Using HyperCell technology used by the Headplay Group of Companies to protect proprietary technology in set-top boxes for IPTV, Open Kernel Labs (OK Labs) today announced that the Headplay Group of Companies (Headplay) has selected the OK Labs OKL4 open source secure virtualization software.

 

Under the agreement, OK Labs will protect Headplay’s software intellectual property (IP) in IPTV (News - Alert) set-top boxes that will deliver HD content in Asia.

 

The OK Labs Web site quotes a study by KPMG International and the Alliance for Gray Market and Counterfeit Abatement, which states that one of every 10 technology products sold is counterfeit, leading to an estimated direct loss of more than $100 billion a year. This makes the security of data and software a major concern for embedded software developers, according to the company. Proprietary software IP remains accessible to any hacker with access to the device on which the code is stored if there are no proper security measures in place. This can lead to dangers such as code theft, reverse engineering and system cloning which, in turn, can lead to major revenue loss, according to the company.

 

The Secure HyperCell technology that is featured in OKL4 can be used to protect IP of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and technology providers from IP theft, which includes reverse engineering and piracy, according to the company. This implementation showcases OK Labs Secure HyperCell technology for consumer electronics applications traditionally viewed as high risk to IP, according to the company. With its agreement with OK Labs, Headplay can protect its proprietary FreefallTM compression technology and secure remote updates of the software over the Internet once the devices are deployed in the homes of millions of end users, according to the company.

 

To protect valuable codecs and other software, OKL4 with Secure HyperCell technology provides an isolated environment, according to the company. Developers can encapsulate critical components into individual cells, using OKL4 as a trusted platform, according to the company. It is now possible to protect valuable IP from unauthorized access as a Secure HyperCell environment protects contents in cells from the rest of the system and from unwanted communication with other cells.

 

“Already in millions of phones, OK Labs has a proven reputation for providing secure virtualization solutions for mobile device developers and the digital TV segment of the consumer electronics market is a natural extension for our Secure HyperCell technology,” said Steve Subar, president and chief executive officer, OK Labs. “The design win with Headplay is further evidence of our software product’s readiness for use in the high volume, leading-edge consumer electronics market, and expands our presence in new global markets.”