Informix and MEDIAstra Advance State-of-the-Art in
Media Asset Management
Business Wire - March 25, 1998 08:20
%INFORMIX IFMX %CALIFORNIA %COMPUTERS %ELECTRONICS %COMED %PRODUCT
V%BW P%BW
MEDIAstra's VOW! DataBlade Module Extends Informix Dynamic Server
for More Efficient Storage and Manipulation of Digital Video
Clips
Informix Corporation (NASDAQ:IFMX), the leading provider of innovative database
technology, today announced a strategic new partnership with MEDIAstra, Inc., providers of
interactive digital video solutions.
The powerful technologies of Informix(R) Dynamic Server(tm) with Universal Data Option(tm)
and Informix Video Foundation DataBlade(R) module have been combined with the innovative
digital media capabilities of MEDIAstra's VOW! DataBlade module for the efficient indexing,
storage and retrieval of MPEG-encoded video content.
The combined technologies of Informix and MEDIAstra enable broadcasters, video content
providers, ISPs and other media-rich companies to handle digital video content and manipulate
MPEG video much faster and more efficiently. The Informix/MEDIAstra partnership ensures
that the VOW! DataBlade module and future MEDIAstra products will be designed for optimal
performance on Informix Dynamic Server.
MEDIAstra customers can now leverage the VOW! product line for content-based functions on
an Informix database for increased digital video control and management. By implementing a
DataBlade module, MEDIAstra fully leverages Informix's industry-leading object-relational
extensibility.
"By implementing the MEDIAstra VOW! DataBlade module, the proven, time-saving video
processing solutions created by MEDIAstra will achieve new levels of performance and
scalability," said Cristi Garvey, vice president of server and DataBlade development at Informix.
"Embedding the technology directly into the database through a DataBlade module means that
customers working with digital video keep all of the innovative, easy-to-use functionality of
MEDIAstra technology while enjoying the unprecedented performance, scalability, and
manageability that Informix's database can deliver."
Informix Dynamic Server maintains optimal performance in any computing environment,
enabling database applications that take full advantage of all available hardware resources. With
the Universal Data Option, Informix Dynamic Server has the unique capability to manage any
type of information or business logic in a single, integrated system -- enabling a new class of
innovative business applications such as MEDIAstra's VOW! digital video solutions.
Enhanced Video Functionality
The VOW! DataBlade module indexes MPEG videos using a de-multiplexing approach, and
detects scene changes and scene segmentation. The VOW! DataBlade module also creates,
edits and exports "ropes," MEDIAstra's proprietary technique of non-duplicative MPEG clip
editing that requires low storage space. This technique is very useful in post-production
scenarios where the programs are created by mixing and editing videos from a library of clips.
With the help of these functions, digital media management systems, video editors and video
browsers can support MPEG-encoded content while realizing considerable savings in storage.
By implementing this technology in a DataBlade module, query-by-content operations become a
practical option, while maximizing video post-production capabilities for fast, easy-to-use editing
techniques.
"Informix Dynamic Server gives our digital media software the power and scalability to support
MPEG-encoded content," says Vengat Rangan, chief technology officer at MEDIAstra.
"Customers using MEDIAstra technology to manage their digital video assets will be able to
manipulate content more effectively than ever for amazing video results."
About MEDIAstra, Inc.
MEDIAstra is a new digital media software company based in San Diego whose products bring
out the real power of interactive digital video to make it a truly exciting experience. With
MEDIAstra's VOW! and HoTV! suite of digital video products, users will not only be able to
watch a video being streamed on the web, but also click on objects within the video to jump to
another related video or web page. Additional MEDIAstra information is accessible via the
World Wide Web at mediastra.com.
About Informix
Informix Corporation, the world's database technology leader, based in Menlo Park, California,
provides innovative database products that assist the world's major corporations to attain
competitive advantage. Informix is widely recognized as the technology leader for corporate
computing environments ranging from small workgroups to very large parallel processing
applications.
Informix's database servers, application development tools, superior customer service, and
strong partnerships enable the company to be at the forefront of major information technology
solution areas including data warehousing, OLTP, and Web/content management. For more
information, visit our Web site at informix.com.
Note to Editors: Informix news releases are available at no charge through Business Wire's fax
service. To immediately receive an index of available releases, call 1-800/356-0851.
(c)1998 Informix Corporation. All rights reserved. The following are trademarks of Informix
Corporation, or its affiliates: Informix(R), Informix Dynamic Server(tm) with Universal Data
Option(tm), and DataBlade(R).
CONTACT: Informix Corporation
Lynne Rocha, 650/926-6452
lrocha@informix.com
or
MEDIAstra, Inc.
Kamal Bhadada, 619/259-1622
kamal@mediastra.com |
