Media Server secures and distributes digital content.
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Press Release Summary:
Built on PowerQUICC® communications processor technology, Media-Server-in-a-Box Reference Platform provides hardware support for transcription, transcoding, and translating via ViXS XCode(TM) 2100 Series IC. Integrated media server software stacks provide interoperability and synchronization capabilities. With media server, OEMs and ODMs can create true networked media hub appliances for small office/home office and connected home markets.
Original Press Release:
Freescale Media Server Platform Connects and Protects Digital Content for Home Equipment and Other Markets
Comprehensive media server platform incorporates sophisticated technologies to secure and distribute digital content at home
AUSTIN, Texas - July 9, 2007 - Offering service providers and consumers the ability to process, secure and distribute multiple streams of rich digital content throughout the home, Freescale Semiconductor today unveiled a comprehensive media server reference platform. OEMs and ODMs can now create true networked media hub appliances for the small office/home office and connected home markets.
Using networked personal computers and entertainment appliances in their homes, today's consumers manage, store and share vast amounts of content in the form of data, photos, video and digital music. Next generation networked attached storage (NAS) home products are adding media server features to traditional data backup functions, resulting in networked media hub appliances that are available through a variety of service providers including telecom and cable providers.
Enabling the creation of sophisticated yet inexpensive central home server systems, Freescale's Media-Server-in-a-Box reference platform combines true media server functionality and enables secure sharing and storage of content. Built on the reliable PowerQUICC® communications processor technology that drives the MPC8349e-mITX platform, the offering provides hardware support for transcription, transcoding and transrating via the ViXS XCode(TM) 2100 Series IC. Integrated media server software stacks provide interoperability and synchronization capabilities, while user-friendly software interfaces enable service providers to easily deploy the solution in specific markets.
The platform meets a number of critical requirements for connected home technology including piracy protection software as well as quality-of-service and ease-of-use features. The system, based on PowerQUICC® processor technology, also helps enable the creation of end devices compliant with the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) standard - making it easy for consumers to manage, view, print and share digital content across multiple devices within the home.
"We recognize the growing demand among service providers for sophisticated yet affordable platforms targeting connected home electronics markets that are capable of distributing voice, video and secure data content," said Jeff Timbs, director of marketing for Freescale's Networking Systems Division. "Success for our OEMs requires a comprehensive platform solution offering carrier class technologies from a trusted partner at an optimal price-to-performance ratio."
The platform provides transcription from Windows Media Digital Rights Management (DRM) to Digital Transmission Content Protection Over IP (DTCP-IP) link protection schemes, helping to provide secure digital content transfer among multiple devices in a home network. Transcoding allows consumers to stream content in different resolutions and protocols into various client formats, enabling transmission of the high definition television format MPEG2HD to MPEG4 in their home. Transrating reduces network loading while maintaining superb video quality. Transcoding is supported in the hardware via the ViXSTM 2100 Series IC to help provide consumers with the performance and quality they expect and demand from broadband services.
"The ability to provide secure digital rights management for content distribution is a critical enabling technology for content and service providers alike," said IdaRose Sylvester, senior semiconductor analyst at IDC. "Companies that bring together a combination of expertise in silicon and software technologies from carrier class networks may have a competitive advantage in the market."
Transcoding-the intersection and aggregation of diverse formats
As personal and premium content becomes prevalent inside the home, the need to aggregate it into a similar format becomes essential in home media server appliances. The ViXSTM 2100 Series IC combines MPEG encoding and transcoding to handle multiple streams and standards for worldwide conditional access, and content protection to support multiple digital rights management schemes.
"Storing, encrypting and networking HD video across various DRM domains is no longer an impediment to home entertainment networks," said Sally Daub, president and chief executive officer of ViXS Systems. "ViXS' single chip XCodeTM video processor with multi-stream, faster-than-real time transcoding and on-the-fly transcription between various DRM schemes breaks down all network barriers. ViXS is the leader in single chip video engines and we are very excited about our partnership with Freescale, the leader in embedded processors."
Pricing and availability
Initial samples of the MPC8349E-mITX Media-Server-in-a-Box reference platform are available now. Please contact a Freescale sales representative for more information.
About Freescale Semiconductor
Freescale Semiconductor is a global leader in the design and manufacture of embedded semiconductors for the automotive, consumer, industrial, networking and wireless markets. The privately held company is based in Austin, Texas, and has design, research and development, manufacturing or sales operations in more than 30 countries. Freescale is one of the world's largest semiconductor companies with 2006 sales of $6.4 billion (USD). www.freescale.com
About ViXS Systems
ViXS Systems is a fabless semiconductor company enabling advanced video processing technologies for Consumer Electronic (CE) and Personal Computer (PC) platforms. The company supplies IC solutions and full production reference designs to the world's top CE and PC manufacturers, OEMs and ODMs. ViXS XCode video processors are deployed worldwide in a variety of designs such as IPTV/cable set-top boxes, digital TVs, PVRs, and Blu-ray and HD DVD products. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, ViXS is a global company with offices located worldwide. For more information, visit www.vixs.com
