Home | Skip to Content | Skip to Search | Skip to Navigation | Skip to Footer |
Worldwide [change] |Register |About Cisco
Guest

Hierarchical Navigation

Switched Digital Video

Introduction

Switched Digital Video (SDV) technology fundamentally changes the way digital video is delivered over cable networks, enabling operators to offer a wider variety of programming while effectively managing hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) network bandwidth.

SDV is the most bandwidth efficient tool for recovering HFC spectrum. It employs oversubscription to enable deployment of incremental standard- and high-definition long-tail content. This is the fastest way for an operator to provide new content and services.

Unlike traditional broadcast television where all channels are continuously transmitted, even though only about 20 channels garner most of the viewership, SDV lets you transmit only the channels being watched in a given neighborhood. The technology:

• Optimizes HFC bandwidth capacity by using the RF spectrum more efficiently

• Enables new services, such as advanced advertising

• Protects equipment investments by working with existing MPEG-2 set-tops

Cisco was first to deliver an open SDV system, opening up protocols to enable multivendor deployments while providing platform scalability and flexibility. Cisco provides every element of the SDV solution, all based on open architecture for distinctive flexibility and advantage, and backed by more than 25 years of experience in the delivery and support of video networks.

Cisco Switched Digital Video (SDV) solution elements include:

Digital Content Manager

Grooms and rate clamps SDV streams. In the SDV solution, it can perform additional functions with digital video, such as ad insertion, rate shaping, and transcoding.


Netcrypt Bulk Encryptor

Allows for independent scaling of encryption and Edge QAM resources and is connected to the IP network over Ethernet.


SDV Manager (PDF - 546 KB)

Controls and arbitrates bandwidth for multiple applications; manages allocation of bandwidth between SDV and existing video on demand (VOD) services; functions as part of the Cisco Digital Network Control System (DNCS).


Universal Session and Resource Manager

Offers more applications, power, and features and can enable more set-tops and quadrature amplitude modulations (QAMs).


Session-Based QAMs

The Cisco family of Edge QAM modulators that support SDV includes the GQAM, XDQA-24, and RF Gateway 1 QAM. All are deployable in the SDV architecture, support IP multicast (IGMPv3), and interoperate with standard IP switches and routers. These QAMs interface with the master SRM and SDV server using open interfaces to deliver SDV over the HFC network and also help enable QAM sharing between SDV and VOD services.


Cisco Digital Cable Set-Tops

Enables SDV clients across Cisco’s digital cable lineup and can be easily integrated into existing set-top electronic program guides (EPGs).


Cisco CRS-1 Carrier Routing System

Transparently scales to 92 terabits per second, uniquely meeting the extreme capacity needs of video entertainment delivery while providing investment protection for the future.


Cisco 7600 Series Routers

Provide high Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet port density for delivery of voice, video, and data services over cable networks.


Switched Digital Video Operational Support Applications

Provides deployment planning prior to SDV launch, and helps isolate problems that may occur in an SDV system  after launch, thereby ensuring a positive customer experience.  Cisco SDV Operational Support Applications also deliver viewership data gathering and aggregation to allow cable operators to deploy advanced advertising in switched systems.

• Capacity Planning Application

• Status and Operations Application

• Pointer Network Monitoring and Management

• Retriever Tech Ops and Viewership

Cisco’s Switched Digital Video (SDV) solution enables cable operators to:

• Reclaim bandwidth spectrum while continuing to meet service demands

• Deliver new SDV services, including more high-definition channels and new ethnic tiers, without any change to the viewer experience from traditional linear video

• Offer more content and advanced services to subscribers, including advanced advertising

• Establish a next-generation switched network architecture

• Improve visibility into subscriber behavior

• Gain critical insight into operational aspects of the SDV system with proven operational support applications

• Measure viewership habits to help plan for SDV deployment and deploy targeted advertising

• Implement quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) sharing to yield efficiency gains between video on demand and SDV sessions

White Papers (1)

Economics of Switched Digital Video (PDF - 82 KB)

Related Links

Ad Banner