1

Content Origination and Distribution

Scientific-Atlanta’s Originator Encoder system architecture is built with flexibility for future growth

Part 1: Broadcasting with Originator Encoder systems

Jacob Jeevanayagam Senior Manager, Marketing

Media Networks Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.

Canada Jacob.Jeevanayagam@sciatl.com

Tel: +1 (416) 321-7596 Fax: +1 (416) 299-7145

ABSTRACT As broadcasters, both traditional and non-traditional, plan for the future, they need to invest in flexible and expandable network solutions. Selection of the technology for conversion from analog to digital broadcasting or transmission of IP data services will govern how prepared broadcasters and content providers are to provide the services of the future.

This paper, the first of a two part series, examines how the PowerVu PlusTM

OriginatorTM Encoder product and systems offer a variety of flexible solutions with future growth in mind. Encoding technology from variable or constant bit rate video encoding to 4:2:0 or 4:2:2 profiles provides the latest solutions for content origination or distribution applications in many broadcast environments. Additionally, on-board eight transport stream multiplexing, built-n video monitor of incoming and received video, IP data transmission, and easy to setup redundancy configurations are some of the key solutions offered by the Originator system.

Together, these technology solutions provide broadcasters with a flexible and cost-effective future- proofed solution.

2

INTRODUCTION The Originator Encoder was initially developed for single-channel broadcast of audio, video and data content for applications such as Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG), cable headend stand-alone encoding, telco network point-to-point contribution links and outside broadcast (OB) fixed contribution links.

Service providers needing to transmit any type of content, whether it is video and audio or data can use the Originator Encoder to transmit the content from its origin to its destination with relative ease. Scientific-Atlanta’s standards-based solution removes the barriers that exist over this medium, as will be described in this paper.

Single-channel transmission applications The Originator Encoder is a low-profile unit with ruggedized packaging to suit transport case or vehicle-mounted DSNG operation. It requires a minimum of external hardware to set up and meets vibration MIL standard 810E for mobile applications. Multiple video formats can be configured to get on the air quickly with the help of built-in default broadcast settings and up to 16 user configurable preset configurations. Excellent performance at low bit rates plus a low-profile chassis allows digital cable operators to add more local content on the digital tiers, and especially more audio services for a given video service. The Originator Encoder can also be configured for audio-only operation, using Dolby Digital® encoding, which is primarily used in North American cable markets, or MPEG encoding for worldwide use to digitize music services. Program contribution and distribution over terrestrial telecommunications networks are simplified by the use of the DVB-ASI standard transport stream interface. This interface implementation, unlike most in the market, provides data up to the full ASI rate, which is an effective rate of 213Mbps. In addition, the Originator Encoder can be used in 4:2:0 or 4:2:2 profile for maintaining maximum contribution picture quality. It conserves transmission room rack space and minimizes bandwidth required on the network while delivering superb video and audio. A remote control SNMP-based Ethernet interface supports control and monitoring by an external NMS and in addition can be used to control and configure the PowerVu Plus D9380A Digital Modulator.

A built-in front panel colour video display allows the operator to monitor not only the incoming video source but also any external composite video source from receivers. This is ideal for outside broadcasting and cable headend applications, eliminating external monitors in space-critical applications.

Toggle between incoming and received video

Figure 1 – Originator Encoder’s built-in video monitor

Satellite, Cable or telco networks

RF L-band

3

Multi-channel systems An optional on-board multiplexer provides DSNG, cable headends and telco network operators the capability of adding more content such as video, audio or data. The multiplexer allows the operators to multiplex up to eight DVB-ASI transport streams and encode a single video service and its relevant audio content (up to 2 stereo or 4 mono channels) and transmit the full ASI rate, all within the two-rack-unit-high package. This multiplexing capability along with the built-in conditional access and scrambling feature option provides satellite operators with a cost-effective method to broadcast securely skinny Multiple Channels Per Carrier (MCPC).

Multiplexing is also ideal for use in cable headends where simple grooming is required with minimum cost and space impact. As an example, an Originator Encoder in a headend equipped with multiple DVB or ATSC decrypt devices, such as PowerVu Plus Model D9228 Multiple Decryption Receiver or single-program transport streams from other receivers such as PowerVu Plus Model D9223 receiver. PowerVu receivers can groom some incoming programs together by adding or dropping individual programs.

IPEncapsulator

OriginatorEncoder

OriginatorEncoder

Cable,Satellite or

TelcoNetworks

DVB ASI

DVB ASI

DVB ASI

DVB ASI

DVB ASI

DVB ASI Originator Encoder for audio rich applications

Originator Encoder with RS232 terminal control

Originator Encoder with front panel control

PowerVu IP data encapsulator

DVB ASI with DVB MPE data

Multi Decrypt Receiver (MDR)

Figure 2 – Originator multiplexing with local encoders, receiver feeds and IP based data sources

Data broadcasting with and without the built-in multiplexer This multiplexing capability also offers service providers with the capability of adding IP data to multi-channel programs using standards-based DVB multi-protocol encapsulation format. Content creators who provide streaming media or other types of web-based content to local Internet Service Providers (ISP) that service the World Wide Web, can make use of this technology as well as those in the traditional TV broadcast market place. This provides network operators a method of compiling a multi-tier service offering.

The Originator Encoder can also be configured for data broadcasts with a built-in data interface card. This card provides specialty broadcast users with low-speed data capability up to 38.4 kbps and high-speed or wideband data services up to 2 Mbps and 13.5 Mbps respectively. These data formats are designed to operate with the family of PowerVu® receivers such as the Model D9234 Business Satellite

4

Receiver and Model D9223 Commercial Receiver. The D9234 Business Satellite Receiver is capable of receiving low-speed and optionally wideband data, while the D9223 Commercial Satellite Receiver is designed to receive low speed data and optionally high-speed data formats. This data transmission solution together with PC data solutions offered by PowerVu SurecastTM package delivery system software provides specialty network operators with a complete end-to-end solution for their clients.

