A Distributed Stream Multiplexing Architecture for Multi-Chip Configuration beyond HDTV

Abstract

SUMMARY This paper proposes a distributed stream multiplexing architecture for video codec LSIs with multi-chip configuration. This distributed architecture utilizes a built-in media multiplexing unit with an external stream input and inter-chip communication interfaces. Parallel protocol processing, with an autonomous inter-chip control mechanism to mix and concatenate packets through daisy-chained transfer paths, provides a complete multi-chip stream output at the end of the chain. Dispensing with external post-processing devices contributes to both high throughput and downsizing of high-end video codec systems. It is configurable for parallel encoding of super high-resolution video, multi-view/-angled HDTV vision and multiple HDTV programs. The architecture was successfully implemented in a fabricated single-chip MPEG-2 422P@HL codec LSI and utilized for the development of a super high-resolution video codec system.