NEC Introduces The VC-7700 Series Digital Video Compression And Transmission System
Tokyo - NEC Corporation announced recently a new digital video compression and transmission system, the VC-7700 series, that features one of the industry's lowest video compression delays, 10 milliseconds (msec)(1), for broadcast operators and telecom carriers. This product will start shipping from October 2010 in Japan, and is expected to expand to international markets. NEC is aiming to sell 2,000 systems within the next three years.
Recently, due to the expanding of digital terrestrial broadcasting, video content has shifted towards high definition (HD). video signals contain large volumes of data and require compression during transmission via radio and regular wired networks, which results in a few hundred millisecond delay. The demand has been increasing to reduce this delay due to the communication time lag between shooting locations and studios during live broadcasts.
The VC-7700 series compresses large volume video signals, such as those from HD cameras, and transmits this data to broadcasting centers. NEC's original "ultra high quality and ultra low delay encoding algorithm" reduces delay time to 10 msec, one of the industry's lowest delay levels, and makes it possible to transmit video signal in real time. Furthermore, the VC-7700 series complied with the "H.264 High422profile@LEVEL4.1"(2) which worldwide video compression standard, and makes it possible to provide high quality video through low bit rate transmission.
Main features of the VC-7700 series include the following:
1.One of the industry's lowest video compression delay times, 10msec: NEC developed an "ultra high quality and ultra low delay encoding algorithm" based on original video compression technologies cultivated through digital broadcasting systems (MPEG-2 encoding). By adopting this algorithm, delay is minimized to 10 msec in ultra low delay mode and 60 msec in low delay mode(3).
2.High quality video through low bit rate transmission:
NEC adopted the "H.264 High422profile@LEVEL4.1" video compression method, which provides more than double the compression rate when compared to MPEG-2. By combining this with the "ultra high quality and ultra low delay encoding algorithm," high quality video can be implemented through low bit rate transmissions.
3.Transmission of ancillary data signals:
In addition to video signals, ancillary data signals can be transmitted, such as digital subtitle data and control signals between broadcasting stations, which removes the need for additional equipment associated with these signals.
4.Support for a variety of audio compression and transmission methods:
The VC-7700 series supports a variety of audio compression methods such as MPEG-2 AAC-LC, MPEG-2-BC, MPEG-1 Layer2 and non-compressed LPCM. For video output, transmission interface such as DVB-ASI and IP can be selected depending on the transmission network.
NEC has capitalized on its technologies and know-how to provide digital broadcasting equipment and systems for a wide range of broadcast operators and telecom carriers throughout 110 countries across the globe. Looking forward, NEC aims to continue leveraging the latest technologies to provide video image solutions for broadcast operators and telecom carriers worldwide.
(1) 10 msec in ultra low delay mode. Approximately 60 msec in low delay mode.
(2) An encoding specification profile/level for H.264 High Profile@Level4.1
(3) Transmission network delay time is not included.
SOURCE: NEC Australia Pty. Ltd.