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Architecture
Unique to the architecture of Cobalt is the freedom to configure the automation system for multi-channel high-resilient playout as well as lean-and-mean playout due to it’s modular architecture. A high redundancy model is chosen by the customer enabling multi-channel resilient playout. Cobalt natively supports both n 1 and 1 1 redundancy on every playout channel without a single point of failure.
The lean-and-mean model is chosen for the most cost-efficient playout requirements; integrating asset management, scheduling and playout on a single playout server. The choice can be made by the customer based on requirements and budget.
Key features
Asset Manager
The way assets are acquired, ingested and managed is key to an efficient playout workflow. Our Asset Manager is designed to meet the requirements for simple linear playout - with very little metadata - to advanced playout solutions requiring a variety of metadata used for display, scheduling, logging and managing assets. The flexible way Cobalt handles assets and its metadata allows the customer to automate functionality normally preserved to post-production. This will result in a reduction in costs whilst still applying the same graphic functionality that distinguishes your channel from other channels.
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Playout control
The Playout Control module (POC) allows operators to efficiently monitor and control multiple channels with a low operator intervention requirement. It presents a
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practical horizontal multi-channel timeline overview alongside a detailed playlist view on a channel-by-channel basis. Within POC, operators can import schedules in different formats, prepare and verify off-line schedules quickly before activating them on their respective channels. The standard xml as-run files can be used as input for or as feedback to other environments while PubliTronic can deliver specific as-run exporters on request. Logging is done in real time on the playout server and can be exported to file if necessary. Our unique Weekplanner allows rule based scheduling. This is especially useful for automated scheduling of thematic channels.
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Weekplanner
The Weekplanner is a scheduler implementation which generated playlists according to intelligent scheduling algorithms. Specifically channels with a repetitive nature or channels which require dynamic playlists generated from a pool of available assets are schedules effectively within the Weekplanner.
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Advanced functionality
The efficient integration with a PubliTronic playout server of the Nexus or Indigo productline allows maximum usage of available features. Subtitles, wide screen signaling and teletext are just a few examples of the powerful features which are easily integrated in your playout workflow. The experience PubliTronic gathered over the years in implementing interactive playout services like SMS messaging, jukebox or voting applications is reflected in Cobalt by implementing this advanced functionality in a simple and reliable workflow. It is possible to have – when required – a direct interface to the Cobalt system offering ultimate flexibility to implement your unique channel requirements.
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Open architecture
Cobalt is based on a client-server architecture. The client software runs on standard of the shelf Windows client PC’s and is never mission critical. The playout servers – running Linux – are purpose made as broadcast servers embracing the latest IT-technology. These servers are professionally supported by the broadcast expertise of PubliTronic thus offering the best of IT and broadcast technology.
3rd party integration
Many playout solutions require integration in an existing environment with scheduling, traffic, workflow and storage systems. Besides standard XML interfaces PubliTronic offer integration services with 3rd party systems. Successful integrations include (but are not limited to): Provys, RCS Selector, Diva, ProConsultant, HP DMS, SGT, Omneon and Aveco.
Configurations
This page shows a number of examples of possible configurations to illustrate Cobalt's high scalability. To fit specific requirements, any combination of components can be defined. The main events in an automation system trigger sub-events within Cobalt. Synchronized and overlaid playback of enriched content like clip captions, animations and squeezes can be added on to an automation system, that is, by it's nature, not capable of dealing with enriched content.
Standalone
In standalone mode, Cobalt acts ad a fully-featured solution for automated broadcasts. It very efficiently makes use of the Indigo or Nexus system to generate simple as well as complex broadcast sequences with low exploitation costs.
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Add-on configuration
In add-on operation, Cobalt acts as a bridge between the existing automation and follows it as a slave.
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