DirecTV to use Harmonic for MPEG-4 services
Story Highlights
DirecTV has selected Harmonic as its provider of next-generation MPEG-4 technology that will let the satellite giant deliver MPEG-4 based standard definition signals, opening the door for more sports channels and related services.
DirecTV will use the DiviCom MV 100 MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) SD encoder. DIRECTV is also using Harmonic’s market-leading DiviTrackXE statistical multiplexing solution and NMX Digital Service Manager, a unique service-oriented video infrastructure monitoring and control system.
The MV 100 permits operators to select from a range of compression cores (MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC or SMPTE VC-1) according to their technical requirements. Field-installable software modules allow an easy and cost-effective transition from one compression technology to another in a timeframe most appropriate to the operator’s business.
As for the Harmonic DiviTrackXE closed-loop statistical multiplexing system , it dynamically allocates bandwidth to each channel based on the complexity of the video being encoded, making it possible to achieve a significant scaling of channel density. NMX Digital Service Manager offers a powerful set of tools designed to streamline problem detection, analysis and resolution, implement advanced redundancy architectures, automate service and resource scheduling, as well as to facilitate system installation and configuration.