Linux amnis software

Visionary Solutions AVN-200

Byline: Jeff Sauer

What do you need in order to send video signals over long cable distances? High-quality cables to reduce signal noise? Sure. And maybe you'll use a distribution amplifier or signal processor to boost the signal. There is, however, another viable option. With Ethernet cabling and IP networks installed in almost every business facility these days, A/V professionals are finding that sending video over IP is a good solution for sending motion video to a display.

The AVN200 encoder from Visionary Solutions, Inc. is a little black box that weighs less than a pound and is about the size of a small Extron 15-pin Interface box. It's a video network appliance that has the specific task of taking in a video signal (either S-Video or composite, with stereo-mini audio), encoding it into MPEG-2, and turning that into packetized IP data for distribution over a network. An RJ45 Ethernet port on the back is the primary output, although there are also an RS-232 control port and a digital I/O terminal that can be used for a digital output or an RS-485 interface.

Companies like VBrick Systems, Amnis, and Optibase have been offering video or "television" over IP solutions for a few years for applications such as distance learning, corporate and government training and com-munication, and video on demand. Those devices, however, cost thousands of dollars and serve more targeted uses. At less than $1,000, Visionary Solutions' encoder is a more feasible display solution. Complementary devices like remote camera pan/tilt/zoom controls for security installations are also among Visionary Solutions' offerings.

The AVN200 is built on an embedded Linux operating system and encodes video into MPEG-2 at full 720x480 resolution, as well as Half D1 (352x480), 480x480, or SIF (352x240) over a range of bit rates from 1.2Mbps (1.6Mbps with audio) up to 7.5Mbps. Those are DVD bit rates. The product doesn't offer advanced encoding features, such as filters or image processing. Audio is encoded at 256Kbps or 384Kbps, MPEG-1 Layer 2. The default bit rate is 3.8Mbps, but you can set a custom bit rate manually. IP packet data can be encapsulated as either UDP or RTP, with quality-of-service controls for Packet Shaping (for minimizing latency), Forward Error Correction (for RTP streams only), Burst sizes.

The AVN200 supports unicast and multicast, including IGMP Snooping to allow creation and authentication of member groups. Password protection restricts access to encoded streams.

IP networks are more robust than they were just a few years ago, thanks to standard improvements in switching and better bandwidth-management tools. The caveat to using video over IP remains that video can be a lot of data. It's not surprising that IT network administrators have been resistant to such a huge incursion.

It would be nice, therefore, to be able to strictly limit bit rates. Currently, AVN200 custom bit rates produce an average stream size that can fluctuate 100Kbps more than or less than the target. Visionary Solutions offers some utilities for monitoring bit rates, including for separate video and audio streams, and network and Forward Error Correction statistics.

A strange feature is that you set all of the encoding and setup properties directly from Visionary Solutions' viewer application, VSImage Viewer, instead of a separate administrative utility. The exception is setting up an RS-232 or RS-485 session. A more user-friendly and application-broadening web browser control interface is in the works.

The setup control and the stream-monitoring utilities and password authorization make the VSImage Viewer a powerful piece of software. But it's a double-edged sword: Visionary Solutions ties its security and device licensing to the viewer software. That's not so much a problem for point-to-point display installations, but multicast viewing by several stations requires purchase of more software player licenses for $25 (three come free). Also, the VSImage Viewer is more complicated than is appropriate for the average desktop viewer.

Typical viewers would want to go into the programming interface, or even the File menu, for Play and Stop functions. They wouldn't need Query functions and network usage statistics. There are also awkward spots and first-version shortcomings in the interface. For example, you can drag the window to full screen, but there's no keystroke for it. There is a keystroke for returning it to native resolution. There are also non-standard keystrokes for functions like Play/Stop, Mute, and Thumbnail. But these things are relatively minor flaws in the grand scheme.

The AVN200 produces compliant MPEG-2 streams that can be viewed on (theoretically) any MPEG-2 set-top box. This may be the best solution for display-specific applications. Visionary Solutions doesn't make its own decoder, but does resell the Animo AmiNet 110 player ($400), a stylish little device - about the same size as the AVN200, but with a sleek, rounded, silver and black consumer design - that includes both a miniature keyboard/mouse ($75) and remote. With the keyboard, you can enter a unicast or multicast address and log on to an AVN200 stream (and browse the Web if it's connected to a LAN with Internet access).

Ultimately, this set-top box decoder alternative may be the most practical solution for digital signage applications. The fact that the Animo decoder can view multicast streams makes it even more practical for multiple signage monitors showing the same video content.

Visionary Solutions would be smart to partner with companies that create specific applications, like digital signage programming tools or interactive training and presentation software, in order to broaden the appeal of this technology. However, a price point that's a fraction of what others charge should bring the AVN200 notice, if not opportunities in new display-oriented applications.

BOTTOM LINE

Company: Visionary Solutions, Inc. Carpinteria, Calif.; (805) 566-5811 www.vsicam.com

Product: AVN200 encoder

Assets: Affordable; supports unicast and multicast; offers member access and password protection.

Caveats: No filters or image processing; complicated programming interface.

Applications: Digital signage, multiple signage monitors showing the same video content, and interactive training and presentations.

Price: $995

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