HEVC in Focus Brochure - Harmonic Inc
HEVC in Focus Brochure - Harmonic Inc
HEVC in Focus Brochure - Harmonic Inc
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<strong>HEVC</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Focus</strong><br />
The next wave <strong>in</strong> video
The <strong>HEVC</strong> Quest: lower<br />
bandwidth, higher quality.<br />
WHAT IS <strong>HEVC</strong>?<br />
High Efficiency Video Cod<strong>in</strong>g (<strong>HEVC</strong>) is the latest standard aimed at dramatically improv<strong>in</strong>g the compression<br />
efficiency of video streams for resolutions from Mobile to Ultra-HD. It has been jo<strong>in</strong>tly developed by the ISO/IEC<br />
Mov<strong>in</strong>g Picture Experts Group (MPEG) and the ITU-T Video Cod<strong>in</strong>g Experts Group (VCEG), the same groups that<br />
previously developed H.222/262/MPEG-2 and H.264/MPEG-4 AVC. It’s formal name is ISO/IEC 23008-2 MPEG-H<br />
Part 2 and ITU-T H.265.<br />
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF <strong>HEVC</strong>?<br />
<strong>HEVC</strong> has significantly more tools to achieve higher compression ratios than it’s predecessors, it’s key benefit is<br />
bandwidth reduction, target<strong>in</strong>g a 50% reduction <strong>in</strong> bit rate versus today’s MPEG-4 AVC benchmark at comparable<br />
video quality when fully developed. In applications where m<strong>in</strong>imiz<strong>in</strong>g video bandwidth per stream is not the highest<br />
priority, <strong>HEVC</strong> can be used to significantly improve video quality at the same bit rate as its predecessors. In either<br />
case, <strong>HEVC</strong> mean<strong>in</strong>gfully reduces the cost of deliver<strong>in</strong>g video versus all other methods, achiev<strong>in</strong>g quick pay-back<br />
from deployment due to reduced OPEX and CAPEX.<br />
HOW DOES IT WORK?<br />
<strong>HEVC</strong> can implement a more complex cod<strong>in</strong>g scheme than it’s predecessors and has been specifically optimized<br />
to run on parallel processor architectures. Simplistically, <strong>HEVC</strong> achieves higher efficiency over predecessor MPEG<br />
standards, us<strong>in</strong>g H.264/MPEG-4 AVC as a start<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>t, but with new toolset options and <strong>in</strong>creased capability to<br />
vary block size accord<strong>in</strong>g to the content to better manage bit rate allocation over the complete picture. Of course<br />
there’s more to it than that, but that’s the core concept.<br />
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HOW WILL <strong>HEVC</strong> BE USED?<br />
Ultimately, the efficiencies of <strong>HEVC</strong> mean that it will be used throughout video delivery <strong>in</strong>frastructures. However, this<br />
will not happen overnight. Like MPEG-4 AVC, we expect to see a multi-year path driven by pragmatic deployments<br />
where implementation is simpler, economics are most compell<strong>in</strong>g, or bandwidth availability drives fundamental<br />
service attributes. With<strong>in</strong> 2013, <strong>in</strong>itial deployments will focus on OTT/Multiscreen applications where bandwidth<br />
is often restricted and the <strong>in</strong>frastructure is more flexible as end-po<strong>in</strong>ts can be software-updated to decode <strong>HEVC</strong>.<br />
L<strong>in</strong>ear TV deployments will also beg<strong>in</strong> with IPTV/OTT applications followed by distribution and contribution <strong>in</strong> 2014.<br />
Typical set-top boxes are non-<strong>HEVC</strong> compatible <strong>in</strong> hardware and must be changed for support.<br />
WHO IS THE LEADER IN <strong>HEVC</strong>?<br />
<strong>Harmonic</strong>. There are lots of press releases and science projects <strong>in</strong> this space, but only <strong>Harmonic</strong> has both demonstrated<br />
the technology and delivered the specific product roadmap to enable it’s customers to predictably leverage this<br />
excit<strong>in</strong>g technology for service differentiation. With a track record of deliver<strong>in</strong>g technology that’s ready for service <strong>in</strong><br />
scale, <strong>Harmonic</strong> is the ideal partner <strong>in</strong> <strong>HEVC</strong>.<br />
SUPPORT FROM MOBILE<br />
TO ULTRA HD TODAY<br />
<strong>Harmonic</strong> has announced support for <strong>HEVC</strong> with<strong>in</strong> its<br />
market-lead<strong>in</strong>g ProMedia solution. ProMedia Live<br />
supports live stream<strong>in</strong>g from Mobile to HD for realtime<br />
video to software clients on smartphones, tablets,<br />
computers, gam<strong>in</strong>g and stream<strong>in</strong>g-player consoles.<br />
This capability will be extended to allow ProMedia to<br />
support resolutions up-to and <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g Ultra HD.<br />
Promedia Xpress br<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>Harmonic</strong>’s quality/performance<br />
leadership to file transcod<strong>in</strong>g by add<strong>in</strong>g <strong>HEVC</strong> and<br />
allow<strong>in</strong>g efficient handl<strong>in</strong>g of all types of content,<br />
<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g Ultra HD for on-demand stream<strong>in</strong>g, aga<strong>in</strong><br />
to software decode clients.<br />
Sports drive demand for<br />
better video quality.<br />
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WHY HARMONIC?<br />
The world’s lead<strong>in</strong>g broadcasters trust <strong>Harmonic</strong> because we’re there for them over the long haul. <strong>Harmonic</strong> is the<br />
largest pure-play video delivery <strong>in</strong>frastructure company. We’re the best of the big; low risk, scale, momentum,<br />
resources to deliver on our promises, without the downside of be<strong>in</strong>g too big to listen or move fast. We’re the best<br />
of the small; agile, <strong>in</strong>novative, attentive, with laser-like focus on our customers, without the downsides of <strong>in</strong>stability,<br />
limited resources or limited scope.<br />
GLOBAL SERVICES<br />
<strong>Harmonic</strong> is a partner to its customers worldwide and delivers its solutions with comprehensive service and support<br />
programs, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g system design, service deployment, technical support, and a wide array of professional services.<br />
With world-class service plans, a global network of local support professionals, and over 1,800 customers on six<br />
cont<strong>in</strong>ents <strong>in</strong> 110 countries, <strong>Harmonic</strong> provides a flexible and responsive team that our customers rely on to ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><br />
video <strong>in</strong>frastructures at every level of complexity. Everyth<strong>in</strong>g we make is backed globally by 24/7/365 services and<br />
expertise that’s second to none<br />
<strong>Harmonic</strong>’s <strong>in</strong>dustry-wide reputation for service and support excellence is based on our dedication to provid<strong>in</strong>g an<br />
outstand<strong>in</strong>g level of service. By be<strong>in</strong>g there for our customers at every stage from ideation to ongo<strong>in</strong>g ma<strong>in</strong>tenance<br />
of their facilities, we’re regarded as a trusted partner to many of the world’s lead<strong>in</strong>g media companies—help<strong>in</strong>g<br />
them to create, deploy, deliver, and ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> their critical video system <strong>in</strong>frastructures.<br />
PARTNERS<br />
<strong>Harmonic</strong> ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>s a network of expert technology and <strong>in</strong>tegration partners globally to maximize the flexibility<br />
and availability of solutions available to customers. For more <strong>in</strong>formation visit www.harmonic<strong>in</strong>c.com<br />
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©2013 <strong>Harmonic</strong> <strong>Inc</strong>. All rights reserved worldwide.