Harris Corporation and Lucent Digital Video Complete Interoperability Testing for HDTV Receivers

The completion of interoperability testing between Harris Corporation's FlexiCoder encoding system and high-definition television (HDTV) receivers from top manufacturers marks a significant milestone in the transition to digital television broadcasting. In a series of tests, FlexiCoder successfully transmitted over-the-air signals to HDTV receivers from Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Thomson, and Zenith, ensuring compatibility and facilitating a seamless viewing experience for consumers. This achievement demonstrates the effectiveness of the strategic partnership between Harris and Lucent, which aims to bring digital television technology to the broadcast market.

Key Takeaways:

• The interoperability testing between Harris FlexiCoder and HDTV receivers from leading manufacturers has been completed, ensuring a compatible and seamless viewing experience for consumers.
• Harris FlexiCoder, a highly versatile MPEG-2 encoding system, has been delivered to over half of all U.S. television stations currently offering locally encoded service.
• Receivers from additional manufacturers are currently being tested or scheduled for testing, with 7 top HDTV receiver manufacturers having already passed the tests.
• The Harris FlexiCoder was tested in conjunction with HDTV receivers on the Harris/PBS DTV Express truck, a 66-foot vehicle containing a fully functional DTV station and a DTV demonstration theater.
• Harris already has delivered FlexiCoder encoding systems to 18 U.S. DTV stations, with many more systems ordered and to be delivered in coming months.
• Lucent Digital Video has conducted informal testing of its MPEG-2 encoder with various HDTV set manufacturers for several years, ensuring compatibility and high image quality.
• The joint effort between Harris and Lucent has been recognized as invaluable to the consumer HDTV industry, with the companies' work reminiscent of the original U.S. TV manufacturers' efforts in the 1940s and 1950s.
• Murray Hill, N.J. is strategically located for interoperability testing, due to the presence of many HDTV manufacturers in the area.

Statistics:

• 18 U.S. DTV stations have received FlexiCoder encoding systems from Harris, with many more deliveries planned in the coming months.
• 7 top HDTV receiver manufacturers have passed interoperability testing with the Harris FlexiCoder, including Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Thomson, and Zenith.
• 66-foot Harris/PBS DTV Express truck contains a fully functional DTV station and a DTV demonstration theater for testing and promoting DTV.
• Harris has delivered FlexiCoder encoding systems to over half of all U.S. television stations currently offering locally encoded service.
• Lucent Digital Video has conducted informal testing with 5 HDTV set manufacturers over several years.

Sources:

• Harris Corporation and Lucent Digital Video, "Harris and Lucent Digital Video Complete Interoperability Testing for HDTV Receivers" (PRNewswire, October 28)
• Jay Adrick, Vice President of Harris Broadcast Systems Division's Systems Integration Business Unit, quoted in "Harris and Lucent Digital Video Complete Interoperability Testing for HDTV Receivers" (PRNewswire, October 28)
• Frank Romeo, Senior Manager, Product Innovation Lab, Samsung Electronics America, quoted in "Harris and Lucent Digital Video Complete Interoperability Testing for HDTV Receivers" (PRNewswire, October 28)
• John Mailhot, Vice President of Engineering for Lucent Digital Video, quoted in "Harris and Lucent Digital Video Complete Interoperability Testing for HDTV Receivers" (PRNewswire, October 28)
• Harris Corporation, "About Harris Corporation" (Harris Corporation website)
• Lucent Digital Video, "About Lucent Digital Video" (Lucent Digital Video website)
• Envisioneering, "Harris and Lucent Digital Video Complete Interoperability Testing for HDTV Receivers" (Envisioneering website)