Microsoft provides complete, scalable, and fully customizable operating system platforms that enable OEMs to rapidly build service– and software–extensible set-top box systems. Service providers can cost-effectively deploy and adapt these systems over time, because they are designed to be compatible with current and evolving standardized technologies. To this end, Microsoft supports a large and dynamic ecosystem of partners to ensure flexibility and choice for the OEM. This ecosystem includes the choice of an operating system, value-added client and middleware software from ISVs, and support from multiple silicon vendors and independent hardware vendors.
Microsoft Operating System Strategy for IP Set-Top boxes
Microsoft embedded operating systems are built to deliver complete and scalable client platforms for a wide range of IP-based set-top boxes that can provide:
Complete multimedia experiences that enable broadcast-quality video delivery on existing networks.
Best-of-breed Web browser functionality that is fully customizable.
Extensive applications and services, including home networking, PC connectivity, and gateway functionality; VoIP communication and instant messaging—services and applications which are easy to update or replace over time.
Microsoft helps manufacturers succeed in the set-top box industry by providing a scalable product line of componentized operating systems—Windows CE 5.0 and Windows XP Embedded. Flexible platforms help meet the requirements of customized devices while ensuring integration between those operating systems and other Microsoft technologies that are important when deploying customized, end-to-end set-top box solutions.
The Windows CE 5.0 Platform Builder and Windows XP Embedded Target Designer development tools each offer a sample Windows Embedded set-top box configuration. By helping OEMs jump-start development projects and add additional technology components to base set-top box configurations, these sample configurations and developer tools enable OEMs to quickly create highly-differentiated offerings.
Windows CE 5.0 is the operating system of choice for most IP set-top boxes. Not only does it have a comprehensive set of integrated multimedia features and rich extensible applications, but a minimum operating system footprint of less than 350 KB allows the development of extremely cost efficient IP set-top boxes. Typical IP-set-top box images will run between 15 and 19MB depending on the type of additional components (such as .NET compact framework, RDP, Messenger, and VoIP) that are selected on top of the basic ones (operating system, networking, browser, and codec).
Windows XP Embedded provides a comprehensive software solution with multiple, integrated services for advanced set-top box and media server providers. Building on its inherent desktop compatibility, OEMs can easily extend set-top box functionality by using the very large application portfolio available for Windows XP.
Microsoft Independent Software Vendors Strategy for IP Set-Top Boxes
Microsoft provides an extensive range of application programming interfaces (APIs) for features that are not included in the base operating system software. The APIs are also exposed through an extensible, componentized operating system architecture. Microsoft actively works with a variety of third-party partners to build solutions that enhance and extend the capabilities of the Windows Embedded platforms.
There are four primary areas of third-party software enhancement in the current versions of Windows CE 5.0 and Windows XP Embedded:
Embedded Programming Guides. EPGs provide a TV Guide-style data feed so users can quickly view and navigate current programs.
Digital Video Recording. Users program their DVR to record television programs that can be viewed at a later time. This is commonly known as time shifting.
Video on Demand Infrastructure. Integrating with VOD servers provides features and functionality such as video delivery protocols, authentication, and billing services.
Browser Plug-Ins and Virtual Machines. Browser plug-ins and virtual machines allow network operators to provide additional Web browser, multimedia, and managed code applications and services.
Codecs. Various ISVs offer additional codecs for Windows Embedded platform such as MPEG4 AVC, DivX, On2, and Real. Silicon vendors also offer additional codec support on their media processors.
Microsoft Silicon Vendor Strategy for IP Set-Top Boxes
Microsoft embedded operating systems support many types of set-top box hardware already deployed, providing OEMs with choices about how to meet cost and performance requirements. Supported processor architectures are:
For Windows XP Embedded: 486 and Pentium I/II/III/IV class processors.
For Windows CE 5.0:
Family
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BSP
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Kernel
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ARM
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Intel Mainstone II
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ARMV4I
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Samsung SMDK 2410
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ARMV4I
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MIPS
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NEC SG2 Vr4131
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MIPSII (MIPS16)
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AMD DBAu1500, 1100, 1000
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MIPSII
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Broadcom VoIP Reference
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MIPSII
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NEC SG2 Vr5500
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MIPSII, MIPSIV, MIPSII_FP, MIPSIV_FP
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SH4
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Renesas US7750R HARP (Aspen)
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SH4
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x86
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x86 (CEPC)
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x86
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Geode
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X86
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Emulator
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x86
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Windows Embedded IP Set-Top Box Platform Overview
This section provides a feature-level overview and comparison between the Windows CE 5.0 and Windows XP Embedded IP set-top box platforms.
As Figure 1 illustrates, each operating system provides a highly customizable interface for the set-top box shell and for the browser, media player, and DVD/CD player. OEM developers can choose to provide the familiar Windows controls and user interface (UI) elements, or they can create a simplified interface with unifying elements across the applications, based on ActiveX® controls or Visual C++®.
In addition, Windows Embedded operating systems provide rich interfaces for third-party software that can add additional customized graphics, audio, media playback, and networking technologies, along with the necessary drivers, to interface with back-end services.
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