Texas Instruments and Thomson Showcase Video over IP Services in Inaugural IPTV Zone at IBC 2007

The first DaVinci-based product resulting from TI’s collaboration with Thomson, the WiFi Tablet, is based on TI’s TMS320DM6441 processor.

It is designed to help operators enhance the services they can offer to customers by delivering IPTV wirelessly around the home. With an 8-inch, 800 x 480 resolution, widescreen display and high-quality stereo speakers, the device offers consumers a balance between portability and an excellent audio visual experience.

As IPTV operators look to differentiate themselves based on breadth and quality of services, not just price, Thomson’s portable WiFi tablet is designed to help provide customers with a multi-room IPTV video on-demand and broadband entertainment experience, without the need to deploy multiple set-top boxes and associated cabling or for the customer to own a personal computer. By serving as a wireless music player and digital picture frame, the WiFi tablet enables consumers to enjoy advanced features beyond video. Additionally it is also a display for RSS feeds.

“Thomson’s collaboration with TI has helped us to lead the market in the development of a variety of home networking and digital entertainment products,” said Bruno Fabre, Vice President of the Premises Systems business unit at Thomson. “Our WiFi multimedia tablet is a great example of how we work alongside TI and incorporate their DaVinci technology. Together we have developed a product that is an excellent mix of performance, flexibility and power efficiency, all ready for the ultimate home user experience.”

By utilizing TI’s DM6441 processor, digital media software, development tools and support, Thomson was able to develop an innovative new product for the market ahead of the competition.

The DM6441 is a SoC that consists of an ARM9 core and TMS320C64x+ digital signal processor (DSP) core plus video/imaging co-processors. Thomson’s WiFi tablet also incorporates TI’s digital media software, including H.264 and MP3, which was already optimized for the DM6441 and could be easily tested and implemented with the DM644x Digital Video Evaluation Module (DVEVM). In addition, Thomson leveraged TI Analog expertise, by using power management companion ICs, optimized for DaVinci technology.

TI’s approach to providing an integrated system solution in DaVinci technology furthered Thomson’s goal of achieving the best performance, quality and power efficiency in their innovative and feature-rich portable multimedia terminal in the fastest possible development cycle.

“Texas Instruments is driving the adoption of digital video technology into an increasingly wide array of consumer home-networking applications,” said Jean Claude Baumer, DSP Systems director for EMEA, TI. “By providing an integrated system solution through DaVinci technology, we are able to work with Thomson to design cost-effective, power-efficient digital video products and bring them to market quickly.”