SDVoE Deploys Ultra-Low-Latency 4K Video at American Dream Complex

The mall American Dream features software-defined video over Ethernet (SDVoE), thanks to the integration of Netgear, Aurora Multimedia and SNA Displays, to direct content to more than two hundred screens and digital kiosks.

Located just outside of New York City, in New Jersey (Us.), American Dream is an exclusive and huge shopping and entertainment complex, with an extension of 914.000 square meters where more than five hundred retail stores and restaurants are located (more details on Digital AV).

The centre hosts a variety of leisure activities, as the theme park Nickelodeon Universe; the ski slopes Big Snow American Dream; an aquarium of 2.322 m2 with the theme a city under the sea (City under the sea) and the water park DreamWorks. To this is added the so-called The Avenue, which hosts a number of luxury shops such as Hermes, Tiffany & Co. and so on.

The American Dream Resort, which has taken eighteen years to build, has high ceilings, gigantic windows, a luxurious yet modern aesthetic and cutting-edge interactive audio and video technology to create an immersive entertainment experience.

for Pierre Sicard, development representative of the members of the SDVoE Alliance, “the video screen of the grand staircase had to be fantastic. It's a wow factor for the resort. The challenge was to take the video signal and transport it throughout the complex while preserving the quality of the image”.

Although transporting video is simple nowadays, Sicard points out that “preserving image quality is a challenge. Often, this means sacrificing something on a video screen, which usually means compressing the video to deliver it more efficiently, but at the cost of below-average image quality”.

Another concern in video distribution is latency.. As Sicard explains, “there are many variants in AV-over-IP technology, but often suffer from latency issues. For example, if a live event is being shown, it is not acceptable to have a choppy image. Quality must be pristine, which requires an extremely low latency video solution”.

Challenges and integrated solutions

To address these challenges at American Dream, software-defined video over Ethernet was selected (SDVoE), in collaboration with Netgear, Aurora Multimedia and SNA Displays, to direct content to more than two hundred digital screens distributed throughout the complex.

The high bandwidth offered by SDVoE technology is comprehensive and allows to support more than six hundred endpoints; a key component to provide a seamless solution.

“SDVoE technology eliminates the need for engagement. Enables high-quality image transport anywhere within a complex or facility with virtually zero latency, and there aren't many technologies that can do that effectively and successfully.”, ensures Sicard.

As a result of this combined effort, Americam Dream offers its visitors a high-quality audio and video experience. together, Netgear and Aurora Multimedia provide 3.716 m2 of display technology.

SNA Displays supplied all the Led screens, including that of the grand staircase, what you have 3,6 meters high and 32,6 length, as well as a traffic-facing corner exterior display, 7.3x 50,2 metre.

The series M4500 de Netgear was selected to facilitate and power connectivity between Aurora Multimedia endpoints and Led video displays, since it allows the instant multicast for AV-over-IP technology.

“Netgear is the backbone of connectivity at American Dream John Henkel, marketing director of professional AV products of this company-. With a high capacity for AV-over-IP, M4500 series supports up to 640 SDVoE endpoints. Create a cost-effective solution for aggregating 100 GB and the access layers of 10 GB, a comprehensive technological component throughout the complex”.

In this line, Sicard adds that “Netgear has a long and reliable track record in the professional audiovisual market. Its technology has always been avant-garde and innovative, but provides unique added value due to its investment in technical and customer support, that is integral in any project, and more in one of this size”.

Video transport

Aurora Multimedia played a pivotal role in transporting video throughout the complex. Your streaming system IPX-TC3-PRO SDVoE has been essential for this installation, as it is the industry's first 4K 2K transceiver with zero compression and latency.

“IPX-TC3-PRO is a key solution for the American Dream project, says Paul Harris, CEO of Aurora Multimedia-. Allows you to distribute 4K60 content 4:4:4 throughout the complex to the digital kiosks and Led screens; manages even USB and 1G Ethernet via the same fiber cable to each location, making the IPX series the ultimate IP AV product on the market today”.

As implemented through Netgear products, Aurora Multimedia and SNA Displays, SDVoE technology made it possible to obtain 4K60P video and 4:4:4 high quality, with almost zero latency on all screens, from the impressive Led videowall and screens, up to hundreds of digital signage kiosks to create an immersive entertainment experience.

Benefits of SDVoE Technology

As they say from the alliance, SDVoE technology goes beyond existing standards to provide benefits that no other can offer so far.

• A complete ecosystem: SDVoE Alliance members are manufacturers with expertise in signal distribution, manufacture of screens, IT infrastructure, AV software and chip design. The integrator has dozens of partners to align with and products to choose from.
• A flexible and simple software platform: SDVoE API enables rapid development of highly specialized software, tailored to the needs of a wide range of end users.
• A complete OSI stack solution: only SDVoE offers the simplicity of a complete solution, fully encompassing the infrastructure, transport, processing and a simple control layer.

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