International Datacasting Net Manager Satellite Equipment Network Control System

IDC Net Manager Remote Management Control System 

The Net Manager is a highly reliable GUI-driven network management system designed to control DVB/IP satellite receivers using in-band communications.

Service providers often have deployed an extensive network of satellite receivers and are then faced with the daunting task of having to upgrade and reconfigure receivers already deployed and operational in a network. From satellite providers shuffling segment allocations that require new frequency assignment programming to network operators changing the carrier symbol rates to accommodate additional bandwidth, it is sometimes necessary to re-program carrier parameters for each receiver. Net Manager helps operators address these challenges. 

Cutting Edge

Net Manager is IDC next generation network management system designed to work with IDC’s portfolio of audio, video and data products. Featuring a Web-based GUI for operator-friendly local and/or remote operation, this robust system supports multiple languages. Delivered on a highly integrated hardware/software platform.

Extensive Receiver and Network Control

With the ability to interface and control individual receivers, groups of receivers and entire networks via the satellite link, Net Manager securely maintains configuration information for each receiver. The audio, data and control outputs of SuperFlex Pro Series Receivers, as well as their receive frequencies and  demultiplexor parameters can be administered by Net Manager remotely.

Remote DVB Updates

Net Manager is also capable of sending upgrades in a foreground queue or continuous background queue.

Net Manager generates a UDP/IP multicast data stream which is injected into the DVB carrier by an IP  Encapsulator. This data stream is then received and interpreted by the satellite receivers as it contains addressing, authorization and routing information.

All receivers tuned to the DVB carrier receive the Net Manager control data stream. They decode addressing information within the IP data stream to determine which data to extract and use for configuration.

Each SuperFlex Pro Series Receiver contains a unique IDC address, and may also be a member of one or more receiver groups. Each Net Manager message contains either an individual IDC receiver address or a group address allowing for efficient configuration updates to as many or as few receivers as needed.

As a background task, Net Manager continuously transmits each receiver’s configuration; ensuring the proper network configuration. The Net Manager message  addressed to any specific receiver includes a sequence number that increments whenever a change in configuration occurs. This allows the receiver to 
optimize its handling of Net Manager messages.