Latest x86 Micros Great For Digital Signage

June 4, 2012
Intel's latest Core processors provide VPro support that includes remote management making it ideal for embedded applications.

Intel's 3rd generation VPro technology delivers a range of features above those found in Intel's regular Core processors including support for Intel's Active Management Technology (AMT) (see Innovative Designs Use Old Technology In New Stuff). Intel is targeting enterprise Ultrabooks where security and remote management are important.

AMT support allows remote configuration and tracking on a system without the need for support within applications or operating systems running on the chip. This remote capability allows a system to be turned on or off via the network without user intervention. AMT also provides remote display support via RealVNC when combined with Intel's matching platform controller hub (PCH).

Other VPro features include Intel's Identity Protection Technology that supports public key infrastructures. It allows browsers and applications indicate that the system is a trusted PC via a stored private key. The processors has new AES instructions and the chip includes Intel OS Guard and Intel Secure Key support.

Kontron's latest system supports Intel's Open Pluggable Specification (OPS) v1.0 that is designed to provide a modular solution to large screen, digital signage applications (Digital Signage Gets Smarter). The KOPS800 (Fig. 1) also supports Intel VPro processors.

Figure 1. Kontron´s KOPS800 supports Intel VPro processors with Active Management Technology (AMT) support.

Kontron's KOPS800 uses Intel's Core i7 processor and QM67 PCH that provides remote KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) AMT support and Intel VPro chips. The KOPS800 supports Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and two USB 3.0 ports There is an HDMI connector and DisplayPort support. It is available with up to 8 Gbytes of dual channel DDR3-1600 non-ECC system memory. It also has an 80GB mSATA integrated flash disk drive.

Kontron´s KOPS800 can handles Microsoft's 64-bit Windows Embedded System 7 plus Intel's Audience Impression Metric (Intel AIM Suite) technology based on Intel's Anonymous Viewer Analytics (AVA) software.

Intel's VPro processors work well for digital signage applications like Kontron's KOPS800 in addition to conventional laptop and PC applications. They also work well for a range of embedded applications and desktop and mobile platforms as well.

About the Author

William G. Wong | Senior Content Director - Electronic Design and Microwaves & RF

I am Editor of Electronic Design focusing on embedded, software, and systems. As Senior Content Director, I also manage Microwaves & RF and I work with a great team of editors to provide engineers, programmers, developers and technical managers with interesting and useful articles and videos on a regular basis. Check out our free newsletters to see the latest content.

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I earned a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Masters in Computer Science from Rutgers University. I still do a bit of programming using everything from C and C++ to Rust and Ada/SPARK. I do a bit of PHP programming for Drupal websites. I have posted a few Drupal modules.  

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