10.

1 Scientific Applications in Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is becoming very popular in scientific research because it provides flexible and affordable
solutions for tasks like solving complex problems (HPC), running many tasks at once (HTC), and processing
large amounts of data. Researchers can access almost unlimited resources at a lower cost than traditional
systems, and they can use these resources with little to no changes to their existing applications.

Cloud platforms like IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) provide an ideal setup for scientific applications that
involve independent tasks or workflows. Researchers can customize virtual machines to match specific
software needs, while distributed computing tools ensure smooth and efficient operations across the cloud
infrastructure. Additionally, PaaS (Platform as a Service) enables scientists to experiment with advanced
programming approaches, such as the MapReduce model, which is especially useful for handling and
processing large datasets in scientific fields.

Explain in detail about the application of cloud computing in i) Healthcare: ECG analysis in the cloud
ii)Geoscience: satellite image processing

10.1.1 Healthcare: ECG Analysis in the Cloud –

Cloud computing demonstrates its transformative potential in healthcare, particularly in the analysis of
Electrocardiogram (ECG) data, by revolutionizing the diagnosis and monitoring of cardiac disorders. ECG
analysis focuses on identifying abnormalities such as arrhythmias by interpreting the intricate waveform
patterns of a patient's cardiac activity. The integration of cloud technologies facilitates real-time monitoring,
swift data processing, and instantaneous alerts to medical staff, all while ensuring scalability, adaptability, and
cost-effectiveness in managing healthcare resources.

ECG Analysis Process in the Cloud

1. Wearable Devices with ECG Sensors
o The patient wears a device that tracks heart signals in real time using ECG sensors.
o This device continuously records the heartbeat data.
2. Data Transmission to Mobile Devices
o The recorded ECG data is sent to the patient’s mobile device through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
3. Cloud-Based Web Service for Data Analysis
o The mobile device forwards the ECG data to a cloud-based web service for processing.
o The web service stores the data securely (e.g., in Amazon S3).
o It then sends the data to a cloud platform for detailed analysis.
4. Cloud Infrastructure for Data Processing
o The cloud uses powerful computing resources (like Amazon EC2) to analyze the data.
o The Aneka workflow engine coordinates and manages the tasks involved in processing the
ECG data, including:
 § Waveform Extraction: Identifying the ECG wave pattern.
§ Waveform Comparison: Checking for irregular heart patterns (anomalies).
o The system dynamically adjusts resources (elasticity) to handle varying workloads efficiently.
5. Anomaly Detection and Alerts
o After analysis, the system checks for irregularities in the heartbeat.
o If any issues are found, it sends immediate alerts to doctors or emergency responders via
notifications or emails

Advantages of Cloud-Based ECG Analysis

1. Elasticity and Scalability (Flexibility and Ef/iciency)

• The cloud can adjust its resources based on the amount of ECG data or the complexity of the
analysis.
• Hospitals don’t need to buy expensive equipment because the cloud handles the workload.
• Hospitals can quickly add more resources during busy times or emergencies.
2. Ubiquity and Accessibility (Access Anytime, Anywhere)
• Doctors can check patient data from anywhere with an internet connection.
• This makes it easy to monitor patients remotely and act quickly in emergencies.
• Patients can receive care from specialists located far away without needing to travel.
3. Cost Efficiency (Cost Savings)
• Hospitals only pay for the cloud resources they use, like a utility bill.
• This is ideal for smaller hospitals or remote clinics that can’t afford big, fixed infrastructure.
• Reduces the need for IT staff to maintain expensive in-house servers.

Key Benefits of Cloud for ECG Analysis:

Elasticity: The system can dynamically scale to handle high volumes of data or varying demands.
Ubiquity: Accessible from any device, anywhere, allowing healthcare professionals to monitor patients in
real-time.
 Cost-Effective: Pay-per-use pricing ensures hospitals only pay for the computing resources used,reducing
capital expenses.
10.1.2 Biology: protein structure prediction

Biology applications often need powerful computing resources and deal with large datasets, which
traditionally relied on supercomputers or cluster computing. Cloud computing now offers a flexible, pay-as-
you-use alternative, making high-performance computing accessible without owning expensive infrastructure.

