NCTA Technical Sessions
The Glass Half Full: Transport and Networking in the Optical Age
New considerations for unleashing the astonishing capacity of optical fiber networks are illuminated here as experts share fresh findings about architectural nuances for hybrid fiber-coax networks and explore emerging possibilities flowing from a combination of IP and QAM networks. Here, the possible meets the practical as authors present real-world implications of multi-wavelength access networks and offer ground-level views on both transport networks and associated installation techniques.
Monday, May 7
3-4:15 p.m.
Breakers H
Moderator: David M. Fellows (Comcast)
Speakers: Robert Cruickshank III (C-COR), Jim Farmer (Wave 7 Optics), Venk Mutalik (C-COR), Sudhesh Mysore, Ph.D. (Aurora Networks), Christopher Poli (Motorola)
Call Security! The Next Leaps in Digital Rights and Conditional Access
The intersection between digital-rights management tools and cable conditional access technologies marks a critical new terrain for next-generation content distribution that only now is beginning to be understood. Authors appearing at this Technical Session examine the extension of conditional access systems to support DRM approaches, consider the yin-and-yang of openness and secrecy in security systems, and offer new perspectives on public policy implications of downloadable security.
Tuesday, May 8
2-3:15 p.m.
Breakers H
Moderator: Craig Cuttner (HBO)
Speakers: Balu Ambady (CableLabs), Tom Lookabaugh (PolyCipher), Gary Traver (Comcast Media Center), Robert Zitter (HBO)
But Does It Compute? Practical Applications for Converged Media
Where binary code meets the living room, possibility abounds. These provocative presentations combine detailed technology assessment with market-wise examinations of new business potential released by the marriage of Internet Protocol and cable distribution networks. Among the topics: Practical IPTV Implementation without Forklifts, and an examination by the Georgia Open Source Education Foundation of new business possibilities tied to networked computing.
Tuesday, May 8
3:45-5:00 p.m.
Breakers H
Moderator: Dan Pike (GCI Cable & Entertainment)
Speakers: Daniel Howard (Motorola), Doug Jones (BigBand Networks), Michael Patrick (Motorola)
Across the Spectrum: New Approaches for Managing Bandwidth
Digital Cable 2.0 demands a rethinking of common approaches to dissecting and allocating available bandwidth. These five presentations provide fresh ideas for bandwidth-conserving, bandwidth-enhancing, bandwidth-bursting technology applications. Topics range from creating logical channels to harmonizing the flow of MPEG2 and MPEG4 data streams across the cable network – plus new ways of thinking about switched digital video unicast.
Wednesday, May 9
8-9:15 a.m.
Breakers H
Moderator: Ken Wright (C-COR)
Speakers: Alon Bernstein (Cisco), Robert Cruickshank III (C-COR), Ron Gutman (Imagine Communications), John Hartung (EGT), Jack Moran (Motorola)
Future Tense: A Sneak Preview of Game-Changing Technologies
Microcells, WiMAX and switching: Oh my! A heads-up view of new broadband services and the technologies emerging to support them. Highlights: A candid assessment of the potential and peril posed by WiMAX is paired with a detailed review of microcell technology and its ability to leverage cable spectrum assets. Plus: advanced monitoring of switched broadband systems, next-generation switched digital programming and more.
Wednesday, May 9
11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Breakers H
Moderator: Gary Traver (Comcast Media Center)
Speakers: Tim Burke (Liberty Global), Glen Hardin (Time Warner Cable), Stuart Lipoff (IP Action Partners), Joe Matarese (C-COR), Ludovic Milin (BigBand Networks)
