Article Overview

Omnibus: New at IBC 2010

The iTX Enterprise Suite

OmniBus Systems, the award-winning provider of comprehensive broadcast automation, content management and workflow solutions, and the originator in 2006 of the revolutionary IT-based iTX automation and playout platform, will be announcing and demonstrating the next stage in the 21st century broadcast revolution: the iTX Enterprise Suite.

The iTX Enterprise Suite

For the first time, broadcasters and media operators can use one single integrated system to unify and streamline ingest, media management, workflow organization, schedule management, asset management, automation, master control and playout to TV, radio and the net. Handling all stages of the production and delivery process under a consistent user environment, the iTX Enterprise Suite delivers unprecedented increases in efficiency, scalability and speed of response for 21st century media businesses.

The iTX Enterprise Suite integrates the following areas of functionality into a streamlined, inter-related and highly automated end-to-end process flow:

Ingest and Media Management

Ingest and Media Management with scheduled and on-demand feed recording from satellite and live sources, unscheduled ad-hoc ingest, support for content file delivery services, clip preparation for all modes of ingest and comprehensive automated tools for managing the movement of content through the infrastructure as required during the workflow process.

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Workflow Management

Workflow Management with powerful job tracking and management information tools to give broadcasters the high-level data needed for effective use of resources and business efficiency. A job-based, highly automated process flow with clear, detailed tracking and reporting makes it possible to manage large broadcast and media workflows with cost-effective use of staff resources. Comprehensive interfaces with third-party scheduling, production and DAM systems automate the initiation and recording of workflow steps completed externally.

Asset Management

Asset Management providing facilities with the capability to add rich business metadata to existing asset information and allowing the user to configure and build tailored metadata schemas using simple tools on the Desktop, without requiring programming or configuration by the manufacturer. With total flexibility on design and structure, support for all media types and time formats and a non-proprietary workflow engine that can be used to link different processes together into a streamlined automated sequence, the asset management tools make it very easy for customers or third-party developers to create their own custom activities which can be dropped into one of the iTX Enterprise Suite preset workflows.

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Advanced Schedule Management

Advanced Schedule Management consolidates the schedules broadcasters and service providers receive from a variety of sources, to allow more intelligent media management and task management across the entire facility's operations. Bringing together an overview of all channels, all playlists, and all media requirements, the schedule management module acts as a central point for advanced workflow management automation based on a detailed view of upcoming schedules, and supports dedicated schedule management systems to coordinate all the realtime information for playing out the channel schedules.

Advanced Automation and Playout

Advanced Automation and Playout with a new powerful iTX playout engine and new i/o hardware enabling multiple in/out channels on a single unit for transitions between live events, DVE moves between two live inputs, multiple outputs for clean feeds for preview, 1080p60 output, or two independent channels from the same unit — providing double the channel density at half the hardware cost. An enhanced DVE engine enables complex 'coming up' sequences: showing three or four program extracts with support for more complex live junctions, multiple simultaneous on-screen images and independent control of image movement.

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The iTX Enterprise Suite

The iTX Enterprise Suite supports a mixed frame rate environment (PAL, NTSC, HD, 60, 25, 30, 24 and any future frame rate) and is readily configured for multi-domain operation for geographically separate facilities. It includes a sophisticated security model for service provider confidentiality between customers, and features the new OmniBus G4 customizable Desktop environment for technical areas of the workflow, as well as the rich media SmartClient interface for Macs and PCs in a lightweight browser environment, for easy access from any Web-enabled computer. For the 21st century multi-platform media operator, the iTX Enterprise Suite ingests and outputs IP-based content, allowing facilities to save on unnecessary video infrastructure for mobile or telco applications.

Omnibus

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