Protein Structure Prediction:

• Predicting the 3D structure of a protein from its genetic sequence is crucial for research like drug
design.
• This task is complex because the protein's structure depends on minimizing energy, requiring millions
of calculations to explore all possible configurations.
• Cloud computing enables researchers to perform these heavy computations on-demand, reducing costs
and increasing flexibility.

Jeeva Project:

• Jeeva is a web portal that uses cloud computing (powered by Aneka) for protein structure prediction.
• It employs support vector machines (SVM) to predict the secondary structure of proteins. This
involves:
o Initialization Phase: Setting up data.
o Classification Phase: Running multiple SVM classifiers in parallel to identify protein
segments as part of specific structures (E, H, or C).
o Final Phase: Combining results to predict the overall structure.
• Tasks are submitted to the cloud using Aneka, which distributes and manages the computations
efficiently. Once finished, results are shared with researchers through the portal.

Benefits of Cloud for Protein Prediction:

1. Scalability: Aneka's cloud infrastructure can grow or shrink as needed, optimizing resource use.
2. Parallel Processing: Tasks like classification run simultaneously, drastically reducing computation
time.
3. Cost-Effectiveness: Researchers pay only for the resources they use, making advanced computations
more affordable.
4. Ease of Access: Cloud removes the need for owning or managing complex computing infrastructure.
The use of cloud computing in projects like Jeeva makes protein structure prediction faster, more accessible,
and cost-effective, accelerating discoveries in life sciences.

10.1.3 Biology: gene expression data analysis for cancer diagnosis

Gene expression profiling measures the activity of thousands of genes at once to understand cellular processes,
especially for medical treatments. It plays a key role in drug design by identifying how treatments affect cells.
A significant application of this technique is in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Gene Expression and Cancer:

• Cancer involves uncontrolled cell growth caused by muta6ons in genes that regulate cell division.
• Gene expression profiling helps classify tumors more accurately by analyzing the differences in gene
ac6vity between normal and cancerous cells.

The Challenge:

• Gene expression datasets are large, o@en containing thousands of genes, but usually have only a small
number of samples available for analysis.
• Classifying these datasets into dis6nct tumor types is computa6onally complex.

The Solu7on: CoXCS and Cloud Compu7ng

1. CoXCS Algorithm:
o A varia6on of the eXtended Classifier System (XCS) designed to handle high-dimensional
data.
o Divides the large dataset into smaller subdomains, solves classifica6on problems within each,
and combines the results.
 o The algorithm runs classifica6on tasks in parallel, making it efficient for large datasets.
2. Cloud-CoXCS with Aneka:
o Cloud-CoXCS uses Aneka, a cloud middleware, to process subdomains concurrently in the
cloud.
o It dynamically scales compu6ng resources based on demand, ensuring efficiency and
flexibility.
o The outcomes from each subdomain are combined using specific strategies to refine the
classifica6on results.

Benefits of Cloud-Based Implementa7on:

• Parallel Processing: Solves classifica6on problems faster by running tasks simultaneously.

• Scalability: Aneka adjusts resources as needed, saving costs and improving performance.
• Accuracy: Enables more effec6ve tumor classifica6on, aiding in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Cloud-CoXCS demonstrates how cloud computing makes complex biological analyses more manageable and
efficient, supporting advancements in medical research and patient care.

10.1.4 Geoscience: satellite image processing

Geoscience applications involve collecting, analyzing, and managing large amounts of geographic data. As
technology advances, sensors and satellites generate enormous volumes of data, especially for Geographic
Information System (GIS) applications. GIS is used in various fields like farming, disaster management, and
natural resource monitoring to analyze and present geo-referenced data.

