NTT Electronics Achieves World-Class Super-Low Latency with Low Bit Rate, Full HD H.264 Encoder/Decoder
March 30, 2010

NTT Electronics Corporation has upgraded the AVC/H.264 HDTV/SDTV encoder/decoder HVE9100/HVD9100, which was released in January 2008, to support a new “super-low latency mode.” With the upgrade, NTT Electronics has achieved the low latency of 100 ms * , a world-class result for low bit rate AVC/H.264 encoding.

Due to the shift from analog to digital broadcasting, the global broadcasting industry frequently uses picture encoding. However, as restrictions on data rate necessitate the use of video encoding, video transmission latency has become an issue in live broadcasting, interactive video communication, and when controlling the camera. Broadcasting stations in particular require real-time video transmission with the lowest latency possible in order to attract viewers through live coverage of events. For this reason, in networks with data rate restrictions for HDTV video, achieving low latency is a crucial issue.

To tackle this issue, NTT Electronics has now added a super-low latency mode (100 ms * ) to its AVC/H.264 HDTV/SDTV encoder/decoder HVE9100/HVD9100, which is known for its high picture quality and high compression rate. This mode also supports audio compression, substantially reducing the delay perceivable in interactive video communication during live broadcasts and remote operation of fixed cameras.

Hisashi Kasahara, Managing Director of NTT Electronics' Digital Video Business Group, says : “The HV9100 series supports the High 4:2:2 profile (8 bit). It has already earned an excellent reputation in 4:2:2 content transmission, which prioritizes picture quality. Now, by adding a super-low latency mode, we've made it possible to use the same equipment for all types of broadcasting, from live broadcasts where low latency is crucial to 4:2:2 content transmissions.”

The HV9100 series (encoder: HVE9100, decoder: HVD9100) supports HDTV (1080i, 720p) and SDTV (480i, 576i). As an option, the series also supports up to 16ch PCM audio input and output, as well as an IP interface. This series has various audio compression modes, enabling ancillary transmission as well. For this reason, the HV9100 series has attracted the interest of numerous broadcasting stations since its release in January 2008, and is frequently used in Japan and other parts of Asia, North America, Europe, Australia, and Brazil, especially for content transmission and inter-station transmissions.

The HV9100 series will be exhibited at NAB2010, the world's largest broadcasting industry exhibition, in Las Vegas from April 12 to 15 (booth no. SU7217), including a demonstration of the super-low latency mode.

*Latency for 1080i 29.97

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HV9100 series Full HD H.264 Encoder/Decoder