From: phil@ohm.berkeley.edu (Phil Lapsley) Newsgroups: comp.dsp,comp.answers,news.answers Subject: comp.dsp FAQ [3 of 4] Summary: This is a periodic posting to comp.dsp that gives information Date: 27 Sep 93 03:18:51 GMT Followup-To: poster Organization: University of California at Berkeley Lines: 683 Archive-name: dsp-faq/part3 Last-modified: Sun May 30 1993 Version: 1.1 Q5.0 What DSP operating systems are available? [This was researched and written by Chuck Corley (chuckc@sr.hp.com)] Some designers need to use an operating system with a DSP processor and others don't. The need for DSP operating system seems to depend on the task(s) to be performed. For simple DSP tasks where the DSP is doing only a single repetitive function, an operating system is usually not needed and could get in the way. When the number and complexity of DSP tasks increase, an operating system of some type may be needed in order to allocate system resources (RAM, etc.) and to perform multi-tasking, where several tasks take turns executing. One example: A DSP processor may be required to perform non-DSP jobs in order to eliminate a 'host' processor. An operating system may be needed in order to share processing time and resources between the DSP and non-DSP tasks. An option for some DSP applications is to write your own DSP 'task-switching' or 'job allocating' operating system. Whether this is the right choice for you depends on how involved your operating system needs to be, and how much time you have available to spend writing it. A number of companies now offer pre-written operating systems that execute on DSP processors. In exchange for your money they offer to save you the time and effort of writing and debugging your own 'operating system' or 'task switcher'. These companies describe their products as 'real-time' operating systems. What 'real-time' means is debated, but it normally means that the maximum time for the operating system to respond to an external event is known. The calculation for measuring this time involves adding together interrupt response time, task switching time, and other processor and operating system benchmarks. 'Real-time' also usually means 'fast'. Embedded CPU or DSP tasks often require a 'real-time' response time. Prices and features vary. All companies charge for purchasing their 'development environment', which allows you to develop code which will run on their operating system. Some companies also charge a fee for each product you build that includes their operating system software. This is usually called a 'target fee' or 'runtime license' fee. Some operating systems have no 'runtime license' fees. It is *very* important to negotiate what the runtime license fee will be *in advance*. If this price is not agreed upon in writing when the development system is purchased, you could be in a bad position later. You will have invested a lot of time and effort writing software to work with a particular operating system, and when your creation is produced you could discover that the 'runtime license fee' has increased or is more than you can afford. Considering the amount of work you would have invested in that operating system, you would be in a very poor bargaining position. You will also need to decide if having the source code for the operating system is important to you. Some companies include it for free, while others may charge extra. Features for the DSP operating systems are listed below. Some vendors claim that a 'No' listing for a feature doesn't necessarily mean that their operating system is missing something you need. Some companies state that certain features were not appropriate for either a 'DSP' or a 'real-time' operating system, and so they did not