Products

Harmonic StreamLiner Looks to Streamline Service Expansion

Harmonic rolled out the new StreamLiner 2000 video server family, featuring several configurations designed for a wide variety of on-demand video applications. The StreamLiner 2000 product line, used in combination with the Armada intelligent asset manager, can support any content demand profile, easily scaling to accommodate more programming and concurrent streams, according to the company. The series is built using off-the-shelf hardware from IBM and Hewlett-Packard.

In the VOD network, the StreamLiner software is responsible for ingesting offline and real-time content, and for on-demand streaming of programs as requested by viewers. The expanded range of servers now offers features including:

New high-end storage systems capable of acting as centralized library servers storing dozens of terabytes, or tens of thousands of hours, of popular and niche programming.
New models focused on RAM-based streaming that can distribute thousands of simultaneous streams from a compact 2RU system.
Integration with Harmonic's service-centric NMX Digital Service Manager for seamless management of the entire broadcast and on-demand video infrastructure.

Integration Deal: Imagine and SeaChange

Imagine Imagine Communications entered into SeaChange International's Certified Partner Program. Imagine's variable bit rate and statistical multiplexing technology (VBR/StatMux) "allows operators to supercharge their VOD and SDV deployments with up to 50% more streams per 256-QAM channel," according to the company. Imagine's VBR/StatMux for VOD and SDV will interoperate with SeaChange's software and servers.

With Imagine's technology, three HD-VOD VBR streams can occupy a 256-QAM channel at the same quality as today's maximum of two HD-VOD constant bit rate (CBR) streams. Similarly, 15 SD-VOD VBR streams can share a 256-QAM channel at the same quality as today's maximum of 10 SD-VOD CBR streams. Similar results apply to SDV.

JDSU Launches Enhanced DPI Validation Features

JDSU JDSU announced the introduction of additional digital program insertion (DPI) validation features to the company's DTS, the digital video test platform that offers six different combinations of MPEG-2 (DVB and ATSC) transport stream generation, capture, stream creation and analysis.

DPI has become increasingly important as programmers and MSOs focus on management of ad insertion time and placement during the carry-over from analog video to digital video. JDSU's DTS DPI capabilities, known for performing comprehensive analysis of all SCTE-35 (the standard that supports the splicing of MPEG-2 streams for the purpose of placing ads) metadata and messaging in the transport stream, has allowed users to validate DPI, digital ad splicing systems and equipment. JDSU's DTS now enables ops "to precisely capture stream data and conduct trigger stream report generation, giving users the exact detail to assure that their digital ads have run successfully and on schedule," according to the company.

S-A's IP StatMux to Simplify Programming Bouquets

Scientific-Atlanta, a Cisco company, unveiled a new-generation IP-based statistical multiplexing (StatMux) technology. This IP-based technology has been designed to support high-quality, low-bit-rate, bandwidth-saving video delivery for creating or expanding channel bouquets.

Designed for a variety of apps, including digital terrestrial, cable headends, satellite DTH and satellite distribution, the S-A IP StatMux solution will use software and IP interfaces to help control the video encoders. The company says that this capability, combined with the multiplexing and video processing features of S-A's Digital Content Manager, will significantly enhance flexibility as ops introduce new channels and package these into new or expanded bouquets. Control of multiple program bouquets from one location can help ops and content owners easily reconfigure local and remote encoders to rapidly add content in response to customer demands for more varied channel offerings. The capability to reconfigure remotely located encoders within the same statistical multiplexing pool helps eliminate the need for a dedicated contribution link.

Harmonic's ProStream 1000 Now Includes FEC

Harmonic announced that its ProStream 1000 stream processing platform now includes forward error correction (FEC) support, a critical requirement for high-quality video transmission in IP-based networks. Harmonic's FEC engine supports state-of-the-art ProMPEG FEC COP3 transmission and reception of up to 128 services in a 1RU platform, minimizing problems such as packet drops and reordering.

Introduced in 2006, Harmonic says the ProStream platform is increasingly being deployed by ops for a variety of stream processing needs. It is reportedly the world's first multi-functional stream processing system, capable of being configured to support FEC, multiplexing, DiviTrackIP statistical multiplexing, ProCipher scrambling and descrambling, Mentor re-encoding and single frequency network (SFN) transmission over IP.

C-COR's Annual Global IP Summit

C-COR C-COR unveiled the initial speaker lineup for its third annual Global IP Summit at the Hotel Martinez in Cannes, France, June 28-29. Attendees from the cable, mobile, content and telco arenas will share their strategies for capitalizing on delivering personalized services in today's cross-platform environment. The kickoff Visionary Session, moderated by Leslie Ellis, independent technology analyst and author, will host: Marwan Fawaz, EVP/CTO, Charter; Mike LaJoie, CTO, Time Warner Cable; Hervé Payan, SVP Content Services, France Telecom; Howard Watson, CTO, Virgin Media; and innovation expert S.K. Bottom, partner/cofounder, I2 Innovation Intelligence.

The interactive panel sessions will address the impact of personalized content and services on consumer offerings and on the way content, mobile, telecommunications, Internet and over-the-top providers create and conduct business. For a list of confirmed speakers, visit www.c-cor.com/events/2007/global_ip_summit_register.

White Paper Watch: Deploying PSTN-Quality VoIP in Large-Scale Cable Networks

Cable ops deploying VoIP must satisfy consumers expecting PSTN-quality and reliability Day 1 onward, stress the authors of this white paper, Scott Sumner and Michel Nadeau of Tektronix . A quality-focused testing strategy ensures MSOs deliver and maintain wireline-grade voice service. This paper, available at www.broadbandgear.net/whitepapers.cfm?CompanyName=Tektronix, discusses the industry's best practices to overcome the most common quality issues.