The ORBexpress DSP technology allows systems engineers to transparently migrate logic between general purpose processors (GPPs) and TI DSPs. DSPs excel at certain types of processing such as video and Intermediate Frequency (IF) radio signal processing. Systems engineers can now save power and increase system performance by using the flexibility of ORBexpress DSP to:

• ensure that the appropriate waveform and signal processing workload is efficiently moved to the DSP; and
• easily and efficiently remove from the DSP all non-signal processing workload that might otherwise interfere with optimal performance of the DSP.

This flexibility to relocate processing allows the DSP to communicate independently with other processors without depending on the GPP. ORBexpress DSP thereby optimizes the DSP for both intra-board and extra-board communications, improving overall system performance.

ORBexpress DSP provides a distributed communications platform for performance-intensive C6000™ DSP-based applications such as software defined radios (SDRs) and wireless infrastructure. For Software Communications Architecture (SCA)-based SDRs, ORBexpress DSP provides the communication layer for the application framework and waveform application components operating on DSPs. Designed based on years of experience working with the world’s major SDR vendors, ORBexpress DSP is the world’s only SCA-certified ORB available for digital signal processors.

“We are pleased to be the first DSP supplier supported by Objective Interface,” said Ram Sathappan, Software Defined Radio Business Manager, TI. “As a small-footprint, real-time product, ORBexpress DSP allows developers using our highest-performing DSP platform to easily build communications into SDRs, cellular base stations and other wireless infrastructure applications.”

Mr. Sathappan added, “Because ORBexpress DSP raises the level of abstraction to a higher level, TI DSP designers will find that ORBexpress DSP can speed development of families of applications based on the same processor—without requiring modifications at the code level.”

“Our close work with and strong support from TI, as the industry leader in DSPs, has allowed us to fully optimize and customize our ORB technologies for the TI DSP platforms,” said Bill Beckwith, CEO/CTO of Objective Interface Systems. “Our products complement each other nicely. TI DSPs are recognized throughout the world as high-performance, robust processing platforms that provide a highly optimized mix of throughput and power utilization. Because of this performance-power mix, they are used in a variety of mission-critical systems. These are the very systems that benefit from the reliable ORBexpress communications middleware.”

Mr. Beckwith commented further: “Together, TI DSPs and ORBexpress DSP allow developers to facilitate transparent interoperability between processors and between classes of processors to enhance application performance. They do this by making it easier for developers to move the execution logic to the most appropriate processor and class of processor available in their system.”

ORBexpress DSP offers specific technical benefits to developers using TI’s C6000 DSP platform. ORBexpress DSP customizes size, speed and functionality through user configuration options, providing a high degree of optimization. It also provides flexibility, enabling components executing on DSPs to be accessed directly by simple CORBA calls as easily as if they were local. ORBexpress DSP is engineered to minimize the latency and maximize the bandwidth of all inter-processor communications. In addition, intra-processor communications via ORBexpress DSP are only 10 to 20 clock cycles.

Will Strauss, President of Forward Concepts, commented on the relationship between DSPs and communications middleware: “Communications middleware speeds the development of deterministic distributed applications, which include many DSP-based applications in telecommunications and data communications. DSP developers can benefit from low-footprint, low-latency and low-overhead communications middleware when building high-performance systems such as SDRs and other communications systems.”

About ORBexpress DSP
ORBexpress DSP is based on the new CORBA/e standard that enables real-time and embedded devices in heterogeneous environments to communicate seamlessly. ORBexpress DSP fully supports the tool chain for TI’s C6000 generation of DSPs. It supports TI’s Code Composer Studio™ Integrated Development Environment and DSP/BIOS™ real-time kernel, speeding development of C6000 DSP-based systems. Optimized for an extremely small footprint and high-throughput, ORBexpress DSP gives TI C6000 DSP developers the ability to easily implement whichever specialized transport protocol they choose.

ORBexpress is used in virtually every major SDR program in the world, including each major JTRS program in the United States. It is used as the foundational communications infrastructure in a wide variety of telecommunications and data communications systems, including cellular base stations and mobile terminals. ORBexpress provides a portable communications infrastructure that solves the incompatibilities in data networks, promoting interoperability among applications in heterogeneous environments. In addition, ORBexpress provides critical real-time Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) capabilities to support systems where speed, predictability and reliability are important. It provides a minimal footprint, low latency and low overhead to allow developers to build scalable, efficient and robust applications. For all these reasons, ORBexpress is ideal for use in supporting digitization and processing of complex waveforms requiring low-latency deterministic operation.

Availability
ORBexpress DSP for TI’s C6000 DSP platform is available today from Objective Interface. ORBexpress DSP, a royalty-free product, includes a free 3-day training class with each license sold, and one year of full maintenance. For more information on Objective Interface communications middleware, please visit: www.ois.com/products, call 1 800-800-OIS7 in the U.S., +33 (0) 6 68 35 15 45 in Europe or +81 (0)3-5623-2112 in Japan or e-mail inquiries to: info@ois.com.

About Objective Interface Systems
Objective Interface is the worldwide leader of high-performance, real-time and embedded communications middleware solutions. The company provides CORBA ORBs, publish-subscribe technology based on the Object Management Group (OMG) Data Distribution Service standard (DDS), and secure communications middleware development tools based on the Multiple Independent Levels of Security/Safety (MILS) architecture to meet the high-performance requirements of military and aerospace, telecommunications, data communications, industrial automation and process control, transportation and consumer electronics markets. Objective Interface products are the communications core of many mission-critical products and systems including mission-critical avionics systems, network management, vehicle control and management systems, software defined radio, telecommunication systems, process control systems and nuclear fusion ignition facilities. Objective Interface customers consist of the world’s most advanced product and engineering organizations including The Boeing Company, BAE Systems, CERN, Daimler-Benz, EADS, Ericsson, Eurocontrol Experimental Centre, General Dynamics, Harris Corporation, Hughes Network Systems, ITT, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Honeywell, Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace, Lawrence Livermore National Labs, Lockheed Martin, Nikon, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Philips, Raytheon, Rockwell Collins, Rohde & Schwarz, Saab Technical Systems, Samsung, Sandia, Selex Communications, Spectrum Signal, Telefunken, Thales Communications, TRW, the U.S. Department of Defense, ViaSat and many others. For more information, please visit: www.ois.com.

About the Texas Instruments DSP Third Party Network
Objective Interface is a member of the TI DSP Third Party Network, a worldwide organization of independent companies that offer products and services supporting TI DSPs. TI third parties provide expertise across a variety of applications, including audio, control, telecom, video and imaging and wireless communications. Third party products and services include a broad range of application software, development hardware and software, and consulting services that support original equipment manufacturers’ efforts to bring differentiated products to the market quickly. For more information about the TI DSP Third Party Network, please visit http://www.ti.com/3p. 
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ORBexpress is a registered trademark, and Objective Interface and the Objective Interface logo are trademarks, of Objective Interface Systems. TMS320C6000, TMS320C64x, C6000, Code Composer Studio and DSP/BIOS are trademarks of Texas Instruments. All other product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.