Software

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Today's Feature

- New - Flaming FUD
Electronic News editor William Wong offers his opinion on the fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) tactics increasingly employed as legitimate marketing strategies. Case in point: a recent round between Microsoft XP Embedded and embedded Linux. (Electronic Design)
- New - Critics Say Embedded Linux Stalling in Standards Race
Lineo is making its voice heard against the Embedded Linux Consortium, saying that the organization has done little to promote the development of a common platform specification for embedded Linux over the last year and a half since it began to champion that goal. The development of an Intellectual Property Agreement, a precursor to specification development, has been held up at length, mainly because ELC board members have disagreed over issues of openness. (EE Times)

Embedded Systems -- Software Subsections

- Embedded Systems (Top Page) -

Products

- New - ASIC Tools and Views
In Chip Center's ASIC News department, CoWare's enhanced N2C design system is named Product of the Week, noted for its Interface Synthesis feature which the company hails as the enabling technology for platform-based design. Editor's Choice goes to Cadence Design for its two new products, SoC Encounter and First Encounter Ultra--both part of the company's SuperChip initiative--and to VSIA for its launch of a new software reuse initiative. (ChipCenter: ASIC)
3G Communications Test Manager Software Side-Steps Programming
Agilent earns Product of the Week for its introduction of Wireless Test Manager, a software family that automates the testing of wireless devices. Chip Center's Alex Mendelsohn looks into the type of system you'll need to host this compelling solution, and exactly what you can accomplish with it. (ChipCenter: Test & Measurement)
Competition in SoPC Support
Altera will provide its SoPC designers with a complete embedded software development solution that includes the Mentor Graphics XRAY Debugger and GNUPro compiler suite. The solution will be included in the Excalibur Development Kit, which consists of an Excalibur EPXA10 development board, development software, product documentation and reference designs. In a new move for Cadence Design, the company will tailor its ASIC tools to support Xilinx's new SoPC devices and high-end FPGAs. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Software on the Show Floor
At the Embedded Systems Conference Metrowerks announced its release of a comprehensive embedded networking application development system, called the CodeWarrior Development System, Embedded Network Edition, which arms engineers with hardware and software tools from Metrowerks, Motorola, Lineo, and Embedded Planet. Engineers from Rational Software and QNX Software offered a tool-to-tool integration demonstration made possible by the Eclipse-based QNX IDE, for which QNX also kicked off its beta program. Red Hat will work with SANYO to complete a GNUPro port to SANYO's Xstormy16 processor. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
First Silicon Solutions Touts Seamless Integration of MIPS Tools
At DesignCon, FS2 showcased what it hails as the first real-time trace enabled tool chain for the MIPS32 4KE and 4KSc cores. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Motorola Taps Applied Microsystems for Test and Debug Support
An update to the PowerTAP emulator and toolset from Applied Microsystems serves Motorola's MPC7455, the most recent 1-GHz addition to the PowerPC family. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Small-Footprint Bluetooth Software Targets Cell Phones, PDAs
Cambridge Silicon Radio (CSR) has introduced a BlueCore Host Software (BCHS) package that has been designed to allow developers to embed Bluetooth capabilities into mobile phones and PDAs that do not run on Windows-based operating systems. To reduce the requirements for host processing power and memory, the BCHS software runs the Bluetooth stack (L2CAP, RFCOMM and SDP) on the BlueCore2 hardware, while the Bluetooth profiles run on the host system. (Electronic Business)
Xilinx ChipScope Pro for Complex Logic Analysis
Xilinx touts its ChipScope Pro tools as the industry's most complete set of on-chip debug and verification tools for SoC design. Built for the company's Virtex-II series platform FPGAs, the tool enables complex logic analysis at full systems speeds, with flexible support for the analysis of any signal within the chip and a new, advanced feature that supports integrated bus analysis of complex system bus transactions. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Atmel's ICE Heats up 8-bit Design
A new in-circuit emulator is now available for the megaAVR and tinyAVR families of 8-bit microcontrollers. Atmel says its ICE 50 emulates all analog and digital peripherals and debugs all instructions and features in real time. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Macromedia Flash MX Targets PDA, Mobile Software Developers
Macromedia has rolled out a new Flash MX software platform that has been designed to enhance the authoring and deployment capabilities of its Flash Player for streaming multimedia to Internet-enabled devices. In addition, Macromedia and Intel report that they have already optimized Macromedia's Flash Player for the Intel Personal Internet Client Architecture, which means that manufacturers deploying Intel's new low-power PXA250 and Intel PXA210 applications processors will be able to fully integrate the offerings of Macromedia Flash developers authoring Internet content and applications for mobile products based on the new chips. (Electronic Business)
Sequence Models IP for SoC Power Design Capability Within NanoCool Flow
Sequence Design recently launched NanoCool, its initiative for low-power/low-voltage design whose purpose is to address the unique needs of SoC design at 100 nanometers and below. Now, IP power modeling capabilities, including automated model generation, have been added to the NanoCool flow. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
A Financial First for iDEN Networks
MidCast V1 makes its way to mobile phones through the joint efforts of Motorola and HillCast Technologies. This financial application streams continuous, real-time financial market information to users of Java-enabled phones, including several Motorola models. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
DATE Debuts
Unveiled at the DATE Conference, Mentor Graphics' Precision Synthesis platform springboards off of the company's existing Exemplar technology and reflects its collaboration with several PLD leaders in the industry to offer a soup-to-nuts solution for FPGA design. Synplicity and Synopsys square off against Mentor in the SoPC arena, a story covered in more detail by EE Design. A nice wrap on the latest in verification and co-verification from the likes of TransEDA, Verisity, Axis, ARM, and Co-Design Automation comes from EE Design. Offis Systems and Consulting debuts an updated version of its Orinoco power analysis tool, while Axys showed the next generation of its MaxSim Developer Suite and CoWare came through with an N2C design system featuring second-generation Interface Synthesis capabilities. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
IP-Based Software-Defined Radios On Parade
Harris Corporation has delivered its Software-defined Falcon II military tactical radios to the New Zealand Ministry of Defence. According to the company, the new Internet Protocol-based radios will allow commanders to transmit tactical messages and multimedia applications across the battlefield as easily as sending e-mail messages over the Internet. The radios come equipped with an internal TCP/IP stack that provides a transparent IP interface that will enable the radios to operate with PCs running commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software applications and to seamlessly connect to any IP-based network in the world. (e-inSITE)
VStation Emulator Adds Support For Verisity's eCelerator
IKOS Systems has created a transaction-based integration to Verisity's eCelerator, a testbench acceleration tool that contains new synthesis technology that enables Specman Elite to be combined with the high performance of hardware-assisted verification. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
No Compromise With SmartSpice XL
Silvaco soups up its Smart Spice simulator in a 64-bit revision that its says is capable of simulating circuits of multimillion elements with true analog SPICE accuracy. (ChipCenter: WebScan)

