Switched Digital Video

Switched digital video (SDV) offers great opportunity for cable operators seeking to make more effective use of their network bandwidth. By sending specific programs only to those subscribers who request them, MSOs can deliver significantly more programming and other new, revenue-generating services to subscribers. Operators can also offer many separate tiers of programming without substantially reallocating their bandwidth, therefore boosting their competitive advantage. Plus, the switch to SDV helps cable operators move closer to a fully addressable, on-demand environment and eases migration to an end-to-end, IP-based video delivery architecture.

Implementing an open SDV architecture enables the construction of a more reliable network that can easily be expanded. In addition, an open architecture offers a scalable environment with high performance and availability without corresponding high cost. Moreover, this type of infrastructure is easier for cable operators to manage, monitor and operate than one based on proprietary systems.

The use of RGB's Broadcast Network Processor (BNP) or Video Multiprocessing Gateway (VMG) as a bulk transrater/staging processor for rate clamping further benefits the SDV environment. In this case, both products offer the best video quality for each video stream output as a constant bit rate (CBR) or capped variable bit rate (VBR) stream.

The VMG is ideally suited for deployments that require the performance and scalability delivered by a modular, carrier-class chassis, while the BNP offers a compact, high-density single rack unit solution.

RGB's Products in the Switched Digital Video Environment