Video Disk Control Protocol

Video Disk Control Protocol (VDCP) is a communication protocol that is mainly used to control video servers in the field of television technology . VDCP was originally developed by Louth-Automation and is also commonly known as the Louth Protocol.

It was commissioned by Hewlett-Packard and Grass-Valley , both of which wanted to bring the first models of their video servers for use in television technology onto the market.

Kenneth Louth and Stan Becker used the Sony protocols for their LMS (Library Management System) and video recorder ( VTR ) as a basis. VDCP operates according to the master-slave principle, in which the controlling unit (master), such as a broadcast automation system, determines the communication and the unit to be controlled (slave), in this case the video server, executes the commands and provides feedback gives.

VDCP is a serial, bidirectional communication protocol based on RS-422 . It is derived from the Sony 9-pin protocol, an industry-compatible protocol for controlling professional VTRs.

A subsequent protocol called NDCP , which is based on TCP / IP , was developed by Harris Corporation , which bought Louth Automation in 2000. However, it is still not in use so that VDCP can still be regarded as the standard.