Service providers around the globe continue to look for ways to innovate and deliver solutions to meet the growing demands of their customers. To help address those needs, Intel this week launched its Intel media server reference design (MSRD). The MSRD is both a hardware and software design kit for OEMs and system integrators that allow them to quickly develop Intel-based set-top boxes and media servers.

Intel has pre-integrated components such as a media engine, broadcast stacks, virtualization, and motion control technology so that validation testing time is reduced and time-to-market is accelerated. The MSRD is based on the Intel Atom processor CE5300, a dual core Atom-based system-on-chip that supports Hyper-Threading, virtualization, a 3D/2D graphics engine, integrated power management, and a H.264 B-picture hardware encoder.

Intel is working with a number of companies to provide technologies to create the latest set-top boxes and media servers. The MSRD features Futarque’s DVB-T2/T/C broadcast and media sharing stacks, Videon Central’s aVia media engine, and includes Hillcrest Labs’ Freespace Motion Engine software to enable a motion remote control. Additionally, the hardware platform designed by Prodrive can quickly become production ready.

TV customers nowadays expect visually-based user interfaces, the ability to add new services and applications like gaming, multi-screen usages including the ability to watch pay TV on PCs and others. Intel MSRD is both a hardware and software design kit that allows OEMs and system integrators to quickly develop Intel-based set-top boxes and media servers.

The MSRD will be available in April 2013 from Intel and through our distribution partner Videon Central.

Tags: Intel, Atom, MSRD