 |
|
|
Until now, the DCE has aired educational programming by sending VHS cassettes out on the prison two-channel CATV network. However, this antiquated system of distributing content had become unmanageable due to the VHS storage requirements. Also, the tapes were starting to degrade and break, necessitating the need to convert the system to a digital solution. When Mark Hutchinson decided to start researching options, he contacted York Telecom. York Telecom then contacted AVX-Change, Inc. and Realm Control Corp. We worked with York Telecom and AVX-Change, Inc. to provide a scalable solution within the constraints of the prison budget. The result was a Canopus MediaEdge2 system with three ME-STB2 decoders , two that are dedicated to go out on air and a third that is hardwired to a DVD Recorder for sake of automated content backups. The whole solution provides the necessary flexibility to work around teacher absences, days off due to extreme weather, etc.
Unique Needs
In addition to distribution of digital content, the DCE also needed to provide a Bulletin Board feature using their existing Character Generator. The Bulletin Board is used to post the class schedule and to send out announcements. To keep the overall cost of the system as low as possible, only one digital MVR-D4000 encoder card was included in the server. A VCR is attached to that encoder and it is used to convert their existing VHS content library to a digital format. The Character Generator is also passed through that deck, providing a means of encoding the Bulletin Board to a digital format whenever no content is encoding. To simplify this process, Realm Control Corp. created a custom application to use when encoding the Bulletin Board. This custom application, the Bulletin Board Encoder Utility, allows the DCE staff to easily update the digital Bulletin Board (view screenshot ). The two dedicated content decoders are set to use the Bulletin Board as a "screen saver", thus ensuring that it will go out any time there is no scheduled content on air. This is analogous to the Default Channel in Phoenix.
Technical Specifications
The following describes the technical specifications of the server and the Canopus hardware complement:
| Intel Core Duo P4 3.0 GHz, 2 Gigahertz RAM, 1 Terabyte SATA HDD | ||
| Small Form Factor iDeq case | ||
| Windows Server 2003 | ||
| Canopus MediaEdge2 Videocasting software | ||
| 3 Canopus ME-STB2 decoders | ||
| 1 MVR-D4000 digital encoder card | ||
| AMX NetLinx NI-2000 Integrated NetLinx Controller | ||
| Phoenix32 Scheduling & Control Software | ||
Conclusion
Realm Control Corp. would like to thank Mark Hutchinson of the Department of Correctional Education for choosing Phoenix32 as the solution to their content distribution needs. Also, very special thanks go out to both York Telecom and AVX-Change, Inc. for the opportunity to collaborate on this solution for the DCE.