Comprehensive

control and

monitoring for

complex media

networks

BNCS – Broadcast Network Control

System

BNCS Technical

Overview

Introduction

BNCS is a configurable network based software

product that streamlines and improves the

control of all kinds of broadcast equipment.

BNCS, enables broadcast executives and

programme makers to eradicate many of the

inefficiencies associated with current working

practices, simplifying complex processes and

decreasing broadcast and production budgets.

BNCS achieves this by providing a single system

with which to monitor and control the entire

broadcast chain from router control and

satellite antenna positioning to fully integrated

device management, alarms and monitoring.

With over 25 years’ experience in developing

and delivering custom control systems for

broadcasters worldwide, Atos has used this

knowledge to create BNCS, which meets both

current and longer-term requirements of the

broadcast industry.

Backed by a firm foundation of open software

and architecture, BNCS ensures that the full

range of devices found in a broadcast

operations environment can be integrated

through one or many, intuitive touch-screen

operated control panels. It also ensures that the

ever-changing needs of the customer can be

accommodated and built into the live software

system. The clear benefits of BNCS include

consistent, flexible operational control features,

easy distribution of control panels and

empowerment for the end user to update

configurations and panel layouts. Customers

continue to be amazed by the breadth of

equipment and activities that can be controlled

by the software and by its flexibility to adapt

daily to changing needs.

Features

Functionality

Easy to use touch screen control for all

broadcast equipment — e.g. routers,

digital glue, signal monitoring

Integration of all essential control and

monitoring needs into a simple, flexible

and workflow based interface.

Alarms and monitoring modules for

event logging

Simple to use remote control of

broadcast systems from incoming lines

through production and on to

transmission

Provides integration of customers'

underlying broadcast infrastructure

Wide area connectivity allows remote

and lights-out operation/monitoring of

multiple remote sites from central

locations

Integrated graphical panel designer and

configuration system

Easily managed system updates

Easy to use system configuration tools

Look and Feel

User interface designs model the

workflow rather than just the

equipment

Consistent well thought-out colour

schemes

Consistent product styling and clear

brand guidelines

Fully re-skinnable control panels for

"makeover"

Technology

Full enterprise scalability

Intelligent device modelling

Alarms and monitoring logic system for

easy configuration, management and

reporting of system alarms

Network level compatibility with

previous versions of BNCS (Colledia

Control)

Parallel integration of new and existing

systems

Architecture The BNCS software suite has been designed to

address the widest possible range of

operational and technical requirements in the

broadcast remote control, alarms and

monitoring arena. All aspects of the control and

monitoring philosophy from high level right

down to operational needs and requirements

have been designed and developed specifically

for broadcasters, by highly experienced

broadcast engineers. The products are

completely configurable by the end users and

fully scaleable for future expansion as the

business grows. Specialist configuration is also

available to meet the most highly discerning

customer needs.

With the ever-increasing complexity of broadcast infrastructures and control/ management needs, the prospect of providing parametric control of all devices using multiple manufacturer specific display screens and soft panels becomes problematic. Conversely, a standardised, well-organised process for controlling a wide range of equipment from consistent touch-screen operated control panels becomes desirable. Furthermore, being able to exclude the control of unwanted, confusing or dangerous parameters from the panel is a frequent requirement. BNCS has been designed specifically around these principles of ensuring that the system is cost effective, practical and easy to use. Hardware To allow a fully integrated approach to control

and monitoring, the BNCS architecture uses

standard desktop PCs for the user interface

workstations, all resident on a TCP/IP LAN.

Likewise, broadcast equipment is connected to

the LAN via dedicated device driver PCs, which

host driver applications to manage the serial or

network communication between each device

and BNCS.

Integration The BNCS system implements a device

description language that allows the exact

parameters, capabilities and appropriate user

interface elements to be described in a way that

the system can understand. All equipment

managed by BNCS must have suitable remote

control interfaces or API’s implemented by their

respective manufacturers.

BNCS device drivers map the controls and

alarms from the third party equipment and

present this information in a consistent way to

the network. Once all the devices exist on the

network and are described in the language, the

necessary user interfaces can be

intuitively/prescriptively designed and linked

together to make complete operational

systems.

Resilience BNCS is a resilient managed system that

monitors and reports its own health and that of

the controlled devices. It also provides levels of

control redundancy for critical broadcast

equipment.

