# Media processor > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Media_processor > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Media_processor.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_processor > Source revision: 1301954717 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Microprocessor-based system-on-a-chip}} [[File:Nikon D90 - board 0 - Nikon Expeed EI-149-1769.jpg|thumb|Nikon [Expeed](/source/Expeed) ]] A '''media processor''', mostly used as an [image](/source/image_processor)/[video processor](/source/Video_scaler), is a [microprocessor](/source/microprocessor)-based [system-on-a-chip](/source/system-on-a-chip) which is designed to deal with digital [streaming data](/source/stream_(computing)) in real-time (e.g. display refresh) rates. These devices can also be considered a class of [digital signal processor](/source/digital_signal_processor)s (DSPs). Unlike [graphics processing unit](/source/graphics_processing_unit)s (GPUs), which are used for computer displays, media processors are targeted at [digital television](/source/digital_television)s and [set-top box](/source/set-top_box)es. The streaming [digital media](/source/digital_media) classes include: * [uncompressed video](/source/uncompressed_video) * compressed digital video - e.g. [MPEG-1](/source/MPEG-1), [MPEG-2](/source/MPEG-2), [MPEG-4](/source/MPEG-4) * [digital audio](/source/digital_audio)- e.g. [PCM](/source/Pulse-code_modulation), [AAC](/source/Advanced_Audio_Coding) Such [SOC](/source/System-on-a-chip)s are composed of: * a microprocessor optimized to deal with these media datatypes * a memory interface * streaming media interfaces * specialized functional units to help deal with the various digital media [codec](/source/codec)s The microprocessor might have these optimizations: * [vector processing](/source/vector_processing) or [SIMD](/source/SIMD) functional units to efficiently deal with these media datatypes * [DSP](/source/Digital_signal_processor)-like features Previous to media processors, these streaming media datatypes were processed using fixed-function, hardwired [ASIC](/source/Application-specific_integrated_circuit)s, which could not be updated in the field. This was a big disadvantage when any of the media standards were changed. Since media processors are software programmed devices, the processing done on them could be updated with new software releases. This allowed new generations of systems to be created without hardware redesign. For set-top boxes this even allows for the possibility of in-the-field upgrade by downloading of new software through cable or satellite networks. Companies that pioneered the idea of media processors (and created the marketing term of media processor) included: * [MicroUnity](/source/MicroUnity) MediaProcessor - Cancelled in 1996 before introduction * [IBM](/source/IBM) Mfast - Described at the Microprocessor Forum in 1995, planned to ship in mid-1997 but was cancelled before introduction * [Equator Semiconductor](/source/Equator_Semiconductor) BSP line - their processors are used in [Hitachi](/source/Hitachi) televisions, company acquired by [Pixelworks](/source/Pixelworks) * [Chromatic Research](/source/Chromatic_Research) [MPact](/source/MPact) line - their products were used on some PC graphics cards in the mid-1990s, company acquired by [ATI Technologies](/source/ATI_Technologies) * [Philips](/source/Philips) [TriMedia](/source/TriMedia_(mediaprocessor)) line - used in Philips, Dell, Sony, etc. consumer electronics, Philips Semiconductors split off from Philips and became [NXP Semiconductors](/source/NXP_Semiconductors) in 2006 [Consumer electronics](/source/Consumer_electronics) companies have successfully dominated this market by designing their own media processors and integrating them into their video products. Companies such as [Philips](/source/Philips), [Samsung](/source/Samsung), [Matsushita](/source/Panasonic), [Fujitsu](/source/Fujitsu), [Mitsubishi](/source/Mitsubishi_Electric) have their own in-house media processor devices. Newer generations of such devices now use various forms of [multiprocessing](/source/multiprocessing)—multiple [CPU](/source/CPU)s or [DSPs](/source/Digital_signal_processor), in order to deal with the vastly increased computational needs when dealing with [high-definition television](/source/high-definition_television) signals. ==External links== * [http://www.equator.com http://www.equator.com] * [http://www.philips.com http://www.philips.com] * [http://www.nxp.com http://www.nxp.com] {{System on a chip}} Category:Central processing unit Category:Coprocessors Category:Digital electronics Category:Digital signal processing Category:Digital signal processors --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Media processor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_processor) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_processor?action=history)). 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