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The BigBand Server and Management Suite is a versatile, robust family of software applications for managing solutions deployed on BigBand platforms, enabling a service provider to benefit from a broad range of multimedia processing and communications functionality. These BigBand solutions include digital TV management, deep digital transport, digital simulcast, switched digital video and digital ad insertion. BigBand platforms, the recognized benchmarks for the delivery of video, voice and data content and services, are deployed in headend and hub locations.

• Comprehensive family of software applications for managing video, voice and data solutions on BigBand platforms
• Broad range of server functionality supports communications with BigBand platforms and third-party equipment
• Wide variety of GUI-based applications enable intuitive service provisioning through point-and-click interface for rapid service creation, equipment configuration and interoperability
• SNMP supports seamless communications between network elements
• CORBA interface for NMS integration
• Robust software architecture enables always-on management

The comprehensive abilities of the BigBand Server and Management Suite support a wide variety of operations, such as service provisioning, performance monitoring and equipment upgrades that are enacted locally or from a remote location. A suite of carefully designed graphical user interfaces includes such features as drag-and-drop creation of broadcast multiplexes, alarm troubleshooting, and configuration of port bandwidth with the click of a mouse. There is also interoperability with a wide variety of third-party equipment, such as VOD servers, ad servers and conditional access systems. The Server Suite is a broad set of software applications that controls communications between BigBand platforms and external software managers and clients including the BigBand Management Suite. The Management Suite consists of a variety of GUI-based applications supporting provisioning and control. Seamless communication between the Server Suite, Management Suite and network elements is achieved using SNMP.

The BigBand Server and Management Suite leverages the capabilities of the protocolagnostic, content-intelligent architecture at the heart of the BigBand BMR^® (Broadband Multimedia-Service Router) that includes routing and processing engines, an operating system and functional modules. Synergy with the industry-leading BMR architecture provides added robustness to the BigBand Server and Management Suite, and ensures always-on management, in keeping with BigBand Networks’ commitment to providing an operator with carrier-class infrastructure robustness for all services and media.

Easy drag-and-drop creation of program lineups

User-Friendly Management Suite

The BigBand Management Suite makes it easy for an operator to configure and manage solutions deployed on BigBand platforms. Easy-to-use GUIs provide full control over service provisioning and configuration of equipment, and provide large amounts of mission-critical information. The Management Suite clients run on any Windows machine including the SMU (Service Management Unit) that supports the Server Suite.

A command line interface is also available for basic control and diagnostics, and is part of the embedded operating system of a BigBand platform, such as the BMR.

Element Manager

The primary function of the Element Manager is configuration, optimization and control of the hardware and software assets of BigBand platforms. The Element Manager enables an operator to configure multiple parameters including port bandwidth utilization and feed redundancy. Alarm monitoring is available, with card status shown in color on the GUI.

GUI simplifies operations of BigBand Platforms

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.

Global Element Manager

The role of the GEM (Global Element Manager) is to provide network-level management of multiple BigBand platforms. The GEM enables an operator at one network location to have control over equipment at other locations, including the ability to remotely upload new software and troubleshoot alarms. The innovative architecture of the GEM graphical user interface enables a vast array of network detail to be communicated succinctly, and makes navigation between network elements simple.

Configuration Manager

The Configuration Manager allows connections between a BigBand platform 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 has been introduced.

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 various criteria. Alarms from any BigBand platform can be viewed from a single GUI.

Alarm logger stores SNMP alarm traps

Session Monitor

The Session Monitor displays parameters from all open sessions on BigBand platforms in the network, and is a component of the Configuration Manager. Information is accessed from an easy-to-use directory.

Versatile and Scalable Server Suite

The BigBand Server Suite is a family of software applications that control communications between a BigBand platform and external software managers and clients such as the BigBand Management Suite.

The Server Suite resides on the SMU1000 (Service Management Unit), a robust Pentium-based server with dual mirrored hotswappable disk drives running Windows 2003, in a 1RU chassis. The SMU connects to a BigBand platform using a 10/1000BaseT Ethernet port, and comes equipped with a modem for troubleshooting and diagnostic purposes.

Service Manager

The Service Manager manages sessions on a BigBand platform, and supports the following functions:

• Session Control – activation, recovery in the event of a failure, and automation, with automatic PID assignment;
• Resource Management – accepts or rejects sessions requests based on port and bandwidth availability;
• Session Monitoring – updates session status and configuration changes.

Broadcast Control Server

The Broadcast Control Server communicates with the Service Manager to initiate broadcast sessions, with the Broadcast Control Manager providing broadcast session configurations and with BigBand platforms facilitating monitoring activities.

Topology Server

The Topology Server stores and manages access to information regarding network topology, and updates its database automatically when changes in the configuration of a BigBand platform are detected.

Alarm Server

The Alarm Server enables service level redundancy by determining how system events are managed and controls system switchover. Supported functions include:

• Alarm Collection – collects alarms from BigBand platforms;
• Encoder Switchover – switches to redundant encoder output port in the event of a signal degradation.

Switched Broadcast Manager

The Switched Broadcast Manager administers, controls and monitors programming to service groups, and switched broadcasts programming sessions directed only toward service areas with real-time viewership. The Switched Broadcast Manager receives request for programming from a subscriber’s set-top box and responds with tuning information.

SMU Manager Server

The SMU Manager monitors different BigBand Server Suite applications, supporting the collection of state and status data. The SMU Manager also performs backup/restore and license update procedures.