Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) Media Solutions has launched its MediaFirst End-to-End Ultra High Definition solution, a software-based, multi-application media processing and encoding platform intended to deliver UltraHD video content from camera to consumer, across the entire media delivery landscape. The new platform made its global debut at the 2018 NAB Show in Las Vegas.
The solution is designed to enable contribution workflows using Ericsson Media Solutions' algorithms for encoding UltraHD content to be delivered across contribution networks and on to consumers. It's designed to support High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology, as well as a cloud-agnostic choice of private, public or hybrid clouds.
Boris Felts, head of Products and Solutions at Ericsson Media Solutions, said: "As ownership of 4K/UHD and HDR-ready TV sets increases, each generation of portable device is pushing the limits of screen resolutions. There is a huge opportunity for operators to differentiate by delivering more immersive and high-quality viewing experiences. Our innovative and complete End-to-End UHD processing solution is the first on the market to unlock this potential. It enables operators to use elements of the Ericsson MediaFirst Video Processing platform to provide greater flexibility, superior low latency, and the ability to repurpose processing functions to efficiently deliver new and increasingly immersive UHD video experiences."
The solution includes:
- AVP System Encoder, based on Ericsson Media Solutions' in-house programmable video chip, designed to support MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AVC and HEVC compression, with an upgrade path to 4K/UltraHD TV
- MediaFirst Content Processing UHD TV decoder with 4K HEVC decoding and support for current and evolving HDR standards
- MediaFirst Video Processing packaging and encoding for on-demand and live video for the distribution, personalization and monetization of multiscreen UltraHD HDR video services, as well as tone mapping conversion for SDR displays
Ericsson Media Solutions can also combine the Ericsson Video Storage and Processing Platform (VSPP) and MediaFirst TV Platform into a unified solution for cloud DVR, on-demand and time/place-shifted TV services on all screens, up to UltraHD resolution.