Graphics display technology specialist Datapath has kicked off its SQX range of IP streaming and compression technologies with two decoders and a software application.
The SQX decode technologies are ActiveSQX, a scalable PCIe card designed to decode multiple streaming videos using an on-board processor; and SoftSQX a CPU decoding engine designed for systems that may require the management of a small number of compressed IP streams.
Wall Control SQX - an SQX compatible software application for controlling Vision Capture, IP-Camera and third-party application windows on Datapath video wall controller systems – is the third product to be released.
The SQX range of products are designed for video delivery, transmission and storage and can support implementation ranging from single streams to fully inclusive systems that accommodate a wide array of inputs and outputs streaming from a variety of sources to a number of destinations.
ActiveSQX PCIe card
ActiveSQX can work side-by-side with other ActiveSQX cards installed in the same system to support the management of CCTV systems or connect to online media libraries, streaming and decoding video for accelerated video wall display. The card provides a number of simultaneous decodes, all available within a single Windows desktop display surface. Decoded video can be scaled to display on multiple screens, across screen boundaries, tiled, overlaid and moved.
It can simultaneously decode and transferring up to 1.2 GBps of video data, equivalent to 6 x 1080p 60fps streams, or 12 x at 30fps. Additionally each Active SQX card can decode 50+ D1 streams.
SoftSQX CPU decoding engine
The second introduction, SoftSQX, uses system CPUs to decode within the Datapath SQX framework even when no accelerated hardware resources are available.
When using an ActiveSQX card, system resources such as the processor are not used. However, SoftSQX can use these resources to decode IP streams without requiring any additional configuration.
With SoftSQX, users can typically decode an incoming bandwidth equivalent to 12x 1080p 30 fps streams. Decoded video can be then transferred at full Gen 2 PCI Express speed directly to a Datapath ImageDP4 graphics card for accelerated display on to a video wall.
SoftSQX uses the same API as ActiveSQX hardware. When both ActiveSQX and SoftSQX are installed in a system, the API chooses which product to use based on the availability of system resources. ActiveSQX hardware is always the default preference, however, if the card is fully utilised, the third new Datapath SQX introduction, Wall Control SQX, will roll over to SoftSQX .
Wall Control SQX software
Wall Control SQX software is an interface that provides users access to vision input capture channels, configured IP camera sources and applications. It delivers a graphical representation of the data wall and a toolbar through which all available sources and applications can be manipulated. The software can be used to interactively open, move, size and position windows on either the local machine or a remote network client system.
It provides users with the interface required to manage traditional input sources as well as multiple IP streams and local applications. Users are able to place any input source on any part of the video wall using drag and drop operation. Each source can be scaled, cropped and rotated.
A Wall Control SQX installation requires no new configuration or additional knowledge on the part of the user if ActiveSQX is installed into an existing system.