1. An introduction to
Streaming Video for
Commercial AV
Applications
Networked AV

2. Topics for Discussion
• Video-over-IP
• Hardware & Software
• Codecs & Streaming Protocols
• Network Compatibility
• LAN & WAN considerations
• Integration with Control Systems
Networked AV

3. ProAV-Over-IP
• IP = Internet Protocol
Dating back to 1974 the Internet Protocol is responsible for
addressing hosts and routing packets from a source host to
the destination host across one or more IP networks.
• Video-over-IP
Systems use an encoder to reduce the program material to a
bitstream and then to use an IP network to carry that
bitstream encapsulated in a stream of IP packets to decoders.
In addition to audio & video professional applications also
require control protocols such as RS232 to be transported.
Networked AV

4. ProAV-Over-IP
• Challenges for Professional Applications
Carrying professional video over IP networks has special challenges
compared to most non-time-critical IP traffic. Many of these
problems are similar to those encountered in voice-over-IP but to a
much higher level of engineering requirements. For example
resending packets is not an option because of the sequential nature
of the underlying video signal. For live video, a resent packet would
arrive well after the arrival of the next frame of video.
Latency is also of concern especially for IMAG or PTZ camera
applications when delays in excess of 50ms may be unacceptable.
Networked AV

5. ProAV-Over-IP
• Unicast or Multicast?
A Unicast stream needs to replicated for each receiving
device, i.e. a 5Mbps stream going to 50 receivers would create
250Mbps of network traffic. Video coming from the Internet is
Unicast.
A Multicast stream is ‘one to many’, i.e. a 50Mbps stream
going to 50 receivers would still only be 50Mbps of network
traffic. However Multicast needs to be managed on a
network to prevent flooding devices other than the decoders
with unwanted data. Typically this is achieved by using the
IGMP protocol or by establishing VLANs.
Networked AV

6. Hardware & Software
• Encoding and Decoding
All video-over-IP requires an encoder to convert the AV content to
IP packets and a decoder to receive the data and convert back to
audio & video. Encoding and decoding typically also incorporates a
compression / decompression scheme (Codec).
Either software or hardware devices can be used but for high-
quality software encoding is not going to be fast enough for live
streaming so dedicated hardware is required.
Decoding is typically less demanding and s/w decoders such as
Windows Media Player or VLC maybe practical for MPEG streams or
low fps
Networked AV

7. Codecs & Streaming Protocols
• H.264 (latest iteration of MPEG)
MPEG compression is considered to be asymmetric as the encoder
is more complex than the decoder and therefore more suited for
applications where the number of expensive complex encoders is
small but the number of simple inexpensive decoders is large.
It also is well-suited to ‘encode once / distribute many’ applications
such as DVD or BluRay authoring.
A disadvantage for live streaming is the reliance on a key frame
every 15-30 frames of video (long GOP).
Manufacturers such as Haivision & VBrick use this technology.
Networked AV

8. Codecs & Streaming Protocols
• JPEG2000
JPEG2000 compression is considered to be symmetric as encoding
and decoding is essentially the same. The relatively low cost of the
encoders is attractive when a large number of video sources is
required.
JPEG2000 is capable of very high quality and is extremely stable (no
key frames). Very low latency makes it suitable for IMAG and PTZ
cameras.
Manufacturers such as SVSi (voLANte) and T-VIPS use this
technology. It is also widely used in Digital Cinemas and for life-
critical medical imaging applications
Networked AV

9. LAN & WAN Considerations
• LAN = Local Area Network
• WAN = Wide Area Network
LANs can accommodate both Unicast and Multicast data and
typically have significant bandwidth. Most corporate LANS will be
gigabit (10/100/1000) and often will use 10Gbps fiber uplinks
between switches. When quality, stability and low latency is
important JPEG2000 is the best choice for a well-managed LAN
environment
WANs – including the Internet – can only accommodate Unicast and
typically have very constrained bandwidth. H.264 is currently the
best choice for deployment on a WAN.
Networked AV

10. Control Systems
• IPTV
Classic IPTV installations such as delivering video to classrooms
require local control of the decoders to change ‘channels’ (video
sources).
• Professional AV - Matrix Switching
Professional AV installs are more likely to require control over the
video matrix from touch panels etc. A unique advantage over a
video-over-IP system is that the matrix is virtualized – no physical
switch is needed. It is also decentralized in such that encoders can
be in any physical location on the network rather than at a head
end. The ratio of encoders to decoders is not limited to a matrix
switch configuration and can be expanded by adding devices as
needed.
Networked AV

