SYNERGY CONCEPTS, INC.
  "The Concept to Solution People"
Experienced Integrators Building Quality Products at an Affordable Price !

SCI-Stream Net

Synergy Concepts, Inc. has developed an MPEG-based digital compression system that allows users to:

• Reduce their transponder rental overhead costs
• Compress video at a ratio of up to 30:1
• Modulate in either SCPC or TDM or in combination SCPC and TDM simultaneously on the same transponder
• Have flexible uplink and control configurations
• Operate with the highest level of security for high value and time sensitive programming
• Utilize a non-proprietary, open architecture MPEG-based digital compression system
• Have virtually limitless combinations of video, audio and data channels for a given bandwidth
• Decode in any of the multi-standard TV formats utilized around the world
• Expand to HDTV transmission.

PRODUCTS

• Integrated Receiver Processor - a rackmount receiver that receives the digitally compressed signal from the satellite antenna and outputs selected video, stereo audio, and data.
• Consumer Receiver Decompressor - a consumer satellite receiver (a consumer version of the Integrated Receiver Processor) capable of tuning to the various compressed signals and outputting video, stereo audio, and data.
• Satellite Compression Encoder - compresses the various services (video, audio, and data) into a multiplexed data stream.  The digital compression encoder also modulates and encrypts the compressed data stream for transmission.
• Digital Control Computer - controls the compression encoders and decoders.  The control computer regulates the data rates of the various services, encryption, and conditional access functions.
• Future Digital Products - digital cable decoders, MMDS decoders, interactive decoders, and other data-related products.  All of these products are capable of working in the same seamless system and can be controlled from one central control computer or in a shared distribution network.

SYSTEM FEATURES

• Multiple Services - SCI's digital compression system simultaneously carries video, audio and data services.  The user will determine which and how many of each of the previous services will be transmitted over the satellite link.  There are no fixed combinations.
• Standard-based Compression - SCI's system uses MPEG video and Musicam audio compression.  MPEG and Musicam are digital compression standards favored most by the consumer electronics companies in the world for applications involving entertainment, storage and retrieval, computer and multimedia applications.  Because SCI's system is based on standards used by major consumer electronics companies, interfacing with other MPEG-based digital compression products like VCR's and interactive CD's is easier and more cost effective.
• Multiple Data Rates - SCI's system is designed for real-time selection of the optimal data rate.  The advantage of real-time multiple data rates is that the video quality to the end consumer can be optimized for a given mix of programming transmitted over the satellite link.
• Dynamic SmartCard^™ Security - Dynamic Smart Cards contain a secure microprocessor and are capable of activating over 100 super encrypted keys out of 10¹⁶ possible keys upon command from the control system.  In addition, these smart cards can be reprogrammed with new encryption keys.  The cards use a 68 pin JEDA standard interface for flexibility.  Dynamic Smart Cards provide users of SCI's digital compression system with optimum and upgradeable security.
• Flexible Modulation - SCI's system can accommodate TDM and SCPC satellite transmissions on the same transponder.
• Flexible Access Control System - SCI's access control system is designed to allow users to control their own compression decoders, to cooperate and have access to each other's decoders, and to enable SCI's control computer to address the decoders for them.
• Upgradeable Compression Algorithms - The MPEG software algorithm can be upgraded and improved within the system without changing any hardware.  MPEG utilizes a more efficient compression algorithm than proprietary compression algorithms (up to 15%-20%), which allows for the transmission of more compressed video / information channels in a given bandwidth compared to competitive systems (MPEG needs less data to transmit a single channel to achieve the same video quality).
• Multiple TV Formats Compatibility - SCI's system will be operable with various television formats used throughout the world (NTSC, SECAM and PAL).
• Low Cost Encoders - SCI will make use of chip sets for the compression encoder which will result in a very cost competitive implementation of the compression encoding process.

