2014年5月26日 星期一

Explore the Fanless Embedded System AES-HM76Z1FL in Real-Time Business Scenarios at Computex Taipei 2014!


As Acrosser Technology announces its participation in Computex Taipei 2014, we will introduce our latest embedded product, which will be shown in live demo: AES-HM76Z1FL. Featuring an Intel® Core™ i series CPU, a fanless thermal design and a super-thin frame, this model is a suitablebusiness solution for various system integrators. Let’s take a look at this device: 2 IP cameras and 2 monitor displays are attached to the AES-HM76Z1FL to demonstrate its outstanding performance. They not only highlight AES-HM76Z1FL’s applicability for surveillance technology, but also showcase its computing performance for audio entertainment. Acrosser has constructed live demos based on two different scenarios in which AES-HM76Z1FL is used as a business solution.

Scenario 1 takes place in the banking industry. Traditionally, a banking dispute is settled within 3 days. (No less than 72 hours). Therefore, for banking companies, a short file-storage time will not harm their business. However, the recorded file must be in a high-definition format, so that every detail of what occurred at the counter can be clearly seen. At the same time, a bank would also embrace the idea of having a screen displaying its corporate advertisement, not only for promoting its latest house loan plans, but also for garnering more corporate awareness. By assembling AES-HM76Z1FL under this framework, the bank owner can easily achieve his business goal without extra staffing or training.

Scenario 2 takes place in a fast food restaurant that runs 24/7. From breakfast to dinner, different menus and promotional ads are regularly replaced on a daily basis. In addition, the restaurant manager also needs to ensure that the customers are dinning in a safe environment. Through the adoption of AES-HM76Z1FL, the camera can reconstruct any moment in the restaurant, and also provides valuable information on consumer behaviors and preferences. Through thorough analysis of these video data, the manager can even begin to make his own business improvements without needing a consultant.

In conclusion, similar needs can be found in other commercial areas, such as hotel management, home/community security watch, etc. For example, a local governmental office may need a device that can monitor its work place, while also displaying its latest public announcement on population policy. The number of cameras can vary from 2 to 16 based on application. We cordially welcome you to join us for this year’s annual ICT trade fair! Visit Acrosser and its live demos of AES-HM76Z1FL at TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall, booth K0216.

2014年5月19日 星期一

Double Up Your Security Level With The Acrosser AMB-A55EG1 Gaming Board!


The gaming business has never been easy. Most game developers not only need time to find suitable hardware, but also to work on software programming. By time they have finished both, the best time-to-market has already vanished. Acrosser’s AMB-A55EG1 All-in-One gaming board can assist you in building up more security measurements, while also remaining highly flexible for your gaming business.

Security mechanisms
Through a design integrating iButton®, PIC and FPGA, the A55EG1 ensures that your business is safer than ever. The security function allows you to define the security key with your gaming machine, preventing anyone from breaking into the gaming system and changing stored information without authorization. As for AMB-A55EG1’s exterior look, Acrosser has also prepared one intrusion detection log on the top, and one on the bottom of the board, in case you need it for security purposes in a cabinet design.

Battery back-up SRAM and protected input/output
Unlike most other Mini-ITX boards, this board is equipped with Battery back-up SRAM, allowing you to save gaming data when playing the game. Alternately, you can also save the log into the SRAM when the cabinet is opened to secure authorized entry. Currently, Acrosser’s all-in-one AMB-A55EG1 also embodies 2 ccTalk protocols, as well as 17 golden fingers for protected input and 16 for output, all of which are the main focus of the current gaming industry.

Acrosser supplies stable gaming boards to our clients. With our steady commitment to quality, casino manufacturers and arcade game manufacturers can concentrate on building the best game and win the market!

Product Information:
http://www.acrosser.com/Products/Gaming-Platform/All-in-One-Gaming-Board/AMB-A55EG1/AMD-Embedded-G-Series-AMB-A55EG1.html

Contact us:
http://www.acrosser.com/inquiry.html

2014年5月12日 星期一

IVI system sandboxing: The next frontier for in-vehicle upgrades












With the rapid advancement of mobile, cloud, and embedded technologies, it may surprise most that In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) systems are typically developed four to five years before the in-vehicles are release to the market. In fact, most 2014 models are running IVI systems from 2009. By most modern industry standards, a five-year development lifecycle is unacceptable. So how is it that one of our most valued commodities - the automobile - is subjected to such a technological lag?

Primarily, the bloated IVI development lifecycle can be linked to two factors: driver safety and vehicle longevity. Although most people associate IVI systems with just navigation and entertainment, these systems also interact with many critical in-vehicle safety components such as driver assistance, engine control, and vehicle sensors. This means that all IVI systems must go through significant testing, evaluation, security, and certification processes. In addition, in-vehicle manufacturers need to ensure that an IVI system will remain operational for the duration of a vehicle’s 10-15 year lifespan.

