Harris Corporation Launches Next-Generation NEXIO AMP Advanced Media Platform

At IBC2007, Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS), an international communications and information technology company, is introducing the NEXIO AMP™ advanced media platform — a next-generation system that dramatically expands the functionality of video transmission servers.

Building on the history of innovation of the Harris® NEXIO™ brand of video servers, NEXIO AMP™ pairs a high-performance, high-definition/standard-definition (HD/SD) architecture with a comprehensive range of software-enabled media services. As a broadcaster’s needs evolve, the NEXIO AMP™ platform is able to integrate signal quality control, channel branding, multiviewer I/O monitoring and playout automation capabilities within its 3RU chassis — establishing a solid foundation for a scalable, end-to-end HD/SD television solution.

“NEXIO AMP™ will change the way broadcasters think about video servers,” said Tim Thorsteinson, president of Harris Broadcast Communications. “Its advanced server architecture breaks new ground for fault tolerance, while the ability to add software-enabled media services improves workflow efficiency throughout the entire acquisition-transmission chain. By uniting breakthrough performance with previously discrete broadcast applications, NEXIO AMP™ delivers on the Harris Broadcast ONE theme — to provide an integrated solution for video, graphics, audio and automation applications.”

At the heart of NEXIO AMP™ is an advanced storage architecture built around the all-new AMP MediaCore™ engine. Featuring a real-time, 64-bit software engine and task-specific, multicore CPU/GPU/FPGA processing, the AMP MediaCore™ engine handles demanding broadcasting tasks with ease. The new Harris® PCI Express Media I/O card adds host-memory-centric processing for maximum I/O flexibility. The card features a two-in/four-out HD/SD video interface, eight AES pairs of embedded audio per video I/O, four AES pairs of audio per video I/O, and support for Dolby® E audio.

NEXIO AMP™ integrates into the newly enhanced NEXIO™ storage area network (SAN), featuring the highest levels of redundancy and reliability for complete protection of I/O, data pathways and storage. The Emmy® Award-winning Harris® RAIDsoft™ software RAID management system offers two methods for safeguarding media assets: RAID 3 and ECC (Error Correction Code) parity. It’s joined by the new, patent-pending Intrinsic Mirroring™ technology, which provides simultaneous media mirroring to a second SAN at the point of ingest — no replication or copying required. Intrinsic Mirroring™ guarantees 100% bandwidth capacity even if one side of the mirrored storage system fails, enabling a platform architecture with no single point of failure.

Harris is debuting the first member of the NEXIO AMP™ family, the NX3601 media platform, at IBC2007. The HD/SD NX3601 excels at ingest, compression and playout, while allowing format-transparent operations. The system combines the new NEXIO AMP™ architecture with all the features broadcasters have come to expect in NEXIO™ servers — including integral software codec support and automatic up/down/cross conversion. Other highlights include two- and three-channel HD/SD mixed resolution modes with aspect ratio conversion; four- or six-channel SD modes; support for XDCAM HD and DVCPRO HD codecs; and choice of Fibre Channel or Ethernet-based storage SAN topologies.

Two NX3601 models will be available: the NX3601HDI with integrated storage and the NX3601HDX for shared storage networks. Both are capable of adding software-driven Harris media services to tackle diverse broadcast operations, including signal quality control based on the Videotek® QuiC™ media analysis server, playout automation based on the H-Class™ ADC™ playout automation system, multiviewer I/O monitoring based on the award-winning CENTRIO™ multiviewer, and channel branding based on the IconStation™ master control graphics system.

“The ability to integrate media services into the NX3601 chassis significantly reduces the cost of hardware expenditures while taking the guesswork out of hardware compatibility,” said Thorsteinson. “The NEXIO AMP™ platform’s best-of-breed performance and sophisticated content protection also provide exceptional growth potential for customers. The result is a next-generation server solution that customers can build their business around with confidence.”

The NEXIO AMP™ products are part of the channel release and newsroom and editing offerings in the Harris Broadcast Communications ONE initiative to deliver interoperable workflow solutions that span the entire broadcast delivery chain. The unique Harris approach brings together highly integrated and cost-effective products that are ideal for emerging media business models and for customers upgrading media operations to digital and high-definition services.

See Harris Broadcast Communications at IBC2007 Stand No. 7.621.