Major System Advantages

• Greatest  Information Carrying Capacity - SCI's unique system design allows the digital compression system to be fine tuned to the characteristics of the satellite.  For the user, this results in the capability to send more video, audio and data in the same bandwidth used by competing systems, or the capability to send an equal amount of video, audio and data at a higher quality.
• Highest Security - SCI's Dynamic SmartCard^™, the industry's first proven 256K IC smart card, will provide the greatest security for users of SCI's digital compression system, while at the same time allowing for upgradeability of security.
• Unique, Flexible Modulation - SCI's unique digital modulation technique allows users to transmit compressed channels in the TDM mode while backhauling other compressed channels in the SCPC mode on the same satellite transponder!  The system also allows for straight TDM or SCPC transmissions.

System Performance

Information Carrying Capacity - The chart below shows various transponder bandwidths versus capacity options for SCI's digital compression system.

Maximum information Carrying Data Rate for a given transponder; values are approximate.

Service Data Rates

The chart below indicates recommended individual service data rates.  Users optimize their satellite transmission efficiency by utilizing as many services as possible given the maximum available bandwidth on their transponder.

Example

The following chart provides an example of the number of services that can be transmitted in 12 MHz transponder bandwidth with SCI's digital compression system.

* A total of 5: 4 video services consisting of 1 video component and 2 audio components, and 1 data service.

Summary

SCI believes that it offers prospective users of digital compression systems the most flexible, cost effective solution for digital compressed transmission.  In addition to SCI's products, users can count on SCI's excellent customer service and support. 

MPEG ENGINEERING BRIEF - THE VIDEO COMPRESSION SOLUTION

Inter Frame Compression - MPEG distinguishes three kinds of frames: Intra frames (1), Predicted frames (P) and Interpolated frames (I).  Intra frames occur every N frames and Predicted frames every M frames.  The remaining frames are Interpolated.

M=4, N=8

Intra frames are coded independently, Predicted frames are coded with respect to the last intra or predicted frame, and Interpolated frames are coded with respect to both an earlier and a later frame.  In general (interpolated) case, each 16 x 16 pixel macro block within the frame is predicted in one of four modes:  Intra (no prediction) forward, backwards, and average (of both forward and backwards).  A prediction is formed for each macro block of pixels.  The difference between the predictor macro block and the current frame macro block is spatially coded.

Entropy Coding

In addition to intra frame and inter frame compression, the MPEG algorithm calls for entropy coding for further compression.  This is implemented by means of a Huffman encoding block that allows codes to be represented as a single entity.

The MPEG algorithm, in summary, is DCT based, and uses a combination of Intra Frame, Inter Frame and Huffman encoding to achieve very high compression ratios (i.e. 4 channels in a 6 MHz bandwidth, for a broadcast application).  MPEG has a number of advantages over competing technologies, particularly in the broadcast area.  In comparison to other approaches employing DCT or Vector Quantization (VO), the intention of MPEG is to allow for interoperability of equipment, including multiple vendors of equipment at both the head end and in home set top converters.  As previously mentioned, this open standard allows for more competition and higher volumes in the VLSI area, which results in a more attractive price for the attendant systems.

Digicipher^™ is a DCT based algorithm similar to MPEG.  However, in the Digicipher implementation, only I and P type frames are used.  This allows only forward prediction of frames.  By utilizing B frames, MPEG is able to increase the attendant compression ratio, or increase the quality at a given data rate.

In contrast to Vector Quantization, MPEG has several advantages.  First, Vector Organization requires a very complex encoder to do image compression across a wide range of images.  At this time, the encoder for VQ may be realized in racks of boards, as opposed to a small number of VLSI devices.  Additionally, MPEG allows higher quality at a given compression ratio.  This is because VQ only does intra frame compression, and does not employ any inter frame or temporal compression.  This approach does not take advantage of frame to frame redundancies.

In summary, MPEG is the standard of choice across a broad range of applications.  SCI has endorsed MPEG, and offers broadcast products based on this technology.  There are several proposals for the U.S. High Definition Television standard that incorporate MPEG as the means of compression.  MPEG has become the international standard in consumer, communication, broadcast, and computer applications.

Digicipher^™ is a trademark of General Instrument Corporation.

P.O. Box 803088, Dallas, TX  75380-3088
972.385.3874   Toll Free: 888.311.4499