As IP makes further inroads into the broadcast industry, inevitably broadcasters will
find themselves in a position where they are working with elements of both IP and
traditional baseband broadcast are therefore needed to manage and control these
“hybrid’ broadcast systems.
At IBC Imagine Communications, formerly Harris Broadcast, introduced the
Magellan™ SDN Orchestrator, a software control system for managing hybrid
baseband and IP facilities. An anchor component of Imagine Communications’
Software-Defined Networking (SDN) portfolio, the Magellan SDN Orchestrator
enables seamless integration of baseband and IP networks, protecting customers’
existing technology investments while providing a clear path to an open,
interoperable and IP-based future.
“The decision to build a baseband or all-IP facility is no longer a difficult one since
the Magellan SDN Orchestrator enables operational transparency between legacy
and IP networks. This is the assurance that media companies need to move
forward with their IP investment strategies, continuing to operate with today’s staff
and workflow processes – yet migrating to IP at their own pace without disruption,’
said Charlie Vogt, CEO of Imagine Communications.
The Magellan SDN Orchestrator is one more example of Imagine Communications’
focus on cutting edge innovation, taking full advantage of the flexibility, scalability
and efficiency that next-generation IP-based architectures can offer while
dramatically improving the way video is managed through broadcast facilities. It
utilises dynamic signal-flow connections, managing signal mappings, addressing,
and translations between legacy protocols and IP. Due to this tight alignment across
protocols and signals, the Magellan SDN Orchestrator understands the available
resources, whether legacy or IP, and turns the “sea of equipment’ into a set of
defined, managed workflows that support the concurrent coexistence of IP streams,
files, and baseband signals.
Media companies can now maximise their investments in high-quality video
processing done in baseband/SDI/ASI technologies using familiar controls, while
also managing on-ramps and off-ramps for baseband over IP via the software
control layer. The Magellan SDN Orchestrator instantiates pre-defined workflows
through commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) IP switches, providing professional
broadcast performance for all connections. By leveraging the continued evolution of
data center-grade COTS switching technology, the Magellan SDN Orchestrator
enables media companies to use the latest generations of IP switches to ride the
ever-improving cost/performance curve of the IT industry.
“Our unique, hybrid approach to SDN allows the entire bit flow to be software-
defined, which significantly improves the way video is managed throughout
broadcast facilities,’ said Steve Copeland, Director of Product Management for
Imagine Communications. “Regardless of what equipment is underneath, the
Magellan SDN Orchestrator provides an overarching management layer that makes
everything look like a “simple router.’ It integrates the elements into one system
with commonly used controls, and provides the necessary transparency and
visibility required for our customers who need to support hybrid operations.’
To find out more about the Magellan SDN Orchestrator, visit
www.imaginecommunications.com. Imagine Communications’ products and solutions
are sold and supported in South Africa by Concilium Technologies –
www.concilium.co.za; 012 678 9200.
