Hive Web Applications are hosted in Microsoft Azure and do not host or have access to customer video content. All HIVE Hive Web Applications support SSO via Microsoft Azure AD.
An optional “local” login may be configured if the customer does not utilize Azure AD.
Hive Portal
HIVE Hive Portal is the main control panel for Hive Streaming, supporting:
Browsing HIVE Hive usage reporting for live and video-on-demand content from connected video platforms. Links to HIVE Hive Insights to better understand video experience.
Managing a HIVE Hive Agent deployment, including hosting of downloadable HIVE Hive Agent installer packages and HIVE Hive Agent remote configurations
Auxiliary functionality, including user management, audit logs and links to HIVE Hive Support and the HIVE Hive Knowledge Base (HKB)
Hive Insights
HIVE Hive Insights, previously described, is Hive Streaming's flagship reporting application. HIVE Hive Insights, along with the HIVE Hive Cloud Services and other HIVE Hive web applications is hosted in Microsoft Azure.
Hive VI (Video Intelligence)
HIVE Hive VI, previously described, is Hive Streaming's powerful business intelligence engine. HIVE Hive VI data Is hosted In Microsoft Azure. Dashboards for consuming HIVE Hive VI data are implemented In Microsoft Power BI and may be accessed via the Power BI web or desktop applications.
Documentation & Support portals
The HIVE Hive Knowledge Base (HKB) and Partner Portal are hosted separately on the Atlassian Confluence Cloud platform. HIVE Hive uses Jira Software Cloud for customer issue management. To access these separate applications, distinct logins are provisioned with Atlassian with oversight by HIVE.
Installable, Endpoint-based Software
The HIVE Hive Agent is HIVE’s Hive’s most mature and robust distribution technology. In addition to high performance video distribution for enterprise networks, the HIVE Hive Agent also supports advanced features such as Silent Testing and site-specific configurations.
The HIVE Hive Agent acts as a proxy between the video platform partner’s web-based player and the video content hosted on a Content Delivery Network (CDN). No user interaction is required. In fact, users are not typically aware the HIVE Hive Agent is present on their devices.
The HIVE Hive Agent consists of several components:
HIVE Hive Agent Watchdog: starts the main HIVE Hive Agent Application as a background service and monitors its health
HIVE Hive Agent Application: the main Agent process, containing all core functionality
HIVE Hive Desktop Helper (HDH): supports proxy detection and tunneling, enabling the HIVE Hive Agent to detect and securely traverse web proxies and SSL termination solutions (Windows only)
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The HIVE Hive Agent is provided as a downloadable installation package. An MSI file is provided for Windows, a PKG file for macOS. The Agent can be deployed and managed using standard software distribution methods, including Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM).
Major releases of the HIVE Hive Agent occur 2-3 times per year. Hotfixes are released if significant bugs or security issues are discovered. This is rare. Customers are not required to accept all releases, but are encouraged to accept one major release per year.
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HIVE Hive Agents can be upgraded in two ways:
Redeploying the new installer package
Using the HIVE Hive Agent’s built-in AutoUpdate feature (the HIVE Hive Agent Application is downloaded from the HIVE Hive Cloud Services and distributed efficiently through peer-to-peer)