Deploying Digital Drivers, Architectures, and Considerations Mike Hochman 2008 CCTA Annual Meeting San Juan, PR

System architectures and drivers Simulcast Edge Expansion All-Digital Encoding architectures Constant bitrate (CBR) Variable bitrate (VBR) Ad insertion Locally generated channels Considerations for choosing the correct architecture and partner Outline

Typical analog cable system 450 – 550 MHz channels Analog “scrambling” & traps No HD, VOD, etc. Combiner Node Fiber/HFCCoaxial Analog receivers Analog modulators IRD Receiver Decoder

Increase digital services Enhance user experience Maintain high quality Discerning viewers Large screen TVs Digital Simulcast

Piracy protection on digital channels Digital video quality Lower cost all-digital set top Foundation for HD, VOD ~ $3,000 per channel Analog receivers IRD Receiver Decoder Analog modulators Combiner Node Fiber/HFCCoaxial Encoders Multiplexing & Modulation

Edge Expansion Expanded plant bandwidth Interactive applications VOD Switched Digital Video ~ $500 / channel / node Analog receivers IRD Receiver Decoder Fiber/HFCCoaxial Encoders Multiplexing & Modulation Node Analog modulators Combiner Edge QAM Decoders

All-Digital All-digital network Complete piracy protection “Unlimited” bandwidth $50 - $300 per set top box Analog receivers IRD Receiver Decoder Fiber/HFCCoaxial Encoders Multiplexing & Modulation Node Edge QAM Decoders

Architectures Simulcast Analog & digital throughout the network ~ $3,000 per channel Edge Expansion Decoding and modulation at the edge Additional ~$500 - $1000 per channel per node All-digital Complete piracy protection Bandwidth for future growth $ $$ $$$ Flexible platforms enable seamless migration

Encoding Architectures

Constant Bit Rate Fixed transport bitrate Fixed video bitrate Fixed audio bitrate Video quality varies dependent on content Constant across program mix

Modulation Encoding All-CBR Architecture

Variable Bit Rate Target bit rate range (min, max) Target video quality Bit rate changes to achieve target Varies with time Varies across program mix

Variable Bit Rate “Easy” content: News channels Cartoons “Difficult” content: Sports action Quick scene changes

EncodingRate-ShapingModulation Open-loop VBR

Closed-loop controller Encoding Modulation Closed-loop VBR Complexity estimates Bit rate assignments

Region 2 Region 1 Closed-loop controller Encoding Modulation IP Distributed Closed-loop

Closed-loop VBR $$$$$$ 16 ch. per QAM Rate- shaper Open-loop VBR Rate-shaped $$$ 14 ch. per QAM Rate- shaper Open-loop CBR Rate-shaped $$ 12 ch. per QAM Open-loop CBR Not rate-shaped $ ch. per QAM CBR, VBR, Open, Closed, Rate-shaped

Ad Insertion Maintain existing analog ad insertion system and encode after insertion –Low Cost –Harder to manage –Reduced video quality Digital Program Insertion –Ads stay digital –Are usually CBR –Easier to manage –Higher video quality

Ad Splicing Network EncoderMux/Splicer Ad Server QAM CATV Network Cue tones DTMF, Contact Closure, or SCTE 104 SCTE 35 SCTE 30 Ad stream

Locally Generated Content If you wish to deploy all-digital set-tops, EVERYTHING must be digital –MDU in-house channels –Hotels –Hospitals –Stadiums

Community Cameras Encoding, Multiplexing, Modulation and Up Conversion Analog receivers Digital receivers ENCORE Encoders Off-air Groomer/Mux Optical IP transport Splicer/Mux QUARTET Encoders Ad Servers Edge Decoding Modulation Analog Fiber Node Digital Fiber Node Without digital set top With digital set top Community Cameras MDU encoding, multiplexing, modulation and up conversion Locally Generated Content

Video quality Channels per QAM Ease of deployment and maintenance Cost Digital ad-insertion Upgradeability, flexibility Work with partners that have experience, and proven success interoperating with each other Criteria for partner selection

Thank You