A -- COMPRESSION ALGORITHM FOR ANALOG AND HDTV SIGNALS

Notice Date

February 5, 2001

Contracting Office

Los Alamos National Laboratory, Mail Stop C334, P.O. Box 1663, Los Alamos, NM 87545

ZIP Code

87545

Solicitation Number

LAUR01-687

Response Due

May 1, 2001

Point of Contact

Kathleen Herrera, Licensing Assistant, Los Alamos National Laboratory, (505) 667-5844 or email kaherrera@lanl.gov

E-Mail Address

kaherrera@lanl.gov (kaherrera@lanl.gov)

Description

The University of California, which operates the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) under contract to the Department of Energy, solicits interest from companies interested in obtaining LANL license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market: COMPRESSION ALGORITHM FOR ANALOG AND HDTV SIGNALS, hereinafter referred to as "technology." This new technology developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) could fundamentally improve and streamline the conversion to high-density television (HDTV) transmission. Researchers have developed a new transmission algorithm to compress the current HDTV data stream format. This will permit the broadcast of the compressed HDTV signal and the analog signal over one channel. Currently, an estimated 120 million analog TV sets are in use in the United States. Currently, HDTV manufacturers' generate little sales revenue from HDTVs. This is because the receivers are expensive, and programming for this mode is limited. The most significant advantage of the technology over status quo methods is that it will permit broadcasting networks to avoid spending millions of dollars to create duplex transmissions for the analog and HDTV signals. Use of the LANL technology could provide broadcasters significant savings by avoiding the purchase of transmission equipment to broadcast two signals simultaneously as well as the personnel support required to operate the equipment. Use of the LANL compression technology allows both new digital and old analog sets to receive a signal compatible to their systems without simulcasting two distinct signals on two channels. This is of particular significance to consumers since Congress mandated that HDTV will be the required form for broadcast of television signals by 2006. Only 30% of the U.S. population is familiar with HDTV. Hence, a large percentage of the population may not realize the advantages of HDTV sets and refuse to pay the additional costs for them while manufacturers work to produce HDTV sets to comply with the congressional mandate. This presents a significant problem for consumers and manufacturers. The compression algorithm could be the solution to the interim problem faced by consumers as it would permit the continued broadcast of analog signals until awareness of HDTV increases and the costs decrease in HDTV sets with improvement of the technology. The following technical details describe the technology more specifically. The compression concept allows transmission of digital and analog signals in a form that requires no converter for old receivers. An added software loop in the HDTV receivers can recover the digital information from that same channel. The picture quality using the algorithm, in bits/pixel, will amount to approximately 80% of that for a dedicated HDTV transmission. The use of this scheme would supplement the current HDTV format and could allow early expansion of HDTV availability without the use of additional simulcasting bandwidth during an interim period. A patent application has been filed on this technology and the University awaits further notice from the USPTO for actions or additional information required. Interested organizations should be able to demonstrate prior professional experience in the fields of television broadcasting and/or equipment manufacturing. Evidence of related inventions, products, services and/or publications must be provided. Any organization interested in licensing the above mentioned Technology must respond with a statement of intent describing the organization's technical expertise, manufacturing and marketing capabilities, financial resources (e.g., annual report or corporate resume) and commercial motivation. Upon receipt of a licensee applicant statement, LANL may determine whether applicant(s) will be selected for license negotiations. A business or product commercialization plan may be required prior to licensee(s) selection and negotiation. The statement of intent to license is requested to be submitted by COB May 1, 2001. For questions or clarifications contact Kathleen Herrera, Licensing Assistant, Los Alamos National Laboratory, (505) 667-5844 or email kaherrera@lanl.gov.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010207/ASOL008.HTM (W-036 SN50C7J2)