News

- New - Hughes Network Systems Licenses Axis' Xcite
Hughes Network Systems has purchased Axis' Xcite verification system, with which it expects to be able to improve overall development schedules for its next-generation wireless chips. (e-inSITE)
- New - DSP Vendors' Focus Shifting to Software
In the opinion of Texas Instruments' Greg Degali, OEMs are increasingly looking to DSP suppliers for silicon support, which has birthed an ever-expanding portfolio of code-compatible products and complimentary system-level devices. This trend has caused DSP vendors to wander from their hardware origins into software territory, where both the host or IDE side, and the target or application content side must be considered as vital pieces of the software puzzle. (Electronic Buyers' News)
- New - EDN Announces Electronics Industry Innovation/Innovator of the Year Award Winners
EDN has recognized its most recent round of award-winning innovators and innovations, which included Rabbit Semiconductor in Computers, Boards, and Buses; eDevice in Embedded Development; National Semiconductor in EDA; and Fujitsu, Linear Technology and Analog Devices in various IC categories. (Electronic Business)
- New - Multi-Tasking MontaVista Ideal Choice for PowerPC
MontaVista Linux will support IBM�s new 440GP PowerPC microprocessor, which has been developed for use in communications, networking, gaming, printers, storage and Internet appliances. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
- New - Are You Being Served?
Some say a new breed of customer service agents will be so attentive to your needs that you�ll never guess you�re talking to software. (MARATHON Digital Publishing {scan via})
- New - Flaming FUD
Electronic News editor William Wong offers his opinion on the fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) tactics increasingly employed as legitimate marketing strategies. Case in point: a recent round between Microsoft XP Embedded and embedded Linux. (Electronic Design)
- New - Mentor Takes On Wind River
The presence of Wind River and the increasing trend toward one-stop shopping have encouraged Mentor Graphics to end the three years of negotiations that have kept its acquisition of Accelerated Technology in limbo. By finalizing the deal, the company hopes to gain some definitive ground in the embedded systems world. (Electronic News)
- New - Critics Say Embedded Linux Stalling in Standards Race
Lineo is making its voice heard against the Embedded Linux Consortium, saying that the organization has done little to promote the development of a common platform specification for embedded Linux over the last year and a half since it began to champion that goal. The development of an Intellectual Property Agreement, a precursor to specification development, has been held up at length, mainly because ELC board members have disagreed over issues of openness. (EE Times)
Dual Design Wins for NewMonics
Inkra Networks has selected NewMonics PERC for a new class of data center switch to enable the rapid, nondisruptive and secure delivery of Internet connectivity to enterprise and service provider centers. Another recent agreement paves the way for Aonix to introduce NewMonics� PERC Platform into its established aerospace and defense system markets. (PRWeb)
- New - Keynoter Sees Advanced Design Techniques Going Mainstream
EDA software needs to evolve quickly to fill three looming design productivity gaps, according to Synopsys CTO Raul Camposano. In a keynote speech at the International HDL Conference, Camposano showed what's needed to address these design gaps driven by complexity, deep-submicron technology and cost. Camposano noted that design productivity does not grow linearly, but occurs in 'waves' as significant innovations appear, such as RTL logic synthesis. (EE Times)
Embedded Linux Market Enters Era of Standardization
The Embedded Linux Consortium is shifting its focus from evangelizing the technology to unifying developers under a common platform specification. The ELC also intends to foster the development of test suites for use in validating compliance with its specifications. (Linux Net News {scan via})
- New - GNU C Compiler for NEC's VR5500 MIPS-Based Platform Fares Well
Red Hat has derived a certified score from EEMBC benchmarks for its GNU C compiler optimized for NEC's 400-MHz VR5500. The company notes that its compiler stacks up favorably against its bench-marked VR5500 competitors. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
- New - Product Rollout for BSD/OS
Wind River Systems has released version 4.3 of BSD/OS, its commercial UNIX-based operating system, and details future plans for the product in the embedded market. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Silicon Recognition Chooses Actel FPGAs to Deliver Silicon Solution for Smart Appliances
Silicon Recognition will implement a version of its zero instruction set computing (ZISC) solution to be produced within Actel's A500K050 and A500K130 flash-based FPGA devices. ZISC is a proprietary ASIC designed to provide the ultra-fast pattern recognition, information classification and matching performance required for next-generation, real-time smart devices, such as security cameras and health-monitoring equipment. (Silicon Recognition)
IDT Teams With Wind River to Offer Software Support for Enterprise Markets
IDT has joined Wind River's Center of Excellence Partner Program, through which it will optimize the company's embedded software for its MIPS32-based family of communications processors. (e-inSITE)
Parthus Uses ART Speech Technology in Handhelds
Advanced Recognition Technologies has licensed its speech and handwriting recognition engines for use in Parthus Technologies� InfoStream platform. InfoStream is a hardware and software mobile-computing platform optimized to run on, among others, Symbian, Microsoft Windows CE, Palm and Embedded Linux operating systems. It supports 2.5G and 3G wireless communications including Bluetooth, GPS location services and Microsoft Stinger and Pocket PC. (Electronic News)
Linux Providers Expect to Power More PDAs
Though Linux has gained only a fraction of the PDA market share, open source OS suppliers are remaining optimistic about the future of Linux in handhelds, where its advantage will not only be its cost but its flexibility. (PC World)
PID Technology Resources
EE Expert Peter Raeth extends a previous discussion of PIDs, taking the opportunity to look at the software that is available and bring out some additional information on the topic. (ChipCenter: EE Expert)
ESC Update
The Embedded Systems Conference called out several announcements from LynuxWorks, who unveiled a series of JumpStart industry solution packages, the first aimed at communications. JumpStart for Communications is based on the new LynuxOS 4.0, also officially launched at the conference. SST offered new support tool suites for its FlashFlex51 family of 8-bit 8051 MCUs, while Red Hat sided with Motorola to develop a GNUPro Linux toolchain and cross compiler for Motorola's PowerPC-based, Altivec-enabled host processors. Wind River was there with VSPWorks, a platform for developing applications powered by DSPs that includes the VSPWorks RTOS and GUI-driven development tools, and Marimba unveiled new Embedded Management products. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Achieve Emulator-Based Simulation at In-Circuit Speeds
By closely analyzing the characteristics of in-circuit-emulation environments, you can create acceleration environments that achieve in-circuit-emulation performance and still allow cycle-by-cycle interaction between behavior models and emulation hardware. (EDN)
Mentor Strengthens Embedded Position With Acquisition
Mentor Graphics will announce its acquisition of Accelerated Technology at the Embedded Systems Conference, according to an advance report by EE Times. (EE Times)
- New - Modular Macromodeling Techniques for Spice Simulators
An extension of macromodeling techniques makes it easier and more practical to create models of complex parts. This technique takes a modular, visual approach that is more intuitive, enabling you to build more of your own models. (EDN)
Washing Machine the Key to Low-Power Processing
The secret of a future generation of intelligent networked devices that can run off the power generated by movements such as walking is not changes to transistor design or circuits but a software 'washing machine'. In his keynote speech to DATE delegates, Professor Hugo de Man of the Catholic University of Leuven and senior research fellow with IMEC, said he expects future SoC designs to be arrays of parallel, application-specific instruction processors (ASIPs), wired together by relatively low-speed on-chip packet networks. To parallelise the software for these devices, de Man said washing-machine software will take the original source and transform into multiple code streams that themselves exhibit a lot of data-level parallelism. (EE Times)
IKOS Alters Course, Accepts Mentor Offer
After twice rejecting unsolicited takeover offers from Mentor Graphics as inferior to a pending takeover deal with Synopsys, the Ikos Systems board of directors has decided that Mentor's offer is better after all. If Synopsys doesn't make a counteroffer by March 11, Ikos could be part of Mentor by the end of the month. (EE Times)
ARM Takes Co-Verification Route
ARM has teamed up with Co-Design Automation to produce a hardware/software co-verification product for ARM-based embedded designs. Co-Design�s simulator, dubbed the Systemsim, incorporates its CBlend verification technology and has been integrated with the ARM processor models and software debug environment. The latest version of the tool allows the simulator to be encapsulated within an ARM-based embedded design to allow pre-prototype software verification, and allowing design debug using native hardware and software development environments. Co-Design Automation has also joined ARM�s EDA partnership program. (Electronic News)
Open SystemC Initiatives
