Cisco® AnyRes Video on Demand (VoD) helps expand the revenue potential of video content for service providers, media distributors, and content providers by generating high-quality VoD assets that are compatible with any device. By eliminating the manual bottlenecks typically involved with high-volume, file-based transcoding workflow, which prepares video files for set-top boxes, PCs, and mobile devices, Cisco AnyRes VoD helps lower operating expenses (OpEx). It also produces high-quality assets for every screen with exceptional performance, maximizing advertising opportunities without compromising the viewing experience.
The Cisco AnyRes VoD analysis node performs pre-encoding analysis of input content to automate the routing of incoming media to proper templates and settings. The analysis node is an optional license in the Cisco AnyRes VoD workflow, and it uses decision logic that is customized within a work order according to your needs.
Features and Benefits
The Cisco AnyRes VoD analysis node:
• Organizes incoming assets according to fast file-header reads, or accurate frame-by-frame scanning
• Is an integrated solution that feeds results internally to the server node for further processing
• Is an integrated solution that automates manual processes and filters content according to results
• Is a licensed component of Cisco AnyRes VoD, so no additional hardware is required (but is recommended)
• Positions assets to be transcoded with the Cisco AnyRes VoD encode node or organized into folders by desired parameters to initiate a third-party action
• Scans for resolution, frame rate, file name, audio channels, time code, pixel format, letterbox detection, and more. Refer to Table 2 for a complete list
Platform Support and Compatibility
Cisco AnyRes Video on Demand is optimized for use on Cisco Unified Computing System™ (Cisco UCS™) hardware, such as on the B200 M3 blade server. This provides customers with a single system that encompasses:
• Network: Cisco Unified Fabric
• Industry-standard x86 computing
• Storage with access options
• Virtualization optimization
• Unified management model
• Dynamic resource provisioning
• Efficient scaling
• Lower cost, with fewer servers, switches, adapters, and cables
• Lower power consumption
• Fewer points of management
Licensing
License requirements for Cisco AnyRes Video on Demand vary by node and feature, as outlined in Table 1.
Table 1. License Requirements
Node
License Requirements
Client
Unlicensed, but required initially for setup and to operate Cisco AnyRes VoD; can be bypassed by the Cisco AnyRes VoD server API
Server
Required for all installations; one license per server or blade
Encoding
Transcoding and digital rights management (DRM)
Analysis
Pre-encoding analysis and "decision logic"
Post-encoding
Quality check, offline packaging, and delivery
Enhanced transport stream
Generates CableLabs®-compliant files
AC-3 Dolby
Encoding AC-3 files; pass-through does not require license
Common format indexing
Generates files compatible with Cisco Videoscape™ Distribution Suite Origin Server (VDS-OS) on-demand packaging
IP mode
Puts Cisco AnyRes VoD into "online enhancement" mode for Cisco VDS Optimization Engine (VDS-OE) solution
Product Specifications
Table 2 lists product specifications for Cisco AnyRes Video on Demand Analysis Node.
Table 2. Product Specifications
Inputs
Video
• Resolutions up to 2048 x 1080
• MPEG-2 elementary, program, and transport streams
• QuickTime (all codecs supported by QT 7.2 and later, including Apple ProRes 422, DVCPRO HD, Avid DNxHD*, and IMX MPEG-2*)
• H.264, all profiles
• MXF (OP1A and OP-atom)
• GXF (SMPTE-360M)
• AVI
• WMV
• AVISynth scripts
• Motion and Photo JPEG
* With installation of third-party decoders
Audio
• AVI, QT, MPEG-2 Program and Transport Streams, and AVISynth scripts with embedded audio tracks
• Multichannel AVI
• WAV
• Extensible WAV
• AC-3
• Advanced encryption standard (AES) (SMPTE-302M)
Analysis
Options
Parameters
Active area height
Numerical entry
Active area width
Numerical entry
Audio channels
• None
• 1 (mono)
• 2 (stereo)
• 4
• 6
• 8
Audio codec
• AAC
• AC3
• MPEG layer 2
• None
• PCM
• WMA
Audio high count
Numerical entry
Audio sample rate (Hz)
• None
• 8000
• 11,025
• 22,050
• 32,000
• 44,056
• 44,100
• 47,250
• 48,000
• 50,000
• 50,400
• 88,200
• 96,000
• 176,400
• 192,000
• 2,822,400
Audio tracks
1-8
Closed captioning
• None
• 608
• 708
Commercial black count
Numerical entry
Container type
• ASF
• AVI
• AVISynth
• MPEG2 Program
• MPEG2 Transport
• MPEG4
• QuickTime
• Unknown
Display aspect ratio
Numerical entry
Dropped frame count
Numerical entry
Field order
• Top field first
• Bottom field first
File name
Open field
File size (MB)
Numerical entry
Frame mode
• Interlaced
• Progressive
• Telecined
Frame rate
• 60
• 59.94
• 50
• 30
• 29.97
• 25
• 24
• 23.976
• 15
• 12
• 10
• 7.5
• 6.25
• 5
Input height
Numerical entry
Input width
Numerical entry
Letterbox bottom height
Numerical entry
Letterbox top height
Numerical entry
Pillarbox left width
Numerical entry
Pillarbox right width
Numerical entry
Pixel aspect ratio
Numerical entry
Video bitrate (Kbps)
Numerical entry
Video codec
• AVC/h.264
• Cineform
• DVCPro
• MPEG-2
• Uncompressed
• VC-1
• XD Cam
System Requirements
Table 3 lists system requirements for the Cisco AnyRes Video on Demand Analysis Node.
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Cisco Services' approach and differentiation in services comes from a heritage of network capabilities and a wealth of experience in providing solutions to service providers in all sectors around the world. That is reflected in over 20 years' involvement in the market with services and solutions that are strategically aligned with those of the service provider. Cisco Services has also made a massive research and development commitment to the service provider community, developing innovative roadmaps and solutions to keep the sector ahead of the competition.
