Flashlink optical networking Managed video transport for broadcasters For broadcasters, SD to HD/3G migration presents new business and revenue opportunities, as well as challenges. Increasingly, infrastructures designed for SD broadcasting cannot meet the requirements of HD and 3G broadcasting. Optical fiber s inherent properties bring myriad benefits in comparison with coax cable high visual quality, low loss ratios, virtually unlimited bandwidth potential, and reduced sensitivity to electrical interference and other environmental elements. A redundant, high-quality optical fiber network not only facilitates HD/3G adoption by removing bandwidth limitations, but also solves the distance problem for both intra- and inter-facility video transport. Optical fiber networking also provides greater signal security, higher definition picture quality, and high galvanic isolation. R1114 nevion.com
As broadcasters look for ways to transport more signals at higher bit rates despite the distance limitations of coax cables, Nevion s modular, state-of-the-art technology makes it easy to build fully redundant broadcast facilities with complete monitoring and control. Nevion has everything needed to equip facilities for 3G-SDI and HD-SDI migration, from optical converters and routers to time-division multiplexers. Optical networking brings technical, financial and management benefits to broadcasters. High degree of redundancy and protection System scalability Easy expansion and maintenance Low network and deployment cost for high ROI Future-proof technology Easy-to-use network solution Complete control and management through Web-based software Video Service Management (VideoIPath) Network & Element Management Video Service Monitoring (Probes) Video Transport Services (3G/HD/SD-SDI, AES, MADI, IP, RS232/422/485) Security Network Mapping (Coax, Fiber, IP, SONET, SDH) Building blocks of an optical network An optical network consists of nodes sites or studios on the network and rings, representing paths, connected and controlled by software. The node hardware and management software can add, drop or pass (ADP) signals, ensuring fast and safe redundancy switching along the fiber path. Each signal added to a network node is represented as a layer video, audio, data, and sync. The 2
number of layers is entirely dependent on the network design and functional requirements of the transport. Each layer has two fibers, one for the main path and one for the redundancy path. Video layer: Any type of video signal 3G-SDI, HD-SDI, SD-SDI, and ASI Audio layer: MADI or AES audio signal Data layer: Ethernet and different serial signals (RS232vRS422 and RS485) Sync layer: Genlock distribution The ring architecture Flashlink optical networking can be deployed in a ring architecture, which is a simple mechanism of connecting studios, sites, or signals in a specific network. Redundancy is a key feature of this Layers in the optical network architecture, making it extremely robust and high performance. Based on configurations frequently used in telecommunications, the ring architecture removes redundancy, bandwidth, and distance limitations for error-free video transport, whether inside a facility or across several facilities. The ring in optical networking is a simple fiber link that connects the nodes and transports different types of video, audio, data, and sync signals on the network and between nodes. There are two fiber rings for each layer in a node. The main fiber ring represents the main path of the signal and the one in a reversed directed represents the backup or redundant fiber ring. For each signal on the main path, the ring architecture provides a redundant signal on a reverse directed path. In ring architecture, the ring physically connects the TV studios, sound rooms, edit rooms, and other control rooms with the MCR router. As opposed to star topology, the MCR router becomes part of the ring, connecting the rest of the system forming an optical network. To provide full redundancy and protection, a signal travels in both forward and reverse directions on main and redundant optical ring respectively. The external input and outputs still connect to the MCR router. 3
There are two possible ways to configure the rings redundant and non-redundant configurations. In redundant configuration, each layer has its main and redundant fiber. In the non-redundant configuration, each layer utilizes these rings as two main fibers. A ring architecture enables the coexistence of both star and ring topologies. Nevion s management software can monitor the system Acquisition implemented in star topology from the same interface. It s important to remember that while ring architecture is a common and efficient configuration, optical networks can also take many other forms. Editing rooms MCR TV studios Radio studios Playout Guaranteed redundancy and protection Redundancy and protection are key advantages of ring architecture. The ring architecture provides redundancy and protection at three levels of possible failures/faults fiber, power, and function. The low latency of the system ensures that no additional protection is needed at any failure switching. Fiber failure The system provides full true redundancy for all signals without any bandwidth limitations. Switching to redundant paths at fiber failure is automatic. Power failure The system ensures that at least one redundant path is always present for each signal between the nodes. Each node will run the main path and redundant path on dedicated power supplies. The add/drop/pass function has passive bypass for both main and redundant rings in case of power failure. This ensures the ring redundancy even at loss of the add/drop/pass function. Function failure All system modules that are part of the optical network are hot swappable, allowing the change of the failed module at a single signal level without affecting other signals in the system. 4
Integration with existing infrastructure Editing rooms TV studios Acquisition Radio studios Playout MCR Star and ring topologies within the same network Ring system architecture allows the coexistence of both star and ring topologies. Nevion s management software can monitor the system implemented in star topology from the same single interface by using any SNMP software. 5
VideoIPath Control and management VideoIPath, Nevion s comprehensive control and management software, offers complete monitoring, configuration and control capabilities, functioning as a distributed routing system for the Flashlink optical network. Running on geographically distributed redundant hardware servers, the system controls and manages the rings and nodes of the optical network from one easy-to-use console, putting network configuration, maintenance, troubleshooting and problem resolution at users fingertips. Users can select either redundant or non-redundant operating modes. The system automatically detects the number of sites/nodes and rings available in the system, allowing users to customize the configuration by suppressing rings or sites that are not in use. Add/drop/pass functionality: the system can add, drop, or pass specific signals (or all) signals from each node to specific (or all) rings in the network. It is possible to add only one signal from a node to each ring with the signal appearing on the main network and redundant rings. The user can drop or pass this signal at every node on the network from main and redundant paths. 6
VideoIPath provides complete network management capabilities: Element card and overall network monitoring Alarm setup, configuration, error logs, and remote warnings API for integration with automation systems Distributed redundant system architecture Web-based user interface Role-based security model Installed software via Ethernet connection In-band or out of band communication Supports user access and privileges rights Summary Based on ring architecture, optical networking removes the redundancy, bandwidth, and distance limitations for an error-free 3G/HD/SD-SDI video transport inside the facility or across several facilities. Nevion s easy-to-use system solutions maximize the entire inter- and intra-facility broadcast workflow, from acquisition to playout, covering the signal processing and distribution, format conversion and routing required in the optical network. This provides a highly cost-performance solution that optimizes the overall return on investment, total cost of ownership, and operational expenses. 7
Ventura MEDIA NETWORKS Flashlink, VikinX Broadcast TECHNOLOGY VideoIPath, Dataminer Control & Management Contact info: The Americas: ussales@nevion.com +1 (805) 247-8560 Asia Pacific: asiasales@nevion.com +65 6872 9361 Europe and Africa: sales@nevion.com +47 33 48 99 99 Middle East: middle-east@nevion.com +971 (0)4 3901018 UK: uksales@nevion.com +44 118 9735831 nevion.com