TSBroadcaster 2.0 for ETV
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TSBroadcaster 2 is a headend server which automatically encodes and plays out OCAP and ETV applications according to a defined schedule. It is suitable for live transmission or lab use. [View screen shot of TSBroadcaster 2].

The delivery mechanism for ETV applications is a data carousel. The carousel is either a DSM-CC Data Carousel or an Alternative Constrained Data Carousel (DigiCypherII) where the section size is limited to less than 1KB. The DSM-CC Data Carousel is required for Scientific-Atlanta set-to-boxes running ETV user agents and DigiCypherII is required for Motorola DCTs.

TSBroadcaster generates data carousels (and object carousels for OCAP), encodes them into MPEG-2 transport streams, which are delivered by TSPlayer.

TSBroadcaster also generates the appropriate signalling, which makes the ETV User Agent aware of the existence of an application.

TSBroadcaster servers are accessed by a web browser. All aspects of TSBroadcaster's functionality can also be accessible via an API. This allows easy integration with other headend software.

TSBroadcaster can generate a mixture of both OCAP and ETV transport streams on the same server.

Delivery of multiple transport streams requires either TSPlayer systems with multiple outputs or multiple TSPlayer systems. Typically an additional TSPlayer is required for each pair of outputs, with TSPlayer being disabled from the TSBroadcaster system itself when more than two play-outs are required. For example, four transport streams can be accommodated with one TSBroadcaster and two TSPlayers each with two outputs. Outputs of TSPlayer systems may be either ASI or Gigabit Ethernet or a mixture of both.

TSBroadcaster supports OCAP, ETV, ACAP, MHP and MHEG application definition and play-outs.

HP DL 360 G5 photo

Features
  1. definition, creation and play-out of multiple ETV and OCAP transport streams
  2. application definition and scheduling
  3. one TSPlayer system with one output included
  4. bandwidth allocation
  5. creation and management of multiple carousels
  6. injection of ETV stream events (triggers)
  7. optional Service Information in-band
  8. Multiple ASI or Gigabit Ethernet inputs and outputs
  9. Easy to use integrated multiplexer
  10. Peer groups for n+1 resiliency
  11. Incremental build (large carousel faster build times)
  12. Inspection of live carousel and EISS tables
  13. ETV ad insertion capability (see below).

ETV Ad Insertion

  1. Advertisements on tape from Creative Agency are converted to MPEG-2 format using a storage encoder
  2. MPEG-2 ad. files are imported into TSBroadcaster for use as transport stream input
  3. TSBroadcaster injects a registered ETV application into the MPEG-2 ad.
  4. Application play-out commences at a designated duration from the start of the ad. at a specified bitrate
  5. An updated version of the MPEG file is created containing the ETV application
  6. TSBroadcaster used to play-out the generated ETV ad.
  7. By examining the play-out, operator can synchronize the start of the application with the video of the commercial as it runs on a live ETV receiver
  8. The user can repeat this process to tune the start of the application accordingly.

Last Updated: February 3, 2008; Copyright © 2003 Strategy and Technology Limited
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