Embedded Computing Design November 2006 / 11 ©2006 Opensystems Publishing
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Not for distribution. www.embedded-computing.com VOLUME 4 • NUMBER 8 N O V EMBER 2 0 0 6 COLUMNS FEATURES 8 Editor’s Foreword SPECIAL: Telematics Embedded computing – the final definition 14 The evolution of telematics continues By Jerry Gipper By Steve Rosebaugh, Freescale 10 Eclipse Perspective and News Easing embedded Linux software development for SBCs TECHNOLOGY: RapidIO – current state of affairs By Nathan Gustavson and Eric Rossi 20 The state of RapidIO: strong, proud, open By Tom Cox, RapidIO Trade Association 26 Core of next-generation base station architectures utilize DEPARTMENTS Serial RapidIO switches to interconnect multiple DSPs 39 Editor’s Choice Products By Bill Beane, IDT, and Manish N. Patel, Texas Instruments By Jerry Gipper 27 Embedded systems: the future of RapidIO technology 40 New Products By Ernie Bergstrom, Crystal Cube Consulting By Chad Lumsden APPLICATION: Intelligent transportation systems, infrastructure, vehicles 28 Mobile cellular communication: not just for people EVENTS By Peter Fowler, Siemens electronica November 14-17 Wireless devices – handheld, New Munich Trade Fair Centre Munich, Germany APPLICATION: www.global-electronics.net/id/20308 instrumentation, control 32 The rise of Linux for the handset By Paxton Cooper, Monta Vista COVER FFor o rSingle Sing Print le PrintOnly O n ly Telematics is continually