The Content Group And Informix to Provide Advanced Video Search Capabilities to AVID Editors

Business Wire, Sept 10, 1998

AMSTERDAM, Holland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 10, 1998--

Introducing The OMF DataBlade Module -- Breakthrough Technology Enables Informix Dynamic Server With Universal Data Option to Leverage Avid's Open Standard Media File Format

The Content Group, Inc., a leading provider of integration services and technologies for content and media asset management, and Informix(R) Corporation (NASDAQ:IFMX) today announced breakthrough technology that enables media organizations to store, manage and search for digital media in new and unique ways.

The enabling technology, the OMF DataBlade(R) module, planned for availability in November 1998 from The Content Group, utilizes the Open Media Framework (OMF) Interchange-enabled tools to store and manage digital media in the Informix Dynamic Server(TM) database.

The Content Group OMF DataBlade module represents a major step forward for organizations in the video industry. By linking Avid's digital production tools with Informix Dynamic Server with Universal Data Option(TM) database technology, the OMF DataBlade module enables broadcast professionals to store metadata such as scripts, contracts, and associated program information with specific frames.

Information about a particular program can be kept in one place, making it easier for broadcast companies to locate specific information about almost anything associated with a particular production.

"The management of video content has emerged as an important technology for a wide range of broadcast professionals and video production providers," said Thomas Aquierre-Smith, chief technology officer for the Content Group. "This technology solidifies support for the OMF standard while enabling industry professionals to realize immense productivity gains through streamlining and leveraging production of media assets."

Stratifying Data for Advanced Search Capabilities

The Content Group OMF DataBlade technology integrates with the Informix Video Foundation DataBlade module to expand the capabilities for Avid editors to stratify, or "categorize" their metadata, allowing for expanded search capabilities.

"The combined technologies of the OMF DataBlade module with the Video Foundation DataBlade technology create an entirely new way to manage video assets and related information or metadata," said Carolyn Layne, executive director of Informix's Media Business Unit.

"Avid editors will be able to do far more than simply 'check-in and check -out' video clips, but can realize great return on investment in their media assets by accessing information about frames such as sound effects, edit decision lists, scene change information and closed-caption content."

The innovative stratified data model allows for an unlimited number of views for describing video information. Editors can assign layers of meaning far beyond a simple text title and brief description to their video assets.

The bank of information gathered by this model lets editors submit ad-hoc SQL queries to the database based on a very succinct category of search such as audio, locations or persons for example. This capability is far more powerful than simply retrieving a video BLOB by its title.

The Content Group OMF DataBlade module also allows broadcast professionals the ability to simultaneously access and share media assets in local or wide area networks, eliminating the need for expensive duplication of tapes. Editing can be outsourced while maintaining version control and securing the management of media assets for a streamlined production environment.

The Content Group OMF DataBlade module along with the Informix database will help integrate operational data, rich media, and the Web so that video content can be effectively and efficiently distributed across multiple media and distribution channels.

About Informix

Informix Corporation, based in Menlo Park, Calif., provides innovative database products that assist the world's major corporations attain competitive advantage. Informix is widely recognized as the technology leader for corporate computing environments ranging from small workgroups to very large parallel processing applications.

Informix's database server, application development tools, superior customer service, and strong partnerships enable the company to be at the forefront of major information technology solution areas including data warehousing, high performance OLTP, and Web/content management.

For more information, contact the sales office nearest you or visit our Web site at www.informix.com/informix/industries/media/media.htm

About the Content Group

The Content Group, headquartered in San Francisco, is the first content management solutions provider to deliver end-to-end content management consulting services to integrate video production tools, video management applications and streamline the distribution of video across multiple mediums.

For more information see the Content Group web site at www.contentgroup.com or call 415/512-1000. The Content Group currently has offices in New York City, Washington D.C. and San Francisco with plans for expansion in Los Angeles and London in the near future.