STMicroelectronics Supports Chinese AVS Standard for IPTV Using Proven High- Performance Set-Top Box Chips

(Business News & Technology News, 14 Apr 2007)

STMicroelectronics has announced a cost-effective support for the recently established Chinese AVS (Audio Video Standard), using its leading-edge TV STB decoder chips, which are already in volume production. In 2007, ST showed a working demonstration of this Standard Definition (SD) AVS solution at the CCBN (China Content Broadcasting Network) conference in Beijing.

The latest version of the codec—known as AVS Part 2—was approved as a Chinese national standard in March 2006, and is now being used in a standard definition IPTV trial by China Netcom, the country's second-largest wired- telecom company, which is expected to introduce an AVS-based IPTV service in 20 cities during 2007. AVS1-P2 Jizhun Profile 4.0 level (SD) video decoding capability is being introduced in ST's STi520x and STi710x families, using a mixed software/hardware architecture that uses the decoders' multimedia processing engines to achieve exceptional performance.

The implementation of the decoder on proven devices that are in volume production will enable manufacturers already producing STBs based on these chips to rapidly design and deploy boxes compliant with the AVS standard, at minimum cost. Between them the two highly integrated families, embedding ST20 and ST40 core processors, support MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and H.264/AVC standards, in addition to AVS.

The STi710x combines all the STB functions and multi-standard decoding circuitry into a single chip, rather than being an add-on processor for an existing product; coupled with its production using ST's state-of-the-art 90nm process technology this configuration results in the most cost-efficient solution, minimizing both design and production costs for high definition STB makers across IPTV, cable, satellite and terrestrial markets.

"The introduction of support for AVS on ST's proven STB platforms enables manufacturers, both inside China and elsewhere, to produce highly competitive set-top boxes for the Chinese market," said Bob Krysiak, ST's Corporate VP and General Manager, Greater China. "It also demonstrates our commitment to China—we will be following up with support for the high definition AVS standard as soon as it's developed and formally adopted."

The STB520x and STi710x family devices are in volume production now, and software development for AVS is continuing, to ensure optimum on-screen picture quality.

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