Classy connections
According to Seawork 2015 exhibitor CA Clase, the new IP-MobileCast content delivery service from KVH makes a leap into the digital age using their new mini-VSAT Broadband satellite network. IP-MobileCast service solves a number of key areas for any vessel with its operational and crew welfare capabilities. These services include Forecast Link, Chart link and Training link. These are fundamental services that can now be delivered over the backbone of the VSAT network using Multicast technology.
KVH IPMC also addresses crew welfare with digital media content in multiple languages including daily news and sport through the News link and Sport link services. Furthermore, for long range passages the vessel can now subscribe to TV link, Movie link and Music link, offering the latest releases from Hollywood and Bollywood. TV Link also delivers a number of complete seasons onto the unique media server and is available on-board the vessel for up to 12 months. The media server allows access through a dedicated set-top box or through WiFi onto tablets in specific locations throughout the vessel.
According to Andy Banting of UK-based KVH dealer CA Clase, it’s not just oceanic shipping companies that are benefiting from the marine broadband revolution: “VSAT is a lifeline for any workboats that can expect to travel out of areas served by GSM coverage. For instance we have supplied our systems for Seacat Services’ windfarm supply vessels.”
These services have no impact on bandwidth capability as it is managed via KVH through the Multicast broadcast capabilities on the network. The new service will take advantage of additional capacity, delivering content ‘over the top’ of the mini-VSAT Broadband network in a separate data stream without impacting customers’ contracted data speeds or airtime rate plans.
Transmitting large files, such as electronic chart database updates and movies, over existing satellite services on a one-to-one basis is technically possible, but is usually either prohibitively expensive or difficult due to service providers blocking certain file protocols to protect access to shared satellite network capacity. The IP-MobileCast service will make delivering these large files fast, reliable and affordable, enabling automatic over-the-air delivery of a new generation of content that is needed to enhance navigation, improve operations, and maintain crew morale.
KVH’s IP-MobileCast service is designed to be an end-to-end solution which efficiently transmits content over the mini-VSAT Broadband network. KVH’s new TracPhone V3-IP, V7-IP, and V11-IP systems and older TracPhone V-series systems can all receive the multicast content with either the Integrated CommBox Modem (ICM) or the IP-MobileCast Media Server acting as on-board server.
The IP-MobileCast service uses proprietary software designed to provide advanced error correction, compression, and validation of data integrity throughout the transmission from shore to ship for reliability and efficiency. Shoreside servers encode files for transmission and queue them for multicast delivery ‘over the top’ of the mini-VSAT Broadband network. The IP-MobileCast service’s patented Forward Error Correction (FEC) technology will help ensure that the on-board servers receive each file in perfect condition the first time it is transmitted. The unique FEC algorithms deliver the highest level of file reliability by accommodating intermittent non-continuous transmission, which might happen when large transmissions are interrupted by prioritized network traffic or in very poor weather conditions.
The file is transmitted once, and is received by every vessel in the satellite footprint. If the vessel has subscribed to that particular content, the data is stored and decoded using rights management software and then made available on the on-board server. Normal mini-VSAT Broadband ship-to-shore and shore-to-ship transmissions are prioritised over the IP-MobileCast service and are completely unaffected in terms of speed or added airtime cost.
Visit CA Clase at Seawork International 2015 on stand A141.
By Jake Frith
