Multiplexer¶

Flussonic Media Server provides all the necessary tools for implementing an enterprise-scale multiplexer that compiles multi-program MPEG-TS streams (MPTS) suitable for transmission to a satellite or cable network. It does not require any special hardware so you can use a regular server computer for multiplexing (however, you may need special cards for ingesting and sending the signal).

Multi-program streams are needed because the channel bandwidth in such networks is limited so you have to send as much programs as possible through one physical channel (cable or satellite). This is why several programs are packed into one stream.

The multiplexer does not make any changes to codecs, resolution and other video parameters, i.e. does not imply transcoding; it simply transfers several input signals to one output. Flussonic multiplexer can take any stream in the Flussonic Media Server configuration as an input and supports all common standards that you may encounter in satellite and cable TV field.

Multiplexer users¶

• Satellite television operators that receive TV programs from TV channels and transmit them to the satellite. For that, Flussonic provides the means to achieve the following objectives:

  • Maximize the use of the current system components to provide new services without major investment.

  • Receive the signal from TV channels. It is usually ingested as a raw stream via SDI, HDMI or ASI as described in the next pages.

  • Prepare an MPTS stream for broadcasting over DVB-T/C/S.

  • Ensure system performance monitoring and notification of failures, e.g. via SNMP.

  • Add video from IP camera to the multiplex.

  • Authorize channels to ensure the payment for sending the signal to the satellite. For example, Flussonic allows authorization via a backend.

• Organizations that want to receive a signal from a content provider like a satellite operator and further broadcast it to their own cable network, for example, in a hospital, community, hotel, etc. For that, Flussonic provides the means to achieve the following objectives:

  • Maximize the use of the current system components to provide new services without major investment. Such organizations tend to use cable networks because they are already available at the facility, so there is no need in deploying an Ethernet network for IPTV. However, Flussonic can broadcast to Ethernet too.

  • Receive the video from your content provider before sending an MPTS to a cable network: it can be video from a satellite, UDP multicast, streams from the Internet including published via SRT, or even a signal from a terrestrial broadcasting tower.

  • Prepare an MPTS stream for broadcasting over DVB-T/C/S. You can add an Electronic Program Guide (EPG), make a DVB-compatible stream with constant bitrate, manage service tables, for example, to read and write teletext and closed captions.

  • Deliver a variety of programs to the TV (in a hotel room, apartment, or house) via DVB-C (coax).

    An important advantage is that Flussonic not only supports conversion from one physical medium to another (DVB-S -> DVB-C), but generates a new MPTS in which you can filter the programs, change their order, or add your own programs, for example, video from CCTV cameras, your own TV channel with VOD films (subject to copyright), your own TV show, etc.

  • Add your own custom channel with films or useful information to the MPTS.

  • Ensure system performance monitoring and notification of failures, e.g. via SNMP.

  • Add video from an IP camera or intercom to the MPTS.

  • Authorize viewers in accordance with their subscription, disconnect when payment is missing, provide additional content for an additional fee. See Descrambling section about how authorization of subscriber access to cable and satellite TV works.

    Flussonic also supports various DRM systems, authorization of publishing and playback sessions via a backend, integrations with Middleware.

Supported standards¶

MPTS streams can be ingested and pushed by ASI, DVB, ATSC or ISDB standards, as well as UDP multicast. SDI and HDMI are used for transmitting raw data of a single program. You will need a capture card (board) to ingest all of those except multicast. The instructions on configuration of the connection of various capture cards with Flussonic Media Server can be found on the next pages in this section.

The signal usually comes from the satellite to the headend with Flussonic installed via DVB, ATSC or ISDB standards (depends on the region). SDI, ASI and HDMI standards are used in professional equipment when transmitting the signal within a telecom operator's facilities (within the same room or building); such a signal can come from the headend to the Flussonic ingest server. Thus, you can use Flussonic on all infrastructure nodes and in most cases you will not need any third party software or hardware.

Read more about data transfer in the networks of a telecom operator on the Digital TV broadcasting page.

See also Copying streams to learn how to emulate raw sources.