AMCM Products:
The Company's network monitoring systems are computer-controlled devices,
which monitor the condition and performance of cable TV and broadband
telecommunications systems. A monitoring system includes system software
installed on a PC, master control units located at the "head-end" control
center, and transponders located in the field. The transponder devices are
placed generally within equipment which transmits or powers the CATV signals in
a network and continuously monitor such functions as signal levels and
temperature and instantaneously report any problems, thus enabling the operator
of the system to pinpoint trouble spots and avoid or minimize system downtime.
The system software is installed on an IBM compatible PC at the central
monitoring location. The PC is connected to one or more Master Control Units
(MCU) typically located in the head-end of a monitored system. The MCU serves as
a real-time "polling engine" for the software system and communicates with
remote monitors called "transponders" via a dedicated RF frequency on the
monitored broadband system. The MCU processes the PC's request for information,
communicates that request to the appropriate transponders, and distills the
response into a form that the PC will accept. The transponders are data
collection and control devices located in remote transmission equipment (line
amplifiers, power supplies, etc.) which can communicate with the MCU.
3
The Company also provides performance monitoring products designed to
assist cable TV operators in collecting and analyzing the data associated with
the mandated FCC system proof of performance tests and to assess operating
characteristics of the system at remote points. Performance monitoring units can
make frequency response measurements from 40 MHz through 1 GHz, measure RF
levels against alarm limits, analyze noise, distortion, and hum, and measure
channel frequencies. They also perform real-time spectrum analysis and system
sweep measures, with the results displayed in high-resolution color graphics.
Cable TV and broadband telecommunications systems have and continue to
experience significant change. The cable TV industry is undergoing a trend
toward consolidation as larger operators purchase systems from smaller
operators. Cable TV operators are also developing plans to expand their revenue
base by offering telephony services and other alternative video and multimedia
services such as Internet access, video on demand, home shopping, interactive
data services, distance learning, home monitoring, etc. The U.S. telephone
(telco) industry has entered selected markets for video services using various
technologies including HFC, wireless and existing telco infrastructure by
building new communications networks capable of providing voice, video, and data
services. Recent telecommunications legislation has further increased the
competitive environment among service providers.
The communications network conceived to be able to handle the range of
voice, video and data being planned has been termed the "information
superhighway". Both CATV operators and telephone providers desiring to provide
video services recognize a need to upgrade their existing communications
networks to provide two-way transmission and receipt of services in order to
deliver the wide range of services planned. Status and performance monitoring
products, as provided by the Company, have become a critical component to
improve operating efficiencies and insure the reliability of the new
communications networks. In response to this, the Company introduced in fiscal
1996 the OmniStat(TM) System, an advanced status monitoring system for broadband
networks. In fiscal 2000 the Company introduced Omni2000TM which represents its
latest generation of monitoring technology.
Omni2000(TM) is a total integrated system comprised of hardware and
software products designed to address the evolving need for standards based
network management architectures and consists of 4 product categories:
1. Plant Equipment Monitoring Devices - These `transponder' units are
installed inside monitored plant equipment, such as optic-electronic nodes,
RF amplifiers, power supplies, and end-of-line monitors. The transponders
measure and monitor various parameters and report the data back to a
central software monitoring system.
2. Monitoring Control Units - These units are installed in the headend and/or
hub locations. They manage the data communications between the plant
transponders and the software monitoring system.
4
3. Headend Monitoring Devices - Telemetry Application Monitor (TAM) is a
modular rack unit device housed in the headend. It can be equipped with a
wide range of plug-in application modules.
4. Network Monitoring Software System - This system communicates with the
headend monitoring control units. It collects and processes information
sent back by transponders in the field.
Plant Equipment Monitoring Devices
The Omni2000 Management System incorporates an advanced set of plant
transponders based on AM's FlexStat(TM) platform. The FlexStat platform provides
the following benefits:
o Frequency agile RF modems
o Downloadable firmware
o User defined alarm limits
o Real-time measurement display
o Remote control of network equipment
o Automatic RF return levels
Transponders are available for most every major brand and type of network
distribution equipment including amplifiers, power supplies, and optical nodes.
The Company currently has over 40 different transponders and continues to design
new devices. Amplifier transponders monitor amplifier internal currents,
voltages, signal levels, and temperature and perform certain control functions.
Power supply transponders monitor and control the status of standby power packs
and provide notice of local power failures, state of batteries, input and output
voltages, output current demand, and enclosure temperature and monitor the RF
levels of the system monitoring communications channels. Fiber node transponders
monitor and control the operation of the fiber optic node equipment and measure
the optical power received by the node, as well as the power supply voltages,
currents, and temperature within the node. Node monitors also allow remote
control of the possible operational modes of the node.
Monitoring Control Units
The Omni2000(TM) Headend Monitoring Control Unit (MCU) is a real-time data
manager that is capable of managing thousands of transponder equipped devices in
the outside plant as well as in the headend. Its key features include:
o Large capacity (over 10,000 transponders)
o Fast polling and alarm processing
o Automatic new transponder detection
o Multi-protocol capability
o Robust communications with error correction
o Scalable hardware and software architecture
o Network capable
o Downloadable software
o Frequency agile
5
The MCU has been designed as a scalable unit. It supports multiple
intelligent plug-in RF protocol cards with the master processor on the backplane
of the MCU managing these protocol cards. This hardware modularity makes it
possible to configure the MCU as a cost-effective solution for small to medium
sized networks or as a robust, powerful solution for large networks. The Company
commenced shipment of the OmniMCU during the first quarter of fiscal 1998.
Headend Monitoring Devices
A modern HFC headend facility contains different types and brands of
headend equipment, including optical transmitters, optical receivers,
modulators, and other transmission elements. The manufacturers of these headend
elements often incorporate telemetry interfaces to allow an external manager to
monitor and control their equipment. However, no compatibility standards exist
for these interfaces, and so every manufacturer has developed their own unique
electrical interface as well as proprietary data communication protocols.
The Company's Telemetry Application Monitor (TAM) is a modular rack unit,
which can be equipped with a wide range of application modules to enable
monitoring and control of headend transmission equipment. Serial Application
Modules (SAM) are pre-programmed TAM plug-ins that monitor and manage a specific
brand and type of headend equipment.
The Company also markets its Scanning Ingress Monitor System (SIMS) of
which the second generation unit was introduced in fiscal 2000. The SIMS module
is a TAM based product, which monitors and analyzes the return RF spectrum from
specific node areas. The Company continues to identify new types of plug-in
monitoring modules for modulators, switching equipment, and other headend
systems and will undertake new development efforts when market opportunities
warrant such.
Network Monitoring Software System
The Omni2000(TM) monitoring software is a multi-user, multi-tasking system
that runs under either Windows 95 or Windows NT. Features include Topologer, a
schematic-based display node that allows a user to view the status of regions,
systems, head-ends and distribution networks. The system is designed
specifically to address new market requirements for integrated, enterprise-wide
network management systems and allows users to interface Omni2000(TM) to
operation support systems and other third party software applications. The
Company commenced shipment of its initial release of Omni based software in
April 1996.
In conjunction with the new strategic development relationship with NeST,
the Company undertook a substantial development program, which resulted in the
introduction in the first half of fiscal 2000 of the new Omni2000 software
platform. The Omni2000 product has been designed as a modular software platform
based upon Windows NT and standard Microsoft interfaces, and employs standard
Microsoft development practices. This modular platform provides benefits such as
easier and more efficient maintenance, improved stability, and ease of building
optional modules for increased features and functionality including independent
third-party add-on products. The Company began delivering this product during
fiscal 2000.
6
The Company's strategy has been to form close working relationships with
the major OEM (original equipment manufacturer) CATV network suppliers and to
develop customized monitors which meet the specific requirements, including size
and performance characteristics, for each type of network equipment offered. The
Company's system is generally inter-operable with most cable network
distribution and transmission equipment. The Company believes it has the
broadest monitoring product line in the monitoring industry. Omni2000 solutions
are available for virtually every major brand of transmission equipment,
including:
o ADC o Harmonic
o Alpha Technologies o Kathrein
o Antec o Lectro (Exide Electronics)
o Augat (Thomas & Betts) o Philips Broadband Networks
o Fuba Communication Systems o Power Guard
o Motorola (General Instrument) o Scientific-Atlanta
o Wavetek Wandel Goltermann o Barco
In addition, several of the major network equipment suppliers have entered
into OEM agreements with AM to private label the AM product. The Company
currently has OEM agreements or provides OEM private label products to: Motorola
(formerly General Instrument), Scientific-Atlanta and Philips Broadband Systems.
Quick STAT Plant Management System
AM has leveraged the modularity of the Omni2000 platform to develop a
cost-effective solution for monitoring small to medium size systems known as
"QuickSTAT." QuickSTAT is a pre-packaged, economical hardware and software
solution built into a client server PC station. The system components include:
o A single pre-configured PC client/server station
o Omni2000(TM) network monitoring software
o OmniAlert(TM) alarm paging software
o OmniComm(TM) cable system interface card
o QuickTest(TM) embedded test transponder
The Company introduced the QuickStat system in the first quarter of fiscal
2000.
There are several communications delivery technologies which can be
utilized in building the "information superhighway" communications network,
including hybrid fiber/coax (HFC), fiber-to-the curb (FTTC), Digital Subscriber
Loop (DSL), wireless and others. HFC technology is being utilized most
extensively by the CATV providers due to its economics and proven architecture
and also has been recently chosen by several telephone providers as the
technology used to build their video delivery systems. The Company's current
products are substantially focused in HFC architecture systems. Should the
industry adopt other competing architectures, the Company's revenue
opportunities for its existing products could be adversely affected.
The Company's business is not subject to marked seasonal fluctuation. |
