1. Introduction
HQMES are user-oriented systems that have to execute very efficiently and cost-effectively to deliver the highest quality result possible to the customer. These systems, as set top boxes and digital integrated TV sets, have evolved not only in their hardware structure but also in their software platform. From former hardware-coded media processing functions, we find nowadays software-coded functionality integrated in an embedded structure. The transition from hardware to software has introduced a high degree of flexibility in these systems at the cost of higher threats to predictability, reliability, and performance.