MRV Gets SFP Patent

CHATSWORTH, Calif. -- MRV COMMUNICATIONS, INC., today announced that its line of digital video small form-factor pluggable (SFP) interfaces used for transporting serial digital interface (SDI) and high-definition serial digital interface (HD-SDI) video over any fiber-optic network, has been granted United States patent No. 7,688,231. MRV Communications, Inc. is a leading provider of optical communication and IT infrastructure management solutions to service providers and enterprises around the world.

MRV used an encoding algorithm based on the EG-34 industry standard in its SFP interfaces, which allow transmission of digital video SDI or HD-SDI over fiber, employing standard, off-the-shelf optical transport equipment. Previously, this type of video data was primarily transmitted on copper coaxial cables, with transmission distances limited to several hundred yards. For longer distances, a dedicated network with separate fiber-optic cables and specialized transmission equipment needed to be built. That’s because the data-scrambling algorithm of SDI and HD-SDI video is incompatible with standard optical systems. MRV’s digital video SFP allows this data to be transmitted over fiber using standard optical transport equipment, reducing costs and increasing network flexibility.

MRV’s digital-video SFPs are available for the SDI (270 Mbps) standard, and both the PAL/SECAM (1.485 Gbps) and NTSC (1.4835 Gbps) standards of HD-SDI. In addition, MRV provides coax SFPs for DVB-ASI (270Mbps).

“We’re pleased to receive this patent as it strengthens our intellectual property portfolio and allows MRV to further its role in the video networking market place,” said Dilip Singh, chief executive officer of MRV. “Analysts estimate fiber-based broadcast video transport will nearly double to reach $440 million in 2014 and this SFP allows companies to use their standard optical transport equipment for these data, resulting in dramatically reduced costs for carrying HD video on a fiber network.”

MRV Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: MRVC)