At the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) today, Xilinx announced availability of a high definition real-time MPEG4 AVC/H.264 encoder solution leveraging the high-performance features of Xilinx® Virtex™-5 FPGAs. 

The solution is based on ATEME’s high definition H.264 encoding platform, ideal for markets such as IPTV and satellite broadcast which require the best video quality at the lowest possible bit rates. The Virtex-5 FPGA based solution delivers the programmability and computing power required to deliver high definition video quality.

ATEME’s high definition platform is designed to handle 720p60 or 1080i30 high definition content and encodes in H.264/AVC main and high profile at bit rates ranging from approximately 3 Mbps for IPTV applications, while supporting bit rates for contribution and archive server applications. 

“In the highly competitive, fast changing H.264 encoding market, making available the best video quality with fast time-to-market and ease of use is paramount,” said Pierre Larbier, chief technical officer at ATEME. “Today’s high performance FPGAs provide the programmability and performance required by designers to meet market demands.”  

“Virtex-5 FPGAs deliver unrivalled processing performance for leading broadcast video solutions such as ATEME’s high definition H.264/AVC encoder,” said Paolo Masini, senior manager of Broadcast Vertical Marketing at Xilinx.  “The Virtex-5 family offers the industry’s largest and fastest FPGAs in the market today, enabling the most flexible and extensible platform for delivering continued H.264 efficiency and quality enhancements, a critical requirement in the highly competitive and rapidly advancing H.264 encoding market.”

Availability

The high definition real-time MPEG4 AVC/H.264 encoder solution will be available in calendar Q4 2007. For more information visit www.ateme.com or contact a Xilinx sales representative or distributor.

Contact information

Christelle Moraga, Xilinx EMEA, Tel: +44 (0) 1932 836 526 or cmoraga@xilinx.com.