SK Planet Unveils RB Cloud VCS 2.0… Applies WebGL-Based 3D UI and Alpha Transparency Technology

SK Planet has unveiled version 2.0 of its VCS (Video Cloud Streaming) technology, based on RB Cloud. This solution overcomes the hardware performance limitations of STBs (Set Top Boxes) through server virtualization technology, enabling high-quality graphics and rich UI even on low-spec devices.

Core Technology of VCS 2.0: Alpha VCS and WebGL

The biggest change in VCS 2.0 is the application of Alpha VCS and the introduction of a WebGL-based UI. The existing VCS 1.0 had a problem where the broadcast was obscured because transparency processing was not possible when overlaying the home UI on top of the real-time broadcast screen. Alpha VCS creates and manages an ARGB (Alpha RGB) framebuffer that processes transparency (Alpha) values for video, allowing the Wing UI or home UI to be naturally overlaid on top of real-time broadcasts.

Additionally, the application of WebGL enables smooth 3D animation and full-screen expression. This allows users to experience a fast and intuitive UX, while operators can provide services that are far more vivid and differentiated than existing STB UIs.

Performance Optimization and Scalability

In transitioning from VCS 1.0 to VCS 2.0, SK Planet made improvements across 5 aspects: Latency, cost, Concurrent Users, stability, and scalability. In particular, the company developed Direct Encoding and screen-change-detection-based encoding technology to reduce unnecessary CPU/GPU workloads and optimize performance by completing encoding directly on the GPU.

• Low-Latency Technology: The cloud server generates and transmits encoded video without delay, requiring only a buffer so small it is nearly imperceptible on the receiving end.
• Server Scalability: Servers are scaled according to demand to stably maintain the performance (CCU) of each server.
• Service Stability: Through server redundancy and LACM (Live Application Context Migration) technology, applications continue seamlessly without service interruption even in the event of a server failure.

Currently, the RB Cloud solution is being experienced by over 6 million users, and SK Planet plans to continuously strengthen service quality and competitiveness by adding AI, big data, and personalized recommendation features in the future.