11. The future for AV Installations
• The Big Picture!
The ability to expand video-over-IP systems ‘one piece at a time’
and the decentralized nature of the matrix makes the technology
very compelling for any size or scope of AV project.
Once every source of video – be it a VTC camera, VTC
Codec, conference room table laptop connection, satellite
receiver, BluRay, digital signage player etc. – is connected to an
encoder and each display and projector is connected to a decoder
the entire installation becomes one integrated, cohesive system.
This allows not only for any source to be switched to any display by
network-accessible devices such as iPads but also for analytical data
on the usage of the AV assets to be collated.
Networked AV

12. VoLANte
Video-over-LAN-
technology
Networked AV

13. Corporate Overview
• Founded in 2004, located in Madison, Alabama
• Recognized leader in real time processing of high-speed video
• Manufacturer of the ‘GigaView’ and ‘StreamView’ cameras that
are used worldwide in industrial, educational and scientific
markets for slow-motion analysis of high speed events
• All hardware, firmware & software is designed in-house
• All products are manufactured in the USA
Networked AV

14. Product Definition
• VoLANte is an entirely digital ‘last mile’ multi-channel HD AV
distribution and matrix switching network. It’s cost-
effective, easy to install, and supports unlimited displays over
unlimited distances using standard IP network infrastructure.
SVSi’s innovative technology is at the leading edge of AV / IT
convergence”
Andy Whitehead, Ph.D CEO, Southern Vision Systems, Inc
Networked AV

15. voLANte Matrix Switching
Replacing a crossbar switch with ‘virtual’ IP packet switching
Networked AV

16. voLANte ‘Virtual’ Matrix Switching
Multiple Video Outputs
(10+ per port)
IGMP Querying Network Switch
(Cisco 3750, Dell 6224 etc)
Multiple Video Inputs
Networked AV
(10+ per port)

17. voLANte ‘Virtual’ Matrix Switching
Bldg 2 Bldg 3 Bldg 4
LAN LAN
LAN
Internet
Conductor
Bldg 1 Software
DiVAS
browser-
accessed
Networked AV
Control

18. voLANte installations
• Campbell’s Soup Corporate Campus • Tekelec Corporate Campus
• Toronto Mapleleaf’s Entertainment • Miller Coors Brewery
Complex • American Italian Pasta Headquarters
• Northrop Grumman • Bayer Animal Healthcare
• Alamo Dome Arena • Burnt Hickory Baptist Church
• Anheuser Busch Headquarters • Yakima Valley Junior College
• AT&T • Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle
• General Mills • American Securities
• Federal Aviation Authority Crisis • Fortune Brands Headquarters
Center • City of Center, TX Convention Center
• US Navy SPAWAR and many more!
• Pepperdine Law School
• Washington University, St Louis
• Hollywood Casino
Networked AV

19. Why use a standard Ethernet protocol?
• Accommodates move towards Network Convergence
• Forwardly-compatible as Ethernet technology advances
• Uses cost-effective CAT5/6 cable or fiber
• IP Multicast is compatible with existing data networks
• Easily understood by IT technicians & Network Administrators
• Simple installation & setup, uses proven techniques such as
Auto IP discovery, VLANs, IGMP, PIM etc
VoLANte technology is ‘future-proof’ !
Networked AV

20. Why use JPEG2000 Compression?
• Adopted by the Digital Cinema Initiative (DCI)
– 90% market share in digital theater projection servers
• MPEG2/4 and H.264 are good solutions for ‘compress
once, decompress many’ applications (DVD
distribution, IPTV, Satellite) but not for real time applications
• Real time MPEG2/4 and H.264 encoding adds ~1 sec of
latency, unacceptable for applications such as live camera
feeds
• JPEG2000 encoding is highly error-tolerant – errors only affect
a single frame which can be discarded with no visual effect
• JPEG2000 encoding provides precise and adjustable bit rate
control
Networked AV

21. Advantages of the SVSi video stream
• Much higher visual quality than typical MPEG streams
• Inherently secure, cannot be decoded by devices or software
other than supplied by SVSi
• Encoders are very competitively priced vs MPEG
• Uses the only compression codec approved by the Medical
Imaging community (DICOM) for real time transmission
Networked AV

