A Real Time Programmable Data Compression System for Video Data

Abstract

This paper describes the implementation of a data compression system for the real time operational transmission of advanced technology satellite (ATS) pictures between the command and data acquisition (CDA) station located at Wallops Island, Virginia and the National Environmental Satellite Service (NESS) at Suitland, Maryland over broadband microwave links. The system features the use of general purpose minicomputers for encoding and decoding which makes it possible to easily vary the data compression technique in use and to make simultaneous statistical calculations on the data. Special interfaces to the pre-existing equipment have been designed to insure efficient use of the parallel structure of the computers. Data compression and expansion is done in a way that results in no lowering of data quality.