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News Release from: Fujitsu Microelectronics Europe
Subject: SmartMPEG reference set-top box
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 27 May 2004

Box design integrates digital TV suite

Fujitsu SmartMPEG reference set-top box integrates Cabot Communications' pan-European Digital TV Suite software.

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Fujitsu Microelectronics Europe is the latest semiconductor company to integrate Cabot Communications' pan-European Digital TV Suite software into its design platform, the Fujitsu SmartMPEG reference set-top box. The integrated reference design allows set top box (STB) and integrated digital TV (iDTV) manufacturers to meet the demand for more cost-effective products for the European market. Digital TV receiver manufacturers are facing an increasing challenge to respond to country-by-country differences in Europe for digital terrestrial TV (DTT) deployment and must, therefore, adapt their platforms accordingly.

The integrated reference design now allows manufacturers to quickly develop cost-effective pan European STBs and iDTVs, compatible with the latest European DTT rollouts including MHEG-5 for UK deployments.

At the core of the Cabot Digital TV Suite is the Eclipse DVB middleware - E-Book (pan-European), D-Book (UK) and Nordig (Scandinavia) compliant incorporating various other country specific requirements, enabling a single software base to be deployed across Europe, thus further reducing development time and costs.

"As new countries roll-out DTT, it is becoming harder for original equipment manufacturers to keep track of all the technical bodies involved, keep products updated to the myriad of specifications and ensure adequate testing in every national network", said Keith Potter, Managing Director at Cabot Communications.

"By combining the Cabot Digital TV Suite into the Fujitsu SmartMPEG reference set-top box, OEMs can get access to the entire European market with minimal integration and customisation delays".

The Fujitsu SmartMPEG reference set-top box is based around Fujitsu's set-top box decoder, SmartMPEG (MB86H20), and a DVB-T front-end.

The high integration of the SmartMPEG allows a low bill of material for set-top boxes and iDTV.

All devices belonging to SmartMPEG family are in mass production and are already being used worldwide in many different applications.

"The new pan-European reference design platform using our set-top box decoder and incorporating Cabot's software stack allows our customers very fast time to market", comments Timm Hinrichs, Product Marketing Manager at Fujitsu Microelectronics Europe.

"We are happy that this reference design which includes Cabot's software stack, is now available".

Cabot's Digital Suite consists of the Eclipse DVB middleware supporting pan-European digital satellite and terrestrial platforms, allowing manufacturers, through the reference user interface, to easily customise a branded look and feel.

Eclipse also incorporates a multilanguage UI, common interface for pay-TV, an 8-day EPG, subtitles (DVB and EBU teletext) and support for Dolby AC3 audio.

The ability to update deployed receivers in the field is crucial to avoid costly returns as a result of changes in transmission environments.

Cabot's Digital TV Suite includes the Callisto secure over-air-download manager, which supports both the UK D-Book and EU DVB SSU specifications.

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