Beamr powers the video encoding workflows of the biggest MSOs and OTT video service providers as the industry’s top designer of CAE (content-adaptive encoding) and video optimization technology which enables superior video quality, high CPU performance, and superior bitrate efficiency for MSOs, OTT content distributors, TV networks and video streaming platforms. Backed by 44 granted patents, Beamr's perceptual optimization technology extends into our HEVC and H.264 video encoders. CABR (Content-Adaptive Bitrate) is a revolutionary rate-control mode that enables guaranteed quality to be delivered at very low bitrates. Founded in 2009, Beamr investors include Verizon Ventures, Eric Schmidt backed Innovation Endeavors, and Disruptive.
The video technology Beamr developed for our codecs are covered by eleven International patents that are a part of the 44 total patents the company holds that cover our breakthrough video optimization developments. Though video quality and bitrate continues to be a core focus of development, Beamr recognized the prevailing trend to increase compute performance and density of software-based video encoding and transcoding infrastructure as a key to securing a competitive advantage for video distributors, streaming video platforms, and content distribution networks. With compute efficiency being an essential goal, video architects must be prepared for advanced entertainment content, by embracing new technologies, capabilities, and codecs such as HEVC, HDR, and 4K.
As a pioneer of content-adaptive technology introduced in 2013 as Beamr Video which was the world's first perceptual video optimizer, Beamr has extensive experience in the area of using a perceptual quality measure to Beamr reduce bitrate. This is the foundation for the Beamr rate-control called CABR which stands for Content-Adaptive Bitrate. CABR is the anchoring feature for the company's HEVC encoder Beamr 5x and the H.264 video encoder Beamr 4x. CABR is a Beamr proprietary invention that ensures guaranteed video quality at the lowest bit rate. By activating CABR, the user can realize an additional bit rate savings of as much as 50% for both HEVC and H.264 encoded files and streams.
The Beamr quality measure has been in development since 2009. After extensive refinement, and subjecting it to the strict requirements and testing of ITU BT.500 which is an International standard for testing image quality, we were able to confirm that there is a sufficiently high correlation of our quality measure with human viewing results. The Beamr quality measure takes into account temporal artifacts. Since it is not sufficient to ensure only at the frame level that degradation has not been introduced - it is also necessary to preserve the quality of the video's temporal flow. If you view a video encoded using the VBR rate-control and a video encoded with the CABR rate-control side-by-side, they will appear identical to the human eye under regular viewing conditions. This is a secret to how the process is able to guarantee image quality.
At NAB 2019, Beamr demonstrated the results of an Intel silicon powered CABR solution, where for the first time, video services and 5G mobile operators will be able to use MEC to meet the density, cost, and bitrate efficiency needed for high-volume applications like cloud gaming, 5G connected autonomous cars, real-time live sports streaming, VR, or any use case where high video quality at the lowest bitrate is needed. For platform engineers, silicon accelerated CABR allows new product frontiers for demanding applications such as video editing and publishing on the newest generation of mobile devices, tablets, and desktop computers.