Coupled VPU and GPU technologies ideal for next-gen mobile multimedia applications says Imagination

February 27, 2012 - MWC, Barcelona, Spain: GPUs will increasingly be complemented by highly optimised VPUs (video processing units) to deliver multiple streams of multi-standard HD video within a graphics-rich application environment, taking the user experience to another level of sophistication, quality and ease of use, says Imagination Technologies.

The latest in mobile video technologies is being demonstrated by Imagination at MWC 2012 in Barcelona (February 27 – March 1, stand 1D45).

As consumer devices become more multimedia-rich, support of multiple streams of video in the most bandwidth-efficient and power-efficient manner is key to delivering next generation user experiences. Imagination sees highly optimised integration of VPU and GPU as key to delivering what consumers want, as without such optimisation far too much system bandwidth and memory is lost with unnecessary data movement, buffering and copying of video. Indeed, Imagination believes the most successful SoCs will be those that optimise GPU and VPU as a tightly coupled unit.

Says Tony King-Smith, VP marketing, Imagination: “Imagination’s video technologies, including PowerVR VXD decode and VXE encode cores, have been deployed in over a quarter of a billion mobile devices to date, ranging from netbooks to media devices, tablets and smartphones. The growth in devices using Imagination’s video technologies is indicative of the momentum which continues to build in the mobile and embedded market for new HD video decode and encode technologies to enable internet video delivery, video telephony, and the user generated content revolution.”

At MWC Imagination is debuting VXE384, the latest core in its successful PowerVR VPU (video processor unit) IP family.  VXE384 is a multi-standard, multi-stream video encoder, capable of all major HD and still image standards. In addition VXE384 supports resolutions up to 4Kx2K@30fps. VXE384 adds an input scaler, capable of downscaling the incoming video data and enabling 4:2:2 input to 4:2:0 conversion. This is useful in a variety of applications including, adaptive streaming, and simulcasting low resolution and high resolution video. 

The VXE384 core also adds support for H.264 lossless mode, which is useful for applications requiring the highest fidelity transmission of video. 

Imagination’s PowerVR GPU and VPU technologies continue to enable profound transformations in user experiences in an ever-broader array of consumer and mobile products, resulting in consumers now expecting these same user experiences on every device they use.

At MWC Imagination’s ecosystem partners will be showing the latest applications in AR (augmented reality), combining both Imagination’s graphics and video technology, on the Imagination stand (1D45). Imagination is also presenting at the first MWC AR Forum in conjunction with Khronos on February 27th.

New hardware including PowerVR video cores on display at MWC will include Intel computing, tablet and smartphone platforms incorporating PowerVR VXD video decode and VXE video encode technologies as well as PowerVR SGX graphics.

Imagination’s HelloSoft VoLTE (voice over LTE) and V.VoIP (video and voice over IP) technologies are expected to transform how voice and video calls are made as IP replaces circuit-switched call technologies. Imagination and its telecoms technology group HelloSoft continue to expand its unique portfolio of VoLTE and V.VoIP voice and video SDKs, delivering a consistent cross-platform carrier-grade experience across every major mobile and consumer platform. Imagination is debuting the HelloSoft Social Communicator, an integrated HelloSoft V.VoIP (Voice and Video over IP) SDK for Social Networking Platforms at MWC, 2012. (See separate release).

About Imagination Technologies

Imagination Technologies Group plc (LSE:IMG) – a global leader in multimedia and communication technologies – creates and licenses market-leading multimedia IP cores for graphics, video, and display processing, multi-threaded embedded processing/DSP cores and multi-standard communications and connectivity processors. These silicon intellectual property (IP) solutions for systems-on-chip (SoC) are complemented by platform level IP and services, a strong array of software tools and drivers and extensive developer and middleware ecosystems. Target markets includemobile phone, handheld multimedia, home consumer entertainment, mobile and low-power computing, and in-car electronics.Its licensees include many of the leading semiconductor and consumer electronics companies. Imagination has corporate headquarters in the United Kingdom, with sales and R&D offices worldwide. See: www.imgtec.com.