Frank, what do you think about the prospects for VOD? HLIT is working with a company out of Maynard,Mass called SEAC,they have an impressive client list. Look up their website at
schange.com
Here is the link, the demo in Orlando I hear was outstanding from some people I have heard from who went to the SCTE convention.
HARMONIC, NAGRAVISION AND SEACHANGE DEMONSTRATE NEW APPROACH TO VIDEO-ON-DEMAND ARCHITECTURE
Harmonic's Video Server Gateway Combined with SeaChange's ITV System and NagraVision's DVB2500 Conditional Access System Offers an Automated, Integrated and Cost-Effective Solution for Routing Secure Programs to Set Top Boxes
ORLANDO, Fla. - May 25, 1999 -- Here at the SCTE Cable-Tec Expo, Harmonic Inc., NagraVision, and SeaChange International are showing an automated, integrated and cost-effective video-on-demand (VOD) solution for routing secure programs to set-top boxes. Using Harmonic's TRANsend™ Video Server Gateway interfaced to SeaChange's ITV (interactive television) System and NagraVision's DVB2500 conditional access system (CAS), the demonstration illustrates the opportunity for cable operators to deploy an integrated, open system VOD architecture that meets their VOD cost targets. The demonstration can be viewed in the SeaChange booth (#1254), and via remote monitor in Harmonic's booth (#1529).
"This demonstration shows the combined expertise of Harmonic in creating flexible network solutions, and NagraVision, a leader in providing open and standard-based CAS, with that of SeaChange as a leading provider of digital video systems," said Colin Boyd, vice president of North American sales and worldwide marketing for Harmonic. "This combined expertise results in significant benefits to operators, including secure program routing and reduced costs."
SeaChange's ITV System is a comprehensive VOD system based on the company's proven MediaCluster server architecture and master control center-based software suite, enabling highly automated ITV operation and end-to-end fault-tolerance. The server is scalable to support headend or cable hub installation, thereby reducing the network bandwidth required for delivering high-quality long-form digital video files. It comprises cable headend software components for automated management of video and data content, video streams, subscriber requests and billing. Cable operators such as Time Warner and Rogers Cablesystems are currently testing the system in preparation for residential deployment of VOD services.
"SeaChange is very intent on ensuring interoperability of all our products with the best systems and components that will benefit cable operators," said Yvette Gordon, director of interactive technologies, SeaChange International. "Harmonic and Nagra have established their expertise and collectively our products will further streamline the efficient and economical delivery of video on demand."
Harmonic's VSG 8000 Video Server Gateway is part of a new architecture providing a high-speed gateway that simplifies the broadcast path from the server to the set-top box, resulting in automatic routing of video programs between the server and the set-top box. Utilizing the open standard DVB-ASI interface, the VSG 8000 interfaces directly with the high speed outputs of media servers to provide a highly integrated solution that allows for dynamic program selection, program routing, digital scrambling and quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). For example, the video server streams a program and the Video Server Gateway automatically routes, scrambles and modulates it for secure transport to its ultimate destination.
A key advantage of this new VOD architecture is low cost per video stream, which is enabled by the VSG 8000's intelligent program routing capability. This new capability allows the VSG 8000 to be seamlessly integrated with the VOD server and eliminates the usual requirement for cumbersome two-way communication with the server. In this integrated system architecture, the costly traditional patchwork solution of multiple stand-alone components at the headend is eliminated, driving down the cost per video stream.
NagraVision's DVB 2500 Conditional Access System is an advanced digital pay TV solution that encrypts and secures transmissions of video, audio and data content and is designed specifically to meet current and future needs of the cable, wireless and satellite industries. The DVB 2500 is based on NagraVision's highly secure and proven video encryption system employed in many of the leading satellite, cable, wireless and data broadcasting operations worldwide.
"In any secure broadcast medium, a highly secure and cost-effective conditional access system is required to protect the investment, and to insure that only those who are paying for the service are receiving it," said Henry Walton, Vice President of North American Sales and Marketing for NagraVision. "We believe this combination of technologies provides a very robust yet cost effective VOD solution.
Here is a great article on VOD and the advances it has made since TWX's failed attempt in Orlando a few years back.
schange.com
I think the time has come for VOD,the hardware costs have dropped dramatically,the bandwidth constraints are minor using MetroDWDM,and 256 QAM.
Hiram |
