Sun Microsystems, Inc. has publicly announced on April 18 the release of its Digital Asset Management Reference Architecture Version 2.0.
 
The new Digital Asset Management Reference Architecture Version 2.0 is designed to save companies more capital and operational dollars by providing an open, end-to-end digital asset management system. The new Reference Architecture is able to seamlessly manage video and rich media content including HD and SD video, photos, audio, and Flash animation.

Sun's new enhancements include VITA, an open Java technology application that accommodates a large number of standards-based ingest (digital conversion) tools. Other enhancements include more media file type support such as MXF and DV, as well as contract rights management to track licensing and distribution parameters for program materials.

A key component of the Reference Architecture is its integrated Hierarchical Storage Management (HSM) system, which automatically enables use of various storage architectures. Its built-in scalability allows storage capacity to increase as digital content is added.

Recent deployments of the system by large media organizations such as Major League Baseball Advanced Media, LP (MLBAM), has transformed the way baseball video and audio are managed and delivered to large audiences. The collaboration between Sun and MLBAM fuels a powerful Website (MLB.com) that offers fans faster access to more game highlights than any other sports league worldwide utilizing Sun's DAM Reference Architecture.

The MLBAM Digital Asset Management Reference Architecture System customized and powered by Sun, streamed 650 million videos and delivered more than one billion media accesses to more than one billion visitors in 2004 alone. The site recently broke records with 90 million page views in a single day. With the new enhancements from this Reference Architecture, MLB.com expects to feature as many as 15 live games daily and more than 6,000 audio-streamed games during the 2005 season.

Others using the Reference Architecture include TV4, Sweden's second largest broadcasting channel. This Reference Architecture can also be used by industries including publishing, government, and education.

Additional information about Reference Architecture and CRS is available at
http://www.sun.com/products/architectures-platforms/ .