RGB Networks is introducing what it’s calling a content repurposing solution, aimed at vastly simplifying the amount of content delivery infrastructure that otherwise might be necessary to operate in a multi-source, multi-screen, multi-format environment.

In order to enable multi-source, multi-screen, multi-format delivery, operators have been limited to simple, single-channel transcoders and encoders, RGB said; but as the number of input and output devices grows and the permutations of formats, resolutions and aspect ratios increases rapidly, a more sophisticated solution is required. 

RGB’s Video Multiprocessing Gateway (VMG), formerly known as the Modular Video Processor, can transcode and process content streams on a massive scale, in real time . A key element of the Modular Video Processor’s transformation into the VMG is a plug-in module, called the TCM, which can convert between MPEG-2 and MPEG-4/H.264 formats and features a high stream-processing density.

The gateway will be capable of performing any combination of functions that include aggregation, grooming/replication, transcoding and processing (including bit rate processing and statistical multiplexing), ad insertion, inserting overlays, audio processing, forward error correction (FEC) and encryption.

The capabilities are modular, so operators can install only those functions they desire, in just about any mix, explained RGB vice president of product marketing Ramin Farassat.

The RGB gateway can perform any sequence of those functions (a workflow) on individual streams, and can perform different workflows on different streams delivered simultaneously, on a massive scale, Farassat said.

RGB believes the system will have a rare, if not unique, feature: It will be able to support not only multiple outputs, but also multiple inputs. Ultimately, as cable operators converge on IP, they can migrate to 10 Gigabit Ethernet for input to, and output from, the gateway.

New with the gateway will be the ability to accommodate any type of processor; RGB is now completely processor-agnostic.

The company has long championed the use of FPGAs as the least expensive way to implement the processing functions in its products. The fact is that different types of processors are each suitable for different functions.

Now RGB not only supports FPGAs, but also ASICs, which perform well on certain algorithms, as well as multi-core processors, which do well in other situations, Farassat said.

“Consumer consumption of video services is evolving from simply watching programming on televisions to viewing video on PCs, mobile phones and a growing number of other portable devices. However, supporting and delivering video to this growing number of viewing devices – which is typically achieved through the use of multiple products from different vendors – has proved a costly challenge for video service providers who have traditionally optimized their networks and programs solely for viewing on televisions,” said Farassat. “RGB’s new content repurposing solution addresses this issue, offering the means to support multiple video processing applications that can be applied to a large number of video streams simultaneously, therefore dramatically reducing the complexity of supporting different sources, networks and devices while ensuring that programs appear as picture perfect as possible.”