Ruckus MediaFlex 7000 Series

Ruckus MediaFlex 7000 Series Overview:

Two High-Performance Products. One Managed 802.11n System for Picture-Perfect HD IPTV Distribution.

The MediaFlex 7000 series is the first carrier-class 802.11n multimedia system designed to reliably distribute High Definition (HD) IP-based video (IPTV) over Wi-Fi. A complete solution for video-grade wireless networking, the MediaFlex system consists of the Ruckus MediaFlex 7811 multimedia access point (AP) and the Ruckus MediaFlex 7111 multimedia Wi-Fi adapter. With these two fully-loaded products, consumers can now enjoy multimedia content anywhere in their homes, all without wires.

Installed in minutes, the Ruckus MediaFlex 7000 series helps carriers eliminate costly and cumbersome cabling within subscriber homes, speed installation times, and enable robust remote management.

The MediaFlex 802.11n access point combines innovative, patentpending smart antenna and traffic management technologies to break down the barriers that have prevented a single Wi-Fi network for supporting voice, video and data in the home.

The MediaFlex 7811 gives broadband operators a single system that reliably extends multimedia services throughout the home over standard 802.11n (5 GHz) Wi-Fi while delivering unprecedented visibility into and control over subscriber Wi-Fi environments.

Unlike any Wi-Fi system available today, the MediaFlex 7811 access point constantly monitors the wireless environment, steering RF signals around interference and prioritizing different traffic types for transmission over the air. With the Ruckus MediaFlex system, consumers now have complete freedom and flexibility to distribute and enjoy multimedia content anywhere in their homes — all without wires. Meanwhile, service providers can accelerate deployment, minimize installation costs and maximize service potential.

The MediaFlex 7811 access point delivers on the high-speed promise of 802.11n. Each access point integrates a state-of-the-art adaptive antenna system designed to exploit such advanced techniques as spatial multiplexing, channel bonding and frame aggregation, used within the 802.11n standard. The result is predictable and high performance transmission of high-defi nition IPTV streams.

Introducing the Ruckus MediaFlex 802.11n Access Point

A complete solution for video-grade, high-performance wireless networking, the Ruckus system includes the Ruckus MediaFlex 802.11n multimedia access point and Ruckus MediaFlex 802.11n multimedia Wi-Fi adapter. The system incorporates Ruckus patent-pending BeamFlex and SmartCast technologies to guarantee optimal range and performance for concurrent video and data traffic.

Attached to the broadband gateway, the Ruckus MediaFlex access point optimizes all 802.11n devices in the home, while enabling wireless video applications.

The Ruckus MediaFlex 7811 adapter provides video-grade, 802.11n connectivity to any Ethernet-equipped video server and video receiver, including set-top boxes, personal video recorders, media centers and media center extenders.

Most off-the-shelf Wi-Fi products are equipped with one or two antennas, offering little resilience or diversity in the event of a debilitated signal path. In contrast, the Ruckus MediaFlex access point is equipped with BeamFlex, a patent-pending MIMO smart antenna system.

Benefits:

• Unparalleled remote control
  Remote visibility into and control over services associated with each subscriber, offer real-time monitoring of the in-home Wi-Fi environment.
• Dramatic range and performance increase
  Smart antenna system with six antennas and 63 unique antenna patterns ensure optimum signal paths and high data rates to support 3-5 simultaneous high-definition video streams.
• No more dead spots
  Antenna control software monitors the RF and switches antenna patterns dynamically to route signals farther and bypass interference for the best coverage and capacity.
• Highest quality user experience
  Precision and heuristic Quality of Service (QoS) management, combined with smart antenna system, delivers consistent, reliable bandwidth essential for high-definition TV.
• Reliable Wi-Fi transmission of multicast IPTV
  Unique traffic classification and smart multicast handling deliver multicast IPTV reliably to one or more set-top boxes.
• Self-installing, automatic configuration
  Comprehensive DHCP client support and automatic pairing of the MediaFlex access point and adapter enable plug-and-play installation.
• Secure, central management and auto upgrades
  Central management of MediaFlex routers through the Ruckus platform leveraging TR-069 for troubleshooting, bulk configuration, diagnostics and auto firmware upgrades.

BeamFlex Extends Signal Coverage, Increases Reliability

Each Ruckus MediaFlex 7811 access point integrates BeamFlex, a compact, internal antenna array with six high-gain, directional antenna elements capable of forming 63 unique antenna patterns for massive diversity. Expert system control software continuously ranks the antenna patterns for each receiving device, using the inherent feedback mechanism built into the 802.11 MAC layer protocol.

BeamFlex enables client devices to communicate over longer distances at higher speeds than consumer-grade 802.11 products — delivering unprecedented reliability and diversity.

With BeamFlex, the Ruckus MediaFlex 7811 access point reconfi gures itself in real-time, detecting and adjusting for both spectral and multipath interference as well as neighboring network noise.

By selecting the optimum antenna pattern for each receiving device, BeamFlex enables extended Wi-Fi range and higher communications speeds. This antenna diversity allows the Ruckus MediaFlex access point to find and instantly select from many quality signal paths in a changing environment. This provides the stability and sustained baseline performance essential for delay-sensitive voice and video applications.

Extending Signal Coverage — and Increasing Reliability

Each MediaFlex 7811 access point integrates BeamFlex, a compact, internal MIMO smart antenna system with six high-gain, directional antenna elements capable of forming 63 unique antenna patterns. Expert system control software continuously ranks the antenna patterns for each receiving device, using the inherent feedback mechanism built into the 802.11 MAC layer protocol.

