NTT Develops World's-First
MPEG-2 Real-Time Video Encoding PC Card

Existing MPEG-2 video encoders-desktop types for video decks and board types for peripheral component interconnect (PCI) equipment-cannot be used in the mobile environment. NTT, by adding a new PC-card control LSI to its "SuperENC" MPEG-2 video encoder LSI, has developed its new MPEG-2 video encoder and mounted it in a Type II PC card. Since the card is just five millimeters thick and about the length and width of a business card, it can be used in common purpose notebook PCs for mobile applications.

NTT developed the card in response to the diffusion of the Internet and mobile computing, which have increased the demand for small, personal-use encoding systems that are easy to handle and consume low amounts of energy. The downsizing of video encoders for compressed video had been lagging behind the downsizing of MPEG-2 video decoders for digital versatile disk (DVD) players and digital broadcasting receivers, because of the complexity of video compression and the small market for such devices, which are limited to professionals such as content makers and broadcasters.

Applications for NTT's new encoding PC card include professional uses, such as real-time encoding of video for transmission from remote locations to broadcasting stations, and personal uses, such as saving video real time onto a hard-disk drive or a DVD for use in a home page.

NTT will exhibit the card at the NAB's^*1 Multimedia World in Las Vegas this month. The corporation expects to commercialize the card by fall and will encourage the development of related mobile applications.

General Features

1)	Real-time encoding
	Although MPEG-2 video encoder software for encoding content from notebook PCs has been available, this is the world's first MPEG-2 video encoding PC card for real-time encoding with notebook PCs.
2)	Small size
	Unlike PCI board-type devices for desktop PCs, NTT's card meets the Type II PC card standard for size, meaning that it is less than one-fifth the dimensions of existing devices. Its suitability for notebook PCs will expand applications within the mobile environment.
3)	Low energy consumption
	The encoder, besides requiring no external power source, uses just three watts of power, which is dramatically lower than the 20 watts required by standard PCI board devices. The unit's low energy consumption and small size are expected to expand greatly the possibilities for mobile video production.
4)	Low cost
	NTT's new encoder costs less than one-fifth that of conventional products, which will promote use by general PC users, as well as content makers, broadcasters and other professionals.

Technical Features

NTT was able to develop the card on the basis of two basic achievements:

1)	It succeeded in mounting a card with its "SuperENC" low-energy single-chip MPEG-2 video encoder LSI (announced in September 1998), and
2)	It developed an LSI that combines a 32-bit bus (PC Card Standard CardBus) interface and encoding control function in one chip.

The above two achievements enabled NTT to dramatically decrease the number of components and thereby fit everything onto one PC card.

The development of the world's first MPEG-2 video encoding PC card for standard television video follows NTT's announcement in March that it had developed the world's first single-board, low-energy HDTV video encoder, which can work with batteries.

^*1 NAB (National Association of Broadcasters)

This Washington, D.C.-based institute for broadcasters was formed in 1923 and currently has a membership of about 5,000 radio stations and 950 television stations. The NAB's annual gathering in spring attracts the interest of broadcasters around the world. In particular, Multimedia World is known as a fair for cutting-edge video recording and processing technology for advanced broadcasting applications. The organization's homepage at http://www.nab.org/.

MPEG-2 Real-Time Video Encoding PC Card

For further information, please contact:

Norihiko Ohkubo or Megumi Inaji
Public Relations Office
NTT Long Distance and Global Provisional Headquarters
Telephone: (03) 3500-8020