Scientific-Atlanta sells PowerVu decoder cards that plug into your home PC. Who needs a settop??? I wonder whose MPEG-2 decoder?........
biz.yahoo.com
Scientific-Atlanta's PowerVu IP System Delivers
Video, Audio, and Data Directly to Desktop PCs
-- New Scientific-Atlanta product opens the way for direct delivery of video, audio, and data
services to millions of desktop PCs - - -
ATLANTA, Sept. 09 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientific-Atlanta announced today the availability of its new PowerVu IP(TM)
products -- a PC card-based solution capable of harnessing the power and bandwidth available over a satellite link to deliver a
variety of video, audio, and data services directly to its customers' desktop PCs. The solution delivered by the PowerVu IP
product can be added to any PowerVu(R) digital video compression system. Currently, more than 300 PowerVu systems
deliver approximately 1000 channels of digital programming to more than 170 countries around the globe.
The new capabilities of the PowerVu IP product are delivered to the desktop by the PowerVu IP PC Decode Cards. The
data-only and video/audio/data (VAD) versions of the cards provide the interface between the PC and the video, audio, or
data streams delivered via satellite to individual users or to a gateway for delivery of data over a LAN. The VAD card has an
on-board MPEG-2 decompression engine for hardware decoding of incoming video, removing this burden from the PC's
processor to enable the user to run other applications while the video is being decoded.
''By using the PowerVu IP product's ability to bring high-quality video and audio, as well as high-speed data services, directly
to a desktop PC, we've opened up an enormous new market for our customers,'' said John Morrow, vice president/business
line manager for service providers at Scientific-Atlanta's Satellite Television Networks. ''Satellite delivery of these services
harnesses the huge data pipe available when you use a satellite link. Delivering video, audio, and data services right to the
desktop is an extremely efficient, time- saving method for making the latest information available to individual users. And, when
you consider the millions and millions of PCs in use around the world, the potential marketplace for the PowerVu IP
technology are staggering.''
PowerVu IP System Applications
The PowerVu IP system is an extension of Scientific-Atlanta's PowerVu digital video compression system which is in use by
more than 300 programmers, broadcasters and service providers around the globe. Potential applications for this new
technology include:
- Video - At the NAB '98 show and conference, Scientific-Atlanta
demonstrated the high-quality video images capable with the PowerVu IP
system by feeding espn2 programming to a PC. The pristine video images
were in sharp contrast to the jerky, grainy images available over
Internet connections.
- Data Broadcast - Any data stream can be sent to the desktop including
stock quotes, financial information, news, weather, or sports results.
It is well suited to the delivery of very large files to multiple
sites.
- IP Traffic - Since the PowerVu IP system uses a large bandwidth
satellite link, it can be used to offload high-volume IP traffic that
may be congesting a WAN or LAN using a terrestrial link.
- Internet Over Satellite - The system is capable of delivering Internet
service and traffic to individual users in a SOHO environment.
- Video Storage and Retrieval - The system can also be used for storage
and retrieval of advertising at cable headends. Rather than dedicating
an entire transponder for distributing advertising for insertion in
cable programming, video can be sent to PCs at the headend in an ad hoc
fashion. Then, it can be integrated locally at the cable headend to
customize the advertising delivered to viewers.
- Interactive Distance Learning - Since a lecturer's image can go
directly to the PC, training can occur more efficiently and to a widely
dispersed audience. Viewers can use the Internet to respond to
questions or to seek clarification on topics being presented.
''PowerVu IP's greatest impact will occur in making the implementation of multimedia services suddenly affordable and
achievable,'' said Louise Wasilewski, market manager - service providers for Scientific-Atlanta's Satellite Television
Networks. ''The PowerVu IP product line offers a cheaper receiving solution than decoders and much more control over the
transmission of data through the sophisticated PowerVu IP hub management package.''
The PowerVu IP System
The PowerVu IP product is designed to support the transmission of DVB- formatted data through PowerVu systems. The
PowerVu IP hub consists of a data encapsulator and other modules such as a network management system (NMS) and
subscriber management system (SMS) to enable data received on an Ethernet port to be encapsulated in transport packets
and output over a DVB-ASI interface. This feeds into existing PowerVu multiplexers using the MetroMux(TM) remultiplexing
capability of the PowerVu Command Centre network management, security, and subscriber management system software.
At the PC, the DVB encapsulated data is received through a PowerVu IP PC decode card. These PCI bus cards are
available in two classes: data only; and data with on-board video and audio decoding (VAD card). The VAD card receives
and enables the display of MPEG-2 video and audio generated by PowerVu audio/video encoders, both to the PC monitor
and to a TV set.
The PowerVu IP system supports a variety of return or back channels to facilitate the automated request of data by an end
user, such as accessing WWW material. The PowerVu IP system will support IP multicast and can also operate in a broadcast
mode without return channels. PowerVu conditional access allows the transmitted material to be carried securely.
Visit Scientific-Atlanta at IBC '98 in Amsterdam, 11-15 September at Stand # 11.438.
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. (NYSE: SFA - news; sciatl.com) is a leading supplier of broadband communications
systems, satellite-based video, voice and data communications networks and worldwide customer service and support.
''Forward-looking statements'' as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 may be included in this news
release. A variety of factors could cause the Company's actual results to differ from the anticipated results expressed in such
forward-looking statements. Investors are referred to the Company's Cautionary Statements (Exhibit 99 to the Company's
most recent Form 10-Q), which statements are incorporated into this news release by reference.
PowerVu is a registered trademark, and PowerVu Plus, PowerVu IP and MetroMux are trademarks of Scientific-Atlanta
SOURCE: Scientific Atlanta, Inc. |