Configuration, management and administration

Tools are provided to enable super-users to

review and manage the panels being run on

each operator workstation. Further tools exist

for the configuration of major system

parameters, and a visual panel editor permits

the WYSIWYG design and modification of user

interface layouts and functionality.

Device Control BNCS supports a wide range of remote

controllable devices from multiple vendors.

Each device has a number of controllable

parameters and each parameter has a

permitted range of values that it can take. The

system also supports a number of operator GUI

workstations that display graphical

representations of the equipment to be

controlled.

The configuration, management and display of

devices on the operator GUI workstations can

be set up so that the user interfaces navigate

between equipment and groups of devices in a

way that mirrors the operational processes

themselves.

All this functionality and architecture is based

upon over two decades worth of experience in

developing and delivering control system

solutions. By introducing standard tools and

architecture models, on which to base

implementations, we are well equipped to

manage configuration changes and can

structure our customer engagement with more

clarity in the early stages of the design process.

System design and panel editing tools enable

the customer's operational processes and the

management of their system to be designed

and configured visually. To support these tools,

the concept of the logically defined hierarchy of

elements that describe system devices and their

capability, as well as system connectivity and

operational requirements has been developed.

Platform

BNCS runs on a network of standard, Microsoft

Windows based PC workstations or virtual

machines, and each workstation is assigned the

task of user interface, device driver, or a

combination of both. Each workstation runs the

core system interface application, the

workstation manager, and (if the workstation is

a user interface panel) the panel manager.

Configuration Server The configuration of BNCS systems utilises a

central file server/configuration repository on

the control network. The configuration server is

a core component because it provides the

management of system updates and is the

central file repository. Due to the distributed

architecture of BNCS, if the configuration server

is unavailable for any reason, the BNCS system

will continue to operate without downtime.

User Interface BNCS provides an intuitive human interface

enabling efficiency gains through familiarity

with equipment and simplified process-oriented

user control panels. High numbers of

workstations can run the same suite of user

interface software permitting parallel

operations or workload sharing; alternatively,

every workstation can be used for a different

set of tasks, all fully adaptable from the

management tools provided.

Navigation GUI panels are available for each broadcast

device, and these panels can be accessed

directly from the menu bar, from other panels,

or via a context sensitive "adjust" button from

the main routing screen.

Visual Panel Editor BNCS panels are inherently flexible and can be

easily changed by the end user. BNCS includes a

powerful panel editor/GUI panel designer which

uses the programmed system configuration

data to prescribe the generation of control

panel surfaces which mirror the capabilities of

the system devices.

Using the editor, users can quickly and easily lay

out control panels, choosing device parameters

and dragging them onscreen. On screen smart

controls connect directly to the controllable

devices, replacing the need for programming to

achieve user interface functionality.

Additionally, on screen controls can be linked

together within the GUI editor using logical

“BNCS Connections”, permitting complex logic

operations to be undertaken without writing

any code.

Where more sophisticated logic is required, a

fully documented set of simple C++ classes are

provided, which enable additional functionality

to be added where required.

Supported Manufacturers With over 25 years of integrating with third party hardware and software, BNCS has an extensive library

of device and system drivers from a broad range of manufacturers. These include the very latest

broadcast technologies as well as legacy systems that can otherwise be difficult to integrate into modern

broadcast workflows. Beyond vendor specific drivers, BNCS also supports interfacing via SNMP with a

suitable MIB, along with generic system drivers for GPI and serial router control.

Where support for a particular vendor or system is not included in our existing library, Atos have a

dedicated team of integration specialists that can quickly develop new drivers or expand existing

functionality.

