Intel Open Pluggable Specification (OPS and OPS+)

Assured Systems supply a wide range of Intel OPS slot-in computers and displays. This article provides a concise overview of the Intel OPS specification.

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Since the introduction of digital signage in 1992 the market has seen rapid growth. Incorporating digital signage into your business typically requires an LCD or LED display and a media player as a basic setup. As the requirement for digital signage has emerged into different markets for a wide range of applications a requirement for a standardisation of hardware was required to simplify new and expanding digital signage infrastructure. It was in 2010 that the Intel Open Pluggable Specification, commonly known as Intel OPS, was born.

What is the Intel Open Pluggable Specification?

The Intel Open Pluggable Specification (OPS) is the industry standard for connecting a new standard of media player into a display via a universal internal slot. No longer requiring cables, an open pluggable specification computer is simply inserted into a single slot on the back of any OPS compatible display to create an all in one digital signage solution. With advancements in technology, the Intel OPS+ standard enables a broader range of Intel processors to be integrated, including Intel Xeon processors, and Intel FPGAs. It can also support 8K resolution displays or the ability to drive three separate 4K resolution displays. All OPS PCs are housed in a 180mm x 119mm x 30mm enclosure.

No loose cables or external mounting

An open pluggable specification requires a single 80-pin connector on the back that carries all necessary communication and power between the OPS media player and display. Communication not only includes the video display and audio, but data from the accessible front I/O.  With a uniform housing, this 80-pin connector on the back of the OPC PC provides a simple integration into the side of the display. OPS+ media players also feature a secondary high-speed connector to future-proof Intel’s OPS solution and allow for the higher-resolution content. All I/O is housed on the front of the open pluggable specification computer for simplified access.

OPS media players & Displays configured with industrial-grade components

All OPS PCs carried by Assured Systems are designed and manufactured with industrial-grade components. This means all our digital signage solutions have a long-term supply with complete revision control to ensure high mean-time-between-failure (MTBF) rates. A wide range of our OPS display solutions are integrated with a high-brightness panel and are designed for 24/7 operation.

Remote management to the edge via Intel AMT

Intel’s AMT (Active Management Technology) enables IT managers to discover, repair, and help protect the digital signage network. With remote maintenance and wireless manageability, you save time and simplify the lifecycle transitions of your OPS media players with secure drive wiping. Intel AMT is part of the Intel vPro platform which spans across the Intel Core vPro and Intel Xeon processors.

TPM hardware-based security for complete peace of mind

An open pluggable specification PC integrated with a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) microchip provides hardware-based security which is an increasing demand in the market. If the TPM chip senses that a system’s integrity has been compromised by a virus or malware, it can start up in a quarantine mode to help fix the problem. This is of high-importance when sensitive data is involved for applications such as corporate messaging.