Multiple site ad-hoc broadcast network solution This network design application is for multiple single-channel broadcasts to a common pool of receiver sites receiving these broadcasts on a ad-hoc basis. In Figure 3, a network is being used for ad-hoc broadcasts with only one of the five transmission sites being active at any given time.

Figure 3 – Ad-hoc multi site broadcast using same satellite space

All five broadcast sites will be configured to transmit information about programs that are available from the other broadcast sites. For instance, when one site is broadcasting, all other sites will remain muted until their respective turn. When a site completes the broadcast, it force tunes the PowerVu receivers using optionally provided PowerVu conditional access to the next potential broadcast. This is an ideal solution for network operators providing services covering horse racing type events which is typically distributed to many receive sites within the country or internationally.

Multiple frequency broadcast for multi satellite hop applications Many news or entertainment programs are delivered worldwide. Content originating from North America can be transmitted to Europe and in turn re-transmitted to Asia or other regions within Europe. Most network providers, when re-transmitting digital content such as audio, video and data would prefer to maintain constant quality video through out the network while keeping cost to a minimum. In order to maintain quality throughout the network, the network provider needs to avoid decoding and re-encoding for the second transmission.

As an example, a program transmitted from North America can be received in Europe and turned around without having to re-encode to re-transmit to the Asian continent. This is captured in Figure 4, which shows the originating signal transmitting the receive frequency information for the first satellite link but also for the second satellite signal to be received in Asia. In the re-transmit site all that is needed are the receiving device and the modulator used for re-modulation.

5

Figure 4 – Multi-frequency for multiple satellite hop applications

Multiple frequency and transport stream application – a hybrid network A hybrid Originator Encoder network architecture could be built using the previous two system solutions. As an example, if we were to take the network described in Figure 3, one can extend its application for simultaneous use, with all five of the Originator systems using different transponder centre frequencies within the same satellite. If we divide a typical transponder into five and have five centre frequencies assigned to each of the five broadcasts, the multiple frequency feature shown on Figure 4 could be extended to support a five-channel broadcast to be received by a pool of PowerVu receivers throughout the region. This is a suitable design for receive sites tuned to the same satellite needing to switch between the five network feeds. All five of the Originator Encoder systems need to provide information about all other broadcasts through the network information and program map tables. The receivers can tune to any one of the five broadcasts and channel change to receive the other four broadcasts without the user having to enter any additional information. This is ideal for news syndication where many network feeds are broadcasted throughout a country or continent and also received throughout the region.

Two simple steps to higher reliability of service The Originator Encoder is also designed to provide the highest level of reliability for mission-critical broadcast events. The first step toward simple redundancy is achieved within the Originator Encoder chassis with an option of fitting two redundant power supply modules. This configuration offers users two separate AC inputs that are paired to two separate DC modules to support redundant operation. This scheme provides operators with uninterrupted operation in the case of a power supply failure or power failure to an AC outlet.

The second step is the system level solution. It uses two Originator Encoders together with two PowerVu Plus satellite modulators. The user interface to this system is the primary Originator Encoder. The primary encoder’s interface is used to set up all the relevant broadcast parameters from RF to video, audio and data settings. All the settings entered in the primary encoder’s interface are mirrored to the secondary encoder and the primary and secondary modulators via the Ethernet interface. This scheme shown in figure 5 also uses contact closures that cover all combinations of component level failures.

As an example, if the primary encoder raises a major alarm condition, then the contact closure between the modulators and the primary encoder is triggered and the modulators switch their input select to their secondary input. The secondary encoder immediately brought on line and the transmission continues with the least interruption. On the other hand if the primary modulator fails in the above situation, then the primary modulator will be muted and the secondary modulator is activated via the modulator protection contact closure. After the primary encoder’s failure condition is reviewed and corrected, then

6

the contact closure is reset and the modulators immediately respond to their primary transport stream input which corresponds to the primary encoder’s output.

This redundancy scheme, which uses Ethernet for automatic configuration from the primary encoder, coupled with contact closure alarm connections and redundant power supply modules, provides broadcasters a cost effective highly reliable transmission system.

Figure 5 – Simple, cost-effective component-level redundancy scheme

CONCLUSION The PowerVu Plus Originator Encoder is not just an encoder. Within its design are features such as support for system upgrade, multiplexing, video monitor, redundant power supplies, and scrambling and conditional access. The Originator system is easy to use and quick to set-up. Preset configurations together with the built-in video monitor from external receivers offer the operator the tools needed to not only setup the system but also verify that the system is functioning as per expectation.

The multiplexing function within the Originator product is ideal for network starting small with a low budget and hoping to grow in the future. In a cable headend, the encoder and multiplexer combination offers a more integrated package at a much more affordable cost. IP data multiplexing together with high-quality video and audio programs can now be transmitted simultaneously using the Originator system. This provides satellite operators with a solution for not only traditional broadcast needs, but also new and evolving IP streaming media content broadcasts targeted for the World Wide Web.

Originator systems offer a good starting point for service providers worldwide. PowerVu Plus systems starting from this simplest system described in this paper can be scaled up to fit a service provider’s demand for more programs within a given bandwidth by adding Scientific-Atlanta’s larger system solutions such as PowerVu Plus BitMizerTM statistical multiplexing, PowerVu Plus Network Centre and other redundancy solutions for taking content from its origin to its destination in a secure and reliable manner.

REFERENCES [1] Originator Encoder installation and operations guide – revision 4, part number 701-162