White Papers
Describing Templatizable Aspects of Applications with XML
By Michael D McMahon, Principle Engineer, New Media Product Development
Presented at the 2010 Cable Show, this paper outlines a solution for re-purposing, branding or skinning interactive television templates. The naming convention, XML schema and XSLT transformations described in the paper represent the underpinnings of potential standardizations whereby application developers could easily designate “templatizable” aspects of their applications. NCTA technical papers may be purchased at the NCTA Bookstore. Or, for more information about this paper, email a request to cmc_denver@cable.comcast.com.
Metadata-Driven Grid Encoding
By Dan Holden, Comcast Fellow / Chief Scientist, CMC
Presented at the 2010 Cable Show, this paper addresses a new transport methodology that can reduce bandwidth consumption on a cable plant. The solution addresses the cable industry’s unique challenge to support heritage set top boxes (STB) concurrently with new Consumer Electronic (CE) devices that have exponentially greater capabilities, which include: increased resolutions, frame rates, 3D, interactive applications, two-way/IP protocols, and the ability to reach beyond a traditional cable plant. NCTA technical papers may be purchased at the NCTA Bookstore. Or, for more information about this paper, email a request to cmc_denver@cable.comcast.com.
The Role of End-to-End Quality Assurance Testing for Video and Audio in Meeting Viewer Satisfaction
By Dave Higgins, Vice President Quality Assurance
Presented at NAB Show 2010, this technical paper addresses the dependencies and challenges associated with providing an end–to-end view of video and audio content delivery to the consumer home and how measurement and monitoring techniques are evolving to address the overall customer quality of experience (QoE). The paper also discusses the tools and strategies being used by broadcasters and their multichannel video distributors to provide a high-quality end-to-end content distribution solution.The paper is included in the proceedings of the NAB Broadcast Engineering Conference available from the NAB bookstore. Or, for more information about this paper, email a request to cmc_denver@cable.comcast.com.
Normalizing Audio Quality Across All Services to Enhance The Customer’s Quality of Experience
By Dave Higgins, Vice President, Quality Assurance, & Chris May, Manager, Director - Video Quality & Transmission Reliability
Presented at the 2009 SCTE CableTec Expo, this technical paper provides a practical, end-to-end solution for achieving consistent Audio Average Program levels from program to program, between program and advertising, and from channel to channel. The paper describes how encoding, multiplexing, and ad insertion equipment, within the headend, may be used to address this common challenge and it also outlines the type of training that is needed for ensuring that customer home audio systems are configured correctly. SCTE technical papers may be purchased at the SCTE Bookstore. Or, for more information about this paper, email a request to cmc_denver@cable.comcast.com
Crawl, Walk, Run - Optimizing Bandwidth in Smaller-Market Cable Systems Through an Incremental Approach Toward All Digital
By John Roy, Vice President, Engineering and Operations and Mark Nicastro, Director, Product Management
Presented at the 2009 SCTE CableTec Expo, this technical paper analyzes the options for migrating to all-digital from the perspective of smaller market cable systems with 450 to 550 megahertz (MHz) capacity. The roadmap it identifies the primary drivers for reclaiming analog bandwidth, which include the need to offer a competitive lineup of video services and generating additional video service revenues. SCTE technical papers may be purchased at the SCTE Bookstore. Or, for more information about this paper, email a request to cmc_denver@cable.comcast.com.
