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Internet Protocol Set-Top Boxes
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| bet | 5/5 | | Sana | 26.12.2019 | | Hajmi | 0,55 Mb. | | #5174 |
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Customizable User Interface (UI)
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UIs that are configurable to match the Windows XP shell, leveraging familiar Windows controls and taskbars. The shell and user interface can also be built through HTML or Visual C++. All controls are skinnable to allow the creation of a rich, customized TV experience.
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Windows Explorer Shell and Windows XP Shell
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A shell that is functionally equivalent to the shell on the Windows-based desktop platforms. Windows CE 5.0 offers an XP-like shell called Standard Shell.
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Support for Managed and Native Code
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Microsoft offers a rich set of languages for creating managed (.NET-enabled) or unmanaged (native) applications. This means that device manufacturers and network operators can use a preferred application framework to implement a Windows Embedded set-top box solution. For managed code, Microsoft Visual Studio® .NET should be used, and for native code development on Windows CE 5.0-based devices, you may use Microsoft eMbedded Visual C++ 4.0 .
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Full Microsoft .NET Framework Support
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The .NET Framework provides a hardware-independent program execution environment for secured, downloadable applications.
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Microsoft .NET Compact Framework Support
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The .NET Compact Framework provides a hardware-independent program execution environment for secured, downloadable applications targeting and optimized for resource-constrained computing devices.
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Full Win32® API Application Support
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A comprehensive class library and complete object-oriented application framework designed to build applications, components, and controls.
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Windows CE Win32 Variant APIs as Supported in the Standard Windows CE 5.0 SDK
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A subset and variant of the full Win32 API class libraries and object-oriented application framework designed to build applications, components, and controls.
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Multilingual Support
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Windows CE 5.0 and Windows XP Embedded come with multilingual support based on the Multilanguage User Interface (MUI). The MUI allows device designers, manufacturers, and network operators to change a set-top box-enabled device UI language or deploy the UI in multiple languages.
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Terminal Services, with Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) 5.1
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A service that allows a device to display and interact with the UI of a remote terminal server or personal computer across a LAN, Wide Area Network (WAN), or by means of a dial-up, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), or VPN connection.
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Telnet Server
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A sample server that allows remote administration through a standard Telnet client.
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HTTP Server
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An HTTP server enabling set-top boxes to serve Web pages or be remotely managed.
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Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) version 2
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A standard Internet protocol for monitoring and managing networks.
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Real-Time Communications (RTC) Layer: Text
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Supports Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), Reliable Messaging Protocol (SRMP), and Windows Messenger.
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Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) Support
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Based on SIP, VoIP support enables real-time 2-way voice communication over an IP-based network.
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Home Networking and Gateway Technologies
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A complete set of advanced home networking and gateway functionality including firewall, Network Address Translation (NAT), modem, and wireless support.
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Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)
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Service that connects multiple networked computing devices to the Internet through a single Internet connection, enabling a set-top box to act as a gateway between the Internet and a Home LAN (HLAN).
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Flash Plug-ins
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Plug-ins for the rendering of Macromedia Flash files.
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*Available through 3rd parties
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Adobe Acrobat Plug-ins
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Plug-ins for the rendering of Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files.
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Broad Windows XP Plug-in Compatibility
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Ability to convert any Windows XP-compatible plug-in to a Windows XP Embedded component.
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Java Support Via Third-Party Technology
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Support for the Java run-time environment.
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Windows CE-Compatible Device Drivers
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Support for device drivers compatible with Windows CE 5.0.
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Full Windows XP Device Driver Compatibility
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Support for device drivers compatible with Windows XP Embedded.
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Remote Network Driver Interface Specification (RNDIS)
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Enables support for network devices with Plug and Play Input/Output (I/O) buses, such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394, and InfiniBand technology. RNDIS extends the well-understood NDIS architecture and uses familiar driver interface semantics.
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Support for Latest Hardware Standards
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Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Universal Serial Bus (USB), and the high-speed bus known as IEEE 1394.
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Power Management
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Fully implemented Power Manager framework, including all APIs and features. Applications and drivers can suspend the system, control device power levels, and register for notifications of power related activities such as suspend, absence of user/system activity, and change in battery level. Drivers can intelligently self-manage power.
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ARM, MIPS, SHx Processor Support
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Ability to run the operating system on hardware from a variety of architectures.
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X86 Processor Support
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Ability to run the operating system on x86 architecture-compatible hardware.
