The TSBroadcaster automation system allows delivery of EBIF applications and signaling according to scheduling information received from a variety of input sources.

The most likely source of scheduling events being the VDS Sentinel or Helios servers from Video Design Systems, Inc. These devices can communicate with a number of common automation systems found in the uplink including:

  • Harris/Louth ADC 100.
  • OmniBus Colossus (and iTX).
  • Pro-Bel.

VDS Sentinel/Helios obtains the appropriate program schedules from any of the above automation systems. TSBroadcaster can poll Sentinel/Helios to obtain information about the currently scheduled programs on a particular TV channel (or service).

TSBroadcaster Automation includes a rules engine which allows it to make intelligent decisions about which EBIF applications should be streamed (or signaled to be terminated) during a specific TV show or an advertisement.

TSBroadcaster also provides an Automation interface and API which allows other software to feed scheduled events to TSBroadcater. One such example is of how this API is used is the Arris Ad Decision Manager (ADM) which can send a request to TSBroadcaster to deploy a late-bound EBIF application as part of an SCTE-130 (advanced advertising) transaction.

Features
  1. This subsystem of TSBroadcaster is designed primarily for TV Networks, Programmers and Cable Networks.
  2. Provides the ability to synchronise play-out of EBIF applications with TV programs.
  3. Includes a rules engine with Unix-style regular expression syntax and logitical conditions; e.g. if program name is FRIENDS* and it is after 21:00 play the "Friends" app.
  4. Allows you to preview scheduled events. [View screen shot]
  5. Supports connections to multiple automation systems.
  6. Automation Conditions Variable Management - add/delete event variables in addition to the pre-defined automation variables.
  7. API for external software packages (available to TSBroadcaster licensees).
VDS Sentinel and Helios
  1. Typically provided on a Dell PowerEdge R610 running Windows Server 2008.
  2. Find out more about VDS
Last Updated: September 9, 2010;
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