i3 micro technology (Stockholm, Sweden) introduced the Mood Box at the CeBIT conference (Hannover, Germany) in March 2002. The device is a stylish 'next-generation set-top box' that is intended to fit the decor of homes, upscale hotels, and commercial settings — delivering IP-based live TV, video-on-demand, pay-per-view, music-on-demand, Internet browsing, email, and other interactive services and… 'infotainment' applications to users' TV sets.

Based on a Linux-based operating system and open multimedia standards, the Mood Box can be used as part of an i3-provided total 'Mood solution' which includes the set-top box along with streaming servers (for IP TV and video-on-demand) plus systems management servers. Alternatively, the device is available as a standalone component for use with various 3rd-party products and services.

Inside the Mood Box

The Mood Box is designed for noiseless (fanless) operation, and contains an embedded computer based on a National Semiconductor SC1200 (x86 compatible) system-on-chip processor equipped with 64MB of system memory and 2MB of built-in Flash ROM (from which the system boots).

Here is a brief summary of the Mood Box's technical specifications . . .

• CPU: 266 MHz National Semiconductor SC1200 Geode (x86-based) system-on-chip processor
  
• Memory: 64MB RAM (expandable to 256MB); 2MB Flash ROM (expandable via CompactFlash)
  
• Streaming media standards: MPEG-1 & MPEG-2, [email protected], PAL or NTSC; IETF RTSP for VoD services
  
• Input/output ports: C-Video, S-Video, RGB, SVGA, SCART (with composite and RGB), or RF display interfaces; analog and digital (S/P-DIF) audio; dual USB; Smartport; infrared; dual 100Base-T Ethernet.
  
• Operating system: Embedded Linux (based on kernel 2.4.x)
  
• Web browser capabilities: HTML 4.01, HTTP 1.1, XHTML; XML 1.0, CSS 1 & CSS 2; JavaScript 1.3; TLS 1.0, SSL 2 & SSL 3; Unicode; GIF, JPEG, PNG; Popular plug-ins
  
• Security: Macrovision copy protection available; content encryption with PKI based key distribution
  
• Configuration: DHCP, TFTP
  
• Management: SNMP, HTTP
  
• Dimensions: 11.25 x 5.4 x 1.33 in.

According to Chris Chalkitis, i3 General Manager for Streaming Products, the Mood Box's embedded operating system is based on a version of the Linux kernel 2.4.x which was derived by i3 micro from downloaded kernel.org sources.

Display functions are provided by Opera's embedded Linux (version 6.0) browser, which uses Qt/Embedded to write directly to the Linux framebuffer.

“All display (user interface) is presented through a browser window — hence all graphics and text are HTML based,” said Chalkitis.

According to Chalkitis, some of the system's other interesting Linux software components are a micro-webserver (which hosts HTML code for use by a variety of onboard applications and daemons), remote (network) updating mechanisms, and MPEG demux/player software (with real-time AES decrypt).

One of the toughest challenges during development of the Mood Box was “the difficulty of working with highly integrated and complex chips, which at an early state lacked sufficient documentation and driver support,” recalled Chalkitis.

Why Linux?

“We chose Linux to control our own destiny, and to be in control of the source,” Chalkitis said. “Also, the vast amount of tool-sets available has shortened the development cycle.”

“We will be posting any significant changes done to any GPL source code as soon as they are ready to be released,” he added. “Giving back to the community is very important; we will also release parts of our own source under GPL or similar licenses.”

How does i3 micro feel about the future of Linux in embedded systems and devices? “Linux will be a winner in the embedded market, and other commercial operating system vendors will struggle and only be successful in niche markets,” predicted Chalkitis.

Availability

i3 partners with systems integrators, OEMs, and VARs to deliver IP TV, IP video, and IP telephony systems to hospitality, telecom, cable, and broadband operators. The products are sold directly by i3 as well as through its partners and resellers.

The Mood Box's internal embedded computer is also available on a board-level basis to OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) who wish to build unique or customized set-top box products.

For further information visit i3 micro technology's website.

 
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