SOFT POWERS
Open-source software is available for most operating systems and entry-level networking functions, Beachler said. “Linux, TCP-IP stacks and Web server software are now almost entirely open.”
Even the more complex video functions, such as encoding and analytics, have open-source options now, Beachler said. “However, these require significant modifications and optimizations before being deployed in the real world. Since the scope of this work can be quite large, most companies rely on the reference design supplier for the video and audio CODECs, and dedicated video analytics companies to provide the optimized software.”
Using Linux as the operating system has the benefit of providing a consistent and familiar development environment, Clocher said. “Developers are generally familiar with Linux and feel comfortable with it. Porting code across projects takes minimal effort.”
With operating systems and networking, there is a critical mass of people continuously evolving and improving the software with their contributions, Beachler said. “Open-source software for specific video surveillance functions is not viable at this time.”
READY, SET, GO
Moving toward IP-based systems, there are several features that have become standard in reference designs. “Many companies are looking to reference design providers to provide more software solutions,” Beachler said. “Customers are now looking for reference designs that support ONVIF and PSIA standards. While most established companies have already created this networking software, some emerging suppliers might not have it yet.”
The increasing demand for HD also demands specific functionality in reference designs. “Support for HD image sensors for both network cameras and HDcctv cameras is a definite necessity. Also, the ability to accept HDcctv inputs by PCIe add-in cards and stand-alone DVRs is currently in demand,” Beachler said. “Additionally, decoding multimegapixel cameras is difficult for standard x86-based processors. Programmable devices that can decode any network camera stream, regardless of the encoding standard (be it H.264, MPEG-4 or M-JPEG), are in high demand as well.”
While the functions of various end products can often be similar, reliability is a key criterion in selecting a reference design, Ma said. “It doesn't matter if the product is packed with every imaginable function when it crashes every two hours.”
With the advent of complete reference designs, many companies are able to reduce their R&D spending because 90 percent of the work has already been completed, Beachler said. “It also enables them to get competitive bids from multiple contract manufacturers, reducing their costs and obviating the need to have in-house PCB assembly.”
Production-ready reference designs are easing a lot of pains, and allow manufacturers to shift scarce resources to other more appropriate areas, such as software engineering and business development.