Solution Architecture

Owned by maxime.rahmani
Last updated: Aug 28, 2024 by Joana Lucia Schulze De la Cruz
5 min read

The Hive Streaming solution is comprised of four general components:

 

  1. Browser-based software (the Hive VX Web Client)

  2. Hive Cloud Services

  3. Hive Web Applications

  4. Installable, endpoint-based software (the Hive VX 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 Player Plugin".

 

 

 

 

Hive Player Plugins are delivered as JavaScript libraries that are then included inside the partner's application.  

The Hive Player Plugin is loaded by the web browser when a viewer loads the video event webpage.  

The Hive Player Plugin performs several functions, including:

 

  • Authenticate the viewers with the Hive Cloud Services

  • Download video fragments from the partner's video CDN

  • Share downloaded video fragments with other Hive WebRTC-enabled endpoints watching the video

  • Collecting player statistics and user behavior observed through the web browser

  • Post playback and network telemetries to Hive Cloud Services

No additional installation is required by the partner or end-customer.

 

 

Hive Cloud Services

 

Hive Cloud Services are a collection of web services supporting various application functions, including statistics collection, discovery of other Hive endpoints and peer connection setup.

Hive video platform partners must authenticate with a unique security token when connecting to Hive Cloud Services.

Hive-supported endpoints (both Hive WebRTC and Hive VX Agent-based) must present a valid Hive Ticket or Client Certificate when connecting to a Hive Cloud Service.

Key Hive Cloud Services:

  • Hive Ticketing Service: Hive’s video platform partners invoke the Hive Ticketing Service to notify Hive of a video requiring Hive Analytics or Optimization; afterwards, Hive endpoints (both Hive WebRTC and Hive VX Agent-based) must authenticate against the Ticketing Service before streaming video

  • Hive Tracker Service: maintains a registry of Hive-enabled endpoints authorized to view a video, facilitating quick connection setup between nearby peers

  • Hive Snapshot Service: Hive-supported endpoints report playback and network telemetries to the Snapshot Service regularly during video streaming

 

Other Hive Cloud services automate customer account provisioning, facilitate Silent Testing and support Agent AutoUpdate functionality.

Hive Cloud services are hosted in Microsoft Azure and do not host or have access to customer video content.

Hive Cloud Services respond only to secure HTTPS requests.

 

 

Hive Web Applications

 

Hive Web Applications deliver video experience reporting and provide management functionality of the overall solution.  

Hive Web Applications are hosted in Microsoft Azure and do not host or have access to customer video content. All Hive Web Applications support SSO via Microsoft Azure AD.  

Alternatively, customers can opt for Okta SSO or local account.

 

 

Hive Portal

 

Hive Portal is the main interface for Hive Streaming where you can access all of Hive Streaming’s products and tools, including:  

  • Browsing Hive usage reporting for live and video-on-demand content from connected video platforms. Links to Hive Insights to better understand video experience

  • Managing a Hive VX Agent deployment, including hosting of downloadable Hive VX Agent installer packages and Hive VX Agent remote configurations

  • Maintain Site Information in Hive Portal and/or with Hive Site Information REST API, to maximize reporting and optimization capabilities

  • Auxiliary functionality, including user management and links to Hive Support and the Hive Knowledge Base (HKB)

Hive Insights

Hive Insights, previously described, is a detailed event report. Hive Insights, along with the Hive Cloud Services and other Hive web applications is hosted in Microsoft Azure.

Trend Analytics

Trend Analytics is Hive Streaming’s tool around trends over time available on the Hive Portal.

Documentation & Support portals

The Hive Knowledge Base (HKB) are hosted separately on the Atlassian Confluence Cloud platform.

Hive uses Jira Software Cloud for customer support ticket management. To access these separate applications, distinct logins are provisioned with Atlassian with oversight by HIVE.

Installable, Endpoint-based Software

 

The Hive VX Agent supports advanced features such as Silent Testing, persistent logging and fast peer discovery.

The Hive VX Agent can also be used for optimization in some specific case, in this scenario the plugin will intercept the messages from the player and handover the logic to the Agent.

No user interaction is required. In fact, users are not typically aware the Hive VX Agent is present on their devices.

 

The Hive VX Agent consists of several components:

 

  • Hive VX Agent Watchdog: starts the main Hive VX Agent Application as a background service and monitors its health

  • Hive VX Agent Application: the main Agent process, containing all core functionality

  • Hive Desktop Helper (HDH): supports proxy detection and tunneling, enabling the Hive VX Agent to detect and securely traverse web proxies and SSL termination solutions (Windows only)

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The Hive VX 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) or Intune.

 

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Hive VX Agents can be upgraded in two ways:

  • Redeploying the new installer package

  • Using the Hive VX Agent’s built-in AutoUpdate feature (the Hive VX Agent Application is downloaded from the Hive Cloud Services and distributed efficiently through peer-to-peer)

Customers are not required to accept all releases, but are encouraged to accept one major release per year.