Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Technology





Netflix uses a variety of different files to maintain their business database. Within these files contain records and fields which hold the information about their products, suppliers, employees and customers among other things. The customer file contain customers’ information; name, address, phone number, and billing information. There also is an employee file; this holds of employee private information, name, phone, when hired, SSN, etc. Two of the databases that are used are the Customer and Product Databases. The brand of database software is Oracle.
The person that is responsible for the database is the database administrator and the database architect helps develop and design it. The types of reports that the managers will receive in this company will be new customers added, new movies coming out, and company sales in certain markets.OLAP is used to manipulate the information the company already has to support decision making, enabling analysts, managers, and executives to gain insight into data through rapid, reliable, interactive access to a wide variety of possible views of information. It can be say that Netflix may use OLAP to forecast for future trends, marketing, budgeting, for business reporting for sales, to analyzes which regions are responsible for their increase in sales, what particular product or service contributed the most to the increase in sales.
As known Netflix tries to keep his information secret, but it can be information gathered from many different operational databases to create business intelligence to support business analysis activities and using data for strategic decision-making. In this data-driven culture, the Business Intelligence group is in charge for getting timely, precise, and applicable data to those in charge of decision making. This data is the focus to guide the company’s strategy, direction, and profitability. As the book mentions, most data warehouses are multidimensional represented by layer and rows. It contains layers of columns and rows representing product information, like product line and region, year, customer segment>and the timing of advertising.

Data mining tools are software tools used to query information in a data warehouse. Query and Reporting tools helps the company generate simple queries and reports. Multidimensional analysis tools allow members to view information from a different perspective. Statistical tools help members of the company to apply different mathematical models to the information stored in a data warehouse to discover new information. This type of data mining will help them for example manage their advertising budget.

Data marts are subsets of a data warehouse which focuses on certain portions of the data warehouse. The data marts contain areas such as: Merchandising, Advertising, Distribution, Sales, Marketing, Services, and Account Receivables. Because data marts are smaller and more manageable employees make better use of information. Data marts support the use of query and reporting tool, intelligent agents, multidimensional analysis, and statistical tools.
The person responsible for the data base is the Database Administrator. The DBA’s function is based on the technical land operational aspects of managing the information, contained in organizational information like, databases, data warehouses, and data marts. It also includes defining and organizing database structures and contents, developing security procedures, and providing and monitoring the development of database and database applications. The person in charge to make sure everything within the company is functioning correctly.The type of system software used by Netflix is Windows 7. Netflix also offers different software’s to stream movies directly into your home. Some of these software's includes: Roku digital video player, which deliver high quality movies and TV episodes directly to your TV instantly. They also offer the Xbox 360m the only console that lets members instantly watch movies & TV episodes streamed from Netflix on the TV. Some other software option offered to their customers are internet connected blue ray players, internet connected HD televisions and digital video recorders. It is important to mention that Netflix has extended its partnership with LG Electronics and embedding its online video service directly into the new HDTVs. Another type of software used by the company is Management software which helps manage the movies they have, payroll software and collaborative software.

Netflix's hardware categories consist of inputting and outputting devices, storage devices, and telecommunications devices. Netflix customers use games controller and gaming systems as input devices. Outputting devices for customers used are PCs and Macs which decode the WMA audio files. Some of the telecommunication devices that are used by their customers is to streaming movies directly into their home include the Roku, LG, and Samsung, players along with the Silverlight player from Microsoft. Netflix newest partner is Sony among other companies in the past to get their product known. Netflix does not want to be associated with just one company it would like to be a part of every technological company. It seems that the company will not take a no for an answer. Netflix, like most companies, uses a mainframe computers to store all the data that is received and sent out. The Database Administrator is the person who is responsible for the more technical and operational aspects of managing the information contained in organizational information repositories. Netflix has recently upgraded to using Windows 7 as it software system. Using Windows 7 ,Silverlight, will allow customers a best way to stream movies among other things that the company has to offer.
Netflix, like any other internet based companies, use a Wide Area Network (WAN). A WAN connects multiple LANs to one another over great geographic distances, the size of a country or continent. This type of network typically uses low-speed links for data transfer through the internet. Netflix may use is Global Area Network (GAN) which represents a very large network that has a global coverage, by using a combination of different technologies such as satellite communication.

Netflix uses an Application Programming Interface. API is an interface that a software program implements in order to allow other software to interact with. APIs are implemented by applications, libraries and operation system to define how other software can make calls to or request services from them. It may include specifications for routines, data structures, object classes, and protocols used to communicate between the consumer and implementer of the API. The practice of publishing APIs has allowed web communities to create an open forum for sharing of content and data between communities and applications. In this way, content that is created in one place can be dynamically posted and/or updated in multiple locations on the web.The information can be shared from web communities to outside applications, delivering new functionality to the web community that shared its user data via an open API.
Media types are a classification system used to identify files commonly found on Web sites. They are crucial to the functioning of the Web, because when a client computer requests a Web page from the server, the client computer uses media types to tell the server what type of files the client computer will accept and the same will follow suit when the files are sent back. This information tells the client computer software how to render or process the files that it receives. Media types were developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force to help the Internet work efficiently and consistently. Software vendors that produce Web servers and Web browser have widely adopted media types, which are now the primary method for classifying files used on Web sites.
Netflix uses wireless communications media which allows their information to travel through the air. Communications satellites are used to send information over long distances. Satellites basically allow the information to be spread over the entire earth allowing this data to be sent from one location to another. This proves very effective for Netflix, since business can be done from essentially anywhere.

Netflix uses routers as their connecting device; this enables several computers to communicate amongst each other and to the internet all at the same time. A router is a network device that typically handles tasks of routing and forwarding information. Netflix uses such a device to enable all employees to share and view information on their clients. Larger corporations such as Netflix may also need powerful routers and more than one router compared to smaller businesses.

Netflix uses a broadband connection to connect to the internet. Broadband provides a high-capacity telecommunications line that gives businesses the ability to connect to the internet with high-speed. DSL and Cable modem are examples of broadband connections; both enable users to run high-speed connection through their telephone line or cable TV. “The Federal
Communications Commission defines broadband as a capacity of 200 kbps both upstream) to the Internet) and downstream (from the Internet)” (Haag, Cummings).
Netflix uses IP which is a protocol used for communicating data across a packet-switched internet work using the Internet Protocol Suite. Their IP address isnetflix.com IP:208.75.76.17. Netflix domain name is www.netflix.com
Netflix, like many online businesses, are always concerned with their security. The first thing that must be obtained is confidentiality of both the company information and clients information. They must make sure that everyone information is only obtained by authorized parties. Next the company must be concerned with the authenticity of the information that it gains. The company must make sure that there is no fraudulent information. Following is the integrity of the information so that it is not altered. Last is the availability of their services. Netflix must ensure that it's product is available when their client requests it.
Netflix implements these principle by applying some of the following techniques. They request user authentication before playing the video. Each client is allowed a maximum of six playback devices (browsers, Roku, etc.) per account. They reject requests that come from IP addresses outside of the US range. Netflix encrypt the video content that is sent the clients uses as well as provide unique decryption keys per movie and device
Netflix Movies to Stream to Sony’s PlayStation 3 Article
By Brad Stone

Netflix has now linked up with Sony Corporation to launch its service on the PlayStation 3 device. Netflix now enables Xbox 360 users the ability to stream movies and television shows from a catalogue of about 17,000. Netflix streaming is already available on the Microsoft Xbox 360, TiVo, and an assortment of Blue Ray players. Giving another option available to the public with the PlayStation 3 device will open the door to millions of possible new customers. Netflix will be available for free on PlayStation 3 for those who have a monthly subscription of $8.99 or higher. The Xbox 360 also offers Netflix streaming however it is only available to Xbox Gold Members who also pay an annual fee of $50.00. In order to access Netflix and watch a movie on PlayStation 3, users for now will have to order a unique, free of charge disc from Netflix to put into their console; Netflix and Sony are working on the upgrade in PlayStation 3’s software regarding this matter. Netflix continues to find new ways to reach out to millions of potential new customers, with the PlayStation 3 it will only continue to achieve Netflix’s popularity.

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