Puffer (research study)

Puffer is a research study operated by Stanford University to improve video streaming algorithms. The study allows users across the United States to watch six over-the-air television stations broadcasting in the San Francisco Bay Area media market for free.[1]

For other uses, see Puffer.

Puffer
IndustryStreaming television
FoundedJanuary 18, 2019 (2019-01-18)
FoundersFrancis Y. Yan
Hudson Ayers
Chenzhi Zhu
Sadjad Fouladi
James Hong
Keyi Zhang
Philip Levis
Keith Winstein
HeadquartersStanford University, California,
United States
Area served
United States
ServicesOTT television
OwnerStanford University
Websitepuffer.stanford.edu

History

Puffer was launched on January 18, 2019. It was initially led by Francis Yan, a Stanford computer science doctoral student, with Hudson Ayers and Sadjad Fouladi from Stanford, and Chenzhi Zhu from Tsinghua University. The project's facility advisors are professors Keith Winstein and Philip Levis.[2][3] The research study uses machine learning to improve video-streaming algorithms, such as those commonly used by services like YouTube, Netflix, and Twitch. The goal is to teach a computer to design new algorithms that reduce glitches and stalls in streaming video (especially over wireless networks and those with limited capacities, such as in rural areas), improve picture quality, and predict how the capacity of an Internet connection will change over time.[1][3]

The service is limited. Only those in the U.S. can sign up, and only up to 500 users can watch Puffer at a time. In addition, the service only re-transmits free over-the-air television channels in the San Francisco Bay Area media market, specifically the following ones picked up by an antenna located on the Stanford campus: KTVU 2 (Fox), KPIX 5 (CBS), KGO 7 (ABC), KQED 9 (PBS), KNTV 11 (NBC), and KBCW 44 (The CW).[1][2]

Supported apps & devices

Browsers

Devices

References
  1. Humphries, Matthew (January 18, 2019). "Stanford University Launches a Streaming TV Service (for Science)". PCMag. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023.
  2. "Puffer Frequently Asked Questions". Stanford University. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  3. Beacham, Frank (November 5, 2021). "Getting Rid of the Glitches and Stalls in Streaming Media". TV Tech. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023.
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