Sigma unveils high-integration SoCs for streaming media apps

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Jan. 10, 2005

Sigma has announced two MIPS-based SoCs (system-on-chips) with integrated media-processing capabilities targeting HD-DVD players, IP-TV set-top-boxes, and other video networking products. The SMP8630 and SMP8634 will support Linux and Windows CE, and feature integrated media processors for H.264, WMV9/VC1, and MPEG-2, as well as DRM (digital rights management) security features.

Sigma says it will sample the SMP8630 in March, followed by the SMP8634 in April. The former is capable of simultaneously streaming two standard-definition streams, while the latter can handle two high-definition streams at once (for example, for "picture-in-picture" displays). Both chips will be delivered with video playback software for Linux and Windows CE, and ports of both OSes are planned as well, Sigma says.

The SMP863x-series chips are based on a MIPS core clocked at 300MHz, with 32KB each of instruction and data cache. They utilize a UMA (unified memory interface) architecture that enables the same bank of external RAM to be used by both the core and by the on-chip media processing and graphical display engines. The chips support up to 512MB of 200MHz DDR. On-chip peripheral interfaces include a PCI bus, IDE controller, Ethernet MAC, and "other general-purpose I/O ports," according to Sigma.

Additionally, the SMP863x-series SoCs include media processing engines that support:

VC-1, the codec used in Microsoft's Windows Media v9 player
H.264 (also known as "AVC," and as MPEG-4 part 10), a codec co-developed by the ITU and the MPEG (motion picture experts group)
MPEG-2, a legacy codec in common use today

Sigma says VC1 and H.264 are emerging standards that will see widespread use in IP-TV services, high-definition DVD players based on HD-DVD and Blueray, FVD (forward versatile disc) players, DMRs (digital media receivers), HDTVs, and portable media players.

The new SoCs also include several features aimed at supporting DRM schemes, according to Sigma:

A security processor inaccessible to external interfaces can manage authentication, key generation, and content access functions
Support for secure boot ROM, embedded Flash, and data-path encryption
Hardware cryptography engines for high speed payload decryption, including AES, DES, triple-DES, RC4, CSS, DVB-CSA and Multi-2

VP of strategic marketing Ken Lowe said, "This chip provides a no-compromise solution with high definition decoding, a robust content security system, and the most mature embedded software suite available for streaming video applications."

In addition to chips, Sigma sells software application stacks for various consumer-oriented devices, including DVD players. The company claims its chips are used in more than half of all network-enabled DVD players.

Earlier this month, Sigma competitor STMicro began sampling a similar SoC with integral H.264/VC1 processors, based on a SuperH core.

Availability

The SMP8630 is expected to sample in March, followed by the SMP8634 a month later. Production availability is expected mid-year.

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