HOUSTON (Feb. 27, 1995) -- Spectron and Texas Instruments announce a port of the real-time, multitasking, SPOX operating system to the Texas Instruments TMS320C80 DSP (Multimedia Video Processor, MVP) and to expected future additions to the 'C8x family. The port includes the SPOX kernel along with Spectron's suite of signal-processing, software-development tools which support applications ranging from multimedia PCs to instrumentation to telecommunications. TI endorses the field-proven SPOX family as a software base to simplify the development of complex applications that are enabled by the multiprocessor 'C8x architecture.
Capable of 2 billion operations per second, TI's flagship TMS320C80 DSP is well suited not only for targeted applications such as video conferencing, but also for mass market applications including digital switching/networking and games/entertainment.
Spectron's port includes the SPOX-KNL kernel which runs on the 32-bit, RISC-based master processor integrated in the 'C80. In addition, the port includes a communications driver and a command interpreter which support the four advanced DSPs integrated in the device. Over the next six months, Spectron will also move its full SPOX environment to the 'C80 including a SPOX-aware front end to TI's TMS320C80 debugger, as well as libraries and development-host communications.
The availability of a commercial operating system like SPOX will broaden the appeal of the TMS320C8x architecture to mainstream designers who use DSP technology. TI's 'C80 marketing manager Julie Gallagher states, "The 'C80 offers the horsepower necessary to handle applications such as video encoding that were previously not possible with a single DSP. Now the many designers who have experience with the industry-standard SPOX OS can tackle these advanced applications." According to Spectron's vice president of marketing Bob Dolan, "Our SPOX port marks the initial step of integrating the multiprocessor 'C80 into the Windows™ environment, and down the road our comprehensive WinSPOX™ software suite will be available for the 'C80."
TI's endorsement of SPOX is due in large part to the breadth of Spectron's signal-processing product line. According to TI's Gallagher, "Spectron has surrounded the SPOX kernel with a comprehensive suite of signal-processing, software-development tools. Their WinSPOX suite will immediately make the multiprocessing capabilities of the 'C8x available to developers of multimedia, telecommunications, and imaging applications for the PC. At the same time, Spectron's comprehensive development environment will support the design of complex embedded products such as virtual-reality entertainment systems."
With immediate availability of the kernel, SPOX is expected to quickly catch on with third-party TMS320C80 developers. Precision Digital Images Corp., for example, plans to offer SPOX with its 'C80 Development Kit as well as with its new ProMAXX series of boards that are optimized for imaging applications. PDI President, Wayne Smith, relates, "The availability of SPOX for the 'C80 allows us to offer our OEM customers a mature, well-supported real-time environment which will simplify and accelerate their product development. Spectron has developed significant expertise in advanced DSP architectures, and we can pass that expertise along to our customers in the form of a stable development platform."
Loughborough Sound Images also plans to offer SPOX with TMS320C80 products. Company director Simon Yates states, "Spectron has a great track record supporting TI DSPs, and we are very happy that they are making SPOX available for the 'C80. We will offer SPOX on our MVP EVM, VMEbus-based 'C80 board as well as on future 'C80-based products."
An additional reason behind TI's endorsement of SPOX was the need for a robust multitasking kernel that can support the four DSPs integrated in the 'C80. TI's Julie Gallagher points out, "The potential afforded by our multiprocessor 'C8x architecture requires a clear-cut method of distributing tasks among the DSPs and managing interprocessor communications. SPOX is already widely used in multiprocessor applications, and its multiprocessor capabilities are a perfect fit for the 'C80."
In fact, the TMS320C80 port uses the same SIO (streaming I/O) interface to files and hardware resources which is common across SPOX implementations. Along with the DPP (driver parallel processor) interfaces to the four DSPs, the SIO architecture allows any SPOX-based multiprocessor application to be easily moved to the 'C80.
SPOX-KNL, including the Command Interpreter and DPP, costs $12,000 and is available now. Other SPOX components will be made available for the 'C80 over the next six months.
Since 1988, Texas Instruments and Spectron have worked closely together toward the goal of expanding the market for DSP technology. The SPOX port to the TMS320C8x architecture is the latest example of the companies working together, and it will accelerate the development of multiprocessing applications on the world's highest performing DSP.
# # #
Spectron Microsystems is the leading supplier of DSP-based software. Founded in 1987, the company develops and markets advanced real-time operating systems for embedded DSP and multimedia systems. Spectron works with all of the leading DSP chip, board, and computer systems vendors to bring DSP capabilities to a wide group of designers and developers.
Trademarks:
SPOX and WinSPOX are trademarks of Spectron Microsystems.
Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Please refer to profile number SPR134
TI Home
Search
Semiconductor Home