Native Format Optimization

Native Format Optimization is an optional Ocarina ECOsystem workflow designed for web-based image and video applications that delivers end-to-end savings. By intelligently shrinking files, and leaving them in their optimized state through the content distribution process, customers using NFO are realizing benefits in bandwidth cost and improved end-user experience, in addition to reducing storage cost.

In the standard workflow implemented by the Ocarina ECOsystem, every method is used to maximize data reduction, including deduplication and proprietary compression algorithms, and compacted on-disk file-containers. In our standard workflow, the readback of files requires reconstitution of the files via the ECOsystem software. This is the main point of difference for the NFO workflow; In the NFO workflow, files are optimized but stored in their native file format (for example the image file "foo.jpg" is compressed and stored as "foo.jpg").

NFO optimization applies codec compression that is technically 'lossy', but in practice delivers visually identical results. Ocarina's team of PhD researchers has carefully developed enhanced image and video coding algorithms that align precisely with the sensitivities of the human visual system. Techniques employed to reduce image data include noise reduction, quantization adjustment, optimization of non-visual data, better motion compensation, and other methods.

Native Format Optimization delivers numerous benefits to web-based media customers by reducing the amount of data in storage, traveling across the network, and transiting the end-user's broadband connections.

• NFO makes image-rich sites more responsive to end-users
• NFO allows video-based sites to broaden their audience by delivering the same quality at lower bit-rates
• NFO reduces bandwidth bills
• NFO reduces the pain of large-scale content movement including disaster protection
• NFO reduces storage consumption, opex, and cost

To understand NFO at a deeper level, read our white paper Native Format Optimization.