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Media Center PC Design Fundamentals Requirements And Recommendations For Media Center PCs

Media Center PC Design Fundamentals Requirements And Recommendations For Media Center PCs . Hardware Platforms Windows eHome Division Microsoft Corporation. Agenda. Platform Internals: Great functionality TV Tuner (Video Capture) Compressor Decompressor Graphics Adapter

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Media Center PC Design Fundamentals Requirements And Recommendations For Media Center PCs

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  1. Media Center PC Design FundamentalsRequirements And RecommendationsFor Media Center PCs Hardware PlatformsWindows eHome DivisionMicrosoft Corporation

  2. Agenda • Platform Internals: Great functionality • TV Tuner (Video Capture) • Compressor • Decompressor • Graphics Adapter • Display Device • Audio • Video Quality • Human I/O: Great usability • Remote Control • Remote Sensor (IR Transceiver) • Front Panel Display • Microsoft State Aggregation Service • Front Panel Controls • The Complete Package: Great look and feel • Form Factor and Industrial Design • Noise levels

  3. Platform InternalsTV Tuner (Video Capture) • Requirement highlights • Analog Tuners • Implemented as WDM Streaming Capture Device • Kernel Streaming or AVStream (recommended) • Audio and video capture on same physical device • A/V noise suppression during channel changes • Digital Tuners (DVB-T) • Implemented using Broadcast Driver Architecture (BDA) • Analog/Digital solutions • The user will be prompted to choose analog or digital during TV setup Details available in the Windows DDK at http://www.microsoft.com/ddk

  4. Platform InternalsTV Tuner (Video Capture) • Good analog TV tuner features • Accurate NTSC/PAL decoding • Correct black levels: Conformance to ITU Rec 601 colorspace • 3D Y/C separator: Video free of dot crawl, comb filter artifacts • High signal to noise ratio on video and VBI signals • Appropriate level of filtering to reduce analog noise without distorting the video’s appearance • High quality raw VBI data • High sample rate: 1440 samples/second or higher • Proper gain, waveform, and capture all of lines 1-23 • FM tuner • If implemented, connector must be separate from TV connector

  5. Platform InternalsCompressor • Reduces A/V bandwidth by compressing to MPEG-2 • Requirement highlights • Hardware or software encoder • Single Main Profile at Main Level MPEG-2 (MP@ML) atfull NTSC/PAL D1 resolution • Encoder bitrate settings adjusted programmatically using interfaces IEncoderAPI and IVideoEncoderAPI • Good compressor features • Filters video to reduce noise, bit rate without removing detail • No visible compression artifacts in “Best” mode (6 Mb/s) • Image quality that compares favorably to standalone consumer electronics PVR devices Details available in the DirectX SDKhttp://msdn.microsoft.com/DirectX

  6. Platform InternalsDecompressor • Decodes MPEG-2 to produce output video frames • Requirement highlights • Compatible with the DirectX VA interfaces by supporting off-host processing of motion compensation and video de-interlacing • DirectShow property page for audio configuration from inside Windows Media Center • Good decompressor features • Quick MPEG-2 decode (<16ms) to prevent frame drops/glitches • iDCT or VLD MPEG-2 decode acceleration via DirectX VA • Smooth fast forward/rewind and quickly resume to 1x playback • “Media Center Compatible” registry key • [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{083863F1-70DE-11d0-BD4000A0C911CE86}\Instance\{Your Decoder CLSID here}\Capabilities] "{374ac4df-7c98-4257-b13d-36087dbee458}"=dword:00000001 Details available in the DirectX SDKhttp://msdn.microsoft.com/DirectX

