Emerging Technologies

Preview of Day 1 Here’s a quick preview of the papers that will be presented on Day 1 of the SCTE’s Conference on Emerging Technologies in Tampa. Session A: Cable Telecommunications 2010 Moderator: Anthony Werner, SVP and CTO, Liberty Global Unlimited Bandwidth vs. Unlimited Storage Joseph Matarese, CTO, C-COR Solutions , C-COR A look at how bandwidth and storage will best be utilized in future networks, including storage technologies, business drivers for storage, business drivers for bandwidth, and bandwidth technologies. Edge Innovations for On-Demand Services Ran Oz, EVP and CTO, BigBand Networks On-Demand is a key differentiator for cable operators for launching new services and technologies while switched digital video, both multicast and unicast, will save bandwidth and provide a gateway to open systems. Enhanced Television—Developing a Feature Rich and Extensible Application Platform for National and Cross-MSO Deployment Matthew B. Emans, VP, Product Management, Navic Networks The advanced platform for eTV applications should contain, among others, the following elements: support applications on all variants of deployed set-top boxes; integrate VOD capabilities into application; and align with CableLabs’ eTV Binary Interchange Format standards. Video-Rich Navigation: Hyperlinks to the Future David Higgins, VP, Engineering and Information Technology, Comcast Media Center; Jon Radloff, Director of Product Management, GuideWorks, LLC User interfaces will need to change to keep pace with content. Some of the requirements include applications that work with both VOD and linear TV, "two clicks" to reach content, and the addition of content graphics and images. VoIP & SIP Directory Services Across MSOs Eugene Lew, VP Advanced Services, Neustar Cross VoIP and SIP directory services will improve functionality, services and strategic positioning for cable operators, as well as create advantages and benefits for the industry as a whole. Session B: Cable Network and Software Architectures 2010 Christopher Bowick, SVP, Engineering and CTO, Cox Communications The Switched and Stored Cable Media Network of 2010 John Carlucci, Chief Network Architect, Time Warner Cable; S.V. Vasudevan, Director and Chief Architect, Cable Video Architectures, Cisco Systems; and Seth Kenvin, VP, Strategic Marketing, BigBand Networks) A review of digital cable’s history followed by a look at future infrastructure enhancements (more capacity, wideband IP, next-gen wireless, proliferation of end devices) and applications and services (linear/non-linear content, targeted ads, ITV, IPTV, portability). The Converged World of 2010—A Case for Video Delivery Over DOCSIS Harsh Parandekar, Software Development Manager, Cisco Systems Introduction of a new acronym, V-DOC (video over DOCSIS): its multiple drivers, status-quo challenges, next-gen enablers (M-CMTS, PCMM, DOCSIS 3.0, etc.), as well as a three- part strategy for its deployment. Cable’s Fountain of Youth: Turning Back Time with All-Digital Adam S. Tom, President and CEO, RGB Networks Looming bandwidth limitations call for stat-muxing CBR on-demand content, applying advanced codecs for HDTV, and removing analog services. These and other tasks, such as those associated with targeted advertising, call for advanced video processing. Cable’s Wideband Network of 2010 WeiMin Zhang, CTO, Broadlogic Network Technologies; and Jay Rolls, VP, Telephony and Data, Cox Communications Multiple insertion points and limited to bandwidth at the home make today’s HFC networks problematic. One promising solution is an IP home gateway, which gives operators the benefit of IP routing and customers a customized in-home spectrum of mixed digital and analog. An Open Architecture for Switched Digital Networks Lorenzo Bombelli, Director Network Architecture, Scientific-Atlanta; Luis Rovira, Principal Engineer, S-A; Paul Brooks, Senior Network Architect, Time Warner Cable; The introduction of a switched digital video (SDV) architecture, which the authors say includes open interfaces and such features as QAM sharing with VOD, system availability and redundancy capabilities and scalability. Gigabit Ethernet and Analog/QAM Traffic Compatibility in HFC Networks Shamim Akhtar, Senior Manager Engineering and Operations, Comcast; Doug Weiss, Comcast; and numerous co-authors from C-COR. A case for deploying a CWDM solution over existing fiber in order to reach lucrative residential and business customers. Test results of a multi-wavelength system discussed, including effect of GigE on forward and reverse-path transmitters. – Jonathan Tombes and Mike Robuck