Implementation of H.264/MPEG-4 AVC in low cost set top boxes

In 2003 a combined task force of International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) developed the new video coding scheme called H.264/AVC also know as MPEG-4 part 10. This new coding scheme supports a wide array of different formats and application ranging from small displays of mobile phones to the large high definition displays in our future living rooms. Given that H.264/AVC significantly improves the quality of coded video signals, at a given data rate when compared to the existing MPEG-2 standard, there is a considerable interest in the consumer industry for devices supporting H.264/AVC. However, the business case for video processing in consumer devices can be extremely cost sensitive. This applies especially to the transmission of video over broadband, where the cost of the set-top box (STB) is a major part of the investment for the operator. To be economically viable, the H.264/AVC enabled STB for video over broadband must be as low-cost as possible. In this paper the various technical options for the implementation of H.2 64/AVC available in 2003 and their development over time are discussed. In this document the focus is on STBs supporting video over broadband channels with standard resolution (SD). The solution chosen by the author and the resulting STB developed by Siemens AG is presented.