Flash is decimating analog tape-based audio players and hard disk drive-based digital music players. While the world adjusts to this, another revolution is already underway: the shift from scan line-based analog televisions to sleek, glittering LCD and plasma digital TVs. Most of these belong to a category called high definition TV (HDTV). The highest resolution that can be viewed on the HDTV is roughly six times that of the standard analog TV. DVDs are also gearing up for HDTV by the introduction of high definition DVDs.
MULTIMEDIA CONTENT
Audio, video and image signals need to undergo compression whenever they need to be stored or transmitted. The typical ratio of the size of compressed to uncompressed digital video signals could easily be of the order of 1:30 to 1:50. Given the transmission or storage cost, compression immediately makes sense. Hence, all video equipment that either (read and/or write) store or transmit video signals use video compression. However, it is not a single format system. Based on the application and the evolution of the algorithms over the years, different formats are used for video compression such as MPEG-1 (used in VCDs), MPEG-2 (used for DVDs and digital broadcasts), MPEG-4 (broadcasts, cameras, cellular and Internet), H.264 (the latest standard), and VC1 (the open version of the Microsoft’s proprietary Windows Media Codec). Video compression involves the removal of spatial and temporal redundancies. Higher compression is achieved using “lossy compression” methods. Standards have evolved in video compression since it is critical to inter-operate across different equipment from multiple suppliers.
Given this background, it is imperative to provide solutions that can quickly address multiple market needs with a monolithic solution. Ittiam’s intellectual property—(internally codenamed “Trinity”)—enables the ASIC designer to do exactly that. The technology can be used to address multiple market segments in digital TV and in specific HDTVs, IPTVs, high definition set-top boxes, and high definition DVDs.
SIGNAL DECOMPRESSION
The monolithic video engine transforms itself (based on the requirements) into one of the many video formats that are being used in these applications, and decompresses the signal and passes it on to a high-resolution monitor or TV.
The key aspect of the multi-format engine is to make the chip (and equipment) function like a high definition DVD player one time or high definition IPTV at another time, or a high definition set-top box at some other time. The designer can also support picture-in-picture capability using this IP, which is important for multi-tuner based TVs. The IP can also make the TV fetch streams from a storage card and play them like a media player.
Time-to-market is a key factor for the application specific standard products (ASSP) devices. The consumer segment is a fast paced market with features that need to be added on a regular basis. The ASSP devices are usually SOC devices, which means that they integrate many functions required for the target market into a single chip.
The key is to design a chip that can be used to address varying application needs with a single device. Ittiam’s IP does exactly this.
Author information
You can reach Ravishankar Ganesan at ravi@ittiam.com
Caption: Ittiam’s “Trinity” addresses multiple market segments in digital TVs, HDTVs and high definitiion DVDs.