The Challenge:

• Satellite remote sensing produces hundreds of gigabytes of raw images.

• These images need processing, including transformations and corrections, to create useful GIS
products.
 • This process is both data-intensive and requires significant computational power.

Cloud Computing Solution:

Cloud computing provides the necessary infrastructure to handle these demands efficiently. A cloud-based
system developed by the Department of Space, Government of India demonstrates this approach:

1. SaaS Application: Offers tools for tasks like generating geographic codes and visualizing data.
2. PaaS with Aneka: Aneka manages the data import and image-processing tasks in a virtualized
environment.
3. Xen Private Cloud: Resources are dynamically scaled (increased or decreased) based on the
workload.

Key Benefits:

• Offloads heavy workloads from local computing facilities.

• Uses elastic cloud resources to handle large-scale tasks efficiently.
• Ensures scalability and flexibility for processing satellite images.

This approach shows how cloud computing can simplify and improve geoscience applications, making it
easier to process and analyze massive satellite datasets.

10.2 Business and Consumer Applications

Cloud computing has changed how businesses operate and how consumers interact with technology. It
offers flexible and affordable solutions for various needs. Examples include tools for managing customer
relationships (CRM), organizing business processes (ERP), productivity apps, and social networking
platforms, all of which benefit from the scalability and cost-efficiency of cloud-based systems.

10.2.1 CRM and ERP in the Cloud

CRM (Customer Relationship Management) and ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) are two popular types
of business software moving to the cloud.

• CRM in the Cloud:

CRM applications are widely used in the cloud because they are easy to adopt and require no specific
infrastructure. They allow businesses, especially small ones and start-ups, to manage customer
relationships without high upfront costs. Companies can pay a subscription fee and access their data
from anywhere on any device, making cloud-based CRM a flexible and affordable solution.
• ERP in the Cloud:
ERP systems are more complex as they manage multiple business areas like finance, HR, supply
chain, and project management. While moving ERP to the cloud offers potential long-term savings,
it is less common because many organizations already have in-house ERP systems. Transitioning
these to the cloud can be costly and challenging, which makes cloud ERP solutions less popular than
CRM for now.

Key Advantages of Cloud-based CRM:

o Cost-Effective: No need for expensive infrastructure or IT maintenance.

o Scalability: Services can be easily adjusted based on business needs.

o Real-Time Access: Teams can access the data and collaborate from anywhere.

ERP in the Cloud :

ERP systems bring together functions like finance, HR, supply chain, and manufacturing into one system.
Moving these systems to the cloud offers similar benefits as cloud-based CRM but is more challenging
because ERP systems are larger and more complex.

Challenges in Cloud ERP:

• Legacy Systems: Many businesses already use on-premise ERP systems, so switching to the cloud
can be complicated.
• Cost: While cloud ERP saves money over time, the initial setup and training can be expensive.
• Data Security: Storing sensitive business data in the cloud raises concerns about security.

Popular Cloud ERP Providers:

Companies like Microsoft Dynamics CRM and NetSuite offer cloud-based ERP solutions, helping
businesses centralize operations without needing on-site infrastructure.

10.2.1.1Salesforce.com :
Salesforce.com is one of the most popular CRM solutions, with over 100,000 customers using it for their
customer relationship management needs. It offers customizable CRM solutions that can integrate with
additional features developed by third parties. The system is built on the Force.com platform, a powerful
cloud-based development platform.

Key Features of Salesforce.com and Force.com:

1. Scalable and Flexible Architecture:

o Force.com is designed for scalable and high-performance CRM and cloud applications.
o Its core is a metadata-based architecture, which stores application logic and business rules as
metadata.
o The runtime engine retrieves this metadata to execute operations on the data, ensuring
flexibility and scalability.
2. Shared but Isolated Environment:
o Applications share the same database structure but run in isolated containers for secure and
uniform execution.
o A full-text search engine supports the platform, making it easy for users to search large
amounts of data quickly.
3. Customization Options:
o Users can customize applications visually using the native Force.com application framework
or programmatically through APIs.
o Developers can write scripts and triggers using APEX, a Java-like programming language, to
define workflows, automate tasks, and query data.
4. Enhanced User Experience:
o The search engine indexes data in real-time, ensuring smooth and responsive user interactions
even with large datasets.

