C-Cube codec enables high-definition video as well as TV
A service of Semiconductor Business News, CMP Media Inc.
Story posted 8:30 a.m. EST/5:30 a.m., PST, 9/7/99
MILPITAS, Calif. -- C-Cube Microsystems Inc. here has introduced
a high-definition codec (encoder/decoder) platform architecture that it
said will enable high-definition video production systems as well as
HD broadcast television.
Using a proprietary high-definition image-processing technique called
HDScan, C-Cube's DVx-HD platform addresses all major
high-definition compression formats as well as the international
broadcast standards ATSC, DVB and ISDB, the company said.
"Our goal is to pave the way for manufacturers to succeed in the HD
market," said Umesh Padval, president of C-Cube's Semiconductor
Division. "We are providing the most efficient encoding process for
visibly superior image quality while simplifying the transition from SD
[standard definition] to HD."
High-definition video requires an order of magnitude more computing
power than standard-definition encoding. The DVx-HD platform
architecture uses an efficient multi-chip configuration, making it
scalable to address predominant HD formats and image sizes.
HDScan unifies the video image by passing MPEG reference
information about the encoding process to each chip in the platform.
By sharing bit-rate information across the chip-set, the DVx-HD
encoder enables a high level of motion prediction as well as unified
rate control for the highest quality image at significant bandwidth
savings.
"The DVx-HD platform offers exceptionally high-quality, compressed
images at a fraction of uncompressed bandwidths and storage costs.
At the same time, it addresses some of the critical market issues
needed to establish an infrastructure for the creation and transmission
of HD content." said Rose O'Donnell, chief technology officer, Avid
Technology Inc., a Tewksbury, Mass.-based maker of digital image
capturing, processing, and distribution equipment.
Because the platform supports both SD and HD, manufacturers can
use one system for the migration from one format to another as well
as allow production and transmission of SD and HD from within a
single system. The platform is software-extensible so that it can
support emerging HD standards, providing manufacturers with a
comprehensive HD roadmap. |
