System on Chip offers transcoding, decoding, and encoding.

Press Release Summary:



Equipped with 400 MHz dedicated application processor, XCode 3290(TM) offers real-time MPEG2 HD to AVC HD transcoding, AVC HD to MPEG2 HD transcoding, and AVC/MPEG2 HD decoding and encoding. To ensure video content remains protected, chip includes CableCard, CAM/CI, and Smart Card interfaces; encryption and decryption engines; and support for multiple DRM schemes. SoC is suited for consumer electronics products that require storage, networking, parallel processing, and content protection.



Original Press Release:



ViXS Debuts Next Generation HD Multi-stream Transcoder/Encoder/Decoder SoC



XCode(TM) 3290 sets new standards in HD video processing and integrated security

TORONTO, Jan. 3 -- ViXS Systems Inc., the leading developer of video processing solutions, today announced the North American debut of the XCode(TM) 3290, the world's most advanced MPEG4 AVC (MPEG4 Part 10/H.264) Transcoder/Encoder/Decoder System-on-a-Chip (SoC). The XCode(TM) 3290 is the flagship IC for many of the video solutions ViXS will be showcasing at CES 2008. Advanced features and capabilities of the XCode(TM) 3290 SoC include real-time MPEG2 High-Definition (HD) to AVC HD transcoding, real-time AVC HD to MPEG2 HD transcoding, AVC/MPEG2 HD decoding and encoding. In addition to video processing demonstrations at CES 2008, ViXS will be showcasing many software applications such as PVR stack, HD-DVD/Blu-ray/DVD Authoring, DLNA Server, UPnP, Graphical Interfaces, JPEG slideshows and web server applications.

The ViXS XCode(TM) Series of ICs have led the way in the Consumer Electronics (CE), Set-Top Box (STB) and PC markets by being the first - and currently only - single-chip hardware transcoder shipping in the CE, STB and PC markets with leading manufacturers such as Hitachi, Sony and Dell. The XCode(TM) Series is being shipped in products such as digital PVR TVs with built-in hard disk drives (HDD), personal video recorders (PVR) to store 500GB of HD content on a 250 GB HDD, and PC products that convert captured content at high speeds to the Sony PSP, Apple iPOD, iPOD Touch, iPhone and other mobile phone formats. The availability of XCode(TM) 3290 allows both CE and PC manufacturers the unique opportunity to build products that will provide consumers with the ability to: quickly convert video content for portable devices, manage their own user-generated video content, watch TV remotely, time-shift their favorite TV shows, play YouTube content, distribute video over the internet for placeshifting, and record multiple TV programs simultaneously.

The XCode(TM) 3290's features and functions line up perfectly with manufacturer's needs for products such as HD STBs, PVRs, DTVs, Blu-Ray/HD DVD recorders, Media Servers, Remote TV and Network Attached Storage (NAS) products. The XCode(TM) 3290's dual HD transcoding/encoding/decoding, dense peripheral integration, and powerful multi-processor architecture make it ideal for the next generation of CE products that require storage, networking, parallel processing and content protection. Additionally, the XCode(TM) 3290's powerful processors allow for multiple and/or advanced applications such as PVR, DLNA and networking to run simultaneously and seamlessly without the aid of an external CPU.

XCode(TM) 3290 Features:
o 400 MHz Dedicated Application Processor
- Multi-processor architecture
- Availability of additional processing power via multi-processor architecture
o Multiple Integrated Peripherals
- Dual Ethernet, Dual SATA, and Dual USB ports
o Multiple Interconnects:
- PCI, PCIe, and Host Bus Interface (HBI)
- DDR2 and NAND Flash
o Multi-stream HD/SD Video Transcoding, Decoding and Encoding
- MPEG4 AVC, MPEG4 Part 2, MPEG2, VC1
- Bitrate Reduction, Resolution Reduction and Format Conversion
- High-speed Transcoding up to 16x real-time
- Support for iPOD, iPOD Touch, iPhone, PSP and other portable device formats
o Fully integrated security
- Cable Card, Smart Card and DVB Common Interface (DVB-CI)
- Multiple Encryption and Decryption Engines (including 3DES and AES)
- Multiple Digital Rights Management (DRM) scheme support

Security and Content Protection
To ensure video content remains protected and that proper conditional access is maintained, XCode(TM) 3290 provides a full range of features including integrated CableCard, CAM/CI, and Smart Card interfaces, multiple encryption and decryption engines (including 3DES and AES) and support for multiple DRM schemes such as Windows Media DRM 10 and DTCP-IP. As content owners and distributors become increasingly concerned with protection of their content, XCode(TM) 3290 is ready to assist manufacturers as they develop home video products that can securely decode, encode and transcode protected video content while still maintaining full content protection and Digital Rights Management (DRM).

IdaRose Sylvester, senior IDC analyst said: "2008 will be the year transcoding becomes critical for the consumer electronics industry. The proliferation of devices with differing video, audio, DRM and security requirements generate large amounts of digital data in multiple formats. As well, consumers are starting to demand content anytime, anywhere, and do not want to be restricted due to formatting issues. Due to these forces, transcoding will become a critical factor in the management, delivery and storage of content, and a key feature in consumer devices."

Sally Daub, President and CEO of ViXS Systems, said: "The XCode(TM) 3290 provides our customers with the industry's most advanced video transcoding/encoding/decoding solution available today for DTVs, STBs, and media centers. By leveraging technology advancements from our XCode(TM) 2100 Series, we've created a single-chip SoC that results in lower bit rates, higher HDD video storage capability, and support for a wider range of video formats. With the XCode(TM) 3290, OEMs and ODMs will be able to cost-effectively build products that support a full range of CE applications while content providers will feel confident that their content will remain properly protected."

About ViXS Systems Inc.
ViXS Systems Inc. is a fabless semiconductor company enabling advanced video processing technologies for top-tier Consumer Electronic (CE) and Personal Computer (PC) companies. The company has developed advanced video codecs with unprecedented capabilities for processing, managing, protecting and distributing broadcast-quality video. ViXS supplies IC solutions and full production reference designs to the world's top CE and PC manufacturers, OEMs and ODMs. ViXS XCode video processors are deployed worldwide in a variety of designs such as IPTV/cable set-top boxes, multimedia PC boards, digital TVs, PVRs, and Blu-ray and HD DVD products. Unique video technologies developed by ViXS, such as encoding, transcoding and decoding, provide CE and PC manufacturers with the necessary feature differentiators they need to become leaders in their respective markets. An additional ingredient for the success of these products is ViXS' support of worldwide Conditional Access (CA) and Digital Rights Management (DRM) whereby one product platform can support worldwide coverage. To date, ViXS has issued and filed over 100 patents. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, ViXS is a global company with offices located worldwide. For more information, visit www.vixs.com.

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