Integration Services

Integration end-to-end

System Integration

Red Embedded staff have particular skills in system integration of complex projects. These skills have been gained working with companies such as NDS, Irdeto, Open TV and for projects with majors such as Directv, BT and BSkyB. Whilst we specialise in client device integration, we have experience of the complete platform and have worked end-to-end in several cases.

Today's embedded client devices are increasingly complex. Components that make up the software stack originate from diverse sources. It is not unusual to have modules contributed by many independent vendors such as providers of applications, middleware, conditional access, DRM, hardware drivers, virtual machine, protocol stacks, utility libraries not to mention open source components and operating system. In such a complex environment it is necessary to have integration support that is equal to the task. Red Embedded staff thrive in this type of environment. We bring two key aspects to your project. Firstly, we bring project control through the provision of efficient tools and processes to manage complex code bases and issues across multiple vendors, time zones and targets. Secondly, but most importantly, we also bring a level of technical understanding that spans the whole stack enabling us to work to resolve complex integration issues by effectively bridging the gap between vendors.

Having excellent skills in both hardware and software, Red Embedded brings additional breadth that is not normally expected from an integration vendor. We have several examples where our complementary skills have enabled our team to quickly identify and address issues at the hardware/software interface that have been missed by others.

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Issue Identification and Resolution

"If I knew what was wrong, I would fix it!" Red Embedded understands that successful integration is as much about the characterisation of issues as it is about the action needed to resolve them. Our experience is that the time to resolution is key and that this is dominated by the time it takes to identify the issue.

We tailor our approach to be appropriate to the project, most often preferring carefully staged integration including testing for unitary functionality, API conformance, robustness and endurance. Red Embedded can provide a range of services in this area including definition of a complete test strategy and plan, the design and configuration of automated test tools or by providing you with the staff, tools and infrastructure essential to your specific situation.

Triage & Partner Coordination

Red Embedded uses our extensive experience and technical know-how to ensure close cooperation between partners when different technology assets are being brought together. Our experience tells us that during integration there will be issues that become technical 'hot potatoes' with each partner having their own interpretation of an interface or functional definition. Individual partners may not have the objective overview necessary to diagnose and resolve issues. Such situations are common and lead to delay and escalation to the customer.

With Red Embedded's technical experts on your team you will be able to work as an 'honest broker' between project partners able to break deadlocks while protecting the intellectual property of those involved. Our strong technical skills allow us to extract the facts and adjudicate as needed to achieve rapid resolution of issues.

A project today will most often include a diverse project team from a number of different backgrounds and motivations. Effective communication is more important, and more difficult to achieve, than ever before. Here you will find Red Embedded's experience makes us stand out. We are able to provide our customers with powerful tools and processes that allow partners to effectively communicate and work together.

Our skills can also be brought to bear on issues that arise post launch or post warranty where the original project participants may no longer be available or may not be motivated to take action without clear proof that they are responsible.

Project Management

All Red Embedded project managers have extensive experience in working in large split site, multinational development teams. In these high pressure environments they have demonstrated their ability to achieve results within aggressive timescales and budget constraints. We are practiced practitioners of current project management techniques and have established tools and procedures that have been proven to provide effective project control and management information flow.

Our project managers have all been developers and team leads in their own technical disciplines. They have an innate sense of how teams work and what motivates them. With a strong technical background we are able to provide managers whose insight goes beyond the gantt chart by being able to draw on experience to capture the real-life complexity of a project. The relevant technical skills and background ensure that we minimise the technical gap between development teams and management. You'll find our practical and plain speaking approach reduces the chances of misunderstanding and unnecessary delays.

Project Audit

Red Embedded Consulting's Project Audit service provides an independent appraisal of a client's project status. Using our extensive project management experience, our technical experts work within an agreed budget to look at different areas of the project to ensure an audit report which is honest, complete and highlights the issues of management concern - both good and bad. With key issues identified for the current project, the learnings feed into creating successful future projects.

Our engagement will scale to meet your specific requirements - whether that's handling the whole audit process or taking on selected roles within the audit. We work in a flexible way either as part of your team or with project partners to ensure and unbiased and independent overview.