On top of all the press lately on Tandberg TV and their suitors, Tandberg also introduced the latest in their IPTV video processing capabilities with the new Tandberg iPlex UltraCompression high definition and standard definition IPTV headend. Based on Tandberg Television's second-generation AVC platform - Intelligent Compression Engine (ICE3) – the iPlex UltraCompression video processing system brings a step change in digital video distribution.

The new system delivers bandwidth improvements of up to 50% over previously deployed MPEG-4 AVC units. With MPEG-4 AVC HD UltraCompression, the iPlex can deliver two full-resolution HDTV channels over ADSL2+ @ 2km – with data rates at below 6 Mbits/s @ 1080i and 4Mbits/s @ 720p, a new industry benchmark.

The iPlex is a flexible video processing platform, rather than just being an encoder chassis. It offers MPEG-2 SD encoding, MPEG-4 AVC HD and SD encoding, MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 AVC transcoding, MPEG-2 transrating, and picture-in-picture (PIP) service generation. With a high density, NEBS-certified, telco-designed chassis, the iPlex delivers new bandwidth benchmarks thanks to a number of innovative features. These include improved motion estimation processes, single slice video processing architecture, dedicated processing for low resolution encoding of PIP services, and a number of performance boosting features such as Multi-Pass analysis and enhanced video pre-processing, which are the basis of 12 new patent applications.

The iPlex's video processing and multi-channel density will allow service providers to roll out a channel line-up over existing ADSL2+ infrastructures with 100+ channels total and simultaneous delivery of four or more SD or two HD channels per home. The iPlex video processing platform is managed by Tandberg nCompass Control and Monitoring, which also controls the receivers and descramblers used for content acquisition, providing a tightly integrated and seamlessly managed head-end solution.

In addition, the iPlex provides key features:

• Stream replication – the ability to take each video stream processed inside the unit and output it across different delivery formats (ASI, IP, ATM), enabling an operator to deliver their service simultaneously across multiple delivery mechanisms - for example cable and DSL services from a single head-end.
• One in, multiple out video processing - from a single input source the iPlex can process the video into different resolutions and standards, supporting multiple service provision of the same content, such as IPTV to TV and DVB-H to cellphone delivery.
• Integrated Internet and IP security - with its advanced, integrated firewall, the iPlex provides an additional level of security to operators and broadcasters, protecting against unauthorized access and malicious actions, such as denial of service attacks. The iPlex provides a user configurable firewall to manage access via unsecured and secured protocols such as Telnet, FTP, HTTP, SNMP V2 & V3 SSH, and HTTPS. Additional security features such as access list control and in band/out of band management ensure a secure environment for the iPlex to maintain high levels of service availability as an IP streaming device.

Tandberg will debut it at the IPTV World Forum.