On January 6, 2010, the state of Alaska used its state relay system to initiate a test of the Emergency Alert System using an EAS code never before tested on a wide-scale basis – a legitimate EAN, or emergency action notification.  An EAN event would typically be authorized by the president and initiated by FEMA, and is the only event which substantially differs in use from other EAS event codes.  The EAN message propagates throughout the entire nation and its territories via the PEP (primary entry point) stations.  Each state would receive the EAN and propagate the message through their respective state warning systems.

This live EAN test was initiated primarily due to the confusion resulting from an IEMA test, which accidentally activated the EAS system in Illinois in 2007.  Data retrieved from this accidental activation shows  that the EAN activation, reserved for a nationwide alert, did not occur as expected by EAS engineers.  Some EAS encoder/decoders took their respective television stations off the air, while other encoder/decoders simply logged the event and did not respond to, or forward the EAN.  After much debate, FEMA decided to initiate a real-time live test of the system.  Alaska was chosen for the test because of its remote location and its proven ability to initiate legitimate and test-scenario Amber alerts and tsunami warnings.

The EAN test was initated at approximately 10:00 AM on January 6th, and lasted approximately 3 minutes and 20 seconds.  The duration of the message was deliberately designed to be longer than a standard EAS message because the length of an EAN is unlimited.  Therefore, the audio from an EAN is patched directly to the output of the EAS decoder and it plays live for the entire message duration.  Using forensic tracking methods, FEMA noted several incidents of EAS encoder/decoder misfires.  Some encoder/decoders attempted to replay the first two minutes of recorded audio to systems which had initially ignored the EAN because the EAS header message was improperly formatted, or was not formatted as expected.

A substantial amount of information was retrieved regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the national alerting system.  As a result of the Alaska EAN test, the FCC initiated a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on January 12, 2010.  This SFNPR is primarily derived from the Alaskan EAN test, and focuses on methodology necessary to improve the EAS system.

Cable Tec Expo; Denver CO, (Wednesday October 28, 2009), – Trilithic, the experts in digital Emergency Alert Systems is introducing a new digital component for integrated EAS messaging systems that enables MSOs to deliver emergency alert messages, graphics and logos directly on their EAS channel in either SD or HD-SDI, perfect for EAS channel and Logo branding.

The new Visionary™ HD/SD Overlay System works with Trilithic’s EASyPLUS™ EAS System to provide EAS messaging and logos for SD and HD-SDI video along with digital AES/EBU sound.

The Visionary Overlay System (digital character generator) accepts EAS alerts from the EASyPLUS and places them on your cable EAS “tune-to” channel. The Visionary introduces a brilliant EAS overlay in 32 bit color along with your company logo.

The Visionary system can also process non-EAS alerts and display them on your EAS channel as static or crawl text, images graphics. The Visionary lives on your network for complete remote setup and control.

The Visionary along with Trilithic’s full complement Emergency Alert System solutions will be available for demonstration at the Cable Tec Expo in Denver Co. October 28-29, 2009. For further information please visit us at www.trilithicEAS.com

Let’s take a look at how EAS works to start.  EAS messages are distributed with FIPS codes.  FIPS codes are like zipcodes, but are assigned to the entire county (in most instances).  For instance, a TOR may be issued for FIPS code 018097, which is Marion county Indiana.  The actual header would look like this: ZCZC-EAS-TOR-018097+0200-1191513-NWS.  Notice the single FIPS code, 018097.  There is a possibility to transmit as many as 31 county FIPS code in an EAS message, but no more.  There are 50 states (plus Wash., D.C.) and many other territories and special FIPS codes totaling 75 unique state codes.  A state code looks like this: 018000, representing all counties within the state of Indiana.  If an EAN (Emergency Action Notification) was activated by the President of the U.S., exactly how would the current Emergency Alert System handle distributing this event to all EAS systems in the daisy-chain distribution system?

Anyone want to venture to guess how the EAS system will work, in practical terms?

In the world of DTV MPEG transport streams, Trilithic partnered with RGB Networks, a premier engineering company in the development of MPEG-into-MPEG manipulation and statistical multiplexing. Through this partnership, the EASyCAST system can now place EAS overlays directly into each of your dot 1, dot 2, etc., program streams within your transport stream. At the same time, AC-3 audio is multiplexed into the transport to provide seamless EAS audio during an alert.

Partnered with RGB Networks and their BNP platform, we can replace your older statistical multiplexers while gaining direct EAS overlay support within the multiplexer itself. If you are an LPTV station thinking of going digital, this solution is a complete statistical multiplexed system with EAS and graphical overlays – including station logos, bugs, and photographs – all which saves money by eliminating the need to buy and support separate systems.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (Tuesday May 12, 2009) – Trilithic’s new integrated solution with RGB Networks for DTV EAS Multicast was selected by the editorial staff of TV Technology magazine as a 2009 STAR (Superior Technology Award Recipient) Award at the recent NAB Show in Las Vegas.

