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Introduction
NetInsight is a pioneer in the broadcast and media industry, delivering reliable, cutting-edge solutions to a global clientele. The VA/N400 product line, a highly popular COTS-based solution for media encoding, decoding, and transport, is built upon the successful legacy of the VA225.
Renowned for its versatility, the VA/N400 seamlessly accommodates a wide range of media and transport functions. Its adaptability has earned it the reputation of being the "Swiss Army Knife" for media processing and transport. To build on this foundation, TekMedia developed the N414B, ensuring continued innovation and future-proof capabilities.
With the success of the VA/N400 offshore development program for M&S, TekMedia took on the challenge of designing the next-generation N414B. This case study explores the journey of its development, the challenges overcome, and its impact on the global media landscape.
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Objective: Delivering Future-Ready Hardware to Meet Current and Emerging Demands
In 2022, the N400 product line, built on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware, encountered a critical challenge when a key component reached end-of-life. This triggered a comprehensive hardware overhaul, necessitating the migration of multiple software modules and a full system upgrade.
Given the complexity and resource intensity of the project, the following strategic goals were defined:
- Uninterrupted Hardware Availability:
Deliver the next-generation variant within a strict 12-month timeline to ensure seamless customer transitions and avoid disruptions due to stock depletion.
- Future-Ready Hardware Design:
Develop a robust hardware platform capable of supporting emerging video formats, scalable transport services, and next-generation applications to ensure long-term relevance.
- Software Modernization:
Modernize NimOS to ensure seamless compatibility with the new hardware architecture, while developing a scalable, high-performance platform powered by a future-proof technology stack. This will comprehensively address the evolving demands of dynamic media, transport, and IP-based workflows.
- Extended Product Lifecycle:
Engineer the new variant to remain competitive and viable for years to come, striking a balance between cutting-edge innovation and cost efficiency.
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The Solution: Pioneering the Next Generation
The development of N414revB wasn’t just an upgrade, it was a full transformation of both hardware and software capabilities. The team tackled end-of-life components, system wide upgrades, and seamless software migration with ownership, planning, and agility, delivering a future-proof media and transport solution.
Hardware Evaluation and Selection:
- Partnered closely with suppliers, OEMs, and integrators to secure early access to the latest hardware, enabling thorough testing and validation.
- Conducted rigorous evaluations to ensure the hardware supports both current and emerging media applications. Each hardware revision was assessed using current and future-ready video formats to ensure long-term relevance and meet evolving media processing demands.
- Selected hardware after extensive prototyping and testing for functionality, performance, scalability, and stability.
Firmware and Software Overhaul:
- Rebuilt a decade-old software ecosystem from the ground up, ensuring compatibility with modern operating systems, drivers, SDKs, and tools like FFMPEG.
- Upgraded proprietary and third-party software modules to align with current standards, enabling seamless integration and scalability.
- Migrated the legacy subsystems (with limited documentation) by redesigning and rebuilding them while maintaining compatibility with existing user and management interfaces.
Critical System Issues:
- Proactively identified and resolved hardware compatibility challenges, software bugs, and performance bottlenecks to ensure system stability and reliability.
- Conducted rigorous testing and validation across diverse operating conditions to guarantee top-tier quality and performance.
Timely Delivery:
- Ensuring the N414B was ready for deployment in time for the Olympics 2024, meeting the trust and expectations of customers.
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The Outcome: Happy customers and successful Olympics event
NetInsight unveiled the N414B at NAB 2024, making it available for order just in time for the Summer Olympics 2024.
A dedicated project management team from NetInsight and TekMedia meticulously oversaw the development, testing, and delivery process, ensuring all milestones were achieved on schedule.
Once the gear was on-site, TekMedia provided proactive support and conducted rigorous quality assurance tests in parallel during on-site pre-activation testing. This ensured the system met the high standards required for video quality handling at live events.
The N414B played a pivotal role in delivering high-quality broadcast coverage, enabling multi-camera setups and seamless contribution across platforms. For this event, the product was used both as a 4-channel encoder and a gateway appliance to the NimbraEdge.
The on-time delivery of the N414B reinforced TekMedia’s reputation as a reliable and customer-centric partner.
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Conclusion: A Testament to Innovation and Resilience
TekMedia’s journey in developing the N414revB is a testament to its ability to tackle complex challenges, innovate relentlessly, and deliver in-time results.
The N414B not only represents a significant technological advancement but also underscores TekMedia’s commitment to quality, customer satisfaction, and adaptability in a rapidly evolving industry.
Today N414B serves as a foundation for future developments, paving the way for seamless upgrades, advanced applications, and the integration of next-generation media processing technologies.
The result is a product that not only meets today’s demands but also sets the stage for a future of limitless possibilities.
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"Our experience with TekMedia’s product engineering services has been great. From the very beginning, their approach was rooted in trust, evident in their dedication and open communication about understanding our needs.
The team embraced ownership at every stage, from requirements to field issues, treating the product as if it were their own, and consistently striving for high-quality and innovative approaches. What truly sets them apart is their commitment to transparency - whether it was through regular updates, clear timelines, or proactive problem-solving, we always felt informed and involved.
Thanks to their expertise and collaborative mindset, we achieved milestones in time and with greater confidence.
We highly recommend their engineering services to anyone looking for a dependable and innovative product engineering partner."
Mats Herolf
Vice President, R&D
Netinsight AB , Stockholm
We are humbled and excited to share a significant milestone that reflects the collaborative spirit and dedication of everyone involved.
Building on a strong foundation, our young and passionate team at TekMedia transitioned from M&S to contributing to cutting-edge innovation with the development of N414B.Against challenging odds, the team worked tirelessly to deliver a future-ready platform within an ambitious 12-month timeline, ensuring availability for critical global events like the Olympics 2024. This achievement stands as a testament to the hard work, expertise, and unwavering commitment.
We extend our gratitude to NetInsight for their trust, collaboration, and partnership. Your support and belief in our capabilities inspired us to push boundaries and deliver solutions that contribute to your success.
Ambika Rathinam
Managing Director
https://tekmediasoft.com
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