Custom-engineered facility platform

ST 2110 grandmaster + overlay platform

A facility timing authority.
Built as one system.

Aion Enterprise combines GPS-disciplined SMPTE ST 2059 timing, eight-channel UHD ST 2110 overlay processing, hardware LTC and IRIG distribution, redundant media paths and high-availability power in a single 2U platform.

Each system is configured around facility topology, channel requirements, redundancy and integration scope.

Aion Enterprise 2U front render
Aion Enterprise rear I/O render
8 Simultaneous UHD channels
2 × 100G Protected media paths
<1 µs GPS-locked PTP target
4 Hardware timecode processors
2U Rack format

One box. The whole timing problem.

The grandmaster and overlay engine share the same physical timing authority.

Traditional ST 2110 facilities often source the grandmaster clock and overlay processing from separate systems. Aion Enterprise is designed so both functions remain coherent by architecture, not by downstream correction.

One PTP domain. One physical hardware clock. The overlay engine is architecturally prevented from drifting relative to the facility grandmaster because both are disciplined through the same PHC and GPS reference.

Technical design reference

The Enterprise architecture is documented as a facility system, not a feature bundle.

The 26-page technical reference defines the GPS-to-PHC discipline chain, physically separated timing and media planes, dual 100G ST 2110 transport, eight-channel overlay pipeline, four hardware LTC/IRIG subprocessors, N+1 power, IPMI management and deployment requirements.

Implementation lineage is identified explicitly. The white paper separates subsystems inherited from shipping Aion production code from new Enterprise work, including ST 2110 integration, NMOS, eight-channel overlay processing and the independent diagnostic display.

System architecture

Timing, media and management planes remain separated—and synchronized.

Aion Enterprise architecture showing timing, media and management planes

Timecode distribution hub

Every timing mechanism derives from the same GPS-disciplined UTC reference.

PTP timing plane

Dual 10GbE grandmaster distribution

Hardware timestamping under the SMPTE ST 2059-2 profile, with single-domain redundancy or physically separate primary and secondary timing networks.

Hardware timecode

Four dedicated subprocessors

Dedicated LTC generator and reader channels plus configurable LTC/IRIG-A/B generator and reader channels.

Network distribution

Art-Net, TSL-UMD and extended UDP

Extend GPS-coherent timing to lighting, show control, under-monitor displays and custom facility integrations.

ST 2110 media plane

Eight independent UHD overlay channels over protected 100G paths.

Dual QSFP28 media interfaces provide the basis for SMPTE 2022-7 seamless protection switching. Each channel supports independent overlay configuration and PTP-coherent LTC generation embedded in its ST 2110-30 audio essence.

  • ST 2110-20 video, 2110-21 traffic shaping, 2110-30 audio and 2110-40 ancillary data
  • Eight high-priority CPU overlay threads with explicit affinity
  • Independent timecode value, frame rate and offset per channel
  • NMOS IS-04 discovery and IS-05 connection management architecture
Aion Enterprise product page preview and hardware views

Reliability architecture

Designed for permanent broadcast infrastructure.

Power

N+1 hot-swap modules

Two 500W industrial power modules; either module is designed to sustain the system independently.

Management

Independent IPMI

ASPEED BMC access remains available across host reboots, OS failures and maintenance events.

Diagnostics

Independent front display

A dedicated Raspberry Pi and LVGL display subsystem reports timing, link, thermal and PSU status.

Networking

Separated planes

100G media, 10GbE timing and management traffic are architecturally separated for predictable operation.

Operator views

Three interfaces for three operational responsibilities.

01 · Time Display

Control-room timing view

Full-screen UTC, local time, PTP grandmaster status and stratum presentation for TOC and facility displays.

02 · TCV Application

Timing-chain verification

Monitor LTC readers, IRIG, eight software timers, Art-Net, TSL and UDP from GPS reference through embedded LTC.

03 · Enterprise Admin

Multi-channel facility control

Configure overlays, ST 2110 routing, grandmaster timing, hardware I/O, RTC offsets and system telemetry.

Deployment scenarios

Built for facilities where timing is infrastructure.

Broadcast master control

Run multiple program channels on an ST 2110 backbone with dual media paths, GPS-disciplined PTP and redundant power.

Large venue and arena production

Coordinate production video, scoreboards, lighting, LTC devices and operator displays from one authoritative reference.

Multi-zone facility distribution

Provide independent timecode contexts, network references and overlay channels to master control, studios, control rooms and venue systems from one synchronized platform.

Hybrid SDI / IP migration

Keep legacy LTC and IRIG systems coherent while introducing ST 2110 timing and media workflows.

Configuration-led engineering

Aion Enterprise is designed around the facility it will serve.

Channel formats, PTP topology, media redundancy, hardware timing I/O, antenna installation, operator views and support requirements are established through a technical architecture review.

Direct engineering engagement

Start with the system requirements.

IEW Solutions will review the intended ST 2110 environment and prepare a deployment-specific architecture and quotation.