Manufacturer Device Type Notes

ADH ADH-2aCOM Satellite Dehydrator

Advantech All Advantech Analogue

IO PCI Peripheral Cards

Industrial Automation GPA

Advantech All Advantech Digital IO

PCI Peripheral Cards

Industrial Automation GPIO

Advantech Intrac 305 Satellite Dish Positioner

Advent ADD3700 Mk II Satellite Demodulator

Advent AUC3725 Satellite Upconverter

Amazon UMD UMD Amazon

Andrew APC100 Satellite Positioner

Andrew APC300 Satellite Positioner

Axon ARC2000 Glue Aspect Ratio Converter

Axon ARC3000 Glue Aspect Ratio Converter

Axon AS-240 Glue PAL to SDI

Axon Axon Bus Interface Glue Axon Bus

Axon SA-240 Glue SDI to PAL

Axon Synapse System

Interface

Glue Contact us for detailed

list of supported cards

Barco Hydra Multiviewer Multiviewer

Barco Stellar Satellite Receiver

BNCS 96 in 96 out Industrial Automation GPIO

BNCS DOS GPI Industrial Automation GPIO

BNCS Router Driver Router Multi protocol

BNCS SNMP Core Monitoring

BTS BTS Router Router Vision /Audio

Calrec X-Series Audio Desk Audio Mixer

Calrec Hydra Audio Distributed audio router

CCS CDQ Prima 220 ISDN Codec

CCS Prima CDQ Prima 120 ISDN Codec

Manufacturer Device Type Notes

Chromatec AM32 Audio Monitor

Chromatec AMxx Audio Monitor

CPI HPA Satellite HPA

Crystal Vision PTV Glue Keyer

Dega Custom GPI crate Custom GPI Crate

DEGA DCA Audio Amplifier

Delec Oratis Comms Specialist

implementation

Digital Vision TV345 Comms ETSI Codec

Double D

Electronics

DDA-70 Satellite Wave Guide Switch

Drake DCS3000 Audio Communication System

Drake DCS4000 Audio Communication System

Dynatech/Utah

(Now Acterna)

ADS300 Router Video

Ericsson Danube Comms ISDN

Ericsson

(Tandberg)

