Though fixed-function hardware may continue to provide high performance and
good picture quality for specific applications such as standard definition TV over
traditional networks, long product life cycles mean the technology has a low
likelihood of keeping pace with market changes.
With the flexibility inherent to software, video providers can immediately respond
to changes in consumer demand. Support for new features and standards can be
added through upgrades and API integration of third party software. Broadcasters
and pay TV operators who choose software-defined video solutions don’t have to
wait for new custom video chips to be released to market, they can continually
update and enhance their platform in line with increased consumer demand and
technology advancements to create new revenue generating video services.
Unlike legacy hardware-based solutions, this advancement allows video providers to
deploy software across an optimal combination of dedicated and virtualized
resources in both private and public data centers. Furthermore, support for new
services and video formats can be integrated seamlessly through simple software
upgrades.
Manage the Transition to New Video Codecs, Formats and
Services
The software-based approach to video processing enables media enterprises to lead
and manage the transition to new video codecs such as high-efficiency video coding
(HEVC/H.265), advanced audio codecs, advanced color spaces, increased color bit
depth, object-oriented audio specifications, forensic watermarking and new display
formats such as 4K Ultra HD.
Proven in major global live production events including the Sochi Winter Olympics
and 2014 World Cup, Elemental software-defined video solutions currently offer full
frame rate 4K Ultra HD video encoding using the HEVC codec, ensuring that
customers will be able to continually support new video compression standards as
they are adopted. In some cases, advances developed for newer codecs such as
HEVC can also be applied to previous codec generations. These may include de-
interlacing, scalar processing, color correction, noise filtering and other special
purpose effects such as scene change detection, transition detection, and
complexity measurements.
Adding New Services
As the number of consumer viewing devices and video formats continue to multiply,
video providers need to keep costs under control and streamline management of
their broadcast workflows by consolidating their video processing and delivery
systems.
Broadcasters and pay TV operators rolling out premium streaming services can
strengthen their competitive position and speed time to market by deploying
software-defined video processing architectures as the core of their next-generation
infrastructures.
With software defined-video, live-to-VOD features such as nPVR and catch-up TV
can be integrated at any time, allowing for even more flexibility and scalability. In
dedicated hardware environments, trying to integrate third-party ad messaging or
forensic watermarking capabilities means enabling communication with legacy video
processing equipment. With its ability to support third party integrations, a software
platform allows all sorts of advanced features and capabilities to be fully integrated
into a single unified system.
Because software-defined video relies on general purpose processors, specific video
processing functions can be virtualized or reside in cloud-based infrastructures.
Integrated cloud platforms can ramp resources up and down depending on demand,
preventing overinvestment in infrastructure. The manner in which software-defined
H.264 and HEVC video processing can share off-the-shelf and cloud-based processor
resources can greatly mitigate the risks associated with a new service launch.
One Video Source for All Services and Devices
Elemental’s video processing and multiscreen delivery solutions are all built with a
software-based approach. This scalability and flexibility allows for the rapid addition
of new live-to-VOD features and support for new types of devices as they are
introduced to the market. Running on Linux, Elemental Live and Elemental Delta
platforms allow for easy integration with third-party DRM systems, commercial
CDNs and ad-decision servers.
Elemental Delta is a video delivery platform designed to optimize the monetization,
management and distribution of multiscreen video across internal and external IP
networks. Through just-in-time (JIT) video packaging and intelligent caching, the
platform enables a complete solution for time-shifted TV and real-time content
delivery with advanced levels of customization and control, including network
bandwidth optimization, profile manipulation and highly targeted ad insertion.
Elemental Delta can be used to implement live-to-VOD content delivery.
Implementing live-to-VOD services involves capturing a live video source, taking
into account boundary and ad insertion markers, and delivering it in a format that
can be played back on a client either during, after or both during and after a live
event.