With BeamFlex, the MediaFlex 7811 AP reconfigures itself in real-time, detecting and adjusting for both spectral and multipath interference as well as neighboring network noise. By selecting the optimum antenna pattern for each receiving device from many quality signal paths, BeamFlex extends Wi-Fi range and enables higher communications speeds. It also provides stability and sustained baseline performance for delay-sensitive voice and video applications.

Picture-Perfect Multimedia Viewing with SmartCast

Patent-pending SmartCast technology from Ruckus Wireless combines innovative multicast traffic handling techniques, smart QoS and applicationaware traffic classification capabilities to ensure the highest reliability for all transmissions over Wi-Fi.

Ruckus SmartCast technology ensures the highest reliability for all transmissions over Wi-Fi. It differentiates and manages multicast video frames separately from all other traffic types, providing a robust wireless transport for IPTV streams from the broadband gateway to the set-top box. SmartCast detects a receiver tuning to an IPTV channel, then directs the associated multicast video packets to each receiver, using the optimum data rate and signal path for that receiver. This ensures the best performance possible, while enabling reliable delivery of IPTV packets.

Optimized traffic management algorithms guarantee performance for multiple broadcast quality video streams, while maintaining adequate bandwidth for data applications. SmartCast automatically classifies all traffic based on UDP/ TCP port and other application attributes, and manages each traffic type (voice, video, data) according to its classified priority and characteristics.

Automatic Type-of-Service (ToS) tagging eliminates complex QoS configurations, while automatic management of lower speed 802.11a devices assures bandwidth availability for prioritized video applications. Four priority queues per station result in a high granularity of traffic prioritization and precision for multiple concurrent video streams.

All packets are queued/de-queued by special schedulers that correspond to each traffic type. Each scheduler takes into account the delay/jitter tolerance and bandwidth requirements of the traffic, and the changing performance characteristics of each station, on the WLAN for the best user experience.

802.11n and BeamFlex: A Winning Combination

A fundamentally new approach to Wi-Fi, 802.11n exploits advances and new techniques, such as spatial multiplexing, channel bonding and frame aggregation, to deliver dramatically higher data rates.

Ruckus BeamFlex optimizes the parameters to reliably achieve a high throughput to enable the streaming of multiple HD videos.

• Beamsteering provides active interference avoidance to ensure spatial multiplexing and the best possible paths used for spatial streams.
• Signal path selection control and mitigating interference make channel bonding possible.
• Optimizing the path to each client, reducing packet loss and better receive sensitivity increase effective throughput, enabling more frames to be aggregated.

SmartCast

SmartCast automatically classifies all traffic based on UDP/ TCP port and other application attributes, and manages each traffic type (voice, video, data) according to its classified priority and characteristics. Automatic Type-of-Service (ToS) tagging eliminates complex QoS configurations, while automatic management of lower speed 802.11a devices assures bandwidth availability for prioritized video applications. Four priority queues per station result in high granularity of traffic prioritization and precision for multiple concurrent video streams. All packets are queued/de-queued by special schedulers that correspond to each traffic type, and take into account the delay/jitter tolerance and bandwidth requirements of the traffic, and the changing performance characteristics of each station on the WLAN.

Remote Service Management

The Ruckus MediaFlex 7000 series is managed by the Ruckus system, the industry’s fi rst complete managed service platform. lets service providers securely control, monitor and upgrade Ruckus MediaFlex and ZoneFlex Wi-Fi systems anywhere in the world, whether over the Internet or a private IP network.

Simple to install and easy to use with an intuitive look and feel, provides a comprehensive solution for confi guration, fault detection, audit, and performance management.

It fits seamlessly into existing provider OSS network management architectures, uniquely leveraging a variety of industry-standard protocols such as SNMP, TR-069, and HTTP/S.

also provides the carrier-grade scalability expected for large service infrastructures.

Simple Installation, Reduced Support Costs

The MediaFlex 7811 access point and 7111 adapter are self-installable, and attach to their respective modem or media devices using standard Ethernet. A Web UI enables easy configuration as well as firmware upgrades. Three LEDs provide status information on power, Ethernet connectivity, and wireless association. A fourth LED is a wireless video quality indicator for at-a-glance monitoring of wireless network performance. Remote management is provided through Telnet (CLI), SSH, HTTP, HTTPS, SSH and TR-069 protocols.

Proven Streaming Performance

A Ruckus-powered 802.11n multimedia network ensures transmission of 40-60 Mbps of guaranteed throughput for streaming video throughout a typical 5,000 square foot (465 square meter) home. The MediaFlex system can handle four to six MPEG-2 HD IPTV streams, and significantly higher number of concurrent standard definition (SD) IPTV streams.

Features:

Everything Broadband Operators Need in a Single System.

• Reliably extends multimedia services throughout a home over standard 802.11n (5 GHz) Wi-Fi
• Delivers unprecedented visibility and control of subscriber Wi-Fi environments
• Incorporates BeamFlex and SmartCast technologies, to guarantee optimal range and performance for concurrent video and data traffic

High-Performance Meets Cost-Effectiveness.

• Eliminates costly, bulky cabling within subscriber homes
• Speeds up installation times and reduces installation expenses
• Maximizes service potential

Unique FlexMaster Remote Service Management.

• Lets service providers securely control, monitor, and upgrade MediaFlex and ZoneFlex Wi-Fi systems anywhere in the world
• Provides comprehensive, scalable solution for configuration, fault detection, audit, and performance management.
• Fits seamlessly into existing provider OSS network management architectures

 

Deployment:

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Product Comparision:

 

Documentation:

Download the Ruckus MediaFlex 7000 Series Datasheet (PDF).

Download the Ruckus BeamFlex Datasheet (PDF).

Download the Ruckus SmartCast Datasheet (PDF).