Virtual Broadcasting Solution

Innovation in place for the smart transformation of the radio and television industry | H3C virtual 4K/8K broadcasting solution: Creating a reliable bridge connecting content and screen

The broadcasting system is the outlet for TV programs. The programs produced are gathered and broadcasted here. Then, the programs are converted to radio waves and transmitted to numerous individual users. However, with the emergence of 4K and 8K UHD videos, the traditional broadcasting systems of TV stations can no longer support the surging traffic. Therefore, all TV stations must take innovative measures to create a set of broadcasting systems that can adapt to this UHD era.

To achieve this, H3C, a subsidiary of Unigroup, has integrated its full-stack technologies and launched a virtual 4K/8K broadcasting solution based on virtualization, hyper-convergence, intelligent connection and other innovative products, leading the digital reform of the radio and television industry.

Innovative technologies to ensure the broadcasting of UHD content

The traditional broadcasting system is consisted of a complicated architecture and a large number of different devices. About 4 cabinets are needed to place the broadcasting devices of an HD channel, complicating O&M and management and increasing the deployment cost. Besides, the complex and rigid architecture makes flexible resource scheduling impossible, lowering the utilization of ICT resources for various services of the broadcasting systems of TV stations and unbalancing the usage of computing storage resources. In addition, the traditional SDI technology cannot support the bandwidth required for 4K/8K production and broadcasting, nor can it support service innovations. As the 4K and 8K era approaches, TV stations have sped up their transformation of broadcasting systems to IP-based signals and ICT resource virtualization.

To meet the program broadcasting requirements in the 4K/8K era and deliver more innovative solutions for radio and television customers, H3C integrated its advantages in the planning and construction of digital infrastructures and cloud service platforms, and launched the virtual 4K/8K broadcasting solution. By deploying the virtual CAS platform, H3C can deliver four virtual video servers based on one blade server, which meets the requirements of large-scale data transmission while ensuring data security and reliability, supporting the robust and efficient operation of services. Besides, this solution enables one blade server to provide the core services for the broadcast business of the entire radio and TV station. This stable and reliable solution greatly lowers the deployment costs and simplifies the O&M of the underlying system, and realizes the sharing, unified management and lightweight broadcasting of resources.

As the core computing hub of the virtual broadcast solution, H3C UniServer B16000, a plastic intelligent blade server developed by H3C, supports up to 16 blades per chassis, realizing the on-demand combination of computing, storage and intelligent connection. With a high-density, fully redundant and modular design, this server can operate under demanding workloads. Therefore, it further improves the utilization of users' IT resources, carries different service applications in different scenarios amid digital transformation, and accelerates the service innovation of users.

Performance upgrade to define the new standard for broadcasting platforms

Underpinned by its full-stack strength, H3C has integrated the performance and cost advantages of traditional high-end and low-end broadcasting systems and created a more cost-effective and practical innovative broadcasting platform. Thanks to years of experience in the virtualization technology, H3C has improved the reliability and visibility of computing, storage, intelligent connection, security and O&M through the CAS platform. Remote O&M has minimized the O&M costs of in-house broadcasting technologies of TV stations and ensured the broadcasting security. Based on the flexible architecture, H3C enables on-demand scalability and dynamic adjustments of the broadcasting system, shortening the scale-up cycle of video servers by 90% and reducing the deployment and connection costs of future disaster recovery and backup systems. Most importantly, the software-defined flexible architecture will support quick launch of channel services and enhance their agile innovation capabilities to adapt to deepening digital transformation.

To realize smart radio and television, H3C will create a converged solution system oriented towards the 5G UHD era by relying on the innovations of the Digital Brain Plan 2020 and continuously focusing on the subdivided personalized demands of the radio and television industry. This system will drive innovative reforms and facilitate the continuous development of the radio and television industry.