TABLE OF CONTENTS Before going into the details of content transport networks, it is important to not lose sight of what we are trying to accomplish in terms of the end-to-end service required to support the program content food chain cycle. Figure 3-1 is representative of a framework for the current and foreseeable future.
This framework is intended to apply to digital radio and other forms of content carried by the Internet and listened to or displayed on desktop machines and handheld devices with wired or wireless connectivity. The notion behind this sketch is to add details about how the content moves within and between production and transmission facilities and is finally delivered to the user or viewer.
This chapter is a high-level description of functions, capabilities, and limitations of networks capable of carrying program content. It includes a high-level architecture concept and shows how standardized communications equipment, facilities, and services can be used to fashion content transport networks.
Say ATM, and most people think money, except those who know the meaning of asynchronous transfer mode. To carry this seemingly meaningless reference further, stop and think how often and in what context network is used. A network of friends getting together for snacks and drinks is an entirely different network than a food distribution network, or a communications network. It s not difficult to find many terms and phrases using the word. For example, voice network, data network, global network, ATM network, packet network, satellite network, radio...