Salesforce.com is not just a CRM solution but a robust platform that supports the development and
customization of a wide range of cloud applications, making it highly adaptable for various business needs.
10.2.1.2Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Microsoft Dynamics CRM is Microsoft’s solution for managing customer relationships. It offers two options:
it can be installed on the company's own servers or accessed as an online service with a monthly subscription
fee per user.

Key Features:

1. Hosting and Reliability:

o The online version is hosted in Microsoft’s global datacenters.
o It comes with a 99.9% Service Level Agreement (SLA), offering compensation if this
guarantee is not met.
o Each customer’s CRM instance is stored on a separate database for enhanced security.
2. Comprehensive Tools:
o It provides features for marketing, sales, and advanced customer relationship management.
o Users can access it via a web browser or through SOAP and RESTful Web services, enabling
easy integration with other Microsoft products and business applications.
3. Customization and Extensibility:
o Businesses can develop plug-ins to add custom behaviors triggered by specific events.
o Windows Azure can be used to create and integrate new features, making the system highly
adaptable.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM combines flexibility, reliability, and integration capabilities, making it suitable for
businesses of all sizes to streamline customer relationship management.

10.2.1.3 NetSuite

NetSuite is a comprehensive platform that helps businesses manage all aspects of their operations. Its offerings
include three main products:

1. NetSuite Global ERP: For enterprise resource planning.

2. NetSuite Global CRM: For customer relationship management.
3. NetSuite Global Ecommerce: For managing online businesses.

Additionally, NetSuite OneWorld integrates all these features into a single solution.

Key Features:

1. Reliable Infrastructure:
 o NetSuite operates from two large datacenters on the U.S. East and West coasts, ensuring 99.5%
uptime.
o Redundant connections between datacenters provide high reliability for customers.
2. Customizable Solutions:
o NetSuite Business Operating System (NS-BOS): A technology stack for creating custom
SaaS business applications.
o SuiteFlex: An online development environment for integrating NetSuite’s ERP, CRM, and
ecommerce features into new web applications.
o SuiteBundler: Packages and distributes these custom applications.
3. Comprehensive Capabilities:
o Built-in tools for accounting, ERP, CRM, and ecommerce help businesses streamline their
operations.

NetSuite combines reliable hosting with powerful tools and customization options, making it an ideal choice
for businesses looking for an all-in-one management platform.

10.2.2 Productivity

Cloud-based productivity tools have completely changed the way people and businesses work. They make it
easy to manage tasks like organizing projects, storing files, and working together on documents. These tools
can be accessed from any device with an internet connection, making work more flexible, efficient, and
convenient.

In essence, these tools bring the tasks we usually do on our desktop—like saving files, using office software,
or even having a full desktop setup—into the cloud, allowing us to work anytime and anywhere.

10.2.2.1 Dropbox and iCloud:

Cloud computing lets you access your files from anywhere, anytime, using any device with internet. This
makes online document storage a natural fit for cloud technology. While online storage existed before, it
became much more popular with the development of cloud computing.

Dropbox

Dropbox is one of the most popular tools for storing and syncing files across devices. Here's how it works:

• Users can save files in a special folder called the Dropbox folder.
• Changes made in this folder are automatically synced across all devices connected to the account.
• You can access Dropbox through a browser or by installing its app on Windows, Mac, Linux, and
mobile devices.
• It works seamlessly across platforms, making it easy to use for sharing and accessing files anytime,
anywhere.
iCloud

iCloud, developed by Apple, is another cloud storage tool, but it’s designed specifically for Apple devices.
Here's how it’s different:

• iCloud automatically syncs documents, photos, and videos between your iPhone, iPad, and Mac
without needing a folder system like Dropbox.
• For example, you can take a photo on your iPhone, and it will instantly be available on your Mac.
Similarly, editing a document on your iMac updates it on your iPad.
• However, iCloud is limited to Apple’s iOS devices, and there’s no web-based interface for accessing
files on unsupported devices.