implement them. Other companies stated that some features were not appropriate for their targeted users. One suggestion for comparing features: Make a list of the features you *really* need and compare it against the list below. Disclaimer: I've tried to make this information current, accurate, and impartial, but I can't guarantee this. This document is provided as is, with no warranty of any kind. You should contact the vendors listed below for the best and most up-to-date information. Corrections and suggestions for this section on DSP operating systems should be addressed to chuckc@sr.hp.com Byte- Operating System Features: BOS Nucleus RXTC SPOX Helios -------------------------- ------ ------- ---- ---- ------ Preemptive Task Scheduling Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Time-Sliced Scheduling Yes Yes Yes No Yes Round-Robin Scheduling ? Yes Yes No Yes Parallel Processing No No No Optional Yes Inter-Task Messages Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Memory Management Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Interrupt Management Yes No Yes Yes Yes Timer Management Yes Yes Yes No Yes Device-Independent I/O No No No Yes Yes Stream I/O $495* No No Yes Yes OS RAM/ROM Size (Bytes) 5K-40K 4K-20K 12K-16K 44K+ 80K-200K * Serial port only OS Libraries And Byte- Development Envrionment: BOS Nucleus RXTC SPOX Helios -------------------------- ------ ------- ---- ---- ------ Includes C Compiler/ASM No No No No Yes C Run-Time Library No No No $2K Yes DSP Math Library No $1K No $4K Q2 1993 Image Processing Library No No No No Q3 1993 X Windows XR5 Library No No No No $930 Ethernet Library No $9.5K No No $1K-1.3K Source Code Included Yes Yes Yes No No Source Code Type C C ASM & C ASM & C ASM & C Development License Type Site Prod Line Site Computer Computer Run-Time License Fee None None None $25-200 $25-300 Development License Cost $2K $5K $1K-4.2K $6K-12K $3.9K-5.4K Demo Disk Available ? Yes Yes No No Byte- OS System-Level Debugger: BOS Nucleus RXTC SPOX Helios ------------------------- ----- ------- ---- ---- ------ Basic Debugging Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Performance Timer Yes Yes No Yes Yes Debugger Cost $295 $750 $0 $5K $900 'Byte-BOS' is available from: Byte-BOS Phone: (619) 788-7288 P.O. Box 3067 Toll Free: (800) 788-7288 Del Mar, CA 92014 Supported DSPs: TI 320C2x/C3x/C5x Other CPUs: 80x86, V25/V35/V40/V50, Z80, Z180, 64180, 37700, 680x0, 68332, 68340, 68302, 8051, 8096, 80188/86, 68HC11, 68HC16, 6301/3 'Helios' (for distributed parallel processing) is available from: Distributed Software (Perihelion) Phone: +44 (0) 749-344345 The Maltings Fax: +44 (0) 749-344977 Charlton Road, Shepton Mallet Email: jon@perisl.co.uk Somerset, United Kingdom BA4 5QE Tech Info: techsupp@perisl.co.uk Transtech Parallel Systems Corp. Email: transtech@transtech.com Phone: +1 (607) 257-6502 Fax: +1 (607) 257-3980 Traquair Data Systems Email: sjb@TC.Cornell.EDU Phone: +1 (607) 272-4417 Fax: +1 (607) 272-6211 Ariel Corporation Email: ariel@ariel.com Phone: +1 (908) 249-2900 Fax: +1 (908) 249-2123 Also Sonitech and MIZAR Supported DSPs: TI 320C40 Other CPUs: T400/T800, ARM 'Nucleus' is available from: Accelerated Technology Phone: +1 (205) 661-5770 P.O. Box 850245 Toll free: +1 (800) 468-NUKE Mobile, Alabama 36685, USA Fax: +1 (205) 661-5788 Supported DSPs: TI 320C2x/C3x/C4x/C5x, Motorola 56xxx, Analog Devices 21xxx Other CPUs: Am29xxx, R3000, SPARC, i960, 680xx, 683xx, 80x86 'RTXC' and 'RTXC/MP' (a parallel processing version) are available from: AT Barrett & Associates Phone: +1 (713) 728-9688 11501 Chimney Rock Toll free: +1 (800) 525-4302 Houston, Texas 77035 Fax: +1 (713) 728-9688 Supported DSPs: TI 320C3x Other CPUs: 