“We’re honored to have been selected for this technology award.” Says Arthur Leisey Director of Technology for Trilithic’s EAS group. “It’s a testament of the Industry, when you develop solutions that fit the exact needs of the market, and when the industry recognizes you for your efforts.”

Now in its 10th year, TV Technology’s STAR Award is designed to celebrate and showcase the outstanding technological innovations available to the broadcast industry. A panel of judges consisting of TV Technology editors and columnists reviewed a variety of products, examined the technical applications and their overall contribution to the industry, and then submitted their award nominees.

“Every year, the NAB Show serves as the launching pad for thousands of new products and services for audio and video professionals,” said Tom Butts, TV Technology Editor. “Our panel of editors walk the show floor in search of the most innovative technologies. The products and services that we select for the STAR Award make the cut—they demonstrate their ability to help advance the acquisition and distribution of entertainment and information across the media spectrum.”

About the Integrated Solution:

Trilithic Inc., and RGB Networks, have integrated Trilithic’s EASyCAST EAS System with RGB Networks’ Broadcast Network Processor (BNP) to deliver digital Emergency Alert Messages and graphics overlays for DTV and LPDTV stations.

With the EASyCAST and BNP interfacing with the broadcast digital multicast, all services in a broadcaster’s ASI stream will have graphical EAS overlays including audio substitution for all or selected program streams. EAS messages and graphics are inserted as MPEG-into-MPEG in real-time without the need to demux or decode the ASI stream. Trilithic’s EASyCAST EAS System along with the BNP, also enables digital multicast broadcasters for the first time to selectively target the delivery of EAS overlays to a single market or multiple targeted markets. Targeting specific transmitters or covering the entire is now possible with this new system

Trilithic is a leading provider of digital Emergency Alert System management solutions and other communications technology for cable, broadcast, IPTV, RF and wireless markets around the world. For more information on the system integration, contact Trilithic at (800) 344-2412 or visit www.trilithic.com.

About TV Technology

TV Technology (www.tvtechnology.com) is the industry’s leading magazine for technology news and reviews and is celebrating its 26th year covering the television industry. The magazine is published by NewBay Media LLC, the world’s largest publisher of audio and video publications.

LAS VEGAS (Saturday, April 18, 2009) – Indianapolis-based manufacturer Trilithic, Inc. is at the world’s largest electronic media show this week, showcasing the first and only multicast solution for Emergency Alert System (EAS) messaging to industry leaders from  the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB).

The result of a partnership between Trilithic and digital video development giant RGB Networks, Trilithic’s EASyCAST EAS System is the only solution that enables broadcasters to deliver emergency alerts across multiple video program streams — and target these messages to specific geographic areas with a precision that has never before been available.

The system represents a critical technological breakthrough in EAS programming, particularly for the over 1,700 full power broadcast TV stations in the US that will complete their transition from analog broadcasting to an all-digital, high definition system, or DTV, on June 12.

The DTV transition enables a single station to provide as many as six separate programming streams simultaneously, a technology referred to as multicasting. Though multicasting provides significant opportunities for broadcasters to provide localized entertainment and news to specific television markets,  it also offers logistical challenges for TV Station Group Owners as they seek ways to efficiently manage digital programming across stations — including FCC-mandated emergency information such as weather or Amber alerts.

The integration of Trilithic’s EASyCAST EAS System with RGB’s Broadcast Network Processor (BNP) provides centralized automation that simplifies operation and management of EAS messaging across multiple programming streams, inserting emergency information and graphics in real-time.

“As a company that is much better known for our technological innovation in the Broadband, RF and Microwave markets, Trilithic is extremely excited and very proud to find ourselves among some of the best-known names in the broadcast industry,” said Arthur Leisey, Director of Trilithic’s EAS group. “It’s a major milestone for us. As a company, we’ve committed to providing leadership in EAS solutions — and I think we’ll prove that leadership when the NAB Exhibit Hall doors open Monday morning.”

Active with the FCC, FEMA, and other organizations involved in the evolution of EAS technology, Leisey will offer product demonstrations of Trilithic’s ground-breaking solution on the floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center April 20 – 23 at show booth # C10548.

In the world of DTV MPEG Transport Streams Trilithic, partnered with RGB Networks, a premier engineering company in the development of MPEG-into-MPEG manipulation and statistical multiplexing, launched the EASyCAST system can now place EAS overlays directly into each of your dot 1, dot 2, etc., program streams within your Transport Stream. And, at the same time AC-3 audio is muxed into the TS to give seamless EAS audio during an alert.  Partnered with RGB Networks and their BNP platform, we can replace your older statistical multiplexers while gaining direct EAS overlay support within the mux itself. If you are an LPTV station thinking of going digital, this solution is a complete stat. mux system with EAS and graphical overlays such as logos, savings lots of dollars buying and supporting separate systems.

