MediaFirst UHD E2E solution
April 12, 2018
Ericsson Media Solutions has launched its MediaFirst End-to-End Ultra High Definition (UHD) solution, suggesting it is the industry’s first software-based, multi-application media processing and encoding platform to deliver UHD content from camera to consumer, across the entire media delivery landscape.
Noting Ericsson ConsumerLab TV and Media research which highlights how TVs with higher picture quality are becoming more prevalent, the company says that the MediaFirst End-to-End UHD solution addresses this growing need, enabling consumers to enjoy a better and more immersive viewing experience, even on larger TV sets.
The new solution is designed from the ground up to enable contribution workflows using Ericsson Media Solutions’ advanced technology, leveraging high performance algorithms for encoding UHD content to be delivered across contribution networks, further delivered to consumers for an immersive experience across rich client interfaces. With the freedom to use High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology for a more natural and immersive consumer experience, as well as a cloud-agnostic choice of private, public or hybrid clouds, the solution is designed to offer the ultimate flexibility for formats and deployment.
“As ownership of 4K/UHD and HDR-ready TV sets increases, each generation of portable device is pushing the limits of screen resolutions,” noted Boris Felts, Head of Products and Solutions at Ericsson Media Solutions. “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 MediaFirst End-to-End UHD solution includes:
- AVP System Encoder, to provide a future-proof modular architecture that allows on-site upgrades with no hassle or interruption. Powered by Ericsson Media Solutions’ first in-house programmable video chip, AVP encoders deliver MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AVC and HEVC efficient compression, with a smooth upgrade path to 4K UHDTV.
- MediaFirst Content Processing delivers ‘no compromise’ UHD TV decoder with high bitrate, superior low latency 4K HEVC decoding and future proofing flexibility for current and evolving HDR standards.
- MediaFirst Video Processing packaging and encoding for on-demand and live, enables the distribution, personalisation and monetisation of multiscreen high-quality UHD HDR video services, and supporting tone mapping conversion required for SDR displays.
Enabling TV service providers the capability to differentiate even further with this End to End Ultra High Definition solution, Ericsson Media Solutions can combine the Ericsson Video Storage and Processing Platform (VSPP) and MediaFirst TV Platform powering a unified solution for cloud DVR, on-demand and time/place-shifted TV services, supporting all media and screens, up to Ultra HD resolution.