Unfortunately, even the sleekest of in-vehicle on the market today are equipped with IVI systems that contain old software and unattractive user interfaces. Furthermore, consumers do not currently have the option to upgrade their IVI systems through new software rollouts or third-party applications. And while some people do trade in their vehicles every two-to-three years, for most of us purchasing a car is a long-term investment. According to automobile information analysis firm R.L. Polk & Co., the average age of automobiles in the U.S. is rising. Assuming this trend continues, many consumers will be stuck with an outdated IVI system for the next nine-to-ten years.

Customizing the car

What if IVI systems could be customized and continuously upgraded like infotainment or tablets? What if drivers could listen to music through their Pandora account, share their location via Facebook, or take a call on Skype? What if online marketplaces like iTunes and Google Play started offering IVI-specific apps? With the rising demand for consumer device customization, it’s just a matter of time before these rhetorical scenarios become the new standard.

The Android platform is especially ripe for IVI customization efforts, as it is an open source wonderland for developers. Whereas iOS remains a proprietary Apple technology, Google has opened Android up to a wide variety of uses, which is why it is currently dominating in the mobile space.

However, Android does have some major drawbacks that must be addressed before it can be utilized for infotainment applications. For example, from an automotive perspective, Android has a slow boot time and does not meet the industry’s strict security and stability standards. The average boot time on an Android-based device is 40 seconds. While this is an acceptable length of time for a mobile device that rarely gets shut off, it becomes a bigger problem in a vehicle. Since most people immediately begin driving after turning on the car, a long IVI system boot time would result in drivers pulling up a map or a play list while the vehicle is in motion – further adding to distractions while driving.

Furthermore, drivers cannot simply restart their vehicles if the IVI system crashes. An unstable Operating System (OS) is inconvenient in a mobile device, but it’s downright dangerous in a vehicle. And if a driver downloads a third-party IVI app whose settings override those of the vehicle’s operational components, it could seriously compromise the vehicle’s security and functionality, from altering diagnostics and sensor parameters to disabling emergency services.

While slow boot times and operating speeds can generally be resolved by modifying the Android OS distribution for an “automotive-grade” platform, the real challenge lies in balancing the innovation of Android with the stringent safety and reliability requirements of the automotive industry. How can a infotainment system be flexible and modular for consumer customization while at the same time ensuring uncompromised security and reliability?

Hypervisor sandboxing splits safety-critical from software-upgradeable

The unfortunate truth is that there is no way to combine these two conflicting demands – nor should we try. Instead of managing one complex and potentially flawed OS, the goal should be to run two completely functional and sandboxed systems. By leveraging an open source, “bare metal” Xen hypervisor, developers could simultaneously run two different OSs on a single System-on-Chip (SoC) to provide:

Highly reliable automotive-grade Linux or Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOSs) like Autosar and QNX for mission-critical vehicle infotainment, Highly customizable Android for infotainment software .

A hybrid architecture that is based on a Type-1 hypervisor would allow developers to create an Android-based IVI system without compromising the functionality, security, or reliability of the vehicle’s operational software. Critical components such as vehicle sensors, diagnostics, and emergency services would never be impacted by third-party apps, as they would be completely enclosed within their own respective OSs (Figure 1). Sandboxed Linux and Android operating systems give developers the freedom to create truly customizable infotainment software without negatively impacting a vehicle's security or reliability.

Although still a relatively untapped field, it's only a matter of time before infotainment systems become just as customizable as any other mobile device. While Android still has some issues around reliability, security, and speed to address before it can become truly “automotive grade,” it is an ideal OS for IVI customization. By modifying Android to accelerate operating and boot time speeds, and by leveraging a hybrid architecture to separate a vehicle’s mission-critical and infotainment components, developers can begin shaping a new and industry-changing market for automotive software.

refer to:
http://embedded-computing.com/articles/ivi-sandboxing-next-frontier-in-vehicle-upgrades/

2014年5月5日 星期一

Meet Acrosser at Computex Taipei 2014!


ACROSSER Technology, a world-leading embedded solution provider and manufacturer, announces its participation in Computex Taipei 2014, the largest ICT exhibition in Asia. Visit Acrosser at TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall, booth K0216. Look for the second booth from the entrance of the Embedded Products Area – our professional sales team is ready to present our outstanding products to you.

For 2014 Computex, Acrosser has upgraded our booth with even more live product demos than ever before. At least one model from each product line will be displayed vividly to showcase its excellent computing performance. All devices are thoroughly tested, and we invite you to share your comments and ideas with us!

Acrosser’s latest embedded mini PC, AES-HM76Z1FL, will be the focus of our booth during the event. Its fanless design, Intel® Core™ i series CPU, and ultra thin outlook have made the AES-HM76Z1FL a popular product during several European trade shows.

As for board-level products, Acrosser has reserved the front area of the booth for its embedded SBCand Mini-ITX products. These innovative single-board computers have several common features: cost-effectiveness, stability and amazing performance. Please stop by the booth and discover firsthand its superb computing power! Acrosser has also designated areas for its gaming platform,networking appliances and In-Vehicle PC separately, to showcase each of their unique applications.

In sum, Acrosser has prepared a wide range of IPC products for Computex 2014, and we cordially welcome you to join us for this annual ICT trade fair.

Acrosser Technology Co., Ltd.
For more information, please visit to Acrosser Technology website:www.acrosser.com