The Open SystemC Initiative (OSCI) has contracted Paul Menchini, of Menchini and Associates, to develop the SystemC v2.0 language reference manual (LRM), for delivery later this year. The OSCI says the creation of a definitive LRM for SystemC will be a major milestone on its roadmap to take SystemC to the IEEE standardization process. The organization has also launched a new Internet platform that it hopes will enables more comprehensive support for the expanding SystemC user community. (SystemC)
Team Targets Next-Generation Bluetooth Solutions
Cypress Semiconductor and WIDCOMM are partnering to develop next-generation Bluetooth solutions. To that end, Cypress will license from WIDCOMM a range of Bluetooth software products, including Bluetooth Embedded Software (BTE) and BTE development tools, while WIDCOMM engineers will work with Cypress to develop customized Bluetooth solutions for Cypress customers. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Altium Significantly Reduces Entry Point for 8051 Embedded Developers
Altium Limited slashes the cost of its TASKING 8051 Software Development toolsets. From the 1st of March 2002, the regular retail price for a TASKING 8051 toolset will be reduced by nearly $1,000. Altium says this new pricing emphasizes its commitment to providing every electronic designer and developer with access to the best possible tools at an affordable price. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Cars To Get Digital Detailing From IBM, LG Electronics, QNX Pact
LGE has selected IBM to help it enter the marketplace as a Telematics solutions supplier. IBM is expected to introduce its embedded software stack into LGE's array of consumer electronics products, including digital appliances, PDAs, mobile phones and other wireless products. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Green Hills Earns Top Spot in VDC Report
In a recent study comparing embedded RTOS providers, Venture Development Corporation recognized Green Hills Software, ranking it third among hard RTOS suppliers and naming it #1 among commercial RTOS suppliers in market share growth for 2001. In other Green Hills news, the company announced a design win for its INTEGRITY 1768B with Goodrich Corp. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Live 2.5G Mobile Network for Wireless Applications Testing
Metrowerks is now offering the use of live testing facilities to wireless application developers, handset manufacturers and middleware vendors, giving them access to its mobile network, which provides CDMA, GSM (2G) and GPRS (2.5G) services. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Sneak Peek at ESC
The new QNX integrated development environment will be on show at the Embedded Systems Conference in San Francisco and emWare will co-exhibit with Extend The Internet (ETI) Alliance members, Motorola and Hitachi, demonstrating its DeviceGate-E Embedded Gateway products for the X86 and PowerPC. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Software Implementation of I2C Protocol
External devices that are used to expand a microcontroller�s internal resources are generally available with a parallel interface but a serial interface is becoming more popular. Most serial devices are equipped with a synchronous interface for which they require separate signal lines for transferring data and clock information. One of the most popular synchronous interfaces is the inter-integrated circuit (I2C), and Circuit Cellar's Dariusz Caban offers insight on the all-software implementation of the I2C protocol in the 8031 microcontroller. (ChipCenter: Circuit Cellar)
VSIA Takes Hard Look at Embedded Software Reuse
The Virtual Socket Interface Alliance (VSIA) has set up a development working group to create standards for the reuse of embedded software in a bid to address what may be the next big challenge in SoC design. Such standards may accelerate the growth of a software IP market that offers reusable code for such components as device drivers, algorithms, and networking and protocol stacks. (EE Times)
Windows CE Driving New BMWs
Microsoft's Windows CE for Automotive embedded RTOS powers the telematics capabilities of the new BMW 7 series, which debuted in the German market last Fall, came to North America last month, and will continue its global travels this Spring. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Microsoft's Mobile Device and Network Service Provider Divisions Unite
Microsoft will combine its Network Service Provider and Mobile Devices groups under the leadership of company veteran Pieter Knook, who was recently interviewed about the transition with PressPass. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
IBM Will Steer PowerPC into Mobile Mart
IBM intends to take its PowerPC architecture into the mobile sector, in direct competition with Intel's Xscale, said the senior VP of the company's Technology Group. IBM's strategy will include new efforts in embedded Linux that it hopes will entice customers with the possibilities of product differentiation. (EE Times)

Design Trends

- New - Software Provides Printer Access From Embedded Devices
PrintMe Networks, a new service for mobile professionals, aims to simplify printing away from the office. Electronics for Imaging and its partners are launching PrintMe in 20 major U.S. cities, and industry-leading printer makers are planning to incorporate the technology into future products. The goal is to establish a network of 'public' printers located in hotels, copy centers, and other locations, at which users can print documents from laptops, PDAs, WAP devices, or cell phones via browser, e-mail, or even just a phone call, for about $1 per page. (PC World)

Resources

Attention, Hardware and Software Engineers
The Chalkboard Network is offering a new course on the energy efficient design of electronic systems. The interactive course targets handheld device developers, addressing a number of issues relevant to system-level design.
EDA Portal
EEdesign.com is a stepping stone into the EDA industry, with seminar invitations, product information, and access to design tools.
Embedded Linux in Japan
The counterpart to the Embedded Linux Consortium has made inroads in Japan. Dubbed Emblix, the conglomeration of academics, consumer electronics manufacturers, and software developers is dedicated to open information exchange and standard-setting for embedded Linux, particularly focusing on open source support and interoperability issues.
ESC's Next Round
Sign on for the next Embedded Systems Conference near you. The show is celebrating Spring in California at San Francisco's Moscone Convention Center, then it's off to China. Course offerings and exhibits span the spectrum of embedded systems development, from Internet appliances to DSP, automotive, wireless and Java.
On the Embedded Edge
In case you haven't heard about Texas Instruments' Embedded Edge magazine, hook up with the archived editions and be sure to take a gander at the next batter up. Featured stories focus on development tool trends and eXpress DSP algorithm compliance--plus get the latest product announcements and handy tech tips.
RT and Embedded Systems Forum
The Open Group has announced the addition of a Real Time and Embedded Systems forum, the purpose of which is to establish standards for industry vendors, providing test tools and conformance certification.
Schedule for PTI Seminars
Tap into PTI Seminars to keep up on IC design and fabrication, electronics and devices, and more. A whole year of courses is already planned--all you have to do is sign up for your interest.
VSIPL Volunteers
The Vector Signal Image Processing Library forum has convened to establish API standards for embedded RT signal processing systems, with a first implementation in C. Look to their website for technical papers, meeting announcements, links, and related software.
Open SystemC Initiative
The OSCI was developed to combat the fragmentation of C++ in system-level design. Its website answers FAQs, and provides technical papers and news updates.
The Embedded Linux Consortium
The Embedded Linux Consortium was formed to help extend the Linux platform to embedded applications. The current website has current news, a membership application, and information contacts, and will likely expand as quickly as the embedded Linux movement.
SpecC Technology Open Consortium
The STOC seeks to set standards for SpecC in the embedded systems arena. Get membership information, news releases, and technical information.
VHDL International And OVI Become Accellera
Open Verilog International and VHDL International have joined forces to promote standardization of VHDL in electronic systems.
ChipCenter Reference Library
This is your access point for lots of good information covering applications, design tools, consultants, intellectual property, trade shows and standards.
Standards Watch
Here is your access point to the standards world.

Janice Hughes and Cindy Carrier
In 1994, Janice joined Circuit Cellar INK's staff first as technical editor then as managing editor. Since leaving INK, Janice has offered marketing communications services for embedded computing companies. After earning an English degree, Cindy has made her living doing freelance technical editing and writing.
Please send your comments to embedded.editors@cox.net.


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