iptv feature
• Preservation and insertion of ancillary provide access to all content types
(VANC) data during transmission. when schedule changes are required.
The primary A/V mixing software for Having the ability to monitor,
the project was initially designed preview, control and render all events
around the Windows DirectShow in a schedule within one integrated
Framework, taking maximum software process makes management
advantage of available software of complex sequences much simpler
encoders and decoders, and providing a and less error-prone.
‘plug-in’ model to accommodate The design of a control interface to
customisation to the specific needs of automation (See Figure 3) should adapt
each broadcaster. Subsequently, the to the requirements of each broadcast
software A/V mixer was recoded operation. Depending on the number of
without use of DirectShow for improved channels under automation and the
performance. type of content being transmitted (ie
To interface with standard broadcast movie channel, live sports channel, local
Above: Figure 2:
commercial insertion will evolve
signals, the IT servers were equipped network affiliate, ‘news wheel’ channel
Software A/V
through trial and error. To survive and
with AJA Xena video cards. These cards etc.), different combinations of single or
process architecture
succeed through this process,
do no modification of the video/audio multi-channel displays including event
broadcasters will require tools with an
content, but simply convert between lists, schedule timelines, and operator
unprecedented level of flexibility. The
serial digital signals and uncompressed controls may be appropriate.
specialised hardware you select today
video and audio for processing by the The interface shown in Figure 3 uses
may be useless for delivering content
software A/V mixer. both a timeline and an event list to
via tomorrow’s new distribution path
Similar software modules were display the schedule for one channel. It
developed to function as linear keyer also includes a variety of operator
The
and channel format. The only sure
and secondary audio mixer. These controls for channel and content
alternative
solution to this dilemma is software that
insert graphic and audio overlays (eg selection, event editing, live logo
of a
can adapt to future innovation.
With the financial and competitive
logos, voice-overs) downstream of the insertion and event triggering - suitable software-
demands on content distributors, the
primary A/V mix operations. for a channel requiring some operator
based case for rationalising the complexity of
The resultant software process for intervention.
solution
the broadcast transmission process is
decoding, mixing, overlaying and re- Our experience with initial
encoding a two content sources looks deployments for this product has shown
collapses
now too compelling to ignore. The
as shown in Figure 2, which offers a that this attention to the design of the
multiple
continuing pressure to launch new
high-level view of the A/V process, operator interface, and the tight specialised
channels - each at lower cost - while
retaining the branding and production
illustrating how the equivalent of a integration between the schedule
hardware
quality necessary for success in a
hardware-based transmission chain was automation and the A/V processes,
components crowded market calls for an alternative
constructed in software. have produced a system requiring
significantly less operator training time
into a single,
to the traditional broadcast model.
Schedule automation than traditional systems.
integrated
The opportunity to replace a complex,
software
inflexible, hardware-based transmission
For commercial broadcast operations, The benefits
system with a more capable and
system
scalable software-based solution at
the capabilities of the A/V process
operating on significantly less cost provides that
described in Figure 2 must be As described above, one of the biggest
standard IT
alternative. The fact that this can be
integrated with a schedule automation barriers to entry for new service
process. In other words, the features of
hardware.
done as an extension of your existing IT
providers is the cost and operational
infrastructure opens the door to a range
the A/V process must be invoked complexity of a traditional hardware-
of additional efficiencies as the
sequentially from a prepared playlist. In based transmission chain. The
traditional separation between business
addition, the automation process must alternative of a software-based solution
and operations ‘silos’ in broadcasting
provide the ability for manual override collapses multiple specialised hardware
disappears. For new service providers,
by an operator to accommodate the components into a single, integrated
this approach avoids developing these
inclusion of live content. software system operating on standard
Below: Figure 3:
Also, in a traditional hardware IT hardware.
Single-channel
silos as a side-effect of deploying a
control interface. traditional broadcast model.
transmission chain, different types of In addition to operational simplicity
content (video clips, logo graphics, and reduced cost, this approach brings
audio clips) are stored on separate the added benefits of enhanced
hardware components controlled by the scalability. Perhaps the least predictable
automation system. With software- but most certain realities of
based transmission, all content is held broadcasting today are continued
in a common ‘content store’ for change and the emergence of new
rendering by the software A/V mixer requirements. As the market is driving
and associated components. the expansion of content distribution
This consolidation of content storage paths from over-the-air, cable and DBS
and processing greatly simplifies the to include Internet and mobile devices,
schedule automation process by the channel formats that will provide
eliminating issues of sequencing and the best return for each path are yet to
synchronisation among multiple be determined. Crafting new channels
devices. Moreover, a single with the right mix of programme
consolidated operator interface can length, effective branding and
www.ibeweb.com l January/February 2009 l ibe l 29
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