Distributing and Synchronizing Signals Between the Worlds of SDI and IP

Metadata

Publisher: SMPTE — White Plains, NY, USA
Doc Type: Journal Article
Content Type: Original Research
Abbreviated Title: SMPTE Mot. Imag. J
Volume: 132, No. 2, pp. 51–56
Abstract: Moving signals between the worlds of serial digital interface (SDI) and Internet Protocol (IP) is not exactly rocket science, but synchronizing these signals may prove to be a challenge. It is these cases that we will discuss in this article and these challenges to which we seek to identify and present a viable and cost-effective solution. We will consider a recent Riedel project with a major U.S. broadcaster. Following the decision to move its operations to ST 2110, this broadcast network experienced synchronization problems between its IP-based flagship station and more than 200 affiliate stations throughout North America relying on SDI. The fact that the remote feed needed to be compressed posed yet another challenge, as it required the decompressed signal to be decoded to ST 2110 before it could be converted to SDI. The Riedel team managed to solve the synchronization issue with a single, powerful device smaller than the size of your thumb: A software-defined processing small form-factor pluggable (SFP) device that enabled the conversion of UHD-1 and ST 2110 signals for bidirectional distribution between the headquarters and the affiliate stations while generating a Precision Time Protocol (PTP) Grand Master clock from the affiliate’s synchronized signal. This greatly reduced both system complexity and the cost of replacing the entire affiliate synchronization system. After a general description of the specific use-case setup, we will present an overview of the various possible solutions and weigh the pros and cons before focusing on the most viable solution. After short explanations of the demarcation switch configuration and the Epoch reference generation at the affiliate sites, we conclude with an outlook on other potential use cases.
Publication Date: 2023-03-01
DOI: 10.5594/JMI.2023.3236022
ISSN: Print: 1545-0279 | Electronic: 2160-2492
Link: https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2023.3236022
Author(s): Renaud Lavoie
bio
Renaud Lavoie is a technology enthusiast, entrepreneur, and inventor who has close to 40 patents. An engineer by profession, he started his career in telecommunications, while teaching at École de Technologie Supérieure, Montreal, QC, Canada. After working at Miranda Technologies, Montreal, for seven years, he founded Embrionix, which grew quickly and was recognized by Deloitte, Fast50 in 2016.
Sithideth Viengkhou
bio
Sithideth Viengkhou is a technology enthusiast. He is one of the earliest members of the Embrionix team and has been a part of its journey from a small startup to what it is today. When Embrionix joined Riedel, Wuppertal, Germany, he took on a key role in the integration of Embrionix within Riedel.
Sebastien Berthiaume
bio
Sebastien Berthiaume is a principal designer for a leading network equipment manufacturer, where he has contributed innovative ways to bring key performance metrics for Carrier grade Ethernet with his implementation of RFC-2544, RFC-5357, and Y.1564. He mentors Reidel’s young firmware engineers.
Daniel Tremblay
bio
Daniel Tremblay is a senior FPGA architect at Riedel Communications, Wuppertal, Germany. He is a lifelong broadcast professional that worked on industry-leading solutions such as Multiviewers and ST 2110 Gateways at Miranda Technologies, Montreal, Grass Valley, and Montreal, Riedel Communication.
Keyword(s): Epoch Timing, Grandmaster, PTP, SDI
Copyright: © 2023 SMPTE

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Renaud Lavoie, Sithideth Viengkhou, Sebastien Berthiaume, and Daniel Tremblay; Distributing and Synchronizing Signals Between the Worlds of SDI and IP, SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal ( Volume: 132, Issue: 2, March 2023); SMPTE, 2023. Available at https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2023.3236022

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Renaud Lavoie, Sithideth Viengkhou, Sebastien Berthiaume, and Daniel Tremblay; Distributing and Synchronizing Signals Between the Worlds of SDI and IP, SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal ( Volume: 132, Issue: 2, March 2023); SMPTE, 2023. Available at https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2023.3236022

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<span class="citation">Renaud Lavoie, Sithideth Viengkhou, Sebastien Berthiaume, and Daniel Tremblay; <cite>Distributing and Synchronizing Signals Between the Worlds of SDI and IP</cite>, SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal ( Volume: 132, Issue: 2, March 2023); SMPTE, 2023. Available at <a href="https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2023.3236022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2023.3236022</a></span>

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Renaud Lavoie, Sithideth Viengkhou, Sebastien Berthiaume, and Daniel Tremblay; Distributing and Synchronizing Signals Between the Worlds of SDI and IP, SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal ( Volume: 132, Issue: 2, March 2023); SMPTE, 2023
doi: 10.5594/JMI.2023.3236022
url: https://doi.org/10.5594/JMI.2023.3236022

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Renaud Lavoie, Sithideth Viengkhou, Sebastien Berthiaume, and Daniel Tremblay; <cite id="bib-10-5594-jmi-2023-3236022">Distributing and Synchronizing Signals Between the Worlds of SDI and IP</cite>, SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal ( Volume: 132, Issue: 2, March 2023); SMPTE, 2023
<span class="doi">10.5594/JMI.2023.3236022</span>
</li>