Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : C-Cube -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: BillyG who wrote (47720)	11/24/1999 3:01:00 PM
From: John Rieman	Respond to of 50808

Pro-Mpeg Forum........................................... broadcastengineering.com Broadcast Engineering November 1999 The Pro-MPEG Forum By Dr. Nick Wells Within the studio, the use of compression offers many advantages. Compression enables the efficient use of servers and networks that provide convenient and wide access to source and archived material. Also, server-based architecture enables efficient editing and automation within production and playout. Consequently, many manufacturers now offer professional acquisition, production and distribution equipment based around the MPEG-2 compression standard. Manufacturers chose MPEG-2 because it: Is an open, international standard; Provides excellent compression efficiency; Is flexible, with modes specifically designed for the professional environment; and, It offers the possibility of using a consistent standard throughout the production and broadcast chain. Although using the new digital compression standards brings great flexibility, there are some inevitable difficulties associated with interoperability between equipment from different manufacturers and with consistency of approach to the implementation of such new and complicated standards. The Professional MPEG Forum (Pro-MPEG Forum) was established in July 1998 as a means through which manufacturers could meet to agree upon and test interoperability points and interfaces. Naturally, this endeavor must necessarily meet the requirements of the end users who, for this reason, also participate in the Forum. The Pro-MPEG Forum is not a formal standards-making committee. It exists to provide a bridge between new standards and practical, interoperable product implementation. These standards derive not only from the MPEG committee, but also from organizations such as the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and SMPTE. A work in progress Current technical work of the Forum is based around: Agreeing upon operating points for MPEG in the professional environment; Agreeing upon file formats and wrappers for MPEG file interchange; and Addressing MPEG interoperability over wide area ATM networks. The operating points work (in conjunction with requirements) should develop into defining recommended architecture and practices, with the aim of clarifying a subset of systems/architecture that should promote interoperability and maintenance of technical quality. Technical quality can be maintained in an optimum way by the consistent use of MPEG-2 throughout the production and broadcast chain, and through the intelligent use of transcoding between different flavors of MPEG-2. The Forum will tackle interfaces and architectures allowing optimum transcoding. The file interchange work should develop common standards for control and practices for carrying metadata. Interoperability in both these areas is necessary if the potential of MPEG-based production and distribution equipment is to be realized. High definition also is an important area where the compression efficiency of MPEG can bring huge advantages in production. As operating points and interfaces are agreed upon, it should be possible to define a set of tests that can be used sensibly to confirm interoperability at different parts of the system. The specification and test group will cooperate with test-equipment manufacturers, to specify a selection of tests and to encourage production of suitable test equipment. Finally, although there is a tendency to concentrate mainly on video issues, audio is never forgotten and is included in all the Forum?s specifications, tests and trials. Successful first year The Pro-MPEG Forum has just completed a successful first year of work with significant interoperability demonstrations at NAB, Montreux and IBC. Technical work is proceeding well, and this work should prove beneficial to the entire broadcast and production industry.The Forum?s website, which carries news of meetings, documents, and future plans, is at www.pro-mpeg.org. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Nick Wells is with the BBC and also serves as Pro-MPEG Forum chairman.