Thomson Partners With Pictron To Add Functionality To MEDIAEDGE3 System

Thomson, a leading provider of video solutions, have announced a comprehensive technology partnership with Pictron, a leading provider of interactive media solutions to make video searchable and interactive on the internet.
Through this agreement, Thomson will add news functionality and features for the handling of audio and video clips stored on the new Thomson Grass Valley MEDIAEDGE3 DS digital signage delivery platform.
Working closely with Thomson, Pictron will integrate its Media Gateway Suite with the MEDIAEDGE3 system, to streamline the process of handling and displaying content using cost-effective Internet Protocol (IP) delivery. Ideal for corporate training, corporate communication, distance learning, decision support, and media asset management, the combination of MEDIAEDGE with the Media Gateway Suite will make content easier to locate, schedule and playout for a variety of video-on-demand and point-of-presence display applications – all while leveraging the cost advantages of an end-to-end IPTV infrastructure.
Also featuring a newly designed graphical user interface for MEDIAEDGE, the complete package will enable users to search video clips, view play lists via a Web-based browser, and trim clips with Pictron's editing tools.
Jeff Rosica, Senior Vice President of Thomson's Broadcast and Professional Solutions within the Systems division, said: "For schools, corporations and retail organizations, the tight integration of MEDIAEDGE3 and Pictron will enhance the user experience by making clips easier to manage.
"Users can search for clips via text and voice recognition modules found within the Pictron Media Gateway Suite, or locate and edit individual segments back into original clips for immediate and automatic display.
Darwin Kuan, Vice President of Business Development for Pictron, said: "The powerful combinations gives the MEDIAEDGE3 DS server and software much more functionality, while providing Pictron with a reliable way to store and retrieve video and audio clips on demand.
Under the terms of the agreement, Pictron will initially port its existing Media Gateway software to the Thomson Grass Valley MEDIAEDGE3 DS distribution system, and then develop a special interface and clip management tools exclusively for MEDIAEDGE3.
The Thomson Grass Valley MEDIAEDGE3 is a LAN-based video delivery system that uses a cost-effective standard TCP/IP networks and displays. The flexible, modular design offers a cost-effective method for distributing video content to multiple PC and set-top box clients including pre-programmed broadcast, live streaming, and full-featured interactive video-on-demand.
System components include MEDIAEDGE-LEB60, a real-time MPEG-1/MPEG-2 encoder that instantly rebroadcasts via an internal server, MEDIAEDGE3-SVS3 server software featuring applications for overall content management, server and client configuration; MEDIAEDGE3-SWT3 client software, a Web browser plug-in for PCs connected to the MEDIAEDGE network; and MEDIAEDGE-STB3, a set-top box for MPEG decoding with a remote-control unit for MEDIAEDGE3 network browsing.
The Pictron Media Gateway Suite of products consists of Video Gateway, Audio Gateway, Image Gateway, Media Gateway Server, Media Content Manager, Media Archive Manager, Media Gateway Webcast, Broadcast Media Manager and Postproduction Media Manager.
Further information is available at: www.thomson.net and www.thomsongrassvalley.com.
(KMcA/JM)