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Cable Technology Feature Article

February 14, 2014

Entropic Unveils Open RDK System-on-a-Chip (SoC) Platform

By Nathesh, TMCnet Contributor


The new Open RDK System-on-a-Chip (SoC) platform from Entropic (News - Alert) supposedly makes use of the OpenEmbedded core technology and the Yocto Project development environment in order to enable operators to seamlessly implement RDK (Reference Design Kit), an integrated software bundle for those who need a software stack for set-top devices.

Entropic asserted that initiatives like the RDK are formulated to standardize on a particular Embedded Linux distribution to eliminate the proprietary nature of software implementations across different hardware platforms. Operators can also benefit from these initiatives by acquiring the capability to bring down software diversity which will lead to increased network performance and lesser cost and time required for developing and testing maintenance fixes and new feature upgrades.

Entropic’s Open RDK platform leverages the OpenEmbedded core technology for creating the guidelines for open source components together with the Yocto Project build environment. With the components being standardized, RDK implementations are fully-accessible across device types. Also operators would also get to use a common build-flow which avoids multiple integration steps between the SoC vendors.

Roger Gregory, vice president of marketing at Entropic commented, “This is the first time in the history of set-top box middleware solutions where standard open-source components and processes are used to minimize the software diversity for application developers. Our RDK-focused SoC solution is fully open, leading to full software stack portability across different hardware configurations from low-cost set-top boxes, hybrid set-top boxes and DVRs to IP-Client and gateway products.”

Entropic Open RDK platform can quicken the product deployment and time to market for new set-top boxes and also improve the consumer TV experience, giving new capabilities to enjoy TV programming, search and discover content, connect to cloud and web-based information, and manage their accounts.

Mark Gregotski, engineering director of the Linaro Digital Home Group (LHG) added, “Entropic’s platform takes advantage of the Yocto Project environment and significant Linaro optimizations to enable seamless support of open source components and software development across different hardware configurations. We look forward to opportunities for LHG to continue collaborating with Entropic and other companies to expand the RDK opportunity to operators, OEMs and the developer community.” 




Edited by Cassandra Tucker


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