Ryerson Flash Communication Development Server
Introduction
Welcome to Ryerson University's Flash communication development server. This server is provided by Ryerson's Digital Media Projects office and Ryerson's Computing and Communications Services as a test platform for the development of new applications based on Macromedia's Flash Communication Server MX (FCS). We developed three test applications as a way to explore the capabilities of FCS. We are now developing applications that make it possible to add real-time audio and video interactivity to Ryerson course Web sites. The test applications are:
- Campus Cameras: a simple Web camera system that allows authenticated users to publish live or recorded audio/video streams that anyone can view.
- Multi-player minesweeper: a multi-player version of the classic minesweeper game.
- Video Phone/Instant Messaging: a very basic video phone system. (Not available for review.)
Each test application was designed to explore different facets of creating FCS applications. The test results from our initial tests were very good and we have since moved to a production system. Please see the contact information at the bottom of this page if you are interested in working with FCS at Ryerson.
What is FCS?
The Macromedia Flash Communication Server MX is software developed and sold by Macromedia. It provides real-time audio, video, and data access via Flash movies. To run a Flash Movie that accesses a FCS application your browser must have the Flash 6 plugin or later. FCS applications are developed using Macromedia's Flash MX authoring product and by writing server-side scripts using Macromedia's variant of JavaScript
Why are we doing this?
We have experimented with IP-based video conferencing solutions in the past but have never moved on to this sort of pilot test with them. FCS is different than what we've seen up until now. One reason for this is the value of Flash in itself. You can do a lot with Flash on its own including delivering information, simulations, and database access. The Flash player is very popular so in many cases another plugin download, and the support headaches that go with it, is not required. The integration of Flash and FCS is well done and brings another dimension to Flash. In our proof-of-concept testing, we've been pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to build real-time applications. Using ActionScript in Flash and FCS and virtually identical objects in both environments has made doing things we thought would be difficult relatively easy. OK, and because it is fun!
Where is the code?
We have also written some very simple test applications and some documentation - as time allows we will post these here:
- Using a proxied shared object so that room instances can update information in a separate lobby instance.
- Lobby and Chat Rooms Test Application
- Fixing up some code examples.
- Are function literals more expensive than function declarations?
- Recording and playing back remote method calls in NetStreams.
- Using the server-side stream object for fine-grained access control to streams.
- Securing the authentication process
- Controlling the Volume of Streaming Sound
- Simple example of using seek
- Storing arrays in shared object slots
The three test applications are complete. Initially we planned to post the source code for them here and you can get the source code for multiplayer minesweeper. However, the code for the other applications is too incomplete and uncommented to post. If we return to it we will cleanup the campus cameras code and post it here. The instant messaging code will not be posted as it uses a single instance and is therefore not scalable. If you are interested in more information on developing applications with FCS please see these sites:
- Macromedia's FCS DevNet site:http://www.macromedia.com/desdev/mx/flashcom/
- Giacomo (aka Peldi) Guilizzoni's Blog: http://www.peldi.com/blog/
- flash-communications.net: http://www.flash-communications.net/
- FlashComm Mailing at Figleaf Software: http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/ - see the subscription information on this page for the "FlashComm" list.
- Samuel Wan's Echotap: http://www.echotap.com/
Information on this server and other academic audio/video resources for the Ryerson community is available from either:
Jeremy Littler at extension 7039.
Brian Lesser at extension 6835.
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