Sun releases version 2.0 of Digital Asset Management Reference Architecture

Enterprise Networks & Servers, May 2005

Sun Microsystems Inc. has released version 2.0 of its Digital Asset Management Reference Architecture.

A Sun reference architecture can be thought of as a blueprint to help companies build end-to-end solutions to meet specific business needs such as reducing risk of deploying new technology while staying competitive.

The new Digital Asset Management Reference Architecture (DAMRA) Version 2.0 is designed to save companies even more capital and operational dollars by providing an open, end-to-end digital asset management system. The new reference architecture is able to manage video and rich media content including HD and SD video, photos, audio and Flash animation.

Sun's new enhancements include VITA, an open Java technology application that accommodates a large number of standards-based ingest (digital conversion) tools.

Other enhancements include more media file type support such as MXF and DV, as well as contract rights management to track licensing and distribution parameters for program materials.

The reference architecture expands video server integration with leading broadcast video server vendors including Thompson Grass Valley and Omneon. The reference architecture also integrates the latest features of broadcast automation and traffic systems by industry leaders Harris Corporation and Myers Protrack.

MLB.com hits grand slam

Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP (MLBAM) has transformed the way baseball video and audio are managed and delivered to large audiences using Sun DAMRA. The collaboration between Sun and MLBAM fuels a powerful web site (MLB.com) that offers fans faster access to more game highlights than any other sports league worldwide utilizing Sun's DAMRA.

The MLBAM Digital Asset Management Reference Architecture System customized and powered by Sun streamed 650 million videos and delivered more than one billion media accesses to more than one billion visitors in 2004 alone. The site recently broke records with 90 million page views in a single day. With the new enhancements from this DAMRA, MLB. com expects to feature as many as 15 live games daily and more than 6,000 audiostreamed games during the 2005 season, according to Joe Choti, chief technology officer, Major League Baseball Advanced Media.

"Because it provides the complete content management functionality we need, Sun's Digital Asset Management Reference Architecture was a key factor in our decision to work with Sun to meet our fans' expectations," Choti said. "With the reduced system complexity, high sealability and reliability, and faster timeto-deployment provided through Sun's technologies, we've hit a grand slam in our quest to take the action from the fields to our fans."

WGBH and Sun

The reference architecture was developed in accordance with Sun's iForce; WGBH (Boston), the public broadcasting producer; and Artesia Technologies, an Open Text Corp.

David Liroff, vice president and chief technology officer of WGBH, said the station uses the system to manage the assets of Frontline, one of its leading primetime productions.

A key component of the reference achitecture is its integrated Hierarchical Storage Management (HSM) system, which automatically enables use of various storage architectures.

Its built-in scalability allows storage capacity to increase as digital content is added. WGBH plans to apply the reference architecture features to more of its public programs when production moves to new facilities in early 2006.

"This improved Digital Asset Management Reference Architecture will transform the way we manage media assets across our enterprise and throughout the PBS system," Liroff said.

"By using this solution, we will be able to improve the quality and efficiency of broadcast production, reduce development cycles for new media services and capitalize on the full potential of our significant library of digital assets."

Michael Barros, vice president of Business Development for Artesia Technologies, noted that Sun established the vanguard in proven Digital Asset Management solutions with the Digital Asset Management Reference Architecture 1.0 at NAB in 2003.

"Through customer successes, core product enhancements and a broader footprint, Sun has set the bar higher with the new version of this Reference Architecture," Barros said.

"We look forward to migrating our systems to Solaris 10 OS to maximize the effect of this architecture."

Sun regularly releases reference architectures based on organized technical insight, careful documentation and extensive experience with other customer deployments. These reference architectures reduce customer risk when deploying complex and integrated systems.