ProVision to demonstrate real-time video over WiFi to mobile devices at GSMA Mobile World Congress

06 February 2008

ProVision Communications has announced that its wireless video technology will be showcased as one of the demonstrations of leading-edge UK wireless capability hosted by UK Trade and Industry (UKTI) at the GSMA Mobile World Congress (formerly 3GSM World Congress). The ProVision system will be demonstrated on the UKTI stand AV26 throughout the show, which is being held in Barcelona on 11 – 14 February 2008. ProVision provides the enabling technology for real-time multicast video streaming over WiFi that has been developed under the UK government sponsored project VISUALISE. This is designed to allow spectators at outdoor sporting events such as motor rallying and equestrian events to view personalised action from other vantage points on the course on their own handheld terminal. The elements developed by ProVision comprise a DSP-based H.264 module for the real time encoding and wireless transmission of video from a camera, and a software-based decoder platform that allows it to be received on a PC, PDA or smartphone. The encoded video signal is transmitted and received through an integrated IEEE 802.11b/g modem that incorporates antenna diversity. The software platform is able to run under either Windows Mobile 5 or Mobile 6 on the WiFi-enabled handheld terminal, where a customised graphical user interface (GUI) allows the spectator to select the video or information channel they require from a menu. The same technology can also be used to show split-screen format real-time video footage on a larger screen to a greater number of spectators. The ProVision H.264 video encoding and decoding modules (codecs) form a key part of the VISUALISE system, which was also demonstrated in December last year at the WRC Wales Rally GB. VISUALISE is a collaborative project supported by the UK Technology Strategy Board, which also involves British Telecom, Inmarsat, 3CR, the Centre for Communications Research (CCR), International Sportsworld Communicators (ISC), U4EA, Util4 and Maniac Films. The project is managed by 3CR, and aims to provide an enhanced experience for spectators at events through local area access to a rich range of media via hand-held devices. In addition to coverage from out of sight locations, features such as action replays, archive material and statistics can be made available.

Note for Editors About ProVision Communications’ audiovisual technology ProVision's H.264 codec is optimised for use over wireless networks conforming to WiFi (802.11), WiMax (802.16), and DVB-T standards. It has been developed in software for use on DSP/FPGA platforms or under the Windows O/S. The H.264 standard contains error robustness features which have been exploited in ProVision's codec:

* Flexible macroblock ordering (FMO) which enables better recovery from block based errors;

* Multiple reference frames limit the temporal propagation of block based errors;

* Network abstraction layer: by separating the NAL, potentially catastrophic syntax based errors are easier to correct.

The main strengths of ProVision's technology are packet loss resilience, optimised strategies for UDP/IP packet encapsulation, and methods for flow/buffer control and error feedback. Fast motion estimation and mode selection methods (patent pending) have been incorporated. For specific applications, ProVision can also provide context-based and region of interest coding. About VISUALISE Spectators at large-scale live events – such as motor sport, athletics, music festivals or golf competitions – often have a relatively poor experience in comparison with those watching the same event on TV at home. Typically such events deploy a huge infrastructure of production and transmission equipment with a large number of fixed and portable cameras, but most of this generated content is never made available to local spectators except through a single feed of edited output to portable TVs or large screen displays. VISUALISE aims to provide an enhanced experience for spectators at events through local area access to a rich range of media via hand-held devices, by delivering:

* Video compression and streaming technology for use with wireless broadband networks in difficult environments.

* The integration of fixed (service park and trackside) and mobile (in-car) cameras into a live-viewing infrastructure.

* Rapid planning and deployment of networks through the exploitation of advanced propagation modelling tools.

* Enhanced user interactivity through customised terminals.

* Content management, distribution and integration with the existing broadcast infrastructure.

* Issues such as rights management and charging models will also be addressed.

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