The Institute of Computing Technology (ICT) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) revealed  Tuesday that China's independently developed Phonix II Chip will be released on Dec. 1 this year. This chip is based on China's second-generation Audio Video coding Standard (AVS) and can support the latest H.264 coding techniques.

An official in charge of the development of this new chip told Tech Sina that the Phonix II Chip adopts China's independently developed multi-standard convertible digital audio video coding and decoding techniques to realize high compatibility. It saves more than 30% chip size and is very competitive compared with similar products developed by other countries.

China's current audio video coding and decoding techniques include AVS, MPEG4 and H.264. AVS is China's independently developed coding and decoding technique standard completed by AVS Workgroup. MPEG4 and H.264 are deemed more competitive technological standards overseas.

According to a source from the chip's main developer Ningbo CAS Integrated Circuit Design Center, the Phonix II Chip is completely compatible for AVS1.0, H.264/AVC main profile standards and can support synchronous decoding for HD 1920*1080i format. The inlaid Dragon Chip 32bit CPU controls the whole decoding process.

At present, IPTV business has become a major battlefield for broadcast, TV and telecommunication operators, while audio video coding and decoding technique standards are the core of IPTV standards.

(chinanews November 30, 2005)