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Christie’s control room portfolio

Christie Phoenix (www.christiephoenixnet.com) is a networked content mobility and management platform, using a company’s existing network infrastructure. Phoenix ensures that the control room no longer needs to be constrained to a single location by enabling seamless access and control of audio-visual data, regardless of where the user is based. Whether used by multiple parallel participants, single offices or in the field through mobile technology, Christie Phoenix will connect them all.

By tapping into an operation’s existing IP infrastructure there is no expensive investment in cabling required. Unlike competitive systems, it uses a single universal device that is designed for scalability and redundancy – providing guaranteed 24/7 operation.

And because the system uses free non-proprietary encoding and API to open up unlimited access possibilities it is a powerful response to the increasing demands of an operational nerve centre, where high definition media and fast-switching inputs are endemic to a slick monitoring operation.

By enabling the control room to achieve a global workplace, spend less on cabling and licenses and benefit from greater performance Christie has taken a leap towards satisfying customer needs for higher visual acuity, low energy draw, zero maintenance for low cost of ownership, collaborative workspace, faster processing and an open-access network that requires no licence fee for operator, screen or scrape.

As for its scope, a single video wall, equipped with Christie Phoenix, can use up to 128 nodes, each with the ability to decode and display 12 videos in native HD; up to 1536 videos can be decoded and streamed on the videowall.

Christie video wall at ISE showing traffic data.

“We have set out to completely redefine the control room space,” says David Griffiths, market development manager, control room, EMEA, at the same time pointing out further advantages of Phoenix. “Other content management systems may not necessarily be unsuitable, but they are usually based on proprietary encoding/decoding mechanisms that do not allow easy access to third-party devices and applications. 

“Phoenix is based on an open standard encoding (H.264) and access method (srtp://, http://) to allow standard devices and applications access to Phoenix streams. In other words, with a free and accessible API, Phoenix offers third-party integrators a straightforward method to use the power of this platform – without being commercially tied to a single technology provider.”

Phoenix can also replace other interfaces, matrix switches and monolithic processors in a system, such as multi-viewers and more complex display wall processors. “It simplifies the whole process,” states Griffiths. “And since Phoenix offers such a broad range of features it will be useful in many control room vertical markets, not just those that have streaming video as a standard feature of the system.”

Christie did not introduce Phoenix in isolation – it was one of a quick succession of new control systems from Christie.

The new Entero HB Display Cubes are not only the brightest LED projectors for control room use, but boast the world’s first wireless networking capabilities.

The new TVC-1700 and smaller TVC-700 video wall processors offer powerful management of complex information sources, providing ample graphics and processing power to support multiple applications.

The arrival of the new Interactivity Kit now transforms any large-format video wall into a dynamic and responsive multi-touch surface. Modular and scalable, the Christie Interactivity Kit can be configured into 84 different sizes and handle anything from a 3 x 1 up to a 16 x 6 Christie MicroTiles array, or a 12 square metre video wall.

This is because the kit simply plugs into a computer’s USB port without any need for drivers or manual calibration. Windows 7 automatically recognises the software as a multi-touch device.

“The Christie solutions will futureproof any requirement in the command and control room verticals for years to come and enable them to encompass a global workplace; at the same time it will give them greater bandwidth and flexibility and reduce operating costs.”

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