FlashWare, the first general-purpose, standards-based software platform
that integrates video and audio into existing packet-switched networks --
without costly hardware upgrades to those networks or the desktop PCs on
them -- has been introduced by Precept Software, Inc. Precept has also
introduced IP/TV, the first in a family of client-server applications for
the FlashWare platform. IP/TV multicasts live or prerecorded audio and
video streams to an unlimited, user-specified group of desktops over any
IP-based network.

While Precept's Windows-based products are well suited for transporting
multimedia data over the global Internet, they are unique in being
designed specifically for enterprise environments, with their
higher-bandwidth "intranets" and the associated demands for quality
transmission. Key multimedia applications in these environments are
corporate communications, computer-based training, distance learning,
desktop videoconferencing, and audio/video production.

Precept's FlashWare multimedia networking software provides all the
necessary services to transport real-time, synchronized multimedia streams
over packet-switched networks. FlashWare has two major components :
FlashWare Real-Time Transport Services and FlashWare Multimedia Services.
FlashWare Real-Time Transport Services performs packetization, real-time
data transport (via the IETF standard Real-Time Transport Protocol, or
RTP), feedback on network conditions and reception quality (via RTP's
Real-Time Control Protocol, or RTCP). Quality of service -- the assurance
that certain traffic types receive priority (e.g., video over file
transfer) in obtaining network resources -- is provided by the Resource
Reservation Protocol (RSVP), an IETF standard in development.

FlashWare Multimedia Services, running on top of FlashWare Real-Time
Transport Services, performs data compression and decompression and
synchronization. It transparently handles interfaces to network protocols,
video/sound cards, and hardware and software codecs. FlashWare may be
installed as a Microsoft Windows Media Control Interface (MCI) driver,
allowing network multimedia streams to be manipulated as if they were
local. The FlashWare MCI driver can be used with Microsoft's Media Player
to "extend" CD-ROM capability across a LAN or WAN. Implemented as a DLL,
the driver masks the complexity of RTP, multicast and other functions,
letting developers focus on application content. Precept also offers the
optional WinSock-compatible FlashStack protocol stack, an advanced
high-speed 32-bit TCP/IP VxD stack optimized for multimedia data. While
FlashStack provides a high-speed foundation for FlashWare, the
WinSock-compatible FlashWare also runs on most other popular TCP/IP
stacks.

Not tied to any single compression technique, FlashWare allows use of the
technology best suited to a given application. While Precept's ITU-
compatible H.261 software codec will ship with FlashWare, any Video for
Windows codec (e.g., Intel's Indeo) can be used. Thus the user can
automatically take advantage of new compression technologies as they
emerge.

IP/TV, a client-server application that runs on top of FlashWare, delivers
full-motion video in a window on the user's PC for such applications as
broadcast TV to the desktop, corporate communications, Internet on-line
marketing, video library access, manufacturing process monitoring and
surveillance systems. Live or prerecorded digital video and audio streams
are multicast to an unlimited number of users over any IP-based network.
Routability of network video streams ensures wide-area accessibility,
including distribution over the Internet.

IP/TV contains three elements. The IP/TV Program Guide, used for program
scheduling and management, is based on World Wide Web technology and is
accessed via any HTML network browser. The IP/TV Server delivers programs
according to parameters (e.g., start time, file name) entered in the
Program Guide. The IP/TV Viewer presents a list of scheduled multicasts at
the recipient's desktop and displays the audio/video programs, providing
controls that let the user "channel surf" among programs.

FlashWare's RTP, IP Multicast and H.261 compression/decompression software
have been tested for compatibility with the MBONE. Thus, with Windows
Media Player or Precept's IP/TV Viewer, FlashWare can be used as a
PC-based viewing client for MBONE broadcast sessions, a capability
previously available only to UNIX users.

Precept Software, Inc., was formed in March 1995 and is the third Silicon
Valley startup for husband-and-wife entrepreneurs Bill Carrico and Judy
Estrin, who previously launched Bridge Communications and Network
Computing Devices The privately held company has raised $6.4 million in
venture financing.

Precept Software, Inc.
21580 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 207
Cupertino, CA 95014
408 446-7600
http://www.precept.com/
 
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