Other Solutions

Other online storage options include Windows Live, Amazon Cloud Drive, and CloudMe. They offer similar
features, but their usability depends on the level of integration with platforms and devices.
10.2.2.2 Google docs

Google Docs is a cloud-based app SaaS that provides basic office tools like text documents, spreadsheets,
presentations, forms, and drawings. It is designed to replace desktop tools like Microsoft Office and
OpenOffice while offering the convenience of online collaboration and storage.

Key Features

• Collaborative Editing: Multiple users can edit documents simultaneously online, removing the need
for back-and-forth emails and manual syncing.
• Access Anywhere: Documents are stored in Google’s cloud infrastructure, making them accessible
from any device with internet access.
 • Offline Mode: Users can also work offline if there's no internet connection, and changes are synced
once online.
• Compatibility: Supports a wide range of file formats, making it easy to import or export documents
from other office tools.

Benefits

Google Docs showcases the power of cloud computing by offering:

• Ease of Access: Access files from anywhere, anytime.

• Scalability: Handles any number of users without slowing down.
• Cost Efficiency: No installation or maintenance costs, as everything runs in the cloud.
• Core Functionalities: Delivers all essential office features as an online service.

Google Docs simplifies teamwork and document management, making it a great tool for individuals and
businesses alike

10.2.2.3 Cloud Desktops: EyeOS and XIOS/3

Cloud desktops are online desktop environments that replicate the functionalities of traditional desktops but
are accessed through a web browser. Technologies like AJAX have made these virtual environments possible,
enabling users to access a fully functional desktop experience from any internet-connected device.

EyeOS

• Overview: EyeOS is a popular cloud desktop solution that provides a virtual desktop environment
accessible from anywhere. It includes pre-installed apps for tasks like file management, document
editing, and communication.
• For Individuals and Organizations: Individuals can access their virtual desktops remotely, while
organizations can set up private EyeOS clouds for centralized employee desktop management.
• Architecture:
o Server Side: Manages user profiles and stores data.
o Client Side: Provides access to the desktop via a browser by downloading JavaScript libraries
to render the interface and handle user interactions.
• How it Works: Applications communicate with the server using AJAX to perform tasks like editing
documents, sending emails, or saving files.
• Customizability: EyeOS provides APIs for developing new apps, allowing developers to extend its
functionality using PHP and JavaScript.
XIOS/3 (Xcerion XML Internet OS/3)

• Overview: XIOS/3 is part of CloudMe, a cloud storage solution, and focuses heavily on XML for
defining user interfaces, application logic, and file system organization.
• Client-Server Model:
o Client Side: Handles most functionalities, including rendering the interface, managing
processes, and binding data to XML-based web services.
o Server Side: Manages core functions like transaction processing for collaborative editing and
running application logic.
• App Development with XIDE:
o Simplified Development: Developers create applications using visual tools and XML
documents for business logic.
o Marketplace Integration: XIOS/3 supports a marketplace where third-party apps can be
deployed and integrated into the virtual desktop.
• Flexibility: Developers can build any type of app, define its user interface, connect it to web services,
and handle data processing.

Key Features:

• EyeOS: Focuses on simplicity, centralized management, and pre-installed tools.

• XIOS/3: Emphasizes XML-based integration, advanced customization, and collaboration through web
services.

Both EyeOS and XIOS/3 showcase the potential of cloud desktops to provide flexible, accessible, and
powerful virtual desktop environments for both individuals and businesses.

