Live streaming is an integral part of how users consume content today. It has turned the way industries like entertainment, education, and even corporate communication function now. As the demand for a smooth streaming platform grows, so does the need for efficient and reliable protocols to deliver high-quality content in real-time. Businesses are looking for solutions that can share content with diverse networks and devices. Among the options of protocols for live streaming, the most prominent one is HTTP Live Streaming, or HLS.
It is one of the most accepted bitrate streaming protocols. It can deliver content across devices like smartphones, tablets, and desktops. To cater to the security concerns, HTTP Live Streaming with encryption has emerged to protect the content. This robust solution is working tremendously well for all the platforms where content security is paramount. With this guide, let’s have a closer look into what is hlse and how the HLSe protocol works.
What is HLSe?
HLSe or HTTP Live Streaming with Encryption is an extension to the HLS protocol. It was created by Apple and is now one of the leading standards for streaming video content. It has high adaptability, scalability, and compatibility with various devices. However, with the rise in demand for secure streaming, HLSe started to address the need for robust encryption while maintaining flexibility and efficiency.
It ensures that video streaming remains secure by encrypting the content during transmission. It also makes it inaccessible to unauthorized users. The additional layer of security protects it against piracy and unauthorized distribution. This makes HLSe the most picked one for OTT platforms, corporate live streaming, and other applications when security is a priority.
Key concepts of HLSe
Adaptive streaming with encryption
HLSe divides the content into smaller, manageable chunks called segments. These segments are streamed dynamically to viewers based on their network conditions. This ensures an uninterrupted and optimized viewing experience. HLSe improves the process of encryption using secure algorithms like AES. This ensures that if video chunks are intercepted, they cannot be accessed without the proper decryption key.
Compatibility
HLSe has all the core benefits of HLS like being HTTP-based and compatible with a wide range of devices. It relies on standard HTTP protocol which makes the integration easier with existing Content Delivery Networks.
Comparison with Other Streaming Protocols
HLS (Without Encryption)
- Pros: HLS is supported across multiple devices and browsers. It is easy to use and has superb adaptive streaming.
- Cons: Standard HLS system does not include encryption. This leaves the system vulnerable to unauthorized access and piracy.
- Use case: Best for non-sensitive or public content where security is the major concern.
DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP)
- Pros: DASH is an open standard that provides greater flexibility and supports multiple codecs.
- Cons: It requires additional tools for encryption and may not be as universally compatible as HLS.
- Use case: Best used for the platform where codec versatility is needed and advanced customization.
RTMP (Real-time Messaging Protocol)
- Pros: RTMP provides low-latency streaming, which is best for live broadcasting.
- Cons: It is outdated for most streaming applications. It does not have built-in encryption and is mainly unsupportive to many modern devices.
- Use case: Used mostly during live events with a focus on real-time interaction.
How Does HLSe Work?
HLSe combines the benefit of adaptive streaming capabilities with robust encryption to deliver secured video content. It has a workflow that segments video files, encrypts them, and then manages the decryption keys securely. This process also ensures that only authorized access is given while maintaining a seamless viewing experience.
The process flow
Video segmentation
HLSe begins with the same process as HLS- the video is encoded and then divided into smaller, manageable chunks called segments. Each segment will typically be of few seconds long. This makes it easier to stream adaptively based on the viewer’s network conditions. The segments are stored in MPEG-TS format.
Encryption of segments
Before these segments are made available for streaming, HLSe encrypts them and uses Advanced Encryption Standard technology of 128 to 256-bit key. This encryption ensures that even if the video files are intercepted, they cannot be viewed or decrypted without the appropriate key. Each segment can only be encrypted with the same key or a different key. It depends on the security requirements of the content provider.
Key Generation and Management
One of the critical aspects of HLSe is the generation and management of decryption keys. These keys are stored in a different location from video segments. It can be a secure server. The keys are then delivered to end-users only after they are authenticated, typically via a secure HTTPS connection. This separation of video content and keys adds a layer of security so that unauthorized users cannot decrypt it.
Playlist manifest files
HLSe workflow involves the creation of playlist files, which act as indexes for the video segments. These playlists include metadata about the segments like durations, URLs for downloading, and encryption details. When the user requests for video stream, their device retrieves the playlist and fetches the encrypted segments.
Decryption and playback
On the client side, the user’s device downloads the encrypted segments and then retrieves the decryption keys only if the authentication is successful. The content is decrypted in real time and played back on the device. This process is easy and ensures that users experience uninterrupted streaming.
Advantages of HLS Streaming
Adaptive streaming
It uses adaptive bitrate technology to optimize the streaming experience. It dynamically adjusts the video quality based on the user’s network speed and capabilities. Viewers with strong internet connections can enjoy the high resolution while those with slower connections are served with low-quality versions to avoid buffering.
Wide device compatibility
One of the main advantages of HLS is its compatibility. It is used in a broad range of devices and operating systems like iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and smart TVs. This widespread support stems from its reliance on HTTP.
Scalability with HTTP
HLS operated over standard HTTP servers. This makes it highly scalable. CDNs can efficiently distribute HLS streams without needing any specialized infrastructure. This scalability is particularly beneficial for platforms expecting high traffic like OTT service and live-streamed events.
Built-in content security options
HLS supports encryption and secure key exchange mechanisms like AED encryption and token-based authentication. These features make it possible to restrict control access, thus ensuring only authorized viewers can watch.
Support for live and on-demand streaming
HLS is comfortable for both live and on-demand streaming. This dual capability allows content providers to use the same protocol for broadcasting live events and even hosting pre-recorded content. Moreover, HLS allows features like DVR (Digital Video Recorder) to enable pause, rewind, and resume live streams.
Disadvantages of HLS Streaming
Higher latency
HLS generally has higher latency as compared to other protocols like RTMP. It segments the video into chunks and then waits for a few segments to buffer before playback starts. This can cause a delay of 6 to 30 seconds.
Increased bandwidth usage
The adaptive bitrate nature of HLS generates multiple versions of the same video but at different quality levels. While it improves playback for users, this can significantly increase the bandwidth requirements for content providers. It raises the cost of streaming infrastructure and delivery.
Limited low latency options
To cover this Low Latency HLS is introduced. However, the implementation can be complex and not yet universally supported. This limits the protocol effectiveness for low-latency streaming scenarios where faster alternatives like WebRTC are preferred.
Processing overhead on devices
HLS requires the client device to handle tasks like downloading, decryption, and reassembling video chunks in real-time. On lower-end devices, this processing can lead to higher battery consumption.
Reliance on HTTP protocol
While HTTP ensures broad compatibility, it can also limit it to certain cases. HTTP-based delivery may cause congestion during peak traffic periods. Also, HLS streams are more susceptible to delays caused by network bottlenecks as compared to protocols designed for low-latency streaming.
Conclusion
With a complete understanding of what HLSe is and how the protocol works to enhance content security, it’s time to bring the vision of a live-streaming platform to life. With Enveu, you can use the power of HLS streaming with HLSe to deliver secured, high-quality video content to a global audience.
The platform offers end-to-end solutions that cover adaptive bitrate streaming, encryption for premium content protection, multi-device compatibility, and seamless integration with your existing infrastructure.
Whether you are launching an OTT service, corporate events, or sharing e-videos, Enveu covers you for creating a reliable, scalable, and secured streaming platform.
Don’t let technical complexity hold you back. Partner with Enveu to implement HLSe protocol and deliver commendable video experience with confidence.
Take the first step in building your secured streaming platform.