680x0, 68332/331/340, 68302, 68HC16, 68HC11, 6803, 80x86, 80x96, 80x51, T400/800, Z80/Z180 'SPOX' and 'SPOX-MP' (a parallel-processing version) are available from: Spectron Microsystems Phone: +1 (805) 967-0503 5266 Hollister Ave Fax: +1 (805) 683-4995 Santa Barbara, CS 93111, USA Supported DSPs: TI 320CC3x/C4x/C5x, Motorola 96002/56xxx, Analog Devices 21xxx Q6. Manufacturer's addresses and telephone numbers. Analog Devices 1 Technology Way P.O. Box 9106 Norwood, MA 02062-9106 Phone: (617) 329-4700 Phone: (617) 461-3672 (DSP applications assistance) Phone: (617) 461-3881 (DSP marketing) ----- Analogic 8 Centennial Dr. Peabody, MA 01960-7987 Phone: (508) 977-3000 x. 3468 FAX: (408) 977-9220 ----- Analogical Systems 2916 Ramona St. Palo Alto, CA 94306 (415) 32-3232 Fax: (415) 323-4222 Email: cole@analogical.com ----- Ariel Corp. 433 River Road Highland Park, NJ 08904 Phone: (908) 249-2900 FAX: (908) 249-2123 BBS: (908) 249-2124 Email: ariel@ariel.com ----- AT&T Microelectronics Dept. AL-520404200 55 Union Blvd. Allentown, PA 18103 Phone: (800) 372-2447 FAX: (215) 778=4106 ----- Atlanta Signal Processors, Inc. (ASPI) 770 Spring St. Atlanta, GA 30308 Phone: (404) 892-7265 FAX: (404) 892-2512 ---- Berkeley Camera Engineering 3616 Skyline Drive Hayward, CA 94542 Phone: (510) 889-6960 FAX: (510) 889-7606 Email: mikep@nikon.ssl.berkeley.edu ----- BittWare Research Systems, Inc. Inner Harbor Center, 8th Floor 400 East Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21202 Phone: (800) 848-0435 FAX: (410) 783-7375 ----- Bridgenorth Signal Processing, Inc. P.O. Box 469 Custer, WA 98240 Phone: (604) 538-0003 FAX: (604) 538-9073 ----- Catalina Research Inc. Colorado Springs (719) 531-5767 ----- CMS GmbH Postfach 100202 Einsteinstrabe 61-63 D-7505 Ettlingen Germany Phone: (07243) 31001 ----- Communication Automation and Control, Inc. (CACI) 1642 Union Blvd., Suite 200 Allentown, PA 18103-1510 (215) 776-6669 FAX: (215) 770-1232 ----- Computer Continuum 75 Southgate Avenue Daly City, CA 94015 (415) 755-1978 ----- Crystal Semiconductor Corp. P.O. Box 17847 Austin, TX 78760 Phone: (512) 445-7222 FAX: (512) 445-7581 ----- Current Technology, Inc. 99 Madbury Road Durham, N.H. 03824 Phone: (603) 868-2270 FAX: (603) 868-1352 ----- Data Translation 100 Locke Dr. Marlboro, MA 01752-1192 (508) 481-3700 (800) 525-8528 ----- Dalanco Spry 89 Westland Ave. Rochester, NY 14618 Phone: (716) 473-3610 ----- DigiDesign Inc 1360 Willow Road, Suite 101 Menlo Park CA 94025 Tel: 010 1 415 327 8811 FAX: 010 1 415 327 0777 ----- DSP Research 391 Balsam Ave. (OR Possibly: 1095 E. Duane Ave) {Someone clarify?} Sunnyvale, CA 94086 Phone: (408) 773-1042 FAX: (408) 736-3451 ----- DSP Software Engineering 165 Middlesex Tpk, Suite 206 Bedford, MA 01730 (617) 275-3733 (617) 275-4323 (fax) dspse.bedford@channel1.com ----- EnterTec, Inc. P.O. Box 8858 Richmond, VA 23225 Phone: (804)353-7133 FAX: (804) 353-7134 ----- Hollis Electronics Co. 5 Northern Blvd., Unit 13 Amherst, NH 03031 Phone: (603) 598-4640 ----- Image & Signal Processing 120 Linden Avenue Long Beach CA 90802 Phone: (213) 495-9533 FAX: (213) 495-1258 ---- Innovative Devices, Inc. 1119 Damelart Way Brentwood Bay, B.C. V0S 1A0 Canada Phone: (604) 652-5240 ----- Integrated Motions, Inc. (IMI) 758 Gilman St. Berkeley, CA 94710 (510) 527-5810 FAX: (510) 527-7843 ----- Integrated Technologies Solutions, Inc. 402 Chestnut Ln. East Meadow, NY 11554 (516) 481-0857 FAX: (516) 292-3115 ----- Intellibit P.O. Box 9785 McLean, VA 22102-0785 Phone: (703) 442-4781 FAX: (703) 442-4784 ----- Ixthos, Inc. 12210 Plum Orchard Drive Silver Spring, MD 20904 Phone: (301) 890-1000 ----- KINETICSYSTEMS in USA: William Ponton Tel: 609-921-2088 FAX: 609-683-9633 in Europe: Tel: 