Endec
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In electronic communications, an endec is a device which acts as both an encoder and a decoder on a signal or data stream, either with the same or separate circuitry or algorithm.[citation needed] The combining of these names is a portmanteau.
Definition
The general difference between an endec and a codec (compressor / decompressor) is that hardware is usually considered to be an endec, while software is considered to be the codec.[dubious – discuss]
A device or program which uses a compression algorithm to create MPEG audio and/or video is often called an encoder, and one which plays back such files is a decoder. However, this is technically a codec, especially if performed in software.[citation needed]
Examples
- A modem is an endec
- An Emergency Alert System unit is usually an endec, but sometimes just a decoder
- Hardware that encodes data bits to a run length limited line code, and decodes the line code back to data bits, is an endec[1]
- When implementing the Infrared Data Association (IrDA) protocol, an endec may be used between the UART and the optoelectronics[2]
References
- ^ United States Patent 5844507
- ^ "IrDA SIR ENDEC functional description"
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