SNMP Enabled IRDs

RX8200/RX1290

Satellite IRDs

ETL ETL L-Band Router Router L Band

Evertz SC1000/EQX/EMR/Xen

on

Router Controller Control

Evertz EQX Router Monitoring

Evertz MVP3000 Multiviewer Multiviewer

Evertz VipX Multiviewer Multiviewer

Eventis CASIS/Proxis DVB SI Processing Monitoring

FOR-A FOR-A 1616 Multiviewer Multiviewer

Foundry Switches IP Router Monitoring

Glensound GSGC 6 ISDN Codec

Glensound GSGC6 ISDN Codec

Glensound GSPHONE ISDN Codec

Global

Communications

8x1 Switch Router L Band

Grass Valley GVG M2100 Tally Cue Director

Grass Valley Kalypso Tally Vision Tally

Grass Valley RD3000 Satellite Receiver

Grass Valley XMS3500 Platform Management

System

Monitoring

Harris HView Pro & QVM+ Multiviewer UMD Control

HP 85xx Series Satellite Spectrum Analyser

HP Proliant DL Server SNMP monitoring

JVC JVC KY-F55 Camera Head

Lawo Router Router Audio

Leitch DPS475 Glue Processing Synchroniser

Leitch Leitch Router Router Vision/Audio

Leitch Monarch Glue Aspect Ratio Converter

Manufacturer Device Type Notes

LNR V2200 Satellite Upconverter

Marconi Stellar HPA Satellite HPA

MGN MGN Cue Director Tally Cue Director

Microvideo SDV Glue Procamp SDV

Miranda Kaleido K2/KX/Solo Multiviewer Multiviewer

Miranda SDI Video/Audio Probe Glue Monitoring

Miranda TCP101i General UMID reader/writer

MGN Cue Director GP I /O Mixer cue interface

MRG Sb80 Router Data router

Multipoint M3560/70 Satellite Upconverter

NDS/NTL Alteia Satellite Receiver

NDS/NTL System 3000 Satellite Receiver

Newbridge 1602 ISDN TA

NICRAL ARC Master ISDN Controller

NTP Ctl_Ntp Router NTP Controller

NTP Grd_Ntp Router Audio

NTP NTP32 Router Audio

Numeric Video VD110D Glue Video DA Sync Delay

Line

NVision 5128 Router SDI

NVision 8256 Router SDI

Panasonic AW-E600 Camera Head

Panasonic AW-PH300 Camera Pan/Tilt

Paradise P230 Satellite Modem

Paradise P7xx Satellite Up/Down Converter

Philips DVD170 DVD Player

Pinacl 9X04xx Devices Comms E1 to Fibre Modem

Pioneer DVD-V700 DVD Player

Pro-Bel Aurora Router Controller Control

Pro-Bel Freeway Series Routers Router Multi Level

Pro-Bel MADI Extended

Protocol

Router Audio

Pro-Bel T.D.M. Protocol Router T.D.M. Controller

Pro-Bel V2.00 EM Protocol Router Early Mixing

PTV PT 5230 Test Digital Generator

Quantel Qserver Video Server SAN

Quartz 1U LCD 16 button panel Router Control Panel

Quartz 3201+6401 Router Control Panels

Quartz Multilevel controller Router Vision/Audio

Quintech SRM RF Matrix Router L Band

Radamec CE/L LV/L Camera Remote Studio Driver

Radyne RCS11 Satellite Redundancy Switch

Manufacturer Device Type Notes

Red Rat irNetBox PCP/IP Infra Red

gateway

Domestic STB control

Riedel Artist Communications Control

via RRCS

Research Concepts RC1000/2000/2500 Satellite Positioner

Satellite Systems

Corp

3430 Satellite Receiver Beacon

Scientific Atlanta D9850 Satellite Receiver

Scientific Atlanta D9223 PowerVu Satellite Receiver Digital

Scientific Atlanta SA8860 Satellite Positioner

Screen Subtitling Polistream DVB Subtitling Monitoring

SCT SCT Receiver Satellite DVB Receiver

Snell Pyxis Router Control

Snell Sirius 800/600 Router Control

Snell and Wilcox Alchemist Glue Standards Converter

Snell and Wilcox ARC100/150 Glue Aspect Ratio Converter

Snell and Wilcox RollCall System

Interface

IQ Modular + Alchemist

Glue Generic

Sony DVS 7x00 Mixer Vision Source names

interface

Sony DVS 7xx0 Mixer Aux Bus Router Driver

Sony Sony Mixer On Air Mixer Vision Tally

Sony Sony Protocol VT Control Host

Sony Sony Protocol VT Multi

Sony Visca Camera Camera Head + Pan/Tilt

Specialty

Microwave

SMC GPI Industrial Automation GPIO

Standard Agile Omni/MT930B Satellite Receiver

Stagetec Nexus Router TDM Audio

Systembase C310r ISDN Codec

Systembase C400xr ISDN Codec

Symtronicom Syncserve GPS receiver For reference systems

Tandberg E5720 Encoder MPEG

Tandberg E5740 Satellite Encoder/Modulator

Tandberg System 3000 Satellite Modulator

Tandberg TT1220 Satellite Receiver

Tandberg TT1260 Satellite Receiver

Tandberg TT1282 Satellite Receiver

Tandberg RX1290 Satellite Receiver

Tektronix VS 211A Glue Synchroniser

Telos Xtreme ISDN Codec

Thomson/GV XMS Compression

Thomson/GV 'GeckoFlex™' Digital Glue

Manufacturer Device Type Notes

Telos Xtreme V1.5.5 ISDN Codec

Tiernan TDR7 Satellite Receiver

Trilogy Commander Audio Communication System

Trilogy Mentor General SPG

TSL MDU MDU Mains Power

TSL PAM Audio Monitoring

TSL UMD UMD System Controller

TSL UMD Emulator UMD Emulator

Unite Technology Hawk i2 MDU Mains Power

Videoframe Videoframe Tally

Expander

Industrial Automation GPIO

Videotek SDC_101 Glue Colour Corrector

Vistek Vistek Gateway Glue All Vistek glue items

Vortex Baby Blue VX1000s ISDN Codec

Wegener Unity 4422 Satellite Decoder

Wegener Unity 5000 Satellite Decoder

Xicom HPA Satellite

Zandar DX Multiviewer Multiviewer

Zandar Fusion Pro Multiviewer Multiviewer

Zandar OmniVMX Multiviewer Multiviewer

About Atos

Atos SE (Societas Europaea) is a leader in digital services with 2013 pro forma annual revenue of €10

billion and 86,000 employees in 66 countries. Serving a global client base, the Group provides Consulting

& Systems Integration services, Managed Services & BPO, Cloud operations, Big Data & Security

solutions, as well as transactional services through Worldline, the European leader in the payments and

transactional services industry. With its deep technology expertise and industry knowledge, the Group

works with clients across different business sectors: Defense, Financial Services, Health, Manufacturing,

Media & Utilities, Public Sector, Retail, Telecommunications and Transportation.

Atos is focused on business technology that powers progress and helps organizations to create their firm

of the future. The Group is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic & Paralympic

Games and is listed on the Euronext Paris market. Atos operates under the brands Atos, Atos Consulting,

Atos Worldgrid, Bull, Canopy, and Worldline. For more information, visit: atos.net