  7. Platform InternalsGraphics Accelerator • Requirement highlights (minimums) • 4x AGP or equivalent • Graphics Memory: 48 MB • DirectX VA compatible hardware acceleration • Motion Compensation for MPEG-2 decode assist • Video de-interlacing: BOB • DXVA_DeinterlaceTech_BOBLineReplicate or DXVA_DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch return value from the DXVA_DeinterlaceCaps interface. • Software-controlled video positioning • If present, TV out circuitry capable of downscaling a 1024 x 768, 32bpp desktop to NTSC-M/J, PAL, or SECAM

  8. Platform InternalsGraphics Accelerator • Good graphics accelerator features • Analog and digital connectors • Advanced, DirectX VA compatible hardware acceleration and video de-interlacing • iDCT or VLD • Windows Media Video 9 (WMV9) • High quality, pixel adaptive de-interlacing • Support for De-Interlace BltEX • New YUV blending mode with lowered video bandwidth requirements • Sufficient video memory (128 MB) and bandwidth (10 GB/s) for HDTV decode • TV out connector assignable to unique display controller • Correct S-Video black level: 0 IRE for RGB (16,16,16)

  9. Platform InternalsGraphics Accelerator • Good graphics accelerator features (continued) • Support for EIA-861B timings for DTV displays and59.94Hz for NTSC displays • Screen resolution matched to native display resolution • No visible artifacts on video scaled to desktop resolution • Preserved video head and toe room for accurate color reproduction • “Guaranteed video”: User always sees video • Detect how the user has plugged in video (i.e., VGA orS-Video) and switch to it • DDC/CI • HDCP Meet/exceed high-end Consumer Electronics quality It’s more than “video just works”

  10. Platform InternalsDisplay Device • Good display features • Compliance with “Designed for Windows” logo • High native resolution • At least 1024x768 for 4:3 and 1280x720 for widescreen aspect ratios • High brightness, contrast ratio for noise free, pristine video • No motion blur or trails on moving objects • LCD response time << 16 ms The user should be able to watch for hourswithout fatigue

  11. Platform InternalsDisplay Device • Good display features (continued) • Capable of “natural” color, pre-calibrated for user • 6500K Color temperature • White point (RGB 235) and black level (RGB 16)set for video • Easy to adjust, accessible controls forbrightness and contrast • Proper EDID formatting for Plug and Play support • DDC/CI support • DVI input The user should be able to watch for hourswithout fatigue

  12. Platform InternalsAudio • Good audio solution features • Multi-channel output (5.1 and more) • Analog – decode of WMA Pro and DVD audio formats • S/PDIF – pass through of DVD audio formats • High quality components laid out properly for clean, noise-free analog output • “Guaranteed audio”: User always hears audio • Output both analog and digital audio simultaneously • Or detect how audio is plugged in and switch • Connectors appropriate to the environment • RCA versus 1/8” in the living room

  13. Platform InternalsA/V Quality • Two key aspects • Stability and reliability: “It feels like a real TV” • Image fidelity: “It looks like a real TV” • Your own eyes are a great way to measure quality • Calibrate the display, no matter what size it is • View video on a large, high quality projection system • Compare video to a known good source • A consumer electronics device that time-shifts TV • Another PC source • Microsoft is investing in tools to help you evaluate video quality • Windows XP Media Center Edition Partner Test Kit • WHQL DVD Test Annex 2.0 (3.0 coming soon) • Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 Display Calibration wizard Always sanity check the system.  If you’re not happy with the TV quality, you won’t be the only one

  14. Human I/OMedia Center Remote Control • Has Windows Media Center required buttons • When designing, take in to account • Consumer Electronics “feel” • Mouse movement is cumbersome andnon-intuitive in a distance interface • Shape, size, color, weight, balance • Button location and task-based grouping(transport, navigation, etc.) • Button number and texture • Characteristics of the user (i.e., age and gender) • Windows Media Center recommended and optional buttons

  15. Human I/ORemote Sensor Connections for IR Emitters • Includes • IR receiver • IR emitter • For control of set-top boxes • Other devices in future • IR learning circuit • Enables user to add commands forhardware not yet in the IR database • Capable of bringing machine out of standby • Windows Media Center requires implementations based on one of two designs • Building your own? Contact Microsoft for specifications • For finished goods – Philips, Mitsumi, SMK IR Receiver USB Connection

