The Lowest Level Archiving System
By Michael Lvov

The main archiving system of the lowest level of the Sony Company is the multimedia database BZA-7010. The base contents the text descriptions, key words, images, and the associated with them metadata. The access to the base can be got by the LAN network. The model of this database was developed on the base of the consultations with the users of already existing archiving systems. That allowed creating of the high effective and at the same time simple structure that is easily adapted to the row of the archiving systems and saturating of the numerous claims of users. The entry and search of data is progressed with the help of the number of applications which one is assigned for the decision of the concrete problem.

The Cataloging

The cataloging anticipates the detailed description of the archived material as in its text representation so in the multimedia representation. The workstation on which the process is carried out might be connected to the videocassette recorder what allows viewing and listening of archives. That allows the more exact description of their content and to extract the information about the temporary code, key shots, and to create the material of low resolution for the viewing by the network.

The Search

The process of search anticipates the creation of the requests to the database with the use of defined by the user key word and/or text. For the more exact search there might be used the video of low resolution that is situated on the viewing system's server. The search results are formed in the form of the list of the physical mediums that content the needed material.

The Operating Process

The scheme of the system is shown on the picture.

The process of work with the system can be divided into the next stages:

• The loading of the material that is liable to the cataloging on the workstation assigned for the carrying-out of the next functions: input of data about the temporary code and the key shots; registration of the initial material and details about the video and sound parameters; the extract of the image in low resolution and its transfer on the viewing server (if there is one).

  Sony's archiving system structure scheme

• The saving of the systemized material in the library. After the definition of the storage space the recording of the archive can be renewed according to the situation of the physical data medium.
• The search of the needed material with the help of the searching application.

The process of search consists of the choosing of the key word and/or text, study of the list of materials with the use of the key shots corresponding to the each record extracted from the database, viewing of video in the low resolution from the viewing server and the final choice of the needed material with the following request to the stores development (library).

The Operating Environment

For the more efficient operation with the system the small explication of its structure is needed as the system contents the row of the main components each one of them is prescribed for the fulfillment of concrete tasks.

The Database Server

The server that contents the database is the kernel of the archiving system. Exactly in it the database BZA-7010 is situated. The server is configured so that it would provide the work of the not big group of 10...15 users that can request the base at the same time. The volume of the storage of the server is 18 GB what is equaled to the minimum 25 thousands of records in the database. It is obvious that the server has an opportunity of jointing with the help of the fix of additional memory modules and one more processor. That leads to the increase of users number requesting the base all at once. To increase the volumes of the base itself it is needed to fix the additional hard discs. The two discs of 9 GB each fixed in the basic variant are prescribed not only for the base's storage but also for the fixing of the operation system. The RAID array is not organized in the purposes of providing of the maximum storage volume that is why in the case of needing of the latter the fixing of the RAID controller is needed maintaining the creation of the 1 level massive (equal data) that provides the data security but reduces the volumes of the data storage to 9 GB. The reserved copies of the database might be stored on the DAT tape.

The Workstation of Cataloging

The process of the cataloging presumes the description of the archive with all the needed details. For that the software BZAA-Z7001 is used that allows using of the hierarchy of the defined by the user key words, text fields and descriptions and also the user's sample or formality.

Together with the workstation the professional equipment for the viewing and listen of the video material is working what is the component part of the process. The material that is liable to the archiving transfers to the workstation from the video tape reproduces in the videocassette recorder from which the extract of the key shots is produced stored on the database afterwards. It is possible to create a list of the materials according to the professional archive's formality if it is needed. Additionally to these there is an opportunity of extracting and analyze the material with the help of the Excalibur program subscribed especially for that. This function allows processing the extraction and analysis of video online and to process the definition of the plan and scene, revelation of the TV text and separation of the titles if there are some. The extracted video might be afterwards transferred to the viewing server using the BZAA-A7002 lock of consecutive coding and distribution for that purpose.

