Single chip MPEG2 decoder with integrated transport decoder for set-top box

In the last few years, the MPEG2 standard has been defined to include system layer and transport layers for entertainment applications with deliveries via direct broadcast satellites (DBS), ATM network, cables, as well as storage media such as the digital video disk. Several DBS services utilizing this standard have been in operation,for example, DSS from Thomson and DVB in Europe. Trials on cable and ATM networks are also on-going. The emergence of set-top boxes with digital intelligence spurs the need for a highly integrated MPEG2 decoder that not only is low cost but also is programmable with a powerful 32-bit microprocessor. Since set-top boxes have to operate with some kind of small operating system, the VideoCore/ESS MVD chip is designed to meet the above requirements.