10.2.3 Social networking

Social networking platforms like Twitter and Facebook have grown rapidly, becoming some of the busiest
websites online. To handle the massive number of users and high traffic, these platforms use cloud computing.
The key benefit of cloud computing for social networks is the ability to add more capacity without interrupting
ongoing services. This flexibility is crucial for social networks as they continue to attract and serve millions
of new users seamlessly.

10.2.3.1 FacebooK

Facebook, with over 800 million users, is one of the largest social networking platforms in the world. To
handle its rapid growth, Facebook relies on scalable cloud technologies to ensure smooth performance and
continuous development.

1. Infrastructure and Data Centers:

Facebook operates two highly optimized data centers designed to reduce costs and environmental
impact. These centers use affordable hardware with customized open-source technologies to handle
the platform's massive demands.
2. Technology Stack:
The backend is based on the LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP), supported by in-house
services built in various programming languages. These services handle functions like search, news
feeds, and notifications, delivering a seamless user experience. User data is stored in distributed
MySQL clusters, mostly as key-value pairs, and cached for quick access.
3. Social Graph:
Facebook creates a "social graph" for each user, which links relevant information and interactions.
This is compiled in real-time by querying and combining data from various services and databases.
4. Developer Tools and APIs:
Facebook's platform supports its core operations and provides APIs for third-party developers to
create apps like games and quizzes. Key tools include:
o Thri>: A framework that enables services wriNen in different programming languages to
communicate efficiently. It handles data serializa6on and simplifies service development.
o Scribe: Used to aggregate log feeds for monitoring and aler6ng.

By combining scalable infrastructure, efficient tools, and developer support, Facebook maintains high
performance while supporting millions of users and external applications.

10.2.4 Media applications

Media applications have greatly bene/ited from cloud computing, especially for tasks like
video processing. These tasks include encoding, transcoding, composition, and rendering,
which require a lot of computational power. By using cloud computing, these heavy
operations can be of/loaded to powerful cloud systems, making them faster and more
ef/icient. This approach helps media companies save time and resources while handling
complex video processing tasks.

Discuss in detail the following media applications of cloud computing technologies. i)

Animoto ii) Maya Rendering with Aneka iii)Video encoding on cloud

10.2.4.1 Animoto

Animoto is a popular cloud-based media application that helps users create videos quickly and easily using
photos, music, and video clips. Here's how it works:

1. How It Works:
o Users select a video theme, upload photos or videos, and arrange them in the desired order.
o They choose a song for the background music, and Animoto’s AI engine takes care of the rest.
o The AI automa6cally adds anima6ons and transi6ons to match the visuals and music.
o Once the video is ready, users receive an email no6fica6on.
2. Key Features:
o Users can create short 30-second videos for free.
o Paid subscrip6ons allow for longer videos and access to more templates.
o If users don’t like the video, they can regenerate it, and the AI will produce a new version.
3. Infrastructure:
o Animoto uses Amazon Web Services (AWS) for its backend:
§ Amazon EC2: Powers the web interface and handles video rendering.
§ Amazon S3: Stores photos, music, and videos.
§ Amazon SQS: Manages the workflow by queuing tasks like rendering.
o Rightscale monitors system performance and adjusts the number of servers dynamically,
adding more during busy 6mes and scaling down when demand decreases.
4. Scalability:
o Animoto’s system is highly scalable and reliable. It can handle up to 4,000 servers during peak
6mes, ensuring smooth opera6on and only minor delays in rendering.

Why Animoto Stands Out:

Animoto simplifies video creation with its intelligent AI, making it accessible for anyone to create
professional-looking videos without technical skills. Its cloud-based infrastructure ensures it can handle heavy
demand efficiently.
10.2.4.2 Maya rendering with Aneka

Rendering 3D models is a critical task in engineering and the movie industry, especially for visualizing designs
and improving them. This process is computationally intense and requires powerful resources. Cloud
computing helps speed up these tasks significantly.

