At IBC 2001, Omneon Video Networks will be demonstrating a range of new products and applications in the Omneon Stand 3.121, and in over a dozen partner stands throughout the show floor. The company will release the latest version of its system software along with key new products for the Networked Content Server, including the Extended File System which adds a new level of redundancy protection, the MIP 1003 MEDIAPORT which supports encoding and decoding of Long GOP MPEG 2, and the Omneon Player (Applications Programmers Interface). These new products offer extended product features and benefits to Omneon customers in such areas as increased storage efficiency, expanded numbers of users and support of open standards.

"We are answering customer needs for all of the new products we're introducing at IBC this year," said Tim Slate vice president of marketing for Omneon. "Specifically, the redundancy within the Extended File System will give customers tremendous scalability and system protection. The new MEDIAPORT that supports Long GOP greatly increases storage efficiency while lowering bandwidth requirements, without sacrificing video quality."

Omneon's demonstration of its new redundant, highly scalable, fault tolerant system, the Extended File System, will show how customers can expand the number of users and channels of the Networked Content Server from its current 16 channels to over 40 channels. The demonstration of the Extended File System will also show configurations that provide highly fault tolerant systems with no single point of failure.

The new I/O device, MIP 1003 MEDIAPORT supports encoding and decoding of Long GOP MPEG 2, which greatly increases storage efficiency and lowers network bandwidth requirements by enabling lower bit rates to be used while maintaining high video quality. This enhancement provides encoding from three to 50Mbits/sec and supports MPEG 2 at main level at main profile; main level at 4:2:2 profile and I-frame only at bit rates above 25Mbits/sec. It also supports encoding and decoding of DV content at 25Mbits/sec.

The latest system software release supports the BVW serial control protocol, thus enabling a number of controlling devices to use the Omneon Networked Content Server as a source VTR. Omneon will be validating various controllers and editing application for use with BVW Protocol. At initial release, the Omneon system has been qualified for use as a source deck with the AVID Newscutter. Extensions to the BVW protocol have been implemented, which enables the loading of clips directly from the AVID user interface.

Omneon's latest software release supports the AV/C tape target protocol; this control protocol links to the IEEE 1394a interface enabling the Omneon Networked Content Server to be used like DV VTR. Control is now carried along with video, audio and time-code over the same cable. Omneon will be validating various controllers, editing and other types of applications for use with AV/C protocol.

The Omneon Player API (Applications Programmers Interface) is a developer's tool kit that allows developers to create applications that tightly control the entire feature set of the Omneon Networked Content Server using the Ethernet interface. Several developers have been using Beta versions of the API to develop new application interfaces to the Omneon system.

Omneon's Demonstrations at IBC Stand 3.121 in Hall 3 of the RAI Center, will show the Networked Content Server demonstrating the Extended File System which allows multiple Directors (controllers) to share a common file system, providing simultaneous access to all content by all users on the network. Application demonstrations will include an Archive Area based on Harris Automation interfaced to the OTG VideoXtender transferring material from the Archive to the Omneon system for play out. A Multi-channel Playback demonstration will be based on the OmniBus Colossus Automation system running 26 play-lists from the Omneon Networked Content Server configured with an Extended File System and redundancy capability. For collaborative production, editing will be done using FAST Multimedia's purple editor and Apple Final Cut Pro for DV native editing. An Avid NewsCutter will control clips on the Omneon server using BVW control. Streaming applications will be demonstrated in conjunction with Telestream's FlipFactory which will use high resolution video images and flip them into a number of streaming file formats, from the Omneon Networked Content Server.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Omneon Video Networks provides infrastructure for new media. Omneon's Networked Content Server is a highly scalable, data-type independent, shared-storage infrastructure. The solution is a platform that supports third-party software applications for control and transmission, media management, archive, and collaborative production. Omneon systems are used by content producers and distributors for simultaneous program creation and re-purposing for any type of distribution method. Omneon's products consist of server, disk controller, scalable Fiber Channel storage components, and software that together form a content server system. Channel or user scalability is achieved by using both IEEE 1394 and Ethernet networking technologies. This open systems architecture, known as a VIDEO AREA NETWORK, enables facilities to ingest, route, store, share and distribute digital media-comprised of audio, video, and any type of related data. Omneon Video Networks, headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., is privately held and funded by prominent venture capital firms. Omneon's web site is www.Omneon.com.

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