41-22-798-4445 FAX: 41-22-798-0525 ----- Logabex ZI de Montaudran 3 Avenue Didier Daurat 31400 Toulouse France Phone: (33) 61-80-94-37 ----- Loughborough Sound Images Ltd The Technology Centre Epinal Way Loughborough Leics LE11 OQE England Phone: +44 (0)509 231843 FAX: +44 (0)509 262433 N.B. U.S. distributor is Spectrum Signal Processing (see below) ----- Mizar 2410 Luna Rd. Carrolton, TX 75006 (214) 277-4600 FAX: (214) 277-4666 ----- Motorola Corp. DSP Operation Mail Drop OE314 6501 William Cannon Drive, West Austin, TX 78735-8598 Phone: (512) 891-2030 (marketing) BBS: (512) 891-DSP1 (300/1200 bps) BBS: (512) 891-DSP2 (1200 bps V.22) BBS: (512) 891-DSP3 (2400 bps V.22bis) ----- Motorola Ltd. Motorola Literature Centre 88 Tanners Drive Blakelands Milton Keynes MK145BP Great Britain ----- National Instruments 6504 Bridge Point Parkway Austin, TX 78730-5039 Phone: (512) 794-0100 Phone: (800) 433-3488 FAX: (512) 794-8411 ----- Natural Microsystems Corp. 8 Erie Drive Natick, MA 01760-1313 Phone: (800) 533-6120 ----- N.E.L. Systems Center Advanced Computing Group East Kilbride Glasgow G75 0QU United Kingdom Phone: +44 (0)3552 72838 FAX: +44 (0)3552 72979 ----- Pacific Cyber/Metrix, Inc 6805 Sierra Ct. Dublin, CA 94568-2615 (510) 829-8700 FAX: (510) 829-9796 ----- Pentek, Inc. 55 Walnut St. Norwood, NJ 07648 Phone: (201) 767-7100 FAX: (201) 767-3994 ----- Precision Design Services PTY LTD, P.O. Box 61 Berwick, Victoria, 3806 Australia TEL: +61 3 796 2003 FAX: +61 3 796 1500 ----- Prime Ideal Joseph Virzi 2124 Parker Street #300 Berkeley, CA 94704 Phone: (415) 513-8062 ----- Quantawave (508) 481-9802 ----- Saddle Point Systems 3960 Greenwood Ave. Oakland, CA 94602 Phone: (510) 530-0971 ----- Sharp Microelectronics Technology, Inc. 5700 NW Pacific Rim Blvd Camas, WA 98607 Phone: (206) 834-8711 FAX: (206) 834-8611 ----- Signal-Data 63 Vester Paradisvej DK-2840 Holte Denmark Phone: (45) 30 42 6054 Phone: (301) 890-1000 ----- Sonitech International Inc. 14 Mica Ln. Wellesley, MA 02181 (617) 235-6824 FAX: (617) 235-2531 ----- Specom Technologies Corp. 3673 Enochs Street Santa Clara, CA 95051 Phone: (408) 736-7832 FAX: (408) 736-7861 ----- Spectral Innovations Santa Clara, CA (408) 727-1314 ----- Spectrum Signal Processing Westborough Office Park 1500 West Park Drive Westborough MA 01581 USA Phone: (508) 366-7355 FAX: (508) 89988 2772 ----- Tartan Inc. 300 Oxford Drive Monroeville, PA 15146 Phone: (412) 856-3600 FAX: (412) 856-3636 Email: englert@tartan.com ----- Texas Instruments Incorporated P.O. Box 1443 M/S 737 Houston, TX 77251-1443 (713) 274-2320 (voice) (713) 274-2324 (fax) (713) 274-2323 (BBS 300-9600 N,8,1) 4389750@mcimail.com (Internet email) ----- Townshend Computer Tools Phone: (514) 289-9123, FAX: (514) 289-1831 E-Mail: datlink%tt@cam.org ----- Transtech Parallel Systems Corp. 20 Thornwood Dr. Ithica, NY 14850-1263 (607) 257-6502 Fax: (607) 257-3980 Transtech Parllel Systems Corp. P.O. Box 1596 Culver City, CA 90232 (310) 838-0770 Fax: (310) 280-0697 ----- Traquair Data Systems Judd Falls Plaza, Suite 80 Ithica, NY 14850 Phone: (607) 272-4417 FAX: (607) 272-6211 ----- Tucker-Davis Technologies 4639 NW 6th St., Suite A Gainesville, FL 32609 (904) 375-1623 FAX: (904) 375-4523 ----- Valley Technologies, Inc. RD #4, Rt. 309 Tamaqua, PA 18252 (717) 668-3737 FAX: (717) 668-6360 ----- Virga, Inc. 4901 Morena Blvd. Bldg. 502 San Diego, CA 92117 (619) 483-1197 ----- Wavetron Microsystems 1135 Oddstad Drive Redwood City, CA 94063 Phone: (415) 366-5371 or (415) 366-5375 ============================================================================= Questions, comments, or submissions for this FAQ should be mailed to comp-dsp-faq@ohm.Berkeley.EDU, ...!ucbvax!ohm!comp-dsp-faq. Thanks!