Fraunhofer IIS audio codecs integrated in MIPS Consumer Audio Platform

Erlangen, Germany, and Mountain View, Calif., June 14, 2004 - Today MIPS Technologies introduces the MIPS™ Consumer Audio Platform, a common foundation which provides access to Fraunhofer IIS audio codecs for easy implementation in multimedia System-on-Chip applications. Fraunhofer IIS and MIPS Technologies have been working closely as joint development partners and have optimized many MPEG and Fraunhofer audio codecs to the MIPS32® architecture. Customers already have licensed MIPS-optimized algorithms from Fraunhofer and are implementing the technology on MIPS-Based™ cores in a wide range of consumer applications.

Currently, the following optimized algorithms are available to customers:

• MP3 (MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 Layer-3) decoder
  
• MP3 (MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 Layer-3) encoder
  
• AAC (MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 Low Complexity AAC) decoder - multichannel available upon request
  
• AAC (MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 Low Complexity AAC) encoder - multichannel available upon request
  
• MPEG-4 AAC Low Delay for bidirectional communication, decoder
  
• MPEG-4 AAC Low Delay for bidirectional communication, encoder

Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS is the leading international research lab in the field of high-quality low bit rate audio coding and has 15 years of experience in innovative solutions for audio and video applications for multimedia devices and hardware implementations. Fraunhofer IIS developed the popular MP3 format, played a crucial role in standardizing MPEG-2/4 AAC and contributes innovative developments to the MPEG-4 audio standard. By offering MPEG and Fraunhofer codecs for the MIPS32 architecture, Fraunhofer IIS is fully supporting the new MIPS Consumer Audio Platform to offer a wide range of high-quality audio codecs to System-on-Chip (SOC) designers and to strengthen the open MPEG standards.

MIPS Technologies is a world-recognized developer of microprocessor intellectual property (IP) and licenses the industry-standard MIPS® architecture to system OEMs and semiconductor companies. The latest Fraunhofer audio codecs are the first of many to be offered through the MIPS Consumer Audio Platform. The companies are optimizing next generation audio algorithms and will make them available to MIPS Technologies licensees within the calendar year.

"By offering Fraunhofer codecs in our Consumer Audio Platform, MIPS Technologies is giving SOC vendors access to a broad set of highly optimized audio algorithms, enabling differentiated end consumer applications at a lower overall cost," said Jeff Sasagawa, director of market development and system solutions at MIPS Technologies. "Our ongoing development work with industry leaders such as Fraunhofer IIS will ensure the Consumer Audio Platform offers the most comprehensive MPEG audio codecs for embedded consumer design."

"Due to strong customer demand for MPEG audio codecs on the MIPS32 processor architecture Fraunhofer IIS has implemented MP3 and AAC codecs for the MIPS Consumer Audio Platform." said Marc Gayer, responsible for RISC fixed-point audio codecs at Fraunhofer IIS. "With these optimized codecs and the robust development, environment cost and time to market can be significantly reduced. SOC designs for today's complex requirements are simplified by adding audio coding functionality to MIPS processors."

Detailed information about optimized audio codecs offered through the MIPS Consumer Audio Platform can be obtained by visiting www.mips.com or www.iis.fraunhofer.de/amm.

About Fraunhofer IIS

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft founded in 1949 is one of the leading organizations of applied research in Europe. It operates 58 national research establishments and numerous international centers. The headquarters is located in Munich, Germany. Most of the 12 700 staff members are scientists and engineers.
Founded in 1985 the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS in Erlangen, today with 450 staff members, ranks first among the other Fraunhofer Institutes. It provides research services on contract basis and technology licensing.
Research topics are: Audio and video source coding, digital radio broadcasting systems, analog and digital integrated circuits, tools for design automation, high-speed camera systems, industrial and medical vision systems, wireless, wired and optical networks, navigation, nanofocus X-ray technology, and communications technology in transport and logistics.
13 500 square meters of office and laboratory space are available. The budget of 50 million Euro is mainly financed by projects from both the private industry and the public sector. Less than 20 % of the budget is subsidized by federal and state funds.

About MIPS Technologies

MIPS Technologies, Inc. is a leading provider of industry-standard processor architectures and cores for digital consumer and business applications. The company drives the broadest architectural alliance that is delivering 32- and 64-bit embedded RISC solutions. The company licenses its intellectual property to semiconductor companies, ASIC developers and system OEMs. MIPS Technologies and its licensees offer the widest range of robust, scalable processors in standard, custom, semi-custom and application-specific products. The company is based in Mountain View, Calif., and can be reached at +1 (650) 567-5000 or www.mips.com.

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