Kontron and Surf Communication Solutions Collaborate on 'NEP-Ready' Integrated AdvancedTCA Media Server Platform
Partnership to enable network equipment providers a faster path to "design and launch" new multimedia transcoding systems to keep pace with shorter carrier deployment cycles
Poway, CA / Yokne'am, Israel - June 12, 2008 - Kontron, a leading global provider of standard-based and custom embedded and communications solutions, and Surf Communication Solutions, a leading developer of high-capacity multimedia processing DSP chips and boards for the telecommunication infrastructure field, today announced the completion of a fully validated AdvancedTCA-AdvancedMC fixed-mobile media server platform. Together, Kontron and Surf will be able to offer Network Equipment Providers (NEPs) a compelling commercial-off-the-shelf High Availability (HA) platform ideal for IP-based media processing applications that support today's content delivery subscriber services including IPTV, VoD and Mobile TV.
At the core of the Kontron-Surf collaboration is the successful joint interoperability testing of Surf's SurfRider/AMC(TM) AMC DSP module - designed with the TMS320C64x series of Texas Instruments DSPs, including up to 8 DSPs per board such as the TMS320C6412, TMS320TCI6482, and the latest multi-core DSP TMS320TCI6486 - with the Kontron AT840x family of AdvancedTCA Carrier blades. This has enabled Kontron to pre-integrate a new media server platform based on its existing Kontron OM9060 AdvancedTCA Platform, populating it with two redundantly configured AdvancedTCA carrier boards with up to six SurfRider/AMC DSP modules and two Kontron processor AdvancedMC modules used as session controllers.
"Surf recognizes the need for continual pre-interoperability testing to simplify the design process for NEPs," said Ofer Talmor, Director of Product Management at Surf Communication Solutions. "Working with Kontron to pre-validate a jointly integrated media server platform solution demonstrates a much higher value proposition for our joint clients to enjoy faster time to market cycles to keep up with demand from their service provider clients."
"TI is a forerunner in terms of DSP technology, and being able to integrate up to 8 DSPs on a single SurfRider/AMC module allows for a flexible system design for AdvancedTCA and MicroTCA," said Sven Freudenfeld, Kontron business development, telecom. "The usage of multiple DSP AdvancedMCs on an AdvancedTCA AdvancedMC carrier board provides high channel density for multimedia platforms, but does pose a challenge in regards to thermal and data transport interoperability. Both Kontron and Surf are working together to eliminate the burden of any interoperability challenge in terms of thermal dissipation, manageability and data transport, thus ensuring seamless integration."
Media servers are typically deployed in Central Office/Edge networks to process and play out any media over IP, such as voice (in VoIP) or video (in Mobile TV). In the context of IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystems) or NGN (Next Generation Network), media servers perform content and streaming adaptation in real time for a large number of concurrent users.
More about the Kontron OM9060 Media Server Platform
This 5U, 6-Slot AdvancedTCA Media Platform is redundantly configured with 2x AdvancedTCA Hubs each with one processor AdvancedMC module as main controllers, and 2x AdvancedTCA processor blades (application engines) with SATA HDD. Added to this are the two AdvancedTCA carrier blades, each one with up to three SurfRider/AMC DSP modules and one Processor AdvancedMC as controllers. Additional AdvancedMC modules may be added, such as more DSPs and TDM interfaces, or 10 GbE uplinks on the AdvancedTCA hub, depending on the amount of traffic and the types of interfaces needed. For more information, please visit www.kontron.com/atca.
More about the SurfRider/AMC DSP module
The SurfRider/AMC is a fully-integrated RoHS-compliant AMC DSP resource board providing flexible yet heavy-duty multimedia processing capabilities. Featuring Surf's revolutionary patent-pending modular design and Open Framework approach, which allows seamless integration of user-defined and proprietary algorithms, the SurfRider/AMC meets IMS requirements and is the ideal choice for the development of a wide range of carrier-grade telecom applications. It is field-proven, having already been implemented by a number of Tier-1 TEMs. For more information, please visit www.surf-com.com/media-processing-products/amc-board.html.
About Surf Communication Solutions
SURF Communication Solutions® develops a suite of hardware and software products that drives a wide variety of applications whose common goal is high-capacity distribution of voice and video. These applications are predominantly developed by media gateway, media server and IMS equipment manufacturers in the telecommunication infrastructure field. The Surf engine is an off-the-shelf fully converged audio/video media processing subsystem that integrates easily into media gateways and servers. It is available in various integration levels, such as AdvancedMC, PTMC, PCIe and PCI form factor resource boards or DSP chips, which are pre-integrated with leading AdvancedTCA, MicroTCA and cPCI carrier boards and blades. For more information, visit www.surf-com.com.
About Kontron
Kontron designs and manufactures standard-based and custom embedded and communications solutions for OEMs, systems integrators, and application providers in a variety of markets. Kontron engineering and manufacturing facilities, located throughout Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific, work together with streamlined global sales and support services to help customers reduce their time-to-market and gain a competitive advantage. Kontron's diverse product portfolio includes: boards and mezzanines, Computer-on-Modules, HMIs and displays, systems, and custom capabilities. Kontron is a Premier member of the Intel® Embedded and Communications Alliance. The company is a recent three-time VDC Platinum vendor for Embedded Computer Boards. Kontron is listed on the German TecDAX stock exchange under the symbol "KBC". For more information, please visit: www.kontron.com.
For more information:
Reader contact EMEA:
Kontron AG
Oskar-von-Miller-Strasse 1 /
85386 Eching/Munich
Germany
Tel: +49 (8165) 77-777
Fax: +49 (8165) 77-279
http://www.kontron.com
sales@kontron.com
Editor contact EMEA:
Michael Hennen
SAMS Network
Zechenstraaye 29
52146 Wuerselen
Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)2405-45267-20
Fax: +49 (0)2405-45267-21
michael.hennen@sams-network.com
Reader contact Americas:
Kontron America Inc.
14118 Stowe Dr
Poway, CA 92064-7147
United States of America
Tel: +1 (888)-294-4558
Fax: +1 (858) 677-0898
sales@us.kontron.com
www.kontron.com
Reader contact Surf Headquarters
Surf Communication Solutions, Ltd.
Tavor Building
Yokne'am 20692
Israel
Tel: +972 (0)73 714 0700
Fax: +972 (0)4 959 4055
www.surf-com.com
surf@surf-com.com
Editor contact Americas:
Richard Pugnier
Kontron America Inc.
14118 Stowe Dr
Poway, CA 92064-7147
United States of America
Tel:+1 (858) 623-3006
Fax:+1 (858) 677-0615
richard.pugnier@us.kontron.com
Reader contact Surf North America
Surf Communication Solutions, Inc.
223 Massachusetts Ave Arlington,
MA 02474-8401 USA
Tel: (866) 644-3379
Fax: (508) 405-4442
NA-sales@surf-com.com
