Fraunhofer IIS: New Audio and Multimedia for a Mobile World

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Fraunhofer IIS: New Audio and Multimedia Technologies for a Mobile World

ERLANGEN, Germany -- Feb. 8, 2008 Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS will showcase new audio and multimedia technologies at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, booth 2F41. The Erlangen-based institute is one of the leading providers in the field of audio coding, especially for cell phones and other mobile devices.

Fraunhofer IIS will present the new MPEG standard Enhanced Low Delay AAC for communication applications, a fully integrated DVB-H server solution, the new mp3 enhancement mp3D(TM) for better sound quality on mobile music players, and the audio coding schemes MPEG Surround(TM) as well as HD-AAC(R). Fraunhofer IIS also informs about highly optimized MPEG AAC and HE-AAC implementations for numerous operating systems and processing platforms.

MPEG-4 Enhanced Low Delay AAC offers hi-fi audio quality at a coding delay of 32 milliseconds and less as well as data rates between 24 and 64 kbit/s. AAC-ELD is the ideal choice for delay critical applications like Internet telephony or mobile teleconferencing systems. Fraunhofer IIS will present AAC-ELD in Barcelona as part of an integrated software development kit for communication systems.

In the field of mobile TV, the Institute presents a DVB-H server solution that comprises thoroughly synchronized components for the complete transmission system including optimized video and audio coding schemes, the MPE encapsulator and modulator. On the receiving side the program is played back by the Fraunhofer DVB-H player software. With this audioformat TV broadcasting stations transmit surround sound without requiring additional bandwidth. The Fraunhofer IIS DVB-H player with integrated MPEG Surround creates a virtual surround sound impression over standard headphones.

Today's mobile audio-devices do not offer the high sound quality known from home theater systems. The new technology mp3D significantly enhances the playback sound quality of mp3 stereo or mp3 surround files over headphones. mp3D provides an out of the head listening experience, a wider stereo image and better sound quality.

A new way of storing and distributing music is enabled by the new HD-AAC coding scheme. It offers lossless compression of music content with cell phone and iPod compatibility. The compressed music can have a better sound quality than the Compact Disc - CD collections become obsolete.

Visit booth 2F41 to find out more about the quality of the new technologies for cellular phones and other mobile devices. For further information visit our website

http://www.iis.fraunhofer.de/amm.

Please visit us at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Booth 2F41, February 11 to 14, 2008.

Founded in 1985 the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS in Erlangen, today with 520 staff members, ranks first among the Fraunhofer Institutes concerning headcount and revenues. As the inventor of mp3 and co-inventor of the MPEG AAC audio coding standard, Fraunhofer IIS has reached worldwide recognition.

It provides research services on contract basis and technology licensing.

The research topics are: Audio and video source coding, multimedia realtime systems, digital radio broadcasting and digital cinema systems, integrated circuits and sensor systems, design automation, wireless, wired and optical networks, localization and navigation, imaging systems and nanofocus X-ray technology, high-speed cameras, medical sensor solutions and communications technology in transport and logistics.

The budget of 61 million Euro is mainly financed by projects from industry, the service sector and public authorities. Less than 20 percent of the budget is subsidized by federal and state funds.