feature automation & asset management
the-shelf IT server can provide access system. But all the way through this
to an archive database and can process peripheral systems such as
thereby manage the assets. It also automation have been able to change
provides the throughput bandwidth because SGL’s API facilitates each new
into the archive, connecting to a tape system querying what’s in the archive
library and managing the data. In from scratch.
terms of longevity and stability, as the Data migration is a challenge for a
IT hardware improves the customer lot of providers, particularly in the
can mix and match. For example, the MAM world. If you have a facility like
customer may want to upgrade a HBO that has been using a
second generation server to a third management system for 10 years and
generation server. The customer can it has collated a huge number of
add the new server to its archive assets in its archive, when the new
network, and move the same MAM is introduced the database
FlashNet software from the old server appears blank. SGL’s API allowed the
the archive then you end up with an
As the central data
to the new server. FlashNet can even broadcaster to populate its database
archive that may ‘argue’ with the
repository, it’s
essential that the
be embedded into newer generation from ground zero. HBO simply sucks
technologies that should be archive is able to storage servers, so the archive the metadata out of our database to
controlling it. It is a fine line.
evolve to work
becomes ‘shrink wrapped’ within the populate the new MAM’s.
with changing
Another upgrade challenge is the
technologies
storage itself.
lack of consistency when connecting
around it.
Not only does this simplify the So what’s next for
to third-party video servers. Video workflow and provide value for archiving?
servers use ftp but they don’t use money, it also adds resilience because
standard IT ftp connections as they all the software on each machine is The advent of formats like MXF AS02
use different port numbers etc. The identical. If there is a catastrophic holds a lot of potential, lending itself
archive provider needs to know which failure on any of the servers the well to multi-lingual archiving. If you
file format the customer is working in services that were active will are a broadcaster that’s playing out in
so that it can set up the correct automatically start up on another English, French and Spanish currently
credentials. Automation providers server in the cluster because the you need to have three MXF-wrapped
have exactly the same problem. We software is identical throughout. files - one video and audio track for
are all reliant on video server Singapore’s HBO Asia provides a English, another for French and
manufacturers releasing information good example for this archive. The another for Spanish. Broadcasters
to us when they launch a new facility has been using SGL FlashNet have to duplicate the clip three times
product. archive management software for 10 and add a track for each language.
years. In that time its transmission AS02 provides an inventory in the
What about dedicated and playout infrastructure has storage as an MXF AS02-encapsulated
management software? changed many times but the archive bundle. Within that there is one video
has remained a consistent entity clip and multiple audio tracks and
Some archive providers have continuously adapting as required. what broadcasters can do is simply
dedicated boxes or dedicated PCs that extract the video and audio from the
manage the archive. On each of those Evolving openness archive that they want to play out on
boxes there is very specific and a particular day on a particular
dedicated software. SGL’s flagship
The next challenge
More generally, over that same 10 language channel. By doing so,
for archiving is to
software FlashNet runs exactly the
support multiple
year period automation systems have broadcasters make a dramatic saving
same software on the same boxes language tracks changed dramatically as have the on storage space in the archive.
regardless of the service they are
with a single video
track, such as MXF
associated interfaces. SGL began by Broadcasters can also significantly
providing. In this way, a standard off-
AS02.
using the popular VACP interface streamline their workflow into and out
deployed by older generation of the archive because the current
automation systems. VACP is still alive workflow would see three tapes,
but is now a vintage protocol. It dubbed in French, English and Spanish,
doesn’t support partial file restore, for ingested individually.
example, and it doesn’t make the The next generation will see the
archive or playout system media English tape ingested so you have a
aware. The company moved from clip with a video track and English
VACP to a DLL-based client/server API soundtrack and then at a later date
- the FlashNet API. This is very the system might receive a WAV file
feature-rich and heavyweight and with the French soundtrack for that
third parties had to implement SGL’s same video. How does this affect the
DLL in their code. SGL’s latest XML API archive? A broadcaster may only want
is text-based, socket-based, and very to put the French audio track into the
lightweight. Information can be archive and add it to the inventory.
exchanged intuitively, thanks to the Automation companies can already
self describing nature of XML. The deal with the process of adding and
HBO facility started off with very subtracting tracks but at this point in
simple protocols, moved through the time there is no archive solution that
heavyweight and now with the XML matches an AS02 workflow… watch
API they have an easy and open this space.
20 l ibe l january/february 2010 l www.ibeweb.com
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