A new generation of MPEG-2 video encoder ASIC and its application to new technology markets

The multimedia era is upon us. The traditional methods used for the storage, signal processing and distribution of video, audio and data are going through significant change. This change is being fuelled by advances in the area of bit-rate reduction technology and in particular the publication of an effective world-wide standard for the compression of video and audio components, the MPEG-2 specification. The paper considers the complexities involved in performing video compression encoding. It introduces newly developed Sony programmable ASICs for performing real time compression encoding of a video source image in compliance with the MPEG-2 Main Profile@Main Level standard. It details the architecture of this newly developed chipset including features that have been implemented within the chipset to identify image complexities, resulting in efficient video compression encoding with high picture quality. The paper also describes how this video compression chipset has been integrated into a new generation MPEG-2 encoder product from Sony and identifies a number of new technology application areas which are being addressed by this new product.