Brix Networks Unveils Service Assurance Solutions for Cable Networks.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers CHELMSFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 28, 2003 -- New Offerings Allow Cable Operators To Continuously Monitor Quality And Performance Of Their Triple-Play Voice, Video, And High-Speed Data Services Brix Networks (www.brixnet.com), the trusted provider of real-time service assurance solutions to operators of service-centric networks, today unveiled new service assurance solutions for cable networks that allow cable operators to continuously monitor the quality and performance of their triple-play voice, video, and high-speed data services. Brix is offering providers a cable-centric version of its award-winning BrixWorx(TM) service assurance software system and related test suites. Called BrixWorx for Cable, this new solution allows cable operators to constantly monitor the quality and operation of Voice over Internet Protocol See Internet and TCP/IP. (networking) Internet Protocol - (IP) The network layer for the TCP/IP protocol suite widely used on Ethernet networks, defined in STD 5, RFC 791. IP is a connectionless, best-effort packet switching protocol. (VoIP) calls along with the overall performance of their IP backbone networks. "Today's announcement further signals our intent to aggressively bring the proven capabilities of our service assurance solutions from the telecom market to operators of cable networks," said Tom Pincince, president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Brix Networks. "Cable companies have a pressing need to test, measure, and verify the quality of their offerings in order to be able to confidently turn up and offer subscribers real-time, triple-play services. Brix solutions allow operators to lower their operating expenses Operating expenses The amount paid for asset maintenance or the cost of doing business, excluding depreciation. Earnings are distributed after operating expenses are deducted. , reduce subscriber churn, and generate additional revenue." "As we increasingly continue to roll out quality-sensitive services -- including voice -- performance monitoring solutions like those provided by Brix Networks become more and more important to the overall success of those services," said Jay Rolls, vice president, telephony and data engineering, at Cox Communications Cox Communications is a privately owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises providing digital cable television and telecommunications services in the United States. It is the third-largest[2] cable television provider in the United States, serving more than 6. , a Brix customer. BrixWorx For Cable Explained BrixWorx for Cable extends Brix Networks' current support for the H.323 and SIP VoIP signaling standards to also now include the Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP See MGCP/MEGACO. MGCP - Media Gateway Control Protocol ) and the Network-based Call Signaling The call signaling protocol is one layer of the overall PacketCable suite of specifications and relies upon companion protocol specifications to provide complete end-to-end PacketCable functionality (NCS (Network Call Signaling) CableLabs version of MGCP. See MGCP/MEGACO. NCS - Network Computing System: Apollo's RPC system used by DEC and Hewlett-Packard.The protocol has been adopted by OSF. ) specification - the control and signal protocols of choice for PacketCable networks. BrixWorx for Cable, together with the Advanced VoIP Test Suite for MGCP/NCS, allows operators to exercise the entire VoIP infrastructure - registration and location servers, media gateway controllers, firewalls, end-points, and the intervening network - using actual call control, signaling, and media channel protocols. "For cable operators, offering voice services significantly raises the bar with regards to the quality expectations of their customers," said Johna Till Johnson, president and chief research officer at Nemertes Research Nemertes Research is an independent research firm that specializes in assessing the business value of emerging technology. Pronounced ("nuh MER teez"), the company is named for the sea goddess Nemertes, one of fifty Nereids, sisters who lived with their sea-god father Nereus , a New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of City-based industry research firm. "In order for cable operators to effectively compete with the telcos, they need to deploy telco-grade performance management solutions that allow them to highlight and demonstrate the true capabilities and quality of their converged digital services." Future Brix Cable-Related Offerings In addition to BrixWorx for Cable, Brix plans to offer cable operators related product test suites and enhancements that will allow them to conduct end-to-end and edge-to-edge testing between Brix hardware Verifiers, for inside-out testing from Verifiers to phones, and for "Golden Phone" testing from phones to Verifiers. Designed with PacketCable networks in mind, and supporting both the NCS profile of MGCP plus the Media Gateway Control (Megaco, or H.248) protocol, the Golden Phone testing feature identifies packet loss, jitter A flicker or fluctuation in a transmission signal or display image. The term is used in several ways, but it always refers to some offset of time and space from the norm. For example, in a network transmission, jitter would be a bit arriving either ahead or behind a standard clock cycle , and latency issues, and enables easy, in-metro turn-up and operational testing (testing) operational testing - A US DoD term for testing performed by the end-user on software in its normal operating environment. from the residence or other subscriber location. Golden Phone testing is ideal for VoIP performance and call quality monitoring across the access network. It can also be used to set up and measure test calls against cable MTAs, either for background monitoring, or to troubleshoot a particular subscriber's location. Availability The new BrixWorx for Cable central-site software and the Advanced VoIP Test Suite for MGCP/NCS will be available in 60 days, and the Advanced VoIP Test Suite for Megaco (H.248) will be available in the first quarter of 2004. Final pricing will be set at their respective availability times. About Brix Networks Brix Networks develops and markets real-time service assurance and performance management solutions that verify the quality of advanced, Internet Protocol-based services, such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), video, and Web-hosted business applications. The Chelmsford, Mass.-based company's hardware and software offerings allow carriers, service providers, cable MSOs, large enterprises, and government agencies to build, operate, and assure their IP networks and services by providing proactive, end-to-end, service level management (SLM See service level management system and spatial light modulator. ) and service level agreement (SLA (1) (StereoLithography Apparatus) See 3D printing. (2) (Service Level Agreement) A contract between the provider and the user that specifies the level of service expected during its term. ) verification. Additional information about Brix Networks can be found on the company's Web site at www.brixnet.com, and by calling 978-367-5600, or 1-888-BRIXNET. Brix, Brix Networks, the Brix Networks logo, BrixWorx, and Brixnet are trademarks of Brix Networks, Inc. All other company or product names mentioned maybe trademarks of their respective holders. |
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