Anatomy of V4L-DVB devices: Difference between revisions

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==Minimal Configuration==
== Minimal Configuration ==


A minimal device for [[DVB]] receiption at the PC consists of a [[DVB Frontend]], a [[Wikipedia:FIFO|FIFO Memory]]. This FIFO is accessible (e.g. by a port-interface, memory-mapped or a bus-interface like USB or [[IEEE1394]]).
A minimal device for [[DVB]] receiption at the PC consists of a [[DVB Frontend]] amd some [[Wikipedia:FIFO|FIFO Memory]]. This FIFO samples the [[MPEG2 Transport Stream]] delivered by the frontend and makes it accessible (e.g. by a port-interface, memory-mapped or a bus-interface like USB or [[IEEE1394]]) to the host processor.


All modern DVB devices follow this approach: common [[PCI]] cards, nearly all [[USB]] adapters and [[IEEE1394]] DVB devices.
All modern peripheral DVB devices follow this approach: common [[PCI]] cards, nearly all [[USB]] adapters and [[IEEE1394]] DVB devices.




==PCI Cards with onboard MPEG Decoder==
== PCI Cards with onboard MPEG Decoder ==


Here the [[DVB Frontend]] is connected to the [[AV711x]] hardware [[MPEG2 Decoder]]. This decoder shares a dualported RAM with the PCI bridge where the MPEG2 Decoder has it's [[Wikipedia:Framebuffer:Framebuffer]].
Here the [[DVB Frontend]] is connected to the [[AV711x]] hardware [[MPEG2 Decoder]]. This decoder shares a dualported RAM with the PCI bridge where the MPEG2 Decoder has it's [[Wikipedia:Framebuffer:Framebuffer|Video Frambuffer]].


Examples:
Examples:
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==Standalone STB==
== Standalone STB ==


In a [[SetTopBox]] the Frontend directly feeds the built-in hostprocessor (usually with onchip MPEG Decoder). These processors are mostly based on embedded ARM-, MIPS-, PowerPC-Cores with additional peripheral units like i2c-, IDE-, network-, Smartcardcontrollers, Demultiplexers, Decoders, Audio- and Videointerface.
In a [[SetTopBox]] the Frontend directly feeds the built-in hostprocessor (usually with onchip MPEG Decoder). These processors are mostly based on embedded ARM-, MIPS-, PowerPC-Cores with additional peripheral units like i2c-, IDE-, network-, Smartcardcontrollers, Demultiplexers, Decoders, Audio- and Videointerface.




==[[STB]]s with interface to the PC==
== [[STB]]s with interface to the PC ==


Have an integrated embedded processor with MPEG2 Decoder and are able to work standalone. You can connect your PC to record and play back DVB transmissions on your TV.
Have an integrated embedded processor with MPEG2 Decoder and are able to work standalone. You can connect your PC to record and play back DVB transmissions on your TV.

Revision as of 22:39, 28 September 2004

Minimal Configuration

A minimal device for DVB receiption at the PC consists of a DVB Frontend amd some FIFO Memory. This FIFO samples the MPEG2 Transport Stream delivered by the frontend and makes it accessible (e.g. by a port-interface, memory-mapped or a bus-interface like USB or IEEE1394) to the host processor.

All modern peripheral DVB devices follow this approach: common PCI cards, nearly all USB adapters and IEEE1394 DVB devices.


PCI Cards with onboard MPEG Decoder

Here the DVB Frontend is connected to the AV711x hardware MPEG2 Decoder. This decoder shares a dualported RAM with the PCI bridge where the MPEG2 Decoder has it's Video Frambuffer.

Examples:

The Onboard Decoder makes these cards somewhat expensive.


Standalone STB

In a SetTopBox the Frontend directly feeds the built-in hostprocessor (usually with onchip MPEG Decoder). These processors are mostly based on embedded ARM-, MIPS-, PowerPC-Cores with additional peripheral units like i2c-, IDE-, network-, Smartcardcontrollers, Demultiplexers, Decoders, Audio- and Videointerface.


STBs with interface to the PC

Have an integrated embedded processor with MPEG2 Decoder and are able to work standalone. You can connect your PC to record and play back DVB transmissions on your TV.