Device profile: PRISMIQ "networked entertainment gateway"

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Rick Lehrbaum (Updated Mar. 18, 2003)

PRISMIQ recently introduced the PRISMIQ MediaPlayer, a device which the company says represents the first instance of a new consumer device category -- the "networked entertainment gateway." Priced at just $250, the Linux-powered gadget delivers audio and video media files, obtained from either home PCs or the Internet, to TVs and stereos. It also provides TV-based web surfing, instant messaging, and access to various web services.

Basically, the PRISMIQ MediaPlayer is a compact (9 x 1.5 x 5.25 in.) set-top box which connects via standard patch cables to the user's TV and stereo systems, and communicates with the home network or PC by means of either wired Ethernet or wireless 802.11b (WiFi). Once installed, special software (the PRISMIQ MediaManager) running on the home PC transmits audio/video media files to the MediaPlayer which, in turn, delivers it to the TV and stereo systems.

From PRISMIQ's description of the operation of the device . . .

The MediaManager software scans your hard drive for all your media files and loads them in a menu for users to select, create playlists, and the like. Then, back at the TV, the list of songs, photos, or movies on the hard drive will be viewable. When you select one, it streams over the home network to the set-top box, where it is decoded and then played on the TV or through the entertainment center.

What's inside the box?

The PRISMIQ MediaPlayer contains an embedded computer based on an NEC "EMMA-2" (uPD61130) 32-bit MIPS microprocessor with integrated MPEG decoder, along with 16 MB Flash and 64 MB SDRAM memory. The embedded computer runs an embedded version of Debian GNU/Linux, which serves as the device's embedded operating system.

Supported media standards currently include MPEG2 and MPEG1 video, MP3 audio, and JPEG, GIF, PNG graphics. The company says it plans to add support for other codecs -- including Windows Media files, DivX, and more -- via a free software upgrade in the near future.

Support for additional wireless standards beyond 802.11b -- including 802.11a and 802.11g -- will also be added to the device "in the near future" via software upgrades. Also, there are plans to add support for Internet radio stations that employ the "shoutcast" protocol.

Rear-panel interfaces (see photo below) include . . .

Cardbus/PCMCIA slot for wireless cards
Ethernet 10/100 on RJ45 jack
RCA Audio (L/R Stereo)
Composite video
S-video
Digital audio (8-bit stereo RCE out and S/PDIF out)

Why Linux?

"We chose Linux for the PRISMIQ MediaPlayer because it aptly supports many of the applications our customers require, like streaming media, web browsing, and instant messaging," said Leon Hounshell, PRISMIQ's vice president of engineering. "And, the price was right."

Other factors were the availability of open source code and an active community of developers, added Hounshell. "But it's the quality and features of Linux that made it the best choice for our project."

PRISMIQ considered the option of hiring an outside service to do the Linux port to their hardware, but eventually decided that doing it themselves would be the best investment. "One of our engineers, Brad LaRonde, did the Linux port for the PRISMIQ MediaPlayer," recalled Hounshell. "He had a lot of experience porting Linux to hardware like ours."

"A big challenge for our project was getting a MIPS toolchain that could do the job well," Hounshell continued. "C++ support was an important factor as much of our user interface code is written in C++. The MIPS GNU toolchain is still undergoing major improvements, and it took us a few iterations and upgrades before we had something that satisfactorily built all our applications. We've also written specialized drivers to support the unique hardware features of our platform."

"The solution was partly old-fashioned ingenuity," explained Hounshell. "For example, we carefully assigned individual functions to the keys on the remote control and didn't 'overload' them in confusing ways, and stuck with those key meanings to create the most consistent user interface possible. Then we layered some of the latest software technologies on top, blending streaming media, on-screen menus, web browsing, and instant messaging all 'seamlessly' together using Trolltech's Qt/Embedded product. Those guys over at Trolltech have done a great job with Qt/Embedded -- and with Qt in general -- and it has proven to be an ideal graphical user interface platform."

What does Hounshell predict for the future of embedded Linux?

"It seems obvious that Linux will continue to gain ground in the embedded market, especially as devices become more connected and customers demand more and more advance features, like streaming media. This is a space where Linux can really deliver."

Availability

PRISMIQ is currently selling the MediaPlayer for around $250 on the company's website and at Amazon.com. That price includes an IR remote control and the MediaManager software which is used to control the device and transfer media files from Windows-based PCs.

PRISMIQ has not committed to providing a Linux version of its MediaManager software at this time, but appears open to the possibility. The company says it will launch a developer group for the MediaPlayer during the first half of 2003.

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