The Viewing Workstation

On the workstation of viewing the software BZAA-B7000 is fixed that provides the search of material in the archived database. The sampling is done according to the hierarchy of the key words by the text defined by the user or by the two criteria at once. The requests can be simple and complicated depending on the users experience. Besides the access to the data might regulated by the author's rights. The result of the search stands as in simple list so in the more detailed form. In the second case the general view is conditioned by the formality that was used for the search of material. Besides the needed material can be viewed in low resolution from the viewing server. After the finishing of the search the medium with the material might be ordered for the delivery in the library of the archive storage.

Accept from the viewing station there is used also the station of preparation that allows registration of material and printing of the stickers with the bar code what is necessary for the medium storage in the library.

The Integration

One the peculiarity of the Sony system is an opportunity of integration of formality into it according to the user requests. For that the consultant of the company specially arrives to the user, studies the concrete tasks and requirements after what one or few formalities that entirely satisfy the user's requirements are developed and created.

The Additional Characteristics

The Sony Company providing its archiving system offers such a service as the translation of the existing archives of the database into the format that is accessible for the operation in the Sony system environment. In each case this translation is made on the bases of the analysis of the user's needs.

The viewing server that isn't included in the basic configuration and is delivered additionally represents to the user the interface of entry and exit of material in low resolution. The extraction is processed on the station of cataloging in the JPEG format and then the material transfers to the server and becomes available for the viewing from the workplaces connected to the local network. The server is capable to store up to 50 h of material with the flow of 200 kbit/sec approximately what provides the work of about ten connected users at the same time at the use of the Windows NT Server. For the connection to the network the server has its network adapter at 100 Mbit/sec.

The Perspectives of the System's Development

As any system the archiving Sony system doesn't stop at its development and at the nearest future plans to enlarge its functions.

The function of the archive control allow operating with the material fast and efficiently cataloging it and providing the search of the necessary fragments. At the perfection of the system the control of the facilities, the creation of the task schedule, and the automation of the input of the material into the archives and their extraction from there will become possible. Per se the module of control of the archive is the main system and is responsible for the coordination of all the modules. Plus to all the existed opportunities there will be added the work by the temporary key when that or this task can be done at the earlier preset time.

Besides of all the opportunities of the material storage on the initial mediums situated on the selves in the defined order and under the registered in the database identification numbers it is planned to realize the function of the constant storage in the automated libraries in the DTF-1 format with the use of the ?" magnetic tape and later to switch to the to the storage in the MPEG format. Today the volume of storage of one cartridge with ?" magnetic tape accounts for 42 GB (large cartridge) or 12 GB (small cartridge). In that case the flow is equal to 12 MB/sec (96 Mbit/sec) so on one large cartridge there can be stored about 4 h of material of the Betacam SX quality.

The DTF-2 format comparable at the reproduction with the DFT-1 format is more absolute has the volume of storage on the large cartridge of 200 GB and provides the data flow of 24 MB/sec (192 Mbit/sec) what allows storing up to 18 h of material of the Betacam SX quality or about 9 h of material in the MPEG format with the intraframe coding and the flow of 50 Mbit/sec on it.

For the operation with such cartridge the automated library PetaSite is used. It represents the module jointing storage system. The jointing is done by the adding of the console of recording/reproduction. In the basic variant the PetaSite library contents 130 DTF cartridge, recorded and reproducing on the four consoles. This is equaled to the volume of 5.4 TB or 500 h of video of the Betacam SX quality at the use of the DTF-1, or 2400 26 TB or 2400 h of video of the Betacam SX quality at the use of DTF-2. This configuration can be lead up to 10 PetaByte where 1 PetaByte is equaled to 92 thousand h of video of Betacam SX quality. For the entry and exit of material there can be used the SDI interface.

One more innovation is the BZAA-N7000 interface providing the exchange of material between the video server of news and the archiving system. That allows forwarding to the latter the metadata with the purpose of creation of archiving records assigned for the further innovations and use.

Provided by the Sony Representation in Moscow.

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