Kontron and Surf Communication Solutions collaborate on “NEP-Ready” integrated AdvancedTCA media server platform

Kontron, a leading global provider of standard-based and custom embedded and communications solutions, and Surf Communication Solutions, a leading developer of high-capacity multimedia processing DSP chips and boards for the telecommunication infrastructure field, today announced the completion of a fully validated AdvancedTCA-AdvancedMC fixed-mobile media server platform. Together, Kontron and Surf will be able to offer Network Equipment Providers (NEPs) a compelling commercial-off-the-shelf High Availability (HA) platform ideal for IP-based media processing applications that support today’s content delivery subscriber services including IPTV, VoD and Mobile TV.

At the core of the Kontron-Surf collaboration is the successful joint interoperability testing of Surf’s SurfRider/AMC™ AMC DSP module – designed with the TMS320C64x series of Texas Instruments DSPs, including up to 8 DSPs per board such as the TMS320C6412, TMS320TCI6482, and the latest multi-core DSP TMS320TCI6486 – with the Kontron AT840x family of AdvancedTCA Carrier blades. This has enabled Kontron to pre-integrate a new media server platform based on its existing Kontron OM9060 AdvancedTCA Platform, populating it with two redundantly configured AdvancedTCA carrier boards with up to six SurfRider/AMC DSP modules and two Kontron processor AdvancedMC modules used as session controllers.

“Surf recognizes the need for continual pre-interoperability testing to simplify the design process for NEPs,” said Ofer Talmor, Director of Product Management at Surf Communication Solutions. ”Working with Kontron to pre-validate a jointly integrated media server platform solution demonstrates a much higher value proposition for our joint clients to enjoy faster time to market cycles to keep up with demand from their service provider clients.”

“TI is a forerunner in terms of DSP technology, and being able to integrate up to 8 DSPs on a single SurfRider/AMC module allows for a flexible system design for AdvancedTCA and MicroTCA,” said Sven Freudenfeld, Kontron business development, telecom. “The usage of multiple DSP AdvancedMCs on an AdvancedTCA AdvancedMC carrier board provides high channel density for multimedia platforms, but does pose a challenge in regards to thermal and data transport interoperability. Both Kontron and Surf are working together to eliminate the burden of any interoperability challenge in terms of thermal dissipation, manageability and data transport, thus ensuring seamless integration.”
Media servers are typically deployed in Central Office/Edge networks to process and play out any media over IP, such as voice (in VoIP) or video (in Mobile TV). In the context of IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystems) or NGN (Next Generation Network), media servers perform content and streaming adaptation in real time for a large number of concurrent users.

More about the Kontron OM9060 Media Server Platform
This 5U, 6-Slot AdvancedTCA Media Platform is redundantly configured with 2x AdvancedTCA Hubs each with one processor AdvancedMC module as main controllers, and 2x AdvancedTCA processor blades (application engines) with SATA HDD. Added to this are the two AdvancedTCA carrier blades, each one with up to three SurfRider/AMC DSP modules and one Processor AdvancedMC as controllers. Additional AdvancedMC modules may be added, such as more DSPs and TDM interfaces, or 10 GbE uplinks on the AdvancedTCA hub, depending on the amount of traffic and the types of interfaces needed.

For more information, please visit http://www.kontron.com/atca.

More about the SurfRider/AMC DSP module
The SurfRider/AMC is a fully-integrated RoHS-compliant AMC DSP resource board providing flexible yet heavy-duty multimedia processing capabilities. Featuring Surf's revolutionary patent-pending modular design and Open Framework approach, which allows seamless integration of user-defined and proprietary algorithms, the SurfRider/AMC meets IMS requirements and is the ideal choice for the development of a wide range of carrier-grade telecom applications. It is field-proven, having already been implemented by a number of Tier-1 TEMs.

For more information, please visit http://www.surf-com.com/media-processing-products/amc-board.html.