22. voLANte Multi-Mode Hybrid Operation
LivePlay
LocalPlay
HostPlay
EMCast
Networked AV

23. ‘LivePlay™’ mode
• Media content from single or multiple sources plays
synchronously at every assigned display on the network
• 3-frame latency (50ms @ 60fps) supports live camera feeds
• Audio / Video sync maintained from source to display
• SVSi’s software applications provide scheduling and real time
matrix switching of content streams to specific receivers
without loss of synchronization
Networked AV

24. ‘LocalPlay™’ mode
• PowerPoint-derived slide shows, photo albums and audio
tracks can be uploaded from the host PC to individual
receivers – up to 64 images in each of 8 playlists
• ‘LocalPlay’ media auto-plays whenever the LAN connection is
lost or the stream purposefully suspended – each receiver
plays its own content until the LAN is restored or the stream
restarted
• Suspend & restart times for each receiver can be
independently scheduled
Networked AV

25. ‘LocalPlay™’ mode
Networked AV

26. ‘HostPlay™’ mode
• PowerPoint-derived slide shows, photo albums and audio
tracks can be uploaded from the host PC to individual
receivers – up to 64 images in each of 8 playlists
• ‘HostPlay’ media auto-plays to every assigned receiver
whenever the DVI input connection is lost or purposefully
suspended until the input is restored
• Suspend & restart times for the transmitters can be
independently scheduled
Networked AV

27. ‘EMCast™’ & StreamCast modes
• Software independent - Emergency and informational
messages (including audio) can be instantly transmitted to all
displays connected to the voLANte network
• Allows for pre-stored AV content such as ‘Tornado
Approaching’ – live content can also be streamed from any
transmitter
• Immediately bypasses all ‘LivePlay’, ‘LocalPlay’ and ‘HostPlay’
media
• Implementation can be from the host PC, network-attached
PC, external control (fire alarm etc) or by TCP/IP command
• Password protection safeguards against unauthorized use
Networked AV

28. ‘EMCast™’ mode
Weather Emergency!
Networked AV

29. VMT 105 Transmitter
• External 5vdc power connector
• DVI-I (supports DVI-D / HDMI, VGA & Component) input
• Stereo (line level) audio input plus embedded audio support
• 3 Gigabit Ethernet switch ports
• Indicator LEDs for Power & DVI connectivity
• Includes ‘Conductor NetLite’ software
• Rackmount Kit available (holds 3 units)
Networked AV

30. VRT 107 AV Rackmount Transmitter
• 1U Rackmount enclosure with server-grade internal power
supply
• 6 DVI-1 and 6 audio inputs
• 6 Gigabit Ethernet switch ports
• Transmitters are internally interconnected
• Indicator LEDs for Power & DVI connectivity
• Includes Conductor NetLite software
Networked AV

31. VRR104 Digital AV Receiver
• Commercial-duty steel case
• DVI-D output
• Stereo RCA analog audio output jacks
• Embedded (2-channel) audio-over-DVI/HDMI
• Local storage of 8 playlists of 60 images plus audio
• RS232 bi-directional serial port
• 3 Gigabit Ethernet switch ports
• Indicator LEDs for power,
LAN & DVI connectivity
• 5VDC external power supply
Networked AV

32. VRR204 Digital AV Receiver
• Commercial-duty steel case
• DVI-D output
• Embedded (2-channel) audio-over-DVI/HDMI
• RS232 bi-directional serial port
• 1 Gigabit Ethernet port
• ‘Last frame’ or single image local storage
• 5VDC external power supply
Networked AV

33. VDR 106R Digital Video Recorder
• 2U Rackmount format
• Dual-stream synchronized record/playback
• Single Ethernet connection to the voLANte LAN
• Unique ‘Time Shift’ feature
• Approx 20hr recording time (bitrate dependent)
• Convert recordings to MPEG4 files for editing, DVD burning etc
(not available from copy-protected sources)
Networked AV

34. VWP 120 MV Windowing Processor
• 1U Rackmount format
• Accesses any 4 voLANte streams from a single network
connection
• Crops, scales and positions into a ‘composite’ stream
• Composite stream can be switched to any displays
• Browser interface with stored presets and backgrounds
• Can be ‘stacked’ for 7, 11, 15 windows
Networked AV

35. Contact Us
256.461.7143 | www.svsiav.com
Networked AV