XDC Presents Advanced JPEG2000 Digital Cinema Server at Cinema Expo 2007

"XDC introduces the CineStore Solo G3 digital cinema server at the 2007 Cinema Expo International Convention and Trade Show in Amsterdam June 25-29. This hybrid JPEG2000/MPEG2 system supports all currently standardised Digital Cinema Initiatives (DCI) specifications and is the advanced core unit at the heart of all XDC state-of-the-art digital cinema installations.

“The CineStore Solo G3 digital cinema server is the first to be based on the innovative FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) solution capable of JPEG2000 DCI/SMPTE compliant decoding (as well as MPEG2 decoding). This provides a really competitive advantage in comparison with the ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) solutions implemented in current D-Cinema servers. Indeed, the G3 server is easily upgradeable as the FPGA can be reprogrammed … that means the upgrade is performed economically and securely by remote control … This avoids swapping hardware inside the machine”, says Jérôme Delvaux, R&D Manager at XDC. “The security of the whole system has also been studied to have one of the most secure systems, in accordance with DCI specifications, and furthermore, we have implemented into the G3 a high speed SATA connectivity enabling real-time ingest of JPEG2000 content. The internal SATA port is used with our new XDC’s Cinedisk, which is a Promise interoperable hard drive. Of course, any other interoperable hard drives can be connected to the G3 by using the external connections (Ethernet, e-SATA or USB2) provided on the server.”

“We are very excited that XDC has selected intoPIX JPEG2000 compression technology as one of the many innovations incorporated into the advanced G3 server” comments Jean Francois Nivart, CEO intoPIX. “The superb implementation of the leading edge IPX-JP2K image management core takes every advantage of its security, flexibility and robustness to ensure the highest possible standard of content delivery”.

Thierry Van der Kaa, Product Manager at XDC points out, “The XDC team has fully redesigned its products, based on over 6 year’s expertise of the digital cinema user requirements. This enables XDC to offer a full range of products that meet the needs of the exhibitors, system integrators and distributors. The masterpiece at the centre of the CineStore product family, the Solo G3 has now the most user-friendly interface on the market with its large 15” touchscreen monitor“. Thierry Van der Kaa adds “The new G3 server also will be equipped with the CineStore Audi. This newly developed unit provides the interconnection of the G3 to the cinema audio B-chain in order to provide digital to analogue conversion, external analogue audio source inputs and high quality signal isolation to avoid unexpected noise.”

The XDC G3 server is an interoperable system, very flexible and fully integrated into the cinema environment (i.e. automation, sound and pre-show systems). It is connected via high-speed DSL to the XDC Network Operations Centre for online support and assistance. XDC’s 7/7 helpdesk staff is composed of multilingual skilled engineers servicing over 300 digital cinema installations spread on 10 European countries. The automatic system health reports generated by the G3 are sent to the CineStore Data, XDC’s central management system, to provide proactive preventative maintenance operations. The CineStore Data is also used for the upgrades and the remedial support operations. In addition, the CineStore Data is the foundation stone for content related extranet services which are available according to client requirements on the XDC network.

The G3 can be remotely controlled via the CineStore Plaza, XDC’s Theatre Management System (TMS) composed of the Plaza-Catcher which ingests content securely stored on Cinedisks, and the Plaza-Library which securely stores over 40 films in JPEG2000 format."

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Kodak to Bring First “Universal” Theatre Management System To Europe

"Kodak is announcing the European availability of its first version of the Kodak Theatre Management System (TMS), to exhibition and distribution managers at the 2007 Cinema Expo International Convention and Trade Show in Amsterdam June 25 - 29.

The Kodak TMS will be the exhibition industry’s first ‘universal’ digital system designed to manage the full cinema presentation, linking functions that are currently separate and often labor intensive. The system offers the potential to bring new workflow efficiencies to the cinema.

The Kodak Theatre Management System includes a server driven by unique and proprietary Kodak-written software connected to the cinema’s ticketing system. Directed by the theatre’s ticketing system, the TMS is designed to automatically load digital features, trailers, other content, and decryption keys -- and distribute, store, stage, and play everything on the right screens at the right time, according to the show play-list.

First versions of the TMS automatically load and migrate decryption keys over the network; the system is expected to evolve rapidly with full functionality available in the next few months.

The Kodak TMS is at the heart of the fully-integrated Kodak solution, which includes networked content players and feature projectors, as well as Kodak service and support.

“In the past four years, we’ve gained extensive experience in the marketplace,” said Brian Kercher, general manager of Kodak Digital Cinema in Europe. “Currently, we have Kodak systems installed on 2100 screens in 200 sites in 8 countries. Nearly 100 of those systems are playing digital features on a regular basis and half of those are also playing 3D content. We’re working with 20 exhibition chains, connecting to 10 point-of-sale systems. We’re building all of that expertise into our new Theatre Management System.”

A key advantage of the new TMS is its ability to manage the full cinema presentation – pre-show as well as feature. It connects also to the theatre’s automation, so curtains, masking, lighting and other elements are adjusted automatically.

“Exhibitors have proven that a networked digital pre-show is an important new source of revenue,” said Kercher. “The pre-show will be able to operate on a separate network with separate components – or through the same content player and projector used for the feature. Either way, the TMS can manage it. This is a flexible solution.”

The Kodak Theatre Management System is now being tested in several countries. It will be available, worldwide, with full functionality, later this year."

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