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The BigBand BMR^® (Broadband Multimedia-Service Router) is the recognized benchmark platform for network delivery of video services. It is a versatile platform for a broad range of solutions, built on the most powerful media processing and routing engines available in the industry.

• Versatile platform that enables “grow as you go” scalability
• Supports wide range of services including digital TV management, deep digital transport, digital simulcast, digital ad insertion, HDTV and switched digital video
• Innovative routing and processing engine, fully non-blocking, with 32 Gb/s capacity
• High density chassis, capable of holding up to eight I/O cards, for a total of 96 ASI inputs, 72 ASI outputs, 32 GigE inputs/outputs, and 64 broadcast QAM outputs
• SFP-based Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, with optional DWDM and CWDM enables cost-effective digital transport
• Robust chassis design ensures the highest performance in even the most arduous conditions
• Carrier-grade platform, with hot-swappable cards, supports 99.999% availability
• NEBS Level 3 certified

Flexible and scalable, the BigBand BMR1200 is fully interoperable with sources of a broad range of content and services in headend and hub facilities, enabling a service provider to achieve significantly higher utilization of network capacity and assets. The BMR features programmable hardware for easy upgrading and reconfiguration, maximizing return on capital investments. The modular, high density design of the BMR facilitates a “grow as you go” capex model.

At the core of the BigBand BMR is a protocol-agnostic, content intelligent architecture that switches and processes MPEG, IP and Ethernet packets. The innovative BMR design supports applications such as digital simulcast, standards-based ad splicing, time-shifting and switched digital video. BMR functionality includes RateShaping^® dynamic bit rate adaptation for video, and other advanced capabilities such as network edge de-jittering and QAM modulation / RF upconversion.

The BigBand Management and Server Suite make it easy to configure and manage the BigBand BMR1200, and dynamically provision content and services to be carried over a video network. Intuitive graphical user interfaces assist in provisioning services, and assessing network and element performance. Robust, open protocols including SNMP are used for communicating routing and performance data information. The extensive capabilities of the BigBand Management and Server Suite help minimize operational expenditures.

The BigBand BMR1200 is a robust platform designed from the ground up to be carrier-class. Hot-swappable input/output cards and power supplies, a passive backplane, and other features ensure that the BMR meets the highest availability requirements.

The BigBand BMR1200 provides a broad range of video networking functionality

User-Friendly Management Suite

The BigBand Management Suite makes it easy to manage the BMR and co-located BigBand equipment, and provision content and services, by providing a large amount of mission critical information in easy-to-understand GUI formats.

Versatile and Scalable Server Suite

The BigBand Server Suite is a family of software applications that control communications between the BMR and external software managers and clients. This includes the BMR Management Suite, a Service Manager (talking to the Session Monitor), Broadcast Control Server (talking to the Broadcast Control Manager), Topology Server (talking to the Connection Manager), Alarm Server (talking to the Alarm Logger and Viewer) and SMU Manager Server (talking to the SMU). The Server Suite resides on the SMU1000, a robust server running Windows 2003.

Broadcast Control Manager

The BCM (Broadcast Control Manager) is the main interface for configuring and managing broadcast sessions, and supports “drag and drop” creation of output multiplexes without service interruption. The BCM enables an operator to browse input programs, viewing program information and bandwidth allocations. Program line-ups can be saved and restored as needed.

Broadcast Control Manager Graphical Interface

The Element Manager

The primary function of the Element Manager is configuration, optimization and control of the hardware and software assets of a BigBand BMR. The Element Manager enables an operator to configure multiple parameters, including port bandwidth utilization and feed redundancy. Alarm monitoring is supported by the Element Manager with card status shown in color on the GUI. The Element Manager also supports remote I/O card software upgrades.

Element Manager Graphical Interface

Configuration Manager

The Configuration Manager allows connections between a BigBand BMR and a third-party network element, such as a VOD server, to be created. The Configuration Manager controls and monitors sessions, and informs the Topology Server (see BigBand Server Suite) when a new network element is added.

Alarm Logger and Viewer

The Alarm Logger and Viewer stores alarm traps and provides an operator with a convenient way of displaying a multitude of information including alarm name, severity of alarm, time of occurrence and current status. Alarms can be sorted and filtered according to a variety of criteria. Alarms from any BMR in a network can be viewed from a single GUI. A command line interface is also available for basic control and diagnostic, and is part of the embedded operating system of the BMR.

Modular Hardware Configurations

The BMR chassis holds up to eight I/O cards for a total of up to 96 ASI inputs, 72 ASI outputs, 32 GigE inputs/outputs, and 64 broadcast QAM outputs. Many different types of I/O cards are currently available, giving a service provider a broad selection of functionality to choose from. All cards are software upgradeable.

1. AFA824XA; 2. AFA825XA; 3. AFA24-2-4XA; 4. ENS0012XA; 5. GFA224; 6. GFG404; 7. GFM103; 8. GFR222;
9. GFR224; 10. GNA114XA; 11. MFA824XA; 12. MFD824XA

The XA family includes the AFA, ENS, GNA, MFA and MFD cards. These cards are used for all video processing functions including RateShaping, muxing, ASI and GigE ad splicing, ETV applications, clamping and transport. The XA cards are offered with ASI and DHEI interfaces as well as Fast Ethernet NICs. The GigE family includes the GFA, GFG, GFR and GNA cards. These cards are used for MPEG transport over IP, with or without video processing functionality.

The BMR chassis supports N+1 redundancy of RF ports, 1+1 redundant management cards, and redundant load sharing power supplies. Hot swappable I/O cards, fans and power supplies, a passive backplane and other features ensure that the BMR meets the highest availability requirements.

I/O Board Hardware Configurations