Any Technology

AVECO lets you choose the devices and networks you want to use in your TV station. We have a comprehensive list of devices and networks already integrated with our automation. If there is a device or network system you need us to add just let us know. We do not charge any fee for implementing a new device interface or adding networking capability to our compatibility list.

Devices

The extensive list of devices compatible with AVECO systems includes devices from all major equipment manufactures as well as devices from smaller players. Please check our compatibility list for a match with devices you are using or thinking of acquiring. If you don't find a match , just let us know the device's make and model and we will connect it.

How can we be so confident of our ability to control any device from any manufacturer? So far, we have not found a customer's request we could not meet because:

1. We maintain our systems' generic functionality at the cutting edge of TV technology. For example, we developed and integrated generic device-modules for DVEs and interactive internet devices as those technologies became available.
2. Building device drivers is comparatively easy. To implement the interface from the command set of AVECO system's generic device-module to the particular control protocol used by a specific device requires us to develop a device driver. Developing a device driver is relatively simple to the complexity of other elements of the automation system. Even when the device driver must be configured to address discrepancies between a device's specifications and its behavior. Even when the device's manufacturer does not provide support to address these discrepancies. Our automation systems log all commands and actions taken and received by a device. This provides a record for analyzing device behavior and for defining accurate control sequences.

Since the generic device-module, not the device driver, defines functionality and runs the user's interface, integrating a new piece of equipment to the system does not change the core automation modules or the user's GUI interface. This insures robust operation of the automation system and minimizes training requirements when devices are added or exchanged. You can update devices and the operator's control panel remains the same. This operational consistency as devices are changed supports an incremental approach to new technology or seamless transitions to completely updated TV systems.

Systems

AVECO systems connect to the cooperating systems used in the TV facility such as traffic, billing, EPG, internet content providing systems and others. The compatibility list shows some of these.

The data exchange between AVECO automation and other systems is based on ASCII files, XML, ODBC and other industry standard protocols.

Networks

AVECO systems support versatile network connectivity to and among automation servers, in point-to-point, LAN or WAN configurations.

We may talk about four logical networks in which the automation systems are involved:

• The information network for data exchange with traffic and other data systems.
• The control network for control of devices.
• The automation network for communication among individual modules of the automation system(s).
• The media network for interconnecting devices and providing paths for media exchange.

Information Network

Primarily focused on connectivity with traffic functions, the information network links the automation system to exchange playlists, share views and metadata of the media database and pass back the as-run log with the other departments of the TV station: programming, commercial, news and station promotion.

Connection:

AVECO systems can move information content through any medium supported by TCP/IP such as Ethernet, Serial Lines, Internet and Wireless.

Content

AVECO systems communicate in the languages of playlists, metadata and other information content. We support open data standards of the IT industry, like ODBC, http and XML, and open standards of the TV industry, like MOS .

We can also connect to proprietary traffic and playlist systems that have published data-format protocols.

If you miss your traffic system in our list, let us know and we will interface to it. We have done it for many customers already.

List of compatible playlist and traffic systems

Notification of critical situation

AVECO systems support another information function, established independently of the network with traffic, to notify the station engineer via mobile phone or pager of warnings and status alarms regarding critical situations with the automation and broadcasting systems. Here the appropriate protocol for the communication is selected: GSM, SMS, etc.

Control Network

The control network is the vehicle by which we control TV and other equipment while monitoring progress and status.

Connection:

AVECO automation servers connect to the devices controlled via serial lines (RS232, RS422, RS485, CAN-bus, phone lines), GPI lines, Ethernet, TCP/IP or wireless.

Content:

Handled by device drivers, the language used for monitoring status and for sending commands to devices is defined by each device. We are ready to build device drivers to integrate any device not already compatible with our systems, as described above. More about the current list of compatible devices.

Automation Network

The automation network connects the individual components of the automation systems. AVECO automation systems can consist of a number of automation servers and automation terminals located in-house or at separate locations. Automation hardware and software components talk natively to each other across the automation network without the need for additional gateways, extensive software layers or duplicating components. This feature, which we call automation network transparency, allows AVECO automation configuration in any LAN or WAN topology. This is crucial and allows you to:

• Grow your automation system by simply adding new hardware and software modules.
• Position user stations anywhere you need them. A user station can control playlists and devices located anywhere on the automation network. A single user station can control dispersed playlists and pools of equipment. Multiple user stations in separate locations can control the same playlists and devices of a centralized hub.
• Maintain high-levels of reliability by distributing the load to eliminating bottlenecks and single points of failure.

Need to change the automation system's topology? Simply plug into the automation network where you would like and get to work. That is what automation network transparency means.

Automation Server Access

Independently of the automation network that interconnects them, AVECO servers provide access via modem or internet to AVECO engineers who can monitor system status, perform diagnostic and recovery action, and reconfigure the system remotely. Given that the architecture of our software allows us to hot-swap modules and dynamically reconfigure the automation system, access to the automation server via modem or internet allows AVECO engineers to provide real-time support of the highest level without interrupting on-going operations.

Media Network

The media network, the back-bone of a TV operation, interconnects the TV equipment and ingests, transports, stores and broadcasts the media.

Connection:

AVECO systems can direct and control media over any medium supported by the controlled device, like SDI, Fibre Channel, SDTI, Gigabit Ethernet, ATM, HIPPI, VSAT, IEEE 1394b (FireWire), TCP/IP, Microwave and ISND. The selection of the medium depends purely on the connectivity of the TV equipment used at the particular site.

Open connectivity in LAN or WAN; at one site or among cooperating locations

AVECO automation servers work with the four functional networks (information, media, control and client-server) in any infrastructure configuration: from running everything through the same physical wires to an independent set-up of four separate networks.

AVECO’s connectivity can be deployed in LAN and WAN configurations. Our systems control a single location as well as separate, cooperating sites. AVECO systems can use the Internet or proprietary infrastructure as a WAN backbone for the information, media, control and client networks. Whether you need to centralize media and master control while remote stations develop their own playlists, or the other way around, or any combination of remote and centralized operations, AVECO systems can connect and control. More about Central Casting.