With a down economy and attendance lower than normal at NAB, you could not have guessed that, standing in the Trilithic booth.  Tom Burka and I were demo-ing almost non-stop for 3 ½ days, complete digital EAS Systems for both SDI and MPEG-into-MPEG EAS crawl overlays for DTV broadcasters.  The Visionary, now well established as the most complete digital video (SDI) EAS solution for both HighDef and StandardDef EAS crawls featured the new Dulabone option.Using any type of link (local or remote) including satellite, we have replaced the old VBI contact-closure trigger with an embedded digital version.  Now, remotely over satellite, you can grab a contact-closure off the rear of your sat. receiver and trigger on-demand graphical overlays to place any graphics, text, or logo onto your HD or SD screen.

Conferences: April 18-23
Exhibition:April 20-23
Location: Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV

See Trilithic at Booth #C10548

We would like to invite you to NAB 2009 as a guest of Trilithic.

Register for a free pass and stop by Trilithic at Booth C10548.

We are excited to announce our new partnership with RGB Networks at NAB which will further streamline EAS for Broadcast DTV.

Broadcasters can now simplify compliance, improve efficiency and gain greater control over EAS messaging with seamless, IP-based EAS solutions from Trilithic- the digital Emergency Alert System experts.

Download our Broadcast EAS Guide for a preview of what will be available at NAB

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, March 25, 2009) – Trilithic Inc., a leading provider of digital Emergency Alert Systems (EAS) and RGB Networks, the leader in network video processing, today announced a partnership to integrate Trilithic’s EASyCAST EAS System with RGB Networks’ Broadcast Network Processor (BNP) to deliver digital emergency alert message overlays for DTV Multicast.

All DTV stations must provide EAS messages, tests and alerts on all program streams. Currently, many DTV stations use a combination of analog, analog up-converting and various graphics logo inserters to provide the mandated EAS messaging. For the DTV broadcaster, adding another service or screen means additional upconverting and patchwork.

Now, with RGB Networks’ BNP deployed for broadcast television, all services in the Broadcaster’s ASI stream, including audio replacement, can have EAS crawl messages with audio, overlaid directly onto all video streams. The integration of Trilithic’s EASyCAST EAS System with RGB’s BNP, enables broadcasters for the first time to selectively target the delivery of EAS messages to some or all video program streams. Targeting specific transmitters covering different DMAs or all DMAs on the entire network, is also possible. EAS messages and graphics are inserted in real-time without the need to Demux or Decode the ASI stream.

In addition to the EASyCAST and BNP handling digital EAS overlays, the BNP optionally supports logo insertions, snipes, PIP, and full motion graphics. Add to that the standard BNP functions of rate-shaping and multiplexing, the partnership of these two companies provides a uniquely integrated and professional EAS solution for the digital broadcast marketplace.

Complementing this ability to target the delivery of EAS messages in-stream for DTV, Trilithic’s EASy Compliance Assistant™ software automatically handles EAS log-file downloads, file archiving, and FCC compliance reporting for all weekly and monthly tests, and from over the network. This ensures compliance with FCC regulations, but without having multiple personnel individually handling the EAS requirements. One person can review, monitor and manage all EAS functions at all transmitter from a laptop for an entire group of broadcast stations.

“It’s important to us to provide the most viable and professional EAS solutions to the industry.” says Arthur Leisey, Director of Trilithic’s EAS group. “Integrating with RGB Networks’ BNP gives the industry the most robust, efficient, and cost effective delivery of EAS over DTV multicast available.”

“Supporting EAS is an important requirement for broadcasters and one that can truly benefit from this new integration. The digital EAS capability of our Broadcast Network Processor is an example of the flexibility and power of our products, enabling broadcasters to pioneer new applications that keep their customers alerted to important news when it happens,” said Jeff Tyre, Director, Product Marketing, RGB Networks.

Trilithic is demonstrating this new integrated system for Broadcasters at the PBS Technology conference and at the NAB show booth # C10548 in Las Vegas in April. Trilithic is a leading provider of digital Emergency Alert System management solutions and other communications technology for cable, broadcast, IPTV, RF and wireless markets around the world. For more information on the system integration, contact Trilithic at (800) 344-2412 or visit www.trilithic.com.

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ABOUT RGB NETWORKS: RGB Networks delivers extremely high-density, flexible video processing solutions that enable video service providers to deliver highly targeted and personalized video content at considerably lower costs than conventional solutions. Based on its unique Video Intelligence Architecture™ (VIA), RGB’s VIA product family simplifies management and delivers scalable, multi-function capability in a single, programmable platform, allowing video service providers to leverage existing infrastructure, while building an advanced foundation to meet the needs of the rapidly growing market for personalized video services.

For more information about RGB Networks and its unique video processing solutions, please visit www.rgbnetworks.com.