  16. Human I/OFront Panel Display • Beyond “PC status” (power and hard drive) • Can be problematic (constantly flashing HD light?) • Media status is most meaningful to users • TV recording status, channel number, song title, chapter, and so on • Display can be simple indicator lights, or scale to pixel-addressable displays • Consider a design that can fit in an open drive bay • great add-on opportunity for traditional form factors

  17. Human I/OMicrosoft State Aggregation Service (MSAS) • Gathers state information from Windows Media Center and provides a stream of state information • Driver-level interface for hardware and/or software • Up to driver/software to interpret this stream into actions • Manages state through “sessions” • A session is created for each media activity and closed when another activity is started • Messages consist of a tag and a value • Tag describes a state (MSPROPTAG_Mute) • Values modify the tag • Most are a boolean indication that the state is in effect (MSPROPTAG_Mute = true) • Some can indicate a state has been turned off (MSPROPTAG_Mute = false) • Other are integer numeric<volume value> or <channel number>

  18. Human I/OMicrosoft State Aggregation Service (MSAS) • There is no memory in MSAS • States usually become invalid when superseded by another state • Example: A message setting MSPROPTAG_Pause = true indicates that the last transport state (such as MSPROPTAG_Play) is now false • It is up to the driver to maintain this exclusivity • Message setting previous state to false will not be sent • Multiple messages of the same type and value could be sent consecutively • This behavior is normal and should not causeproblems with a well written driver

  19. Human I/OFront Panel Controls • Provides additional input options on appropriateform factors (i.e., Living Room PC) • Enables the MCPC to appear and behave more likeConsumer Electronics device • Examples: Transport controls (play, rewind), Navigation (down, left, enter), Volume • Recommendations • Implement driver using Human Interface Device (HID) • Driver converts input in to the right message • WM_ INPUT, APPCOMMAND, KEYDOWN, KEYPRESS, KEYUP • Implement as HID USB device to simplify development • We don’t recommend doing a user mode solution • Build to meet the same HID usages as the remote control • Separate buttons (combining increases driver complexity) • “Play” & “Pause”; “Fast Forward” & “Next”; “Stop” & “Eject” Commands documented in MSDN whitepaper “Using the Remote Control Device with Windows”

  20. The Complete PackageThe MCPC Look and feel • Fitting into the environment is key • MCPCs are entering “new“ rooms in the home • Consumer Electronics – Great in the Living Room • All-in-one – Sleek, space saving, flexible • Small form factors – Versatile in many environments • Usage scenarios driving form factor changes • Noise awareness and tolerance varies by room • But Media Center PCs don’t have to be new form factors…

  21. The Complete PackageForm Factor and Industrial Design • Consumers should say “Wow” when they see a Media Center PC, even before they see the software… • Not that it can’t look like a PC, just not like every other PC • Recommendations For all MC PC form factors • Make them unique • Color, case materials, even color of LEDs • Integrate essential components • TV tuner, IR transceiver • Incorporate Windows Media Center specific features • Front panel display, front controls, front inputs • Minimize or hide traditional “PC” features • Floppy, that BIG power button • Make them quiet… Assume MCPCswill be displayed prominently

  22. The Complete PackageNoise Level • Expectations are higher as Media Center PCs enter new rooms and new scenarios • Recommendations • Most obvious: Choose quiet components… • Fanless components • Fluid bearing drives • Quiet fans for case, CPU, and power supply • Manage heat differently • Larger fans that turn more slowly • Passive cooling with heat sinks and heat pipes • Case designed for good air flow • Reduce un-necessary noise • No fan while in standby • Control fan spin-up at system resume • No case rattles • Rubber mount hard drives Consider the devices MCPCs are compared against when setting goals

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