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How Do I Choose the Right Operating System for a Windows Embedded Set-Top Box?
An IP set-top box incorporates functionality from the underlying Windows Embedded operating system on which it is based. Although each is an embedded operating system, Windows CE 5.0 and Windows XP Embedded offer different feature sets.
Table 2, following, provides a summary of key contrast points to help you decide which Windows Embedded operating system best suits your IP set-top box design.
Type of Set-Top Box
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Operating System Recommendation
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Description
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Mass-market deployments with Network Operators
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Windows CE 5.0
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Windows CE 5.0 offers the most flexible and full featured solution for the majority of set-top boxes that require a small footprint. It offers a choice of hardware platforms, the latest Windows Media technologies, Internet Explorer 6 browser, applications such as Instant Messenger, a VoIP Application Interface Layer, and additional gateway and VoIP functionality.
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Targeted or advanced features
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Windows XP Embedded
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Windows XP Embedded includes almost all of the same features in Windows CE 5.0 but also enables you to easily port existing desktop applications to a set-top box when time-to-market is a factor. Windows XP Embedded provides extensive support for the richest and latest multimedia technologies, including support for browsers that need broad access to Internet content and require the ability to download plug-ins and ActiveX Controls. Windows XP Embedded is also suitable for advanced, high-performance applications such as local or network gaming.
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Table 2: Set-top Box Types and Recommended Windows Embedded Operating System
Summary
IP set-top boxes require a robust and flexible operating system platform that can deliver comprehensive multimedia and advanced TV browsing experiences. IP set-top boxes must support a rich set of applications and services that easily and cost-effectively integrate into existing IP-based networks and deployment infrastructures. Windows CE 5.0 and Windows XP Embedded provide a scalable family of operating systems to meet the requirements of the most basic to the most advanced IP set-top box systems. Windows CE 5.0 is the recommended choice for many mass-market set-top boxes, because it incorporates the latest browsing, communication, and networking technologies such as Windows Media 9 Series, Windows Media Digital Rights Management, Internet Explorer 6, and Instant Messenger. It is also optimal for VoIP and gateway solutions. Windows XP Embedded is the recommended choice for feature-rich, advanced, and customized devices where the use of desktop Win32-based applications are a requirement and time-to-market is essential.
The Microsoft strategy for IP set-top boxes is designed to address these driving factors by:
Providing the most comprehensive multimedia experience, including Windows Media 9 and DRM technologies, and allowing full-motion and full frame-rate video over existing networks.
Supplying the richest browser experience based on Internet Explorer 6 with enhancements for TV-based navigation.
Providing rich, extensible applications targeted to footprint-optimized operating system platforms for both mass-market and advanced IP set-top boxes.
In addition to the core operating system, Microsoft partnerships provide a well-developed ecosystem that can help you deliver your end-to-end IP set-top box solution, including:
Advanced software solutions from value-added ISVs that deliver components such as VOD back-end integration, client and server side middleware support for electronic programming guides (EPGs), and digital video recording (DVR) engines.
Extensive support for silicon vendors including x86, MIPS, SH, and ARM architectures that give network operators a wide array of options to implement IP set-top box solutions, thereby decreasing time-to-market and bill of materials costs.
The Windows Embedded family of operating systems offers a comprehensive, flexible, and robust set of solutions for designing and delivering IP set-top boxes. Windows Embedded operating systems also offer rich operating systems components, advanced applications, and easy integration with existing network operator and enterprise network architectures.
For More Information
For the latest information on the Windows Embedded family of operating systems, visit the Windows Embedded Developer Center at http://msdn.microsoft.com/embedded.
For more specific information and news about Windows Embedded based IP set-top boxes, visit:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/embedded/getstart/devplat/stb/default.aspx.
For information about how to buy Windows Embedded operating systems, visit: http://msdn.microsoft.com/embedded/howtobuy/default.aspx.
The online documentation and context-sensitive Help that are included with Windows CE 5.0 and Windows XP Embedded provide comprehensive background information and instructions. You can also find the product documentation for Windows CE 5.0 and Windows XP Embedded on MSDN.
References
“Worldwide Digital Set-Top Box and PVR Forecast and Analysis” by Greg Ireland. International Data Corporation, December 2002.
In-Stat, “Telco TV Take Off”, May 2004, Michelle Abraham, Group: Converging Markets & Technologies, Report No. IN0401235MB
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