Authentication lets you determine who can view specific content and for how long, thus providing a secured environment for your media clips.
Potential applications include rigorous tracking of user demographics, pay-per-view events, music distribution, distance learning, premium content subscription, programmed music videos, karaoke, and restricted executive briefings.
There are two types of Authentication, Player-based and User-based, which differ in their degree of security and end-user interaction. Player-based authentication is based on a unique RealPlayer identification, contained within the RealPlayer, whereas User-based authentication involves exchange of an encrypted username and password. Player-based authentication involves less viewer interaction, but each RealPlayer must be registered individually by the viewer or central administrator. User-based authentication access privileges can be set by the central administrator prior to Player registration.
There are also three primary types of customer access to clips: unlimited event-based access, duration-based access, and calendar-based access. With event-based access, visitors can be given access to unlimited access to one or many media files. In duration-based access, visitors might receive five hours total viewing time of one or many media files or events. In calendar-based access, customers could have unlimited viewing of one or many media files or events until a certain calendar date.
In addition, Authentication can be further customized to best meet individual sites' needs. You can customize Authentication to create different types of payment and registration procedures.
The diagram below outlines the interaction between a visitor to a Web site and the RealServer Authentication process.
Authentication is an optional feature of RealServer. Depending on which options you purchased, this feature may not be part of your installation. If you did not purchase this feature and would like to do so, please contact RealNetworks or your reseller.