Leveraging PC Infrastructure in the Highend Digital SetTop Box

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Leveraging PC Infrastructure in the High-end
Digital Set-Top Box

• Erwin Han
• AMD Embedded Processor Division
• erwin.han_at_amd.com

2
Agenda

• What is Digital Set-Top Box
• TV trends today
• Worldwide STB market
• Leveraging PC infrastructure in the high-end DVB
  STB
• AMD K6-2E and K6-IIIE embedded processor

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Set-Top Box?

• Internet-on-TV Appliance?
• Stand alone WWW TV access appliance
• No TV integration
• Analog dial up
• Digital TV Set Top Box?
• Central living room Hub
• Digital TV primary function
• Integrated TV with crossover to WWW
• Email
• TV Chat
• Games
• Streaming A/V
• Home network
• Broadband high speed connection

4
TV Trends Today
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Interactive TV and STB

• Interactive TV puts the Internet in your living
  room
• TV/WWW convergence
• Interactive TV enhances the TV viewing experience
• Links embedded in TV content allowing WWW based
  information to be referenced to specific items in
  a TV program
• Can be advertising or information in general
• Interactive STB is very simple to use
• No need for a PC
• Overkill for simple Web browsing and email
• No need for complexity in use and setup
• A barrier for many people - we tend to view PCs
  as easy as we use them every day

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Cable

• Requires infrastructure of wire with associated
  cost of installation
• Most suitable for 2 way communications
• Can be analog or digital

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Satellite

• Requires satellite in geostationary orbit
• Mainly used for broadcasting over a wide area, or
  footprint
• Less suited to 2 way communications
• No return path
• Data return via POTS
• 2-way communication over satellite called VSAT
• Expensive
• Suited to remote telephony
• Can be analog or digital

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Terrestrial

• Requires network of TV stations traditionally on
  different analog frequencies
• Now can be digital and a single frequency network
  using new technology
• Not suited at all for 2 way communications

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TV Broadcast Shifting from Analog to Digital

• Advantage Digital video gives better quality
• Less susceptible to interference
• Powerful error correction can predict data losses
• Easier to move data around (only 1 or 0 compared
  to analog)
• Can multiplex a number of different programs into
  1 channel.
• Disadvantage To digitize uncompressed analog
  video requires BIG bandwidth
• If we sampled 6Mhz analog video at 27MHz, with 8
  bit quantization, the bandwidth of the resulting
  digital signal would be 216 Mbps!
• Clearly, some form of compression is required.
• MPEG-2

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What is MPEG-2?

• MPEG - Motion Picture Experts group
• TV is an electrical representation of a motion
  picture film
• In a film, one sends 24 frames per second which
  are nearly all the same, small incremental
  changes give the illusion of motion.
• Redundant information between frames which could
  be removed
• MPEG-2 compresses using following main
  principles
• Human eye is more sensitive to picture
  brightness, less to color changes
• Some of color information in a picture can be
  discarded, saving bandwidth
• Spatial redundancy
• Regularly occurring patterns in a scene can be
  coded compactly, saving bandwidth
• Temporal redundancy
• Information that is the same between frames can
  be discarded, saving more bandwidth

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What is MPEG-2? (Contd)

• MPEG-2 stream is variable rate, average bit rate
  is 4 MBps
• Different content requires different bit rates -
• Best case - talking heads
• Worst case - sports
• With an average bit rate of 4 MBps, by using
  statistical multiplexing, 2 channels of digital
  video can be fitted in 1 analog channel
  equivalent.
• MPEG-2 also has an audio equivalent, MUSICAM
• Compresses audio bit rates by masking
• Loud musical events mask quieter ones, this
  enables masked information to be discarded,
  reducing quantity of data.

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TV Trends Today

• The world is going digital, but its divided into
  2 camps
• North America - no real open standards
  established
• Digital Cable - SA GI, both have own
  proprietary hardware, software and CA
  architectures. Standardizing via Opencable and
  going HDTV.
• Digital Satellite
• DirecTV - DSS
• Dish (Echostar) - DVB
• Primestar - Digicipher/DC2
• Rest of the world
• has gone/is going- DVB

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What is DVB?

• Digital Video Broadcast
• A worldwide standard committee
• A market-led initiative to standardize digital
  broadcasting worldwide
• Formed in September 1993
• Over 200 members from more than 30 countries
  worldwide, including
• Broadcasters
• Manufacturers
• Network operators
• Regulatory bodies
• Standard Definition, either PAL or NTSC

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Typical Digital TV System Topology
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The Headend
Content Feeds
Analog/digital receivers
MPEG-2 encoders
RemultiplexersDVB CA scrambler
Baseband analog/digital
Multiple program transport stream
M2S/ASI
Output
QAM
VOD
MCNS
M2S/ASI/OC3
Cable Satellite Terrestrial
10BaseT
ATM
CA server scheduler
SNMP network manager
server
Subscriber Management System
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The Headend

• Takes in TV content and Internet content, send
  the aggregated content down the broadband pipe
• Handles the scrambling of the TV content
• A subscriber cannot view it without permission
• Achieved by the use of Conditional Access (CA)
• Subscriber Management System
• A database keeps track of who has paid and for
  what service
• TV content - Encoded MPEG-2 audio and video
  packet
• Transport stream multiplexer
• Statistical multiplex
• Dynamically allocate bandwidth for different
  channels
• Advantage 2 digital TV channels be transmitted
  in the space of 1 analog channel

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DVB Set-Top Boxes
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DVB STB (1)

• Very low end
• Purely watch digital TV
• No interactivity
• One-way cable, satellite and terrestrial versions
• Low end
• One way interactivity, or offline browsing
• TV enhancement content transmitted from a data
  carousel over the digital transport stream
• Weather, sports results, STB software upgrades,
  simple games, e-commerce, etc.
• The broadcaster can control the content
• Not capable of advanced functions like WWW
  browsing
• Low-cost, integrated chipset CPU of around
  50MIPS, 4Mbyte each of DRAM and flash

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A Typical Low-end DVB STB
Cable/Satellite/ Terrestrial in
CA descrambler engine and Smartcard interface
CA
Scrambled A/V in
Descrambled A/V out
Front End QPSK QAM COFDM
MPEG-2 A / V Decoder
Transport Demux
To TV
modem
To Telco return or cable
Host CPU 50 MIPS
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DVB STB (2)

• Intermediate
• Similar to low end STB, but higher performance
  return path
• The return path is used to request/collect other
  data from the headend outside of that on the
  carousel
• Higher level of interactivity
• Examples gaming, email, personalized news pages
  etc.
• Via telco or cable
• High end
• Full interactivity
• WWW, email, high performance games, DVCR, DVD-R,
  etc.
• Return path two-way cable, or high speed telco
  link
• More powerful CPU, larger memory footprint

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Worldwide STB Market
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NetOp Revenue Streams

• Both boxes (Digital TV Internet), are
  expensive to NetOp
• Subsidized per subscriber
• Revenue stream required to sustain business
• Internet appliance
• Value proposition is WWW access only
• NetOp can compete only on price for WWW service
• War of attrition driving target box price lower
  and lower
• Short term market as appliance functionality
  swallowed into Digital STB
• Digital STB
• NetOp can up sell extra services to subscriber
  over and above core TV
• NetOp can sell targeted advertising space to
  vendors..
• More potential upside over and above WWW access

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Internet on TV Appliance Market
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STB vs PC

1000
Value PC
500
High End STB
Low End STB
150
60 MHz
700 MHz
350 MHz
CPU Performance
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The Low End Box
Low End Box
Entertainment Digital TV Program Guide
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The High End Box

• Home Networking
• File and Print Server,
• Home Gateway
• Home Security

Games
High End Box
Entertainment Digital TV (DVB) Electronic Program
Guide DVD Player Digital Video recording Streaming
Audio Web browser
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Why Go High End?

• NetOps want to upsell their existing TV service
  to increase
• NetOps feel that best revenue streams come from
• Premium TV Programs
• DVCR
• Games
• On Line Communities
• Email
• WWW Access
• Need a STB with more performance than low end
  currently available
• Cost vs feature tradeoff

Highest return Lowest return
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Box Performance Required

• High performance Floating Point CPU (gt250MHz)
• Web Browser
• JavaScript
• Streaming Audio plug ins
• High performance graphics
• YUV and RGB mix
• High resolution
• 24 Bit color
• Increased memory footprint
• 32MB DRAM
• 16MB Flash or HDD
• Broadband connectivity
• Cable Modem
• Digital Tuner and demultiplexer

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Leveraging PC Infrastructure in the High-end DVB
STB
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Advantage of X86 Architecture

• Excellent hardware and software support worldwide
• Leverage the tremendous hardware and software
  infrastructure developed for the PC market
• No more burden of porting applications to CPU
  architectures that were not the initial choice
• Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, etc.
• Very important for NetOps
• Excellent performance/price
• Competition driving price lower and lower,
  performance higher and higher
• Ease of development, faster time-to-market
• Ease of upgrade
• Assured upgrade path

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Digital STB with PC Architecture
Graphics MPEG-2 video decode
Tuner Demod.
Transport
Conditional Access and Demux
PES
Video Output
off the shelf
SDRAM
custom design
PCI
X86 CPU
North Bridge
South Bridge
USB
IrDA
EIDE
Printer
SDRAM
Flash
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An Example of High-End STB

• Digital TV (DVB)
• Video-on-demand
• Play and store MP3 music
• Internet access
• Chat and mail
• Download and play 3D and networked games
• Digital Video Record

• X86 PC architecture
• 20 GB Hard Disk or more
• Support for ISDN, PSTN, xDSL or Cable modem
• Conditional Access and Parental Control
• Linux OS

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AMD-K6TM-2E AMD-K6TM-IIIEEmbedded Processor
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AMDs Embedded Processor Division
Charter Leverage AMDs investment and expertise
in 80x86 microprocessors and PC infrastructure
to produce embedded products offering outstanding
performance and optimal cost.

• We have the best performance/price X86 solution
  in the industry!
• Dedicated to embedded market, ensure long term
  support and availability

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AMD-K6?E Embedded Processor Family
-- Available with long term support --
550
500
AMD-K6-IIIE AMD-K6-2E
400
0.18 µ process 100 MHz Bus, K6-IIIE 256K
On-chip L2 cache, K6-2E 128K On-chip L2
cache, 100 MHz Frontside L3, Superscalar
MMXTM, AMD PowerNow! Technology 3DNow!
Technology, 5 new DSP instructions for Comm
Performance MHz
350
Available for Embedded with Long-Term Support
300
233
200
2H99
Sept 00
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Double the Performance with Socket7/Super7
Compatibility

CPUmark99 Benchmark
System configuration PCPartner motherboard
(64Mbytes PC100) with external cache disabled.
Available Speed Grades
(MHz) Standard Power
Low Power K6-IIIE 400, 450, 500, 550
400, 450, 500 NEW K6-2E
400, 450, 500 350, 400, 450
NEW K6-2E 233 thru 400
233 thru 350 Existing
Clock rates listed are available in PGA pkg.
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Significantly Lower Power Allows Passive Thermal
Solutions
No Fan Required below 10W !

• Low Power versions of AMD-K6-2E and AMD-K6-IIIE
  embedded processors substantially reduce power
  consumption.
• Less than 10-Watt power consumption allows many
  power-sensitive applications to avoid expensive
  heatsinks with fans.
• Lower system cost
• Improved reliability
• No fan noise
• Low power combined with systems design using AMD
  PowerNow! technology enables passive thermal
  solutions.

Heatsink with Fan
10W
Heatsink without fan
Watts
350 400 450 500
MHz
System Configuration AMD-K6-IIIE Processor
power measured on Gigabyte GA-5AX motherboard
running typical application suites for four
embedded market segments at stated frequencies,
85C case temp. Core voltages 1.5-1.8V, I/O
voltage 3.3V.
Avg. Application Power
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AMD PowerNow!? Technology
Features built into the AMD-K6-2E and K6-IIIE
processors that dynamically manage power and
performance when combined with an appropriate
system design.

• Designer can select among performance or power
  priorities.
• Enables up to 74 lower power consumption from
  Performance Mode (500 MHz) to Power Saver Mode
  (200MHz).
• Technology supports multiple modes of operation
• Performance Mode
• Full speed at the normal core voltage for maximum
  performance
• Power Saver Mode
• Reduced speed at a lower core voltage for lowest
  power consumption
• Automatic Mode
• System monitors application use and continuously
  varies operating frequency and voltage to
  delivery performance on demand while optimizing
  power consumption.
• Unique system implementation supported by 0.18
  micron AMD-K6 processors

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AMD PowerNow!? Advantages
11.4
Avg. Applic. Power (full speed)
8.95
Power (W)
7.1
AMD PowerNow! Power Saver Mode
5.6
2.95
Stop Clock Minimum
1.30
400
450
500
350
MHz
AMD PowerNow! technology manages power and
performance for power-sensitive applications,
such as DSTB, telecom, information appliances.
System Configuration AMD-K6-IIIE Processor
power measured on Gigabyte GA-5AX motherboard
running typical application suites for four
embedded market segments at stated frequencies,
85C case temp. Core voltages 1.5-1.8V, I/O
voltage 3.3V.
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OBGA Package Shrinks Footprint

• Organic Ball-Grid-Array (OBGA) footprint is 74
  smaller than PGA.
• Ideal for Space-Constrained Applications
• OBGA Allows More Efficient Thermal Solutions
• Direct access to back of die enables closer
  coupling with heat sink
• Socketless configuration (soldered directly to
  PCB) conducts heat away from processor better
  than socketed versions

PGA 2,450 mm2
OBGA 625 mm2
Dimensions PGA 49.5 x 49.5 mm
(321-pins) OBGA 25.0 x 25.0 mm (349-balls)
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Summary

• The new AMD-K6-2E and AMD-K6-IIIE embedded
  processors extend the range of Socket 7/Super7
  compatible x86 embedded processors to new levels
  of high performance.
• Consistent with embedded market needs, the
  AMD-K6-2E and AMD-K6-IIIE will be supported
  long term by AMD.
• The AMD-K6-2E and AMD-K6-IIIE embedded
  processors enable significantly reduced power
  consumption with AMD PowerNow! technology for
  power-sensitive applications.
• In addition to PGA packaging, selected versions
  of the AMD-K6-2E and K6-IIIE embedded
  processors are available in Organic
  Ball-Grid-Array (OBGA) packaging to enable
  smaller, socketless form-factors for
  space-constrained and cost sensitive
  applications.
• x86 compatibility and excellent,
  industry-standard 3rd party support means faster
  time-to-market for customers.

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Thank You