Cable TV Networks Research Articles

The Continuing Evolution of R&D/Technical Computing

Now that computers and computer-based tools allow research organizations to be self-sufficient in satisfying their computing requirements, many R&D managers are wondering what the technology might do for the process of R&D. At Hoechst Celanese, an R&D/Technical Computing Technology Management Team was charged with developing a vision for R&D management of how this rapidly changing technology was going to change R&D. previous article addressed the impact of the coming revolution in R&D/technical computing and how it could revolutionize the R&D process (RTM Nov.-Dec. 1991, pp. 29-32). This article considers how R&D could evolve as computer technology continues to advance. Our experience with most white papers is that they provide technological predictions and leave it to the readers to determine how that technology will assist them. Consequently, we decided to take a slightly different tack in this article by presenting five examples of how the evolution of computers will affect the work day of technical people. The scenarios are titled A Day in the Life of... and cover five key positions in R&D. The positions include a vice president of research, a pilot plant engineer, a research chemist, a research chemist using information services, and a technical computing support professional. These scenarios attempt to illustrate how computing technology will change the lives of people working in a R&D organization. major concern is that the predictions are too conservative. Those concerning hardware capabilities are almost certainly too conservative, yet hardware is merely a platform for delivering applications. Many of the applications described could be run on today's hardware, but software creation is the prime obstacle. There should be rapid improvements in software engineering that will allow these applications to be realized by 1995. All characters are fictitious and are not modeled after any current or former employees. The opinions are those of the authors and do not reflect the view of Hoechst Celanese or its officers. DAY IN THE LIFE OF... Vice President of Research It is Monday morning and Schmidt arrives one-half hour earlier than usual to prepare for his weekly staff meeting. Friday afternoon was typical, with last-minute interruptions and changes in plans for various operational duties. As vice president of research, Schmidt typically spends more time than he would like handling administrative and general housekeeping chores. This however, was before he was able to use technology advances in his own environment. On Friday, Schmidt was able to sit down at his desk at home and connect his workstation into the Research Information System by using the local cable TV network services. These services allow him to have the same high speed network capability at home as he does at work. After navigating through the necessary security procedure to gain access, Schmidt quickly pulled out of the system the status of all his department heads' projects for the week. Those areas of concern Schmidt noted and pulled together using a cut and paste software package, adding graphical input as needed. Where supporting data was needed, Schmidt was able to query the databases for test results to clarify items. While staff meetings used to take several hours and typically ended with a feeling of less than complete satisfaction, now Schmidt and his colleagues are able to address critical action items with supporting input at their fingertips. Follow-up to the meetings, while difficult before, now is easily accomplished using electronic mail. At first, the need to type information made this less than perfect, but with the introduction of speech recognition systems to convert voice to written text, Schmidt is now able to simply speak to his workstation and have his message automatically transferred to the system. In those cases where follow-up to colleagues in Germany and Japan is necessary, the system, at the touch of one key, converts the English documents to the appropriate language, and, with one more key stroke, mails them to the networked computer system in Germany or Japan. …

Videotex and interactive services on tree‐and‐branch cable TV networks

AbstractInteractive services on tree‐and‐branch cable TV systems in the U.K. have been rather slow to emerge. This has been partly due to the high cost of the customers' terminals but is also due to the difficulty of passing keyboard data, from the customers, back over the cable network to the head‐end. This paper describes a new approach to these problems and shows that Videotex and other interactive services can be provided without major engineering changes to the network.

放送と通信における衛星利用技術 Ｉ 放送における衛星利用技術 ５ スペース・ケーブルネット

放送と通信における衛星利用技術 Ｉ 放送における衛星利用技術 ５ スペース・ケーブルネット

Multiservice CATV—from the viewpoint of the IBCN

AbstractIn countries where basic telecommunication services cannot satisfy all demands, as in Hungary and some other countries, the function of CATV may be different from that in the developed countries. While maintaining the primary, program distribution function it is expedient to use the cable TV as a local, autonomous data network too. From this viewpoint the up‐to‐date CATV network is a forerunner of the integrated broadband communication networks (IBCNs). Surveying these possibilities, and their economical implementation, is in the interest of many telecommunications administrations. The Research Institute of the Hungarian PTT (the PKI) has for some time been dealing with the multi‐purpose application possibilities of cable TV systems too. In the framework of this research work, PKI has recently established an experimental cable TV network which is suitable for examining other functions as well.

Cable policy in Europe: The role of transborder broadcasting and its effects on CATV

The larger West European countries, in particular France, the UK and FR Germany, have launched plans for setting up wider cable TV networks. It appears, however, that they will not achieve the high penetration levels reached in some of the smaller countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland. This article describes the phases involved in cable TV development, and analyses how the European allocation of broadcasting channels has led to the use of relatively few channels per country, which are available nationwide. The cabling experience in the smaller countries is examined, and then the cabling plans of France, the UK and FR Germany are surveyed and assessed.

Broad-Band Communication Systems in Great Britain

Great Britain, like other advanced countries, stands on the threshold of rapid changes in the local network driven by the twin forces of technological opportunity, which permit new network architectures and service capability, and demand for new services which can be flexibly and speedily provided. The paper first discusses the commercial and regulatory environment. The development of cable TV networks is then examined, particularly the more advanced forms of networks which support a wide range of interactive services such as videotex, photo videotex, and interactive video. Scenarios for telecommunications networks evolution are then outlined taking account of optical fiber systems and reliable VLSI circuitry developments. The two forms of network are compared and notable points of similarity are highlighted which suggest a natural convergence. Finally, some thoughts are presented on the possible nature of the network from this convergence.

Characterization of Cable TV Networks as the Transmission Media for Data

Two-way cable television (CATV) networks have been developed over a period of a dozen years or so with the express purpose of serving as the transmission medium for a variety of duplex data communications services for home and business. Unfortunately, many CATV engineers have only a rudimentary understanding of encoded transmission theory and practice, and almost no experience with the terminology and techniques developed for efficient data transmission. On the other hand, the designers of modems and the developers of protocols tend to have a rather naive view of the transmission characteristics of a CATV network. This paper is presented as a tutorial for telecommunications engineers and designers who need to know more about the technological characteristics of CATV networks.

Switched-star cable TV network

The British Telecom switch-star multiservice cable TV network has been under development for the last two and a half years. It is now entering the manufacturing stage, with a planned ready-for-service data of mid1985. The range of services available on the network is outlined and explained. The development of the system is reviewed. An overview is given of how the system will be used by customers.

Initial Experience with the Milton Keynes Optical Fiber Cable TV Trial

This paper describes a small trial of an advanced cable TV network with evolutionary potential for the wideband local network of the future. Major features of the trial are optical fiber transmission throughout, switched program provision, and a star type of network. Initial experience is related giving both successes and difficulties encountered on design and installation phases. The conclusions point out the technology gap that exists for the wideband local network application and emphasize the potential of the network type used for enhanced services to the customer.