Edgeware has formulated a unified framework for video delivery that guarantees quality of experience (QoE) to any screen. The difference with its Distributed Video Delivery Network (VDN), the company said, is that it is designed to be independent of the underlying network infrastructure.
At the same time, Edgeware said it has worked with Minerva Networks to provide an integrated Fast Channel Change and packed retransmission solution for IPTV operators. Edgeware also announced a collaboration with BNI Video.
Operators have been forced to take radically different approaches to delivering linear TV, VOD and OTT services based on their existing network architectures, Edgeware noted. The Distributed VDN offers operators a simple approach to implement, manage, control and monetize content delivered over their networks.
The Distributed VDN framework includes the following elements:
- A unified, purpose-built server that allows operators to deliver IPTV or cable services over a managed network, as well as Web TV- and HTTP adaptive streaming-based services over TCP based unmanaged networks.
- Demand-based asset propagation, to enable automatic distribution of content across the network using popularity-based algorithms for most effective use of network bandwidth and improving the overall QoE.
- Management tools for playout, session, bandwidth and systems management and reporting to enable further monetization of content through provisioning of wholesale services. Advanced playout management allows for maximum leverage of existing assets by enabling virtual channels and ad insertion.
- Advanced time-shift services allow easy addition of features such as Start Over, Pause LiveTV and network personal video recorder (nPVR). Integrated multicast-to-unicast conversion allows maximum use of existing resources and migration or extension of services from walled garden IPTV to OTT or WebTV services.
- Fast Channel Change and retransmission further enhance QoE across high packet loss environments.
“In order to keep up with the rapidly evolving environment, operators needed an easy-to-deploy, cost-efficient and highly scalable solution for video delivery,” said Joachim Roos, Edgeware’s chief executive officer. “Edgeware’s Distributed Video Delivery Network gives the operators freedom to simply and quickly migrate from their existing environment, monetize content delivered over their networks and further enhance the quality of experience for their subscribers.”
Edgeware and Minerva announced an integration of their products last fall. Further collaboration resulted in the Fast Channel Change feature.
Users can change channels almost instantaneously, avoiding typical delays of between 2 and 5 seconds, Edgeware said.
Packet retransmission, meanwhile, is used to maximize picture quality over lossy delivery networks, which Edgeware said can enable operators to extend the reach of their broadband television services.
In related news, Minerva announced that Go Malta has adopted its platform to provide advanced video services to its subscribers. Go Malta will be making use of the new capabilities of the integrated Edgeware and Minerva solution.
Separately, Edgeware and BNI Video announced a collaboration to deliver integrated solutions to operators that will allow them to quickly take advantage of new revenue opportunities by extending service offerings to Internet-connected devices.
The collaboration will bring together BNI Video’s software products, the Evolution Video Control Plane and Evolution CDN Service Manager, with Edgeware’s distributed video delivery network architecture to provide a single, integrated solution that gives providers all the tools they need to evolve from traditional set-top box delivery to video-enabled and IP-connected devices.