1. The Problem:
o GoFront Group, part of China Southern Railway, designs high-speed trains, metro cars, and
urban vehicles.
o Crea6ng high-quality 3D images of these designs is crucial for iden6fying and fixing issues.
o Rendering these images, especially with mul6ple frames, takes a lot of 6me.
2. The Solution:
o GoFront turned their office computers into a private cloud using Aneka, which manages the
rendering workload.
o Engineers use a specialized interface to input rendering details, like the number of frames and
cameras.
o The tasks are submiNed to the Aneka cloud, which distributes the rendering jobs across the
available computers.
o Each task runs the Maya batch renderer locally, processes the frames, and combines the
results.
3. Key Benefits:
o Efficient Resource Use: The system uses idle desktop computers during off-peak hours, like
nighZme.
 o Time Saved: Rendering 6mes were reduced from days to hours by u6lizing the private cloud.
4. Impact:
o This setup allows engineers to improve designs faster by itera6ng quickly through high-quality
3D renderings.
o The private cloud is a cost-effec6ve and prac6cal way to boost compu6ng power without
needing expensive, dedicated hardware.

This approach showcases how cloud computing, combined with tools like Aneka, can enhance productivity
in computationally demanding tasks.

10.2.4.3 Video encoding on the cloud: Encoding.com

Video encoding and transcoding are heavy tasks that need a lot of computing power and storage. With the
rise of internet usage and mobile devices, the demand for video content has skyrocketed. Different devices
support different video formats, making it necessary to convert videos into various formats. Traditional
video encoding tools can be expensive and limited in flexibility, but cloud technology makes this process
easier and more accessible.

What is Encoding.com?
Encoding.com is a cloud-based service for video transcoding. It uses cloud resources to handle video
conversion efficiently, offering both the computing power and storage needed.

How Does It Work?

 • Users provide the loca6on of the video, specify the desired format, and set the target loca6on for
the processed video.
• It supports video edi6ng features like adding thumbnails, watermarks, or logos.
• It also offers audio and image conversion.

Key Features:

• Integrates with cloud services like Amazon Web Services (EC2, S3, CloudFront) and Rackspace
(Cloud Servers, Cloud Files).
• Accessible through mul6ple pla_orms: a website, XML APIs, desktop apps, or "watched folders" that
trigger encoding automa6cally.

Pricing Options:

• Subscrip6on plans.
• Pay-as-you-go op6ons.
• Discounts for large volumes.

Impact: With over 2,000 customers and 10 million videos processed, Encoding.com demonstrates how
cloud computing can simplify and enhance video encoding and transcoding tasks, making them affordable,
scalable, and easy to integrate into workflows.

10.2.5 Multiplayer online gaming

Multiplayer online games connect millions of players globally, allowing them to share a virtual gaming
experience beyond local networks. These games often involve hundreds of players in the same session,
supported by a specialized system called game log processing.

How It Works:

• Players interact with a game server that hosts the session.

• The server records updates from all players into a game log.
• This log is shared with players via a TCP port, and their game client reads it to update their local
gameplay with ac6ons from other players.

Addi/onal Features:
• Player Stats and Rankings: Game logs are analyzed to build player sta6s6cs and rankings, which
aNract more gamers to online gaming pla_orms.
Challenges:

• High Demand: Processing game logs can be very resource-intensive, especially with many players and
games.
• Unpredictable Workloads: Gaming portals face sudden spikes in user ac6vity, crea6ng vola6le
workloads that are hard to manage with tradi6onal systems.

Cloud Compu/ng for Gaming:

Cloud computing solves these challenges by offering elasticity—the ability to scale resources up or down
based on demand.

Example: Titan Inc. (now Xfire)

• Titan Inc. created a private Aneka Cloud to handle game log processing.
• This system allowed them to process mul6ple logs simultaneously and support more players without
performance issues.

Using cloud technology, gaming platforms can handle more players, process logs efficiently, and adapt to
sudden workload spikes, ensuring a smooth gaming experience.