Digital media applications on a CELL software platform

The heterogeneous multi-core architecture of the CELL processor requires a software layer in order to effectively run application programs on a CELL platform. We have developed an application framework which enables programmers to exploit this software layer and develop digital media applications easily. Using this application framework, we have developed a real-time digital media application that includes functions such as a receiver for digital television broadcasting. As software components for this digital media application, we have also developed a real-time H.264 software decoder and encoder. Although it is said that an H.264 software decoder or encoder requires a large amount of computation power, the CELL platform is able to execute it effectively and satisfy the real-time requirements for digital media applications.