Streambox Solution Enables Real-Time Delivery of Video from ROPOS Underwater Research Vehicle, Facilitates Shore-to-Ship Communications and Control

SEATTLE - Oct. 31, 2007 - Streambox, Inc. today announced that the Canadian Scientific Submersible Facility (CSSF) is using the Streambox^® ACT-L3T Portable Video Transport system to stream real-time video and audio from its ROPOS (Remotely Operated Platform for Ocean Sciences) underwater research vehicle to an on-shore lab and control room over a VSAT satellite system. High-quality subsea images streamed via the Streambox system can also be delivered in real-time to museums, oceanographic institutions, and other venues as part of outreach and cooperation programs.

"The Streambox solution closely monitors and adapts to network conditions which is very useful for video and audio transmission over a satellite link," said Keith Tamburri, assistant manager at the CSSF. "Our clients value the control panel presets and the overall user-friendliness of the system. The system operates 24/7 and it is extremely reliable. It has proved very effective in delivering the best quality video possible over the low-bandwidth connection we have available."

ROPOS is a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) capable of working at depths of 5000 meters. It is used for detailed seafloor mapping for route surveys and for deploying scientific instruments. CSSF is using the Streambox Portable Video Transport system to enable scientists to direct the operation of the ROPOS vehicle remotely from positions on-shore. This is critical because berth space on research ships is limited, and the length of each cruise is often too long for scientists to join in person. The Streambox solution eliminates both of these issues, facilitating real-time video transport and enabling scientists and staff on-shore to communicate directly with the shipboard team through a continuous satellite link. At the same time, users are able to follow what the submersible sees and listen to live conversations in the control room.

Video encoded through the ACT-L3™ system is transported from the research vessel via a VSAT Ku-Band system with 372 Kbps of dedicated ship-to-shore bandwidth using a stabilized antenna. The decoded stream is then redirected through the public Internet to various locations including research institutions, offices, and homes, all in real-time.

Among the recent deployments of the ROPOS system and Streambox^® Portable Encoder was a project on board the CCGS Hudson, with subsea video being streamed back to the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Canada's largest center for ocean research. Professionals and students alike were impressed by the quality of the video, according to Tamburri.

The Streambox^® ACT-L3T Portable Video Transport solution enables delivery of high-quality live and stored broadcast video over low data rate connections such as broadband, BGAN, and other IP and satellite networks.

Ideal for use in challenging or changing environments, Streambox's real-time portable video transport systems offer portability, flexibility, and a low power requirement. Performance, reliability, and low end-to-end latency are hallmarks of all Streambox solutions. These features ensure unrivaled video quality at low data rates for a wide range of applications including research, live newsgathering, emergency response, and mobile command centers for the armed forces.

More information about the Streambox^® ACT-L3T video transport system and other Streambox solutions is available online at www.streambox.com.

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About the Canadian Scientific Submersible Facility
The Canadian Scientific Submersible Facility (CSSF) is a nationally registered not-for-profit corporation established to manage and operate the ROPOS underwater research vehicle. CSSF works mainly through contracts with small local companies. Fielding a consistently successful team for operations and maintenance of the system, CSSF has earned strong client support. Working relationships have been established with the University of Victoria, University of Washington, the NOAA Vents program and the NOAA West Coast Undersea Research Center, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and GEOMAR (a German research support agency), as well as Natural Resources Canada and several other Canadian universities. ROPOS was developed with major funding from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Natural Resources Canada, and NSERC. Major upgrades to the system have been funded by CSSF, Canadian Foundation for Innovation, and the British Columbia Knowledge Development fund. More information is available at www.ropos.com.

About Streambox, Inc.
Streambox provides a single platform for all live and file-based video acquisition over IP. The company develops industry-leading solutions for encoding, video management, and play-out for broadcast and broadband based on the innovative ACT-L3™ codec. Our software-based solutions provide unrivaled performance, reliability, and video quality over low data rate wired and wireless IP networks. Streambox solutions enable broadcasters, government agencies, and enterprises and other users to enhance content ownership, simplify operations, and increase operational efficiencies. More information is available at www.streambox.com.

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