Imagine Communications’ New Selenio Gateway Card Supports Transition to Hybrid SDI-IP Networks
Imagine Communications (Booth N2702) will demonstrate its new Selenio Uncompressed-Over-IP (UCIP) gateway module. It’s another key enabler in the company’s software-defined networking (SDN) framework supporting media companies through the hybrid transition from traditional baseband to IP-enabled networks and workflows, in addition to its Platinum routers and Magellan SDN Orchestrator.
Harnessing the any-slot, any-service power of the Selenio Media Convergence Platform (MCP), the multichannel Selenio UCIP gateway module converts SDI baseband signals to IP streams and IP-to-SDI signals in a single, space-saving platform. This new, easy-to-configure module provides up to 112 UCIP channels per Selenio MCP 3RU frame. The Selenio MCP platform’s expandable design enables flexible, slot-by-slot selection for UCIP, JPEG2000, and H.264/MPEG-2 functionality. Modules can be added at any time for such functions as frame syncs, video/audio expanders, encoders, decoders, and multiplexers.
“Technology advances have accelerated the prospect of handling all content — real-time streams as well as files — over an IP network,” says Brick Eksten, VP, product strategy, networking, distribution, and workflow. “With the Selenio UCIP as a major gateway component in our SDN portfolio, media companies are freed from the distance and routing limitations of SDI. Selenio UCIP provides the on-ramp and off-ramp for uncompressed signals over IP, enabling our customers gain the benefits of transitioning their existing SDI facilities into the next-generation hybrid networks and workflows of the future.”
The Selenio UCIP module provides uncompressed signal transmission at high bitrates and quality for superior editable video. It is especially well-suited to low-latency broadcast-contribution applications, such as sports, live events, and studio-to-studio production. At a venue, for example, a Selenio UCIP module might convert multiple SDI sources to baseband over IP, using SMPTE 2022 standards, for IP-based transport to a national playout center. This capability can substantially improve signal quality and eliminate the SDI distance and routing limitations of the past.
The Selenio UCIP module fully supports SMPTE 2022 parts 5, 6, 7 to implement uncompressed video-over-IP. To ensure seamless transition between the IP and SDI domains, the UCIP provides an independent frame sync for each IP-video source to lock all SDI outputs to the frame reference. The UCIP also provides clean/quiet switching between input IP sources, providing the flexibility and reliability to enable hybrid IP/baseband networks to be created.