Head-End Solution for Plug & Play StreamBridge™ offers rich functionality for translating and merging PSIP/SI information embedded in network and broadcast station feeds, allowing cable operators great flexibility to combine these feeds to construct QAM multiplexes. It offers a universal solution with low operational costs and integrates with all commonly used (legacy and new) head-end multiplexing and control systems. A high degree of scalability is provided - a single system can support a large number of multiplexes and multiple multiplexers via ASI and/ or ethernet connectivity. It easily maps incoming network streams to outgoing digital cable channels and ensures • Passing of only the desired number of EITs and ETTs • Alteration of table playout rates and overall bitrate for PSIP/SI • Change in channel names and numbers • Selectable (simultaneous) one-part and two-part numbering scheme • Descriptor consistency between PMT and EIT • Automated mux synchronization based on service profile discovery Click to zoom! Channel Line-up & configuration Import data from any of these sources with a single click: • Tribune Media Services (TMS) • TV Guide Data Service • Various 3rd Party Traffic & Automation Systems • Digital head-end control systems Or set up automatic periodic updates for a hands off-approach. Third-party data formats can also be easily translated and then imported to the StreamBridge system Click to zoom! Digital EAS • StreamBridge generates EAS messages in SCTE18 format as required by the Plug and Play agreement • SCTE18 messages instruct the Digital Cable Ready TVs and STBs to display a text crawl and can force them to tune to a details audio channel • StreamBridge can be interfaced to a variety of RF EAS receivers that tune to emergency broadcasts by national, state and local agencies - enabling highly automated and localized implementation of EAS • EAS receivers used in analog head-ends can be used to drive StreamBridge, thus preserving the operator's investment in these systems, simplifying operations, and enabling a seamless transition from analog to digital transmission Click to zoom! Cross Channel Promotions • The generation of additional PSIP/SI information displayed by Digital Cable Ready receivers, provides cable operators an opportunity to easily brand and promote premium services at very low incremental cost • This system enables promotion of programming across multiple channels • StreamBridge has both power and capability to edit descriptions of premium programs, manage multiple channels, and create detailed channel descriptions for robust and informative IPGs • Channel and event placement for promotion can be driven by a variety of Operational Support Systems or other marketing and sales tools. Thus resulting in low operational costs, and implementation of highly dynamic and flexible promotional programs • Provides high return on capital/ operations investment as a marketing and sales tool Click to zoom! Easily Manage Channels • Easily add and manage services (virtual channels) and their descriptions • Specify one part and/or two part channel numbers • Insert hide-guide information that allows the receiver to display the IPG information for that channel but prevents the receiver from tuning to the channel Click to zoom! Cue-Tone Management The Cue tone translation feature of the StreamBridge system converts analog cue tones to SCTE35 messages that can be embedded with the digital content for downstream digital ad insertion. • This eliminates the additional infrastructure capital cost of cue tone transportation and the additional operational cost of maintaining a parallel distribution infrastructure • One StreamBridge unit placed in a super head-end, providing a dense integration of functionality, can handle a large number of cue tone channels • Each cue tone channel can be individually calibrated to account for latencies of specific sources and ad insertion equipment Integrated with a Wide Range of 3rd Party Equipment StreamBridge has been developed with an open system approach, providing a high performance PSIP/SI bit-stream generator that can be integrated with equipment from various vendors including: • Harmonic • Tandberg • Motorola • Scientific Atlanta