TOKYO Tokyo Electron Limited (TEL) announced Thursday that Ruff Systems HDV (high definition video), a non-compressed video/sound distribution and storage software package was entered in NAB 2004 by TEL, Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (JVC) and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), an independent administrative institution, and received a Best of Show 2004 Vidy Award.

Held annually, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB)*1 is the world's largest video-related event, at which Vidy Award winners are selected after rigorous examination by the editors of three leading industry publications*2 and experts in fields such as video, sound and television broadcasting. These prestigious awards are presented in recognition of outstanding achievement in the advancement of the art and science of video technology.

The winning Ruff Systems HDV is software that enables distribution of high-resolution HDV-standard video in a band width of about 21 Mbps. A demonstration was given at the NAB 2004 venue, in which video transmit with an HDV digital video camera (made by JVC) was distributed using a wireless LAN environment and InterLink mobile mini laptop PC (also made by JVC).

The demonstration exhibited that Ruff Systems HDV can be used with an extremely low-cost, general-purpose system to transmit high-resolution video and sound, earning the software one of this year's Vidy Awards.

"To receive an award, a technology must be reviewed by our panel of editors and industry experts," said Videography Group Publisher Cristina Gallo. "The winning technologies reflect innovation and engineering excellence."

"JVC's HDV presentation was a constant focus of activity during the event, indicating high expectations for HDV. Ruff Systems presented a specific proposal for making HD video distribution easy. Viewers of the demonstration were awed," said Akio Kotake, General Manager of International Sales Department, JVC.

"We are extremely honored that Ruff Systems, developed and distributed by TEL, has won the prestigious Vidy Award. The extremely strong interest expressed by viewers of the demonstration is encouraging for future development and sales. We would like to provide more up-to-date technology that meets market expectations," said Vic Amano, VP & General Manager, Computer Network Division, TEL.

*1 NAB is famed for its spring convention held in Las Vegas in April of each year, as well as its concurrently held exhibition, one of the largest in the world. This year's NAB2004 took place from April 17 to 22. Over 1,300 companies worldwide exhibited at the event that attracted some 100,000 visitors.

*2 The industry's three leading publications referred to above are:

Videography (publisher: Cristina Gallo)

Digital Television/TV Broadcast (chief editor: Michael Silbergleid)

Government Video (chief editor: Mark J. Pescatore, PhD)