Programming Flash Communication Server

v

Table of Contents

Foreword

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xi

Preface

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xv

Part I. FlashCom Foundation

1. Introducing the Flash Communication Server

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3

Clients and Servers 4

Creating an Application 6

Real-Time Messaging Protocol 7

The Communication Classes 9

Communicating with Application Servers, Databases, and Directory Servers 15

Firewalls and Security 16

Getting Started 16

Hello Video! 19

Conclusion 30

2. Communication Components

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32

Overview of Communication Components 33

Summary of Communication Components 38

Creating an Application that Monitors a Connection 70

Building a Simple Chat Room 72

Adding Audio and Video to the Chat Room 73

Forgoing the SimpleConnect Component 75

Conclusion 76

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3. Managing Connections

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78

Making a Connection 78

Managing a Connection 84

Reusing a NetConnection Object 90

Multiple Simultaneous NetConnection Objects 93

Testing and Debugging Network Connections 93

Subclassing the NetConnection Class 96

Communication Components Without SimpleConnect 104

Conclusion 112

4. Applications, Instances, and Server-Side ActionScript

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113

Scripting Application Instances 113

Differences Between Flash ActionScript and Server-Side ActionScript 118

The Life of an Application Instance 124

Running a Simple Hello World Test Script 126

A More Realistic Example 131

Instance-to-Instance Communications 138

Script Filenames and Locations in Detail 140

Testing and Debugging Server-Side Script Files 143

Designing Communication Applications 145

Conclusion 145

Part II. Audio, Video, and Data Streams

5. Managing Streams

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149

A Simple Publisher/Subscriber Example 151

Stream Names 157

Publishing Streams in Detail 158

Playing Streams in Detail 166

The Stream Class 183

Publishing and Playing ActionScript Data 192

Creating Synchronized Presentations 197

The NetStream and Stream Information Objects 200

Stream Enhancements and Limitations 203

Conclusion 204

6. Microphone and Camera

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206

Working with Microphone/Audio Input 206

Working with Camera Input 216