BNCS Broadcast Network Control. Comprehensive control and monitoring for complex media networks. BNCS Technical Overview

Transcription

1 BNCS Broadcast Network Control Comprehensive control and monitoring for complex media networks BNCS Technical Overview

2 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.

3 Features Functionality Look and Feel 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 Technology 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" 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

4 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. 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. 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

5 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.

6 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.

7 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 Advantech All Advantech Analogue IO PCI Peripheral Cards All Advantech Digital IO PCI Peripheral Cards Industrial Automation Industrial Automation GPA 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

8 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

9 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 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

10 Manufacturer Device Type Notes Red Rat irnetbox PCP/IP Infra Red gateway Riedel Artist Communications Control via RRCS Research Concepts RC1000/2000/2500 Satellite Positioner Satellite Systems Corp Domestic STB control 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

11 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

12 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