Toronto-based ViXS Systems Inc. is banking on growing market demand as it released a video networking processor on Monday.
The firm announced the release of XCode, which enables broadcast quality video to be transmitted over wireless LANs. The chip adjusts bit rates, resolutions and formats of multiple MPEG video streams in real-time, the company said, adjusting each stream to changing network bandwidth. In addition, the product can reduce bit rates from high-definition resolutions down to standard definition and QCIF resolutions, and also format converts MPEG1 to MPEG2, MPEG3 or MPEG4.
XCode also includes network management software that monitors and manages the video streams, and ships with a development kit with a complete set of software tools to develop applications such as shared personal video recorders. Security is handled with DES, Triple DES or AES encryption and supports networks such as WiFi, Ethernet, HomePNA and Powerline networking.
“We developed a chip (XCode) that can monitor the network for available bandwidth, the MPEG feeds and adjust the bit rates and resolution of the video so it always fits through the network,” explained Roy Stewart, senior vice-president of interactive technologies at ViXS in Orange County, Calif.
Although it is generally seen as growing, Steward said the company does not expect any significant development in the video-over-IP market for six months to a year. But he is clear on where demand will have to lie in order for video over IP to fly – in the consumer electronics industry and the PC market.
The XCode development kits are now shipping to OEMs, and production chips will be available in December. ViXS Systems is online at http://www.vixs.com.