Sale of VAST-c, a Compact and High-Quality Video/Audio
Store-and-Forward System to Begin 
1996-013                                                     June 13, 1996

KDD launched the sale of VAST-c (Video & Audio Store-and-Forward Transmission System-Compact) today through its wholly-ownedsubsidiary, KDD Technology Corp. VAST-c, developed by KDD, isa portable video and audio store-and-forward transmission system that can transmit high-quality video and audio using an INMARSAT satellite link, ISDN circuit, or telephone circuit.

Vast-c was developed using the data compression technology called MPEG for efficiently transferring video signals and a bit rate conversion technology, developed by KDD, that allows transmission of data at arbitrary rates. VAST-c compresses video signals that would normally require a digital circuit of approximately 45 megabit/second, stores the signals, then sends the signals at a rate of 2.4 kilobit/second to 1.5 megabit/second.

When used with an INMARSAT portable earth station, for example, VAST-c can send video of sufficient quality for use in news gathering from areas without telecommunication infrastructure via an INMARSAT satellite.

KDD has advanced the development of a portable video and audio store-and-forward transmission system for some time. In April 1993, KDD developed VAST-p (p: portable) that was greeted with acclaim by domestic and foreign television broadcasters. VAST-c is a successor to VAST-p.

VAST-c reflects customers' demand for a more compact and lighter unit with better picture quality. By incorporating MPEG technology (H.261 algorithm was used in the previous model) and an exclusive LSI circuit, VAST-c weighs 6.5 kg and is 320 (w) x 210 (d) x 155 (h) in dimensions. The weight is one-fourth that of VAST-p and the volume one-ninth. In addition, new VAST-c is equipped with both transmitting and receiving functions in one box (chassis). VAST-c also features many new functions, such as still picture transmission function and interactive teleconference function.

Priced at 5.5 million Yen for one pair of the transmitter/receiver terminals, KDD anticipates that VAST-c will be used by the mass media and companies that need portable video transmission or teleconference capabilities.

(Reference)

1. Specifications

VAST-cVAST-p(existing)
1.Dimensions320(W)x210(D)x155(H)
(main unit only)		600(W)x500(D)x300(H)
(main unit only)
2.WeightApprox. 6.5 kg.
(main unit only)		Approx. 25 kg.
(main unit only)
3. Video unit
Input-output signals NTSC
PAL		 NTSC
PAL
Coding rate56kbps - 2Mbps56kbps - 3Mbps
Coding methodMPEG-1/H.261/JPEGCCITT H.261
Resolution360 pixels x 240 lines x 30 frames360 pixels x 240 lines x 30 frames
4.Audio unit
Band width7kHz / 3.4kHz7kHz
Coding rate64kbps / 16kbps64kbps
No. of channels1(mono)1(mono)
5. Transmission controller
MultiplexingAdaptive packet
multiplexing		Adaptive packet
multiplexing
Error correctionARQ protocol (LAP-B)
Automatic continuous
file transmission
function
2.4kbps - 1.5Mbps		ARQ protocol (LAP-B)
Automatic continuous
file transmission
function
9.6kbps - 1.5Mbps
Bit rate
Interface		Compact earth station
interface
ISDN interface
Analog telephone
network interface		Compact earth station
interface
ISDN interface
Analog telephone
network interface

2. Profile of KDD Technology Corp.

1) Main office:KDD Research Center Meguro Building,
1-23 Nakameguro 2-chome, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
2) Established:August 1988
3) Capital:240 million Yen
4) Stockholder:Wholly-owned by KDD
5) President: Hidetaka Yanagidaira
6) Operations: <1> Development, manufacturing, and sale
of image communication and processing
systems.
<2> Investigation and research concerning
telecommunication and data processing
technology.