Utah Scientific and Sisvel Technology present 3D broadcasting compatible with 2D televisions at NAB

This is possible thanks to the 3D Tile format, an innovative technique for formatting stereoscopic images that integrates two 720p frames into a single 1080p frame.

Utah Scientific and the Italian Sisvel Technology have presented at NAB 2011 a new form of 3D broadcasting that is fully compatible with 2D televisions, allowing 3D and 2D viewing of a single video stream. This is possible thanks to the 3D Tile format, an innovative technique for formatting stereoscopic images that integrates two 720p frames into a single 1080p frame. The reconstructed left and right images maintain their 720p spatial and temporal resolution, offering viewers of both versions the advantages of the original image.

The 3D Tile format also allows for better streaming quality of 3D content than current technologies and, as it is backwards compatible, allows operators to stream for both 2D and 3D users, without the need to increase bandwidth. The 3D/2D compatible system is already used by QuartaRete TV in the Piedmont region of Italy as part of its DVB-T broadcast service and is being tested so that other operators can implement it elsewhere in Italy.

Utah-400

At NAB, Utah Scientific and Sisvel Technology have introduced the Utah-400 standard digital router that allows switching multiple 3D and 2D image sources that are then mixed via Utah Scientific's MC-2020 master switching control. The resulting video stream will then be encoded via the Sisvel Technology 3D encoder and transmitted to the Utah Scientific booth via an RF link to simulate realistic broadcast conditions. Also now, it has added embedded audio signal processing.

As for the new MC-2020 master control from Utah Scientific, it allows transition and mixing effects between 3D sources as well as between 2D and 3D content. The switcher offers the ability to have up to four labels that can internally display stored logos or external data sources in 2D or 3D modes, allowing commercial brand information, including text and graphics, to be inserted into the video stream. In addition to video effects, the switcher also offers a full complement of audio controls, including level adjustment and insertion of voice-over announcements, putting all the necessary controls in a single device for maximum simplicity and reliability.