Building a Large OB–Truck Using SMPTE ST 2110

Presenters : Harmut Opfermann - BFE/Median

Year : 2019

dlp_document_download : C U R A T E D B Y I P S H O W C A S E T H E AT E R AT N A B – A P R I L 8 -11 , 2 01 9 Building a large OB - Truck using SMPTE ST 2110 Hartmut Opfermann, Head of Division Broadcast IT BFE Studio und Medien Systeme Agenda • The Customer • The Task • The Decision • The Challenge • The Conclusion 2 The Customer Österreichischer Rundfunk - ORF • Public Broadcaster in Austria • 8 million Viewers in Austria • 4 TV Channels 24x7 • 9 Regional Channels • 12 Radio Channels 3 The Task Building a new OB -truck for sports, music and entertainment • Cost -effective solution • Some equipment needs to be reused • Workflows for operators shouldn‘t change • Needs to work with the existing infrastructure at ORF headquarters (which is still SDI -based) • The design and technologies need to be scalable to serve as a blueprint for larger systems • Use standard products, no custom development 4 The Decision • Three different designs were evaluated: ‒ Based on an SDI router ‒ Based on a proprietary network technology ‒ Based on IP • Decision Criteria ‒ Must be economically viable ‒ Functionality ‒ Must have a certain maturity ‒ Gaining experience with new technology (for upcoming larger projects) ‒ Flexibility (Ease of upgrade to UHD, ability to change/add functionality) 5 The Decision – Go for IP! • Three different designs were evaluated: ‒ Based on an SDI router ‒ Based on a proprietary network technology ‒ Based on IP • Decision Criteria ‒ Must be economically viable ‒ Functionality ‒ Must have a certain maturity ‒ Gaining experience with new technology (for upcoming larger projects) ‒ Flexibility (Ease of upgrade to UHD, ability to change/add functionality) 6 The Challenges You need SDI -IP -Converters • Converters often include needed processing equipment • As more and more devices add native IP interfaces, you will need less and less of Converters: Between "Contract Award" and "Design Freeze", the number of converters was reduced by 1/3 due to changing to newer devices with native IP interfaces. • A good broadcast control system can provide a seamless experience 7 The Challenges Devices keep evolving rapidly! • New IP -capable Boards • New IP -capable Device Generations • New Software Versions with new (required) features • New Control Interfaces (NMOS!) => You have to freeze your design at some point! 8 The Challenges Defining "Software defined Hardware" I • Several vendors have developed FPGA -based flexible processing hardware that can change its internal structure based on the software loaded on the box and/or the configuration applied. • There is a trade -off between flexibility and complexity of configuration. • Because flexibility was one of the decision criteria, the device chosen has complex configuration options. 9 The Challenges Defining "Software defined Hardware" II • Essentially you have a "Subsystem in a Box" with router(s), frame synchronizers, de -/embedders, delays, color correction etc. which you have to design in itself. • If you use a lot of these devices (37 in our case), you have to decide how many different designs you want/need to maintain. 10 The Challenges Defining "Software defined Hardware" III • We use 3 different designs: ‒ Multiviewer ‒ 18 in / 2 out ‒ 10 in / 10 out • Not all features (frame sync, delay, color correction) are used (and licensed) in every device 11 The Challenges IP Address Management • Currently a manual Task • Requires a lot of management and configuration effort • Needs to be automated for larger projects (ideally using DHCP and IS -05, see JT -NM TR -1001 -1) 12 The Challenges Audio Channel Management • How many audio channels per stream? • =1: Many multicast streams • >8: exceeds ST 2110 -30 Level A (minimum requirement for standard compliance) • Balance limits of stream receivers vs. channels on devices • Standard audio stream width was chosen to be 8 channels 13 Stream Receivers vs. Audio Channels 1 audio channel per stream 14 Device A1 16 Audio Channels Device B 16 Device An 16 Audio Channels 16 … Needs n x 16 Receivers, which can exceed the device‘s capabilities for relatively small n Stream Receivers vs. Audio Channels 16 audio channels per stream 15 Device A1 16 Audio Channels Device B 1 Device An 16 Audio Channels 1 … Needs n x 2 Receivers, making more efficient use of the receiver ressources Stream Receivers vs. Audio Channels 16 audio channels per stream 16 Device A1 2 Audio Channels 1 Device An 2 Audio Channels 1 … Has to allocate n x 16 audio input channels , which might waste limited ressources Device B Stream Receivers vs. Audio Channels 8 audio channels per stream 17 Device A1 2 Audio Channels Audio Shuffler 1 Device An 2 Audio Channels 1 … Optimum usage of receivers and audio input channels Device B ceil (2n/8) The Challenges How to switch on and off 18 How to Switch on and off 19 SDI Router … … How to Switch on and off 20 Controller Input Input Output Output Cross bar … … How to Switch on and off 21 SDN - Controller Sender Sender Receiver Receiver Switch … … The Challenges Training • New topics • Even some fundamentals are new • There is a lot of uncertainty because people are unfamiliar with the technology. • Troubleshooting procedures are different 22 The Challenges Synchronization • PTP requires more configuration effort than Blackburst ‒ JT -NM TR -1001 -1 addresses this to a certain extend through a central system resource • Syncing PTP and Blackburst ‒ Operation with external Blackburst is well defined (EG 2059 -10), but there are devices that operate differently ‒ Redundancy mechanisms for PTP and BB operate independently and might produce undesired results. 23 Syncing PTP and Blackburst 24 SPG/PTP 1 SPG/PTP 2 BB BB BB1 PTP PTP PTP1 GPS GPS Both BB signals are valid, I‘ll use the first one PTP 1 wins the BMCA, I‘ll stay quiet Syncing PTP and Blackburst Synchronization 25 SPG/PTP 1 SPG/PTP 2 BB BB BB2 PTP PTP PTP1 GPS GPS PTP 1 wins the BMCA, I‘ll stay quiet BB1 has failed, I‘ll use the other one Syncing PTP and Blackburst Synchronization 26 SPG/PTP 1 SPG/PTP 2 BB BB BB1 PTP PTP PTP2 GPS GPS I have a better clock class , I‘ll take over I don‘t have GPS – I‘ll change my clock class Both BB signals are valid, I‘ll use the first one Syncing PTP and Blackburst • Solution #1 (from vendor!): Buy two more SPGs and separate PTP generation from PTP to BB conversion (pair#2 will always generate the BB from the PTP GM) (additional money and space required) • Solution#2: Have an external control system manipulate PTP priority to follow BB change over unit. 27 The Conclusion • We are in a transitional period • IP based production systems are viable, however need careful design • Adaption and some work arounds are still needed while technology matures • It is essential to build knowledge of the new technology on all levels 28 C U R A T E D B Y I P S H O W C A S E T H E AT E R AT N A B – A P R I L 8 -11 , 2 01 9 Thank You Hartmut Opfermann, BFE Studio und Medien Systeme hopfermann@bfe.tv , +49 174 3299 040