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Introduction of Flash Chat

When we are chatting online, our computers do not send the messages to each other directly in fact. The messages we send will arrive at Chat Server first. Then it is the server that transfers the messages to the other clients we want to chat with. So, if we want to chat by flash chat, Chat Client (flash player) and Chat Server are both required.
The server, like FMS, provides technique platform for message communication, video stream and audio stream. Based on the server, we need to develop and reset it at the requirement of the application software. The constitution of Flash Chat is just like the structure of this Client/Server. For realizing real-time communication with multi-users, we take the advantages of the great capability of Flash Server and the abundant performance of Flash Client.
Chat runs like the sketch map below:

Suppose there are 3 clients, Client A, Client B and Client C. They are in the same chat room. Client A inputs a message, which is sent to the Server. Then the server transfers the message to Client B and User C in the chat room. But things will be different if the three clients are not in the same room. Suppose that Client A and Client B are both in the same chat room while Client C is in another one. Then Client A or Client B can not see the message sent by Client C. And only Client B can see the message sent by Client A.
The information such as users logging in or out, text messages, smiley and animation are transformed into effective data which is then sent to the Server. At the same time, the Client deals with the data received from the Server .Then it transforms the data back to the messages.
The Server takes charge of message communication. It transfers the data from Client to the other expected Clients. The other task of the Server's is to verify and manage users' identity.
Introductions of Flash Servers
FMS (Adobe Flash Media Server)
FMS, compared with the other servers, is the most mature one to provide industry-standard application and it supports mass scale of applications. The following is the sketch map for FMS cluster. With server group working for the customers at the same time, the bandwidth and customer's load capacity are enlarged. That achieves millions of users chat on line synchronously.

WMS (Wowza Media Server)
WMS is a Flash server written in Java. As cheap and stable, it is suitable for application of primary and medium enterprises. The customer service and technique support make WMS a good choice for the users who care about the costs and stability.
Red5
Red5 is an Open Source Flash Server written in Java which supports:
- Streaming Audio/Video (FLV and MP3)
- Recording Client Streams (FLV only)
- Shared Objects
- Live Stream Publishing
- Remoting
Red5 has been developed at the end of 2005. It is stable for transferring flash data stream and supporting data application as text based chat room. But for video, especially large frequency video data, it doesn't work that stably. As an open source software, there's no customer service or technique support for it.
Below is a form to compare the three servers.

Below listed the editions and prices of the three servers for your reference
Server |
Edition |
Price |
Information |
FMS
2.0 |
Professional Edition
(the license can be stock to 10 max) |
$4500 |
Below are three license modes available for choose.
- 150 concurrent users, supports streaming video
- 1000 users, 40Mbps limited bandwidth (cannot support streaming video)
- 2500 users, 25Mbps limited bandwidth (cannot support streaming video)
|
Origin and Edge |
$45000 |
Unlimited users number and bandwidth, supports server cluster |
WMS
1.0 |
Pro50 |
$750 |
50 concurrent users, unlimited bandwidth, supports streaming video |
Pro150 |
$2275 |
150 concurrent users, unlimited bandwidth, supports streaming video |
Unlimited Edition |
$5000 |
Unlimited concurrent users number and bandwidth (only be restricted to server environment) |
Red5
0.6 |
|
Free |
Unlimited, the stability for FLV supported by the current edition is not perfect. |
On the side of customers, FlashPioneer has developed a series of flash chat edition according to FMS and Red5. If you are interested in our products and want to know the information, please click here.
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