Synopsis
Writing for readers with a background in electronics, some knowledge of analog television, and a basic digital background, Benoit (Philips Semiconductors, France) intends this book as a summary and starting point rather than a handbook for experts. He describes the complex problems that had to be solved in order to define reliable standards for broadcasting digital pictures, and he explains the solutions chosen for the European digital video broadcasting (DVB) system based on the international MPEG-2 compression standard. The book ends with a description of a digital integrated receiver decoder, or set-top box, and a discussion of future prospects. Adapted and translated by the author from a 1996 work published in French (Paris: Dunod). The second edition adds a chapter on software interoperability. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR