Freescale Collaborates with ARM and Oracle to Add New Vertical Segment Support for "One Box" IoT Gateway Platform

Companies also team up on ARM mbed project to streamline development of edge/sensor nodes for the Internet of Things

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--Oct. 30, 2013-- As demand grows for a common, open and secure Internet of Things (IoT) service delivery infrastructure from the cloud to the network’s edge, Freescale Semiconductor (NYSE: FSL), ARM® and Oracle are answering the call with a growing portfolio of segment solutions for next-generation IoT service providers and edge node developers.    

Working with ARM and Oracle, Freescale has established a secured service platform that will help standardize and consolidate the delivery and management of IoT services for a range of vertical markets. Freescale’s “one box” platform combines end-to-end software with converged hierarchical smart gateways to establish a common, open framework for secured IoT service delivery and management. The platform was unveiled and demonstrated last month at JavaOne San Francisco 2013, and featured support for home automation and smart energy applications.    

Today at ARM TechCon 2013, Freescale announces that the one box platform will additionally support the smart grid and telehealth IoT service markets. The one box telehealth service is suitable for both clinical and home-based deployments, and, among other benefits, is designed to help IoT service providers meet the certification requirements of the Continua® Health Alliance.    

“The IoT is all about enabling and accelerating innovative new services, and we are encouraging smaller players to thrive and innovate, from both the service provisioning and edge node perspectives,” said Geoff Lees, senior vice president and general manager of Freescale’s microcontrollers business. “Freescale, ARM and Oracle offer comprehensive, complementary technologies that work together seamlessly and serve as foundational building blocks for a secure IoT service delivery infrastructure.”    

A “box” (or smart service gateway) built on Freescale’s one box platform can consolidate boxes from multiple IoT service providers into a single, unified appliance. Based on Freescale’s Kinetis microcontrollers, i.MX applications processors or QorIQ communications processors, the one box platform runs Oracle’s Java software and incorporates ARM’s Sensinode software, which securely connects large numbers of low-power edge node devices using standards-based technologies such as 6LoWPAN, CoAP and OMA Lightweight M2M. These Freescale, ARM and Oracle technologies work together to provide a secure, end-to-end IoT gateway platform that speeds and simplifies the deployment of a vast array of innovative IoT services.    

“The one box platform is an impressive example of how the Internet of Things is being brought to life by ARM and its partners,” said John Cornish, executive vice president and general manager, System Design Division, ARM. “We are delighted to be collaborating with our partners Freescale and Oracle to help the IoT to become a reality. The one box platform gives developers the open standards they need to kick-start the IoT revolution and create the next exciting generation of energy efficient and intelligent technology.”    

“The Internet of Things is an exciting opportunity that will only be fully realized if we can create an open, cross-industry platform to help customers decrease time to market, manage costs and securely deliver new capabilities for embedded devices,” said Nandini Ramani, vice president of development, Java Platform, Oracle. "We are excited to be working with Freescale and ARM to address this challenge by delivering a standards-based, secure service platform, built on Java and mbed™, so we can enable the market to take full and rapid advantage of the new business opportunities presented by the Internet of Things."    

Supporting Java ME on ARM Cortex®-M MCUs for IoT edge node devices    

In addition to evolving IoT gateways, Freescale, ARM and Oracle are also working to streamline the development of innovative IoT edge node products under the ARM mbed project. The companies plan to evolve the native hardware abstraction layer (HAL) ARM mbed provides to allow Oracle Java ME Embedded software to run seamlessly on ARM-based Freescale Kinetis microcontrollers. Enabling the secure, proven and widely adopted Java framework to operate on Kinetis MCUs will establish a dramatic expansion of processing platform choices and end-product form factors.    

Demonstrations related to the Freescale, ARM and Oracle IoT collaboration, including the one box platform, are currently available at ARM TechCon 2013 in the Freescale exhibit, located in booth #500, and in the ARM exhibit, located in booth #300.    

About Freescale Semiconductor    

Freescale Semiconductor (NYSE:FSL) is a global leader in embedded processing solutions, providing industry leading products that are advancing the automotive, consumer, industrial and networking markets. From microprocessors and microcontrollers to sensors, analog integrated circuits and connectivity – our technologies are the foundation for the innovations that make our world greener, safer, healthier and more connected. Some of our key applications and end-markets include automotive safety, hybrid and all-electric vehicles, next generation wireless infrastructure, smart energy management, portable medical devices, consumer appliances and smart mobile devices. The company is based in Austin, Texas, and has design, research and development, manufacturing and sales operations around the world. www.freescale.com