DIVA Introduces Major Advancements in Video-on-Demand Technology
February 11, 1999
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MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE) via NewsEdge Corporation --
New Server Increases Content Capacity to Over 1,000 Titles
and Delivers More Than 2,000 Simultaneous Video Streams
DIVA(TM) Systems Corporation, the leading provider of video-on-demand to the cable television industry, has introduced its third generation video server for deployment in cable systems scheduled for installation beginning in the second quarter of this year.
The latest pioneering hardware and software advancements will significantly expand DIVA's on-demand TV services for consumers while at the same time improve video-on-demand performance and operational efficiencies at cable systems.
The new server will provide 2.2 Terabytes of disk storage allowing DIVA to expand its mix of programming to over 1,000 titles with capacity to serve 2,000 customers accessing different or even the same title simultaneously. Lower maintenance costs and reduced staffing requirements due to automated management systems also result. Depending upon server streaming capacity configuration, physical floor space at the cable operator's headend is reduced dramatically.
"This new server technology will allow DIVA to offer on-demand TV services beyond movies, including selected programming from basic and premium cable networks, music videos and other content to drive penetration of the cable operators' digital tiers and enhance revenues," said Ray McDevitt, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Program Management for DIVA. "Robust network performance, fault tolerance, and scalability continue to make DIVA's seamless integration with the cable operators' plant the ideal solution for residential deployment of true video-on-demand."
DIVA's Sarnoff Real Time Division, located in Princeton, New Jersey, developed the new server technology. According to Stan Knight, Vice President Engineering, the new level of performance was achieved by improvements in software algorithms to increase disk drive utilization for MPEG-2 on demand streaming on the field-proven Sarnoff Server platform already deployed by DIVA in five cable systems. Server hardware changes included increasing processor DRAM and improvements to thermal cooling management for larger capacity disk drives.
"We continue to set the very highest standard for video-on-demand technology," said Chris Goode, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. "This is another significant step in DIVA's commitment to cable operators to maintain our leadership position in the delivery of economically-viable on-demand television services and platforms."
Server enhancements include:
-- A 20 percent reduction in server latency. This rapid content
switching capability allows further enhancement of the navigation
experience for the consumer.
-- Real-time MPEG-2 stream integrity verification. Allows DIVA to
ensure the delivery of digital quality video and to ensure
overall consumer satisfaction.
-- Upgrades to DIVA's JAVA(TM)-based element manager, which enable
server management and maintenance tasks to be performed.
-- The server is fully compatible with increased-capacity disk
drives that will appear on the market in 1999. This allows DIVA
to increase storage capacity as required.
The server builds upon the key technology that has allowed DIVA to lead the industry in video-on-demand.
Among the unique features of DIVA's video server are:
-- Patented MPEG-2 storage scheme and streaming algorithms that
allow over 2,000 simultaneous customers to access the same title.
This is more than enough capacity to serve 20,000 video-on-demand
consumers from a single cable system headend.
-- Patented fault-tolerance MPEG-2 storage that prevents video
stream "glitches" in case of disk failure.
-- High capacity MPEG optical network connections that efficiently
connect the server's video outputs to remote cable hub sites
without the need for additional and costly networking equipment.
DIVA's optical technology provides over five times the bandwidth
of the industry's traditional DVB-ASI interfaces.
DIVA, a full-service organization, provides cable operators with seamless integration of a complete video-on-demand solution including headend hardware and software, billing interface, digital broadcast interoperability, bandwidth efficiency, a wide-range of compelling programming, marketing, cable system personnel training, 24-hour/7-day support, and a user-friendly on-screen navigator.
DIVA commercially launched its digital video-on-demand entertainment network over cable television systems in the Fall of 1997 and is now deployed in five cable systems. DIVA's on demand TV service gives customers instant access to hundreds of the latest Hollywood moves, classic "library" titles, and an outstanding package of children's and family programming at any time. Additionally, the service offers fast-forward, pause and rewind functionality.
DIVA has entered into licensing arrangements with major movie studios and other programmers covering more than 3,000 titles. Among the studios and cable networks that license movies and other content to DIVA are Warner Bros., Disney, Sony, Tri-Star, Universal Pictures, Dreamworks, Twentieth Century Fox, ESPN, Bravo, Playboy TV and HBO. For its initial deployments, DIVA receives new movie releases in the same window as DBS and pay-per-view services.
DIVA Systems Corporation (www.divatv.com) is a privately held company found in June 1995 and is headquartered in the heart of California's "Silicon Valley" on the campus of SRI International (formerly the Stanford Research Institute), in Menlo Park.
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