Media and Network Systems

This module will introduce you to how video and audio is used and implemented and the challenges for networking, storage and distribution. The module content will also introduce you to video and audio in an integrated form and how this is a fundamental priority in recording and distribution.

The nature of acquiring broadcast, cinema and streamed camera material has altered significantly over the last ten years. The immediacy and variety of different technologies, fabrics and infrastructures continue to evolve year on year.

In this module, you will learn which key technologies techniques and methods are being used and implemented, so you can understand the environment of media creation and the challenges of engineering network solutions to support it. You will gain an oversight of the landscape of technological change and integration used in streaming today.

The Media Technologies Evolution and Implementation module looks at technologies in use for the media, in acquisition, production distribution and extended media environments.

You will learn how these technologies were developed for specific uses and how they can be altered to facilitate more extended workflows and ways of working.  A key element of this module is to look at technologies and standards as they emerge and how they may change the media landscape.

This module covers the operation of computer networks at both a theoretical and practical level.   You will look at how the transfer of data between computers is controlled by communication protocols which not only define how data is formatted and structured, but also how the transfer of information is managed to ensure it arrives at its intended destination. 

The module content will introduce you to the concept of layered protocol architectures as a mechanism for defining the relationship and interaction between various protocols that are used within today’s networks.  You will gain practical experience of the configuration of switches and routers to create an operational network and learn how to use software analysers to observe the correct operational of protocols, the traffic performance of a network and to assist with fault finding.

Computer skills are essential for media and network engineers. This module is focused on the Linux Operating System and Python programming language - both of which are used extensively within media streaming servers and networks.  

The module content will cover the core principles of computer operating systems and structured programming, as well as providing extensive practical experience in the use of Linux and writing Python code within an integrated software development environment.  You will also have the option to enrol on a Cisco course that can lead to Cisco-certified qualification in python programming.

In this module, you will examine the technical and practical aspects of creating television content.   This will include the basic principles of how cameras work, the relevance of lighting, how sound and pictures are combined, the design of display systems, and the importance of frame rate, pixels, and coding within the digitisation process.  

Delivered using our television studios at our MediaCity campus, you will learn about the operation and workflow of a typical studio multi-camera environment.  To complement the theoretical aspects of the module, you will work in small groups to create your own short film so you gain practical experience of the film-making process, including shooting and editing content.

In this module, you will take a deep dive into lenses, camera pick-up devices and workflows used in post production to understand the key enablers of broadcast, streaming and cinema production.

You will look at why certain camera types are used for specific types of shooting and how sophisticated file handling and manipulation play their part in the workflow success.  You will also learn how changing standards and technologies affect the camera process and the workflow the media feeds.

The media industry’s dynamic expansion of its online presence and the increasing delivery of streamed content means that security of these systems has never been more important.  This module examines key security vulnerabilities, how these can be exploited by potential attackers, and the resulting business impacts.  You will look at methods used to combat such vulnerabilities, with theory and practice focusing on cryptographic principles, C-I-A trade-offs, firewalls, legal and ethical implications, and real-world case studies.  

A range of tools and techniques for vulnerability assessment will be taught using lecture sessions, which you will then apply in practical workshops.  You will also learn how to write a penetration testing report and communicate findings to a client.

In this module, you will explore the purpose and operation of layer 2 switching and layer 3 routing - both of which are essential elements of all networks.  Module content focuses on the detailed operation of switches and how these can be configured to create virtual LANs.   You will explore the relationship between switches and layer 3 routing from the point of view of how routers function, the purpose and operation of routing protocols, how network addresses can be assigned dynamically throughout a network, and how access to parts of a network can be managed and restricted. 

Throughout the module, theoretical aspects are supplemented by extensive practical experience. You will learn to configure network hardware, set up small scale networks, and use software tools to both analyse the correct operation of a network and carry out basic troubleshooting to determine common fault conditions.

This module brings together all aspects of media technology and communication networks that you have studied within the HND course to form a project where you will work in a team to design a complete system to satisfy a given technical specification. 

System design is strategically important within the media industry and involves carrying out detailed research, undertaking a requirements analysis, selecting appropriate media and communications technologies, appreciating how such technologies interact and interface to one another at a detailed technical level within the context of a complete system, and how such a system can be evaluated to determine its predicted performance. 

The module is designed to support the development of your personal and professional skills.  Assessment includes an oral presentation and written report based on the group project task.   

This module will engage you with the necessary fabric, infrastructures, hardware and software used to store distribute and deliver media materials across different infrastructures and applied methodologies.

A key part of this module is looking at the contrast between hardware heavy solutions used in the past due to live media constraints, to software-defined solutions within IP fabric and Cloud based solutions which the industry is gravitating towards today. You will explore orchestration, control and enabling functionality across a mixed method environment and become aware of the real-world challenges.

How do we distribute the Media using either Terrestrial, Satellite, Cable, Mobile phone, OTT and streamed media on the internet?

Each technology method and standard play a part in the simultaneous dissemination of global media. In this module, you will look at each one and examine the role it plays in modern broadcast and streamed infrastructure.