1999-08-23 , S/IC-2079/31
Business News From Philips Semiconductors

Combination of Stream Machine's video codec and Philips Semiconductors' TriMedia processor enables simultaneous digital recording and playback for time-shifting applications

Philips Semiconductors and Stream Machine Company today announced an agreement to jointly develop a digital video reference design based on Philips Semiconductors' TriMedia TM-1300 processor and the Stream Machine SM2210 video codec. The reference design provides audio and video encoding and decoding and supports simultaneous recording and playback for time-shifting applications.

Time-shifting is a facility which allows the viewer to effectively 'pause' a broadcast program and resume viewing at his/her own convenience. Through the combination of the Philips TriMedia processor and the Stream Machine video codec, a PC or set-top box is able to encode the broadcast and store it on a hard drive, while the viewer is absent. Once the viewer returns, the PC or set-top box will start decoding from the point he/she left the room, while continuing to encode the remaining broadcast. In this way the program is time-shifted, with the system encoding and decoding the stream at two different points.

Philips Semiconductors' TM-1300 media processor supports Dolby Digital™ audio encoding and decoding, DVD descrambling, system control and user interface. In addition, the processor supports video decoding when the device is simultaneously recording and playing back. Stream Machine's SM2210 supports real-time MPEG-2 video encoding and decoding using a variable bit rate (VBR) MPEG-2 encoding technique. At the same average bit-rate, variable bit rate (VBR) provides higher video quality than traditional constant bit rate (CBR) MPEG-2 encoding.

"The TriMedia processor, Stream Machine video codec, and VBR encoding technology are a perfect combination for a flexible digital video recorder for the consumer market," said Cees Hartgring, vice president and general manager of Philips Semiconductors' TriMedia Business Line.

"The SM2210 and TM-1300 together provide innovative solutions for the digital living room," said Dr. Michael Canning, president and CEO of Stream Machine. "The Stream Machine TriMedia Reference Design provides high quality video designed for the price sensitive consumer electronics market."

Philips Semiconductors will demonstrate the digital recorder reference design at the Hotel Berlin during the Internationale Funkausstellung 1999 (IFA 99) held from 30 August to 3 September.

Philips Semiconductors' and Stream Machine's reference design and software will be available from Philips Semiconductors and Stream Machine in early fourth quarter of 1999.

Philips Semiconductors' TriMedia processor is based on breakthroughs in VLIW (Very Long Instruction Word) hardware and software technology. By processing up to five instructions with each clock cycle, a low cost TriMedia processor can achieve exceptional performance necessary for demanding multimedia applications. The TriMedia software compiler handles the complex instruction scheduling, and allows a TriMedia processor to be programmed entirely in C/C++ programming languages. For additional information about TriMedia technology, connect to the TriMedia website:  www.trimedia.philips.com.

Stream Machine Company provides digital entertainment solutions for the consumer electronics market. Stream Machine specializes in semiconductor product solutions using standards-based digital audio/video compression algorithms. The Company has developed a unique architecture and a series of proprietary algorithmic techniques to enable real-time recording and playback of MPEG-2 digital video. Additional information on Stream Machine can be found on the home page at  www.streammachine.com.

Philips Semiconductors, a division of Royal Philips Electronics, headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, is the eighth largest semiconductor supplier in the world. Philips Semiconductors' innovations in digital audio, video, and mobile technology position the company as a leader in the consumer, multimedia and wireless communications markets. Sales offices are located in all major markets around the world and are supported by systems labs. Additional information on Philips Semiconductors can be obtained by accessing its home page at http://www.semiconductors.philips.com