Synergy Broadcast Systems Introduces VideoCourier, Powerful Video Delivery And Management System
DALLAS, TX - Synergy Broadcast Systems today introduced VideoCourier, a powerful system that makes it easy to efficiently manage and distribute video content from a central location to multiple remote sites, such as schools.
Synergy Broadcast Systems is an 18-year-old company with hundreds of broadcast and media systems installed throughout the U.S. and Canada. The company said the highly scalable VideoCourier system is ideal for educational institutions that need to distribute video from a central location to multiple facilities such as schools and remote campuses. State-wide agencies, local governments, and cable television systems can also benefit from this technology.
"In today's information-driven society, timely access to educational media and information is vital," said Chuck Jones, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Synergy Broadcast Systems. "We designed VideoCourier to speed the delivery of programming and media information and take advantage of high-speed digital network capacity. VideoCourier makes distribution of any media over any network easy, cost-effective, and timely."
VideoCourier, with industry-leading features and capabilities, is a customized combination of software, equipment, and components that Synergy Broadcast Systems tailors to each individual organization's needs. The automated system expedites all the processes involved in acquiring, searching, selecting and delivering video from the source to the user. Viewers can use the VideoCourier web browser's search capability to search by keyword, title, or other means to locate programming anywhere on the network.
As a distributed system, VideoCourier maximizes existing network capacity by utilizing nighttime bandwidth to deliver programming to remote sites. Many school districts have limited network resources during the day, but after schools close, bandwidth is widely available. Among VideoCourier's many features is an "FTP" scheduler that automatically accumulates user requests and manages the file downloads overnight to a school's media server when bandwidth is plentiful.
The next day, the teacher uses the system's video-on-demand capability to incorporate the content into that day's lesson plans. In addition, programs can also be "pushed" out to various remote servers from the Media Center to facilitate program distribution for lesson plan requirements.
"We can design a VideoCourier system to fit the needs of any facility or organization," Jones said. "Not only that, but once in place, the system is tremendously expandable, so it can grow in media capacity and number of users to meet any future requirements."
The VideoCourier system works with all analog and digital formats, including MPEG2, DV, and streaming protocols. This makes it possible to provide schools with high quality MPEG2 or DV content for use on their in-house cable TV systems to provide suitable video for television and projector use in classrooms, in addition to smaller file formats for desktop viewing. It also offers features such as:
- Automated, unattended operation
- Automatic recording and archiving of digital media to near-line sources
- Video on demand
- Creation and management of multi-channel broadcast schedules
- Automatic restoration of off-line files to the server
- Satellite and device control
- Thorough reporting capabilities, for transaction, performance, copyright management, and other information
About Synergy Broadcast Systems
Synergy Broadcast Systems provides broadcast and media management systems for television stations, school districts, colleges and universities, cable networks, independent TV stations, and similar facilities. The company has more than 250 broadcast systems installed throughout the U.S. and Canada. Synergy Broadcast Systems designs and manufactures the major hardware and software elements incorporated in each of its solutions. Located in Addison, Texas, Synergy Broadcast Systems was founded in 1987. For more information about Synergy Broadcast, call 800-601-6991 or visit www.synergybroadcast.com
VideoCourier Technical Background
VideoCourier is an automated system of components and software that expedites the recording, encoding, playback, archiving, and delivery of media from various sources to both broadcast and remote users. The highly scalable system can be configured for digital or hybrid (analog/digital) network usage so that programming, regardless of source, can be sent over most networks. It is delivered via broadcast, download, or streaming, depending on the user's remote site equipment,
The central storage area for VideoCourier is the Media Center, which is customized to fit the needs of each facility. Systems can be configured to include automated video encoding, storage, archiving, and retrieval. Digital encoders, digital servers, and supporting automation devices match each organization's requirements.
The Media Center works with any video content, regardless of format. This includes digital servers for MPEG1 and MPEG2, and streaming formats such as Windows Media Player. For videotape, the VideoCourier software includes control protocols for any videotape machine, with a control port for RS-422, RS-232, Parallel, S-Control, or infrared. Satellite and live feeds can also be managed by the Media Center. Fixed and steerable dishes and receivers with both serial and IR protocol can be controlled and managed.
To protect encoded assets VideoCourier offers archive units for near-line storage. Using DVD-RAM or Digital AIT tape, archive units can be built in various configurations to store thousands of hours of digital programming.
VideoCourier's Master Control central management system offers features such as a web server with a searchable database for multiple Media Centers, video on demand via Web order entry, scheduled broadcasting over any video-capable network, off-peak video downloads, streaming video to desktops, a Video Library Database, and more.
For delivery, VideoCourier offers FTP delivery to remote sites, broadcast, and video on demand. With FTP delivery, a user selects the desired video during the day, and VideoCourier delivers it at night to take advantage of available network bandwidth. The video is ready for use the next day. Video can be high-resolution MPEG2 or DV for broadcast over a cable system or a low-resolution file such as Windows Media Player, streamed to desktops. With MPEG 1 or 2 files over a digital network, a digital set-top box is required for signal decoding.
Standard event-driven broadcasts can be scheduled easily, using VideoCourier's Master Control broadcast automation software, over in-house or commercial cable systems or satellite-based delivery systems. The software is multi-channel capable and offers many features traditionally seen in high-end broadcast automation software.
For video on demand, with VideoCourier's Web interface the user can search by keyword or select a title using the library listing. Once a program is selected the user may view it on their television or have it streamed to their desktop. Most common delivery media are cable, microwave, ITFS, fiber, and gigabit Ethernet. Streaming formats include Windows Media and other popular formats.
Source: Synergy Broadcast Systems