Developing A Grading System for Digital Video Quality
By Dave Higgins, Vice President, Quality Assurance, & Chuck Wester, Project Engineer
Presented at the 2009 Cable Show, this technical paper focuses on an end-to-end approach toward measuring and improving video service delivery. Specific topics include the potential impediments to quality that can occur at each touch-point between the origination of a live sports event or studio production and the customer’s viewing experience, and the role of probes and subjective video quality analysis in quality assurance practices. NCTA technical papers may be purchased at the NCTA Bookstore. Or, for more information about this paper, email a request to cmc_denver@cable.comcast.com
Connecting Cable's Network and Applications With its Industry Partners while Maintaining Our Individuality
By Mitch Weinraub, Executive Director, Products and Services, Thomas Engdahl, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Radiance Technologies, and Joshua Seiden, Senior Director, Engineering and Product Development
With the cable industry working aggressively to expand the range of services that meet consumers demand for personalized programming, this 209 NCTA Technical paper describes the requirements for connecting cable systems serving standalone markets and larger MSOs, both vertically and horizontally. Network-based solutions for meeting the needs of advertisers and other sources for advanced interactive video services are also discussed. NCTA technical papers may be purchased at the NCTA Bookstore. Or, for more information about this paper, email a request to cmc_denver@cable.comcast.com
Increasing MSO Advertising Revenues Through Management of Ad Skipping
By Dan Holden, Comcast Fellow/Chief Scientist
This 2009 NCTA technical paper describes emerging technologies that allow the industry to seize market opportunities that are created by shifts in consumer behavior, such as ad-skipping and fast-forwarding through content that doesn’t respond to personal interests. The paper descibes an innovative solution that leverages the action of ad skipping as a catalyst for allowing advertisers, cable programming networks, and cable system operators to generate additional revenue. NCTA technical papers may be purchased at the NCTA Bookstore. Or, for more information about this paper, email a request to cmc_denver@cable.comcast.com
Emergency Preparedness: Essential Elements for Business Continuity of Broadcast Video Delivery When Disasters Strike
By Mitch Weinraub, Executive Director, Products and Services
Presented at NAB Show 2009, this paper uses the Comcast Media Center’s experiences as the disaster recovery services provider for a number of diverse content services providers to outline the requirements for a comprehensive disaster recovery and business continuity plan. Specific topics include determining the right amount to invest in a disaster recovery plan, identifying the best location for a disaster recovery facility and a checklist of the operational requirements for assuring business continuity. NAB Show Broadcast Engineering Conference Proceedings are available at the NAB Bookstore. Or, for more information about this paper, email a request to cmc_denver@cable.comcast.com
The Unique Challenges Faced by Cable Systems Serving Smaller Markets as They Expand to Meet Conditional Access and OCAP Requirements
A 2007 NCTA technical paper co-written by Gary Traver, Senior Vice President & COO, and James Capps, Executive Director, Systems Engineering & Integrated Technology, for Comcast Media Center.
The authors provide a conceptual model for a cost-effective solution for meeting the expenses and challenges involved in deploying nextgen set tops and Tru2way-enable devices. The paper is available in the NCTA Bookstore: http://www.nctatechnicalpapers.com/PublicationContents.html#Tech07
Using 3:1 Compression for optimizing MPEG 2 HDTV
June 2007 - Written by Ren Finley, Director of Advanced Engineering for the CMC, this technical paper outlines the techniques that may be used for providing a competitive viewing experience while optimizing the bandwidth requirements for HD. The paper was presented at the 2007 SCTE CableTec Expo and is available at http://www.scte.org/devams/products.cfm/
The role of media management agents in meeting the consumer’s content management requirements
January 2007 - Presented at the 2007 SCTE Emerging Technologies Conference, this paper from Mitch Weinraub, CMC’s Executive Director, Products & Services, explores the challenges and opportunities in developing solutions that allow customers to manage and move content across their media devices. The paper is available in ther SCTE Bookstore: http://www.scte.org/devams/products.cfm/
Cable Television 2.0 - Cable operators weigh strategies for launching an all-digital service
September 2006 - Written by Bruce Davis, Vice President and Administration for the CMC, this cover story for the September/October 2006 issue of The Financial Manager magazine outlines the role of migrating more analog channels to digital formats, paving the way for launching a host of advanced services, including HDTV and video on demand. The article is available online at http://www.bcfm.com/docs/09102006CableTelevision.pdf
All digital –the role of centralized content management and techniques for improving digital video quality
June 2006 - This technology paper from Dave Higgins, Vice President of Quality Assurance for the CMC, reviews the digital compression techniques that can optimize bandwidth efficiency while maintaining competitive video quality levels for cable channels delivered in standard definition. The paper was presented at the June 2006 SCTE CableTec Expo and is available from the SCTE Bookstore, at http://www.scte.org/devams/products.cfm/
VRN: Incorporating Video Mosaics into an IPG for Both Linear and VOD Content
January 2006 - Dave Higgins, the CMC’s VP of Quality Assurance and formerly VP of engineering and information technology, describes how CMC's video-rich navigation (VRN), developed in conjunction with GuideWorks, has now integrated linear TV and VOD choices onto one portal. The paper was presented at the Janaury 2006 SCTE Emerging Technologies Conference and is available from the SCTE Bookstore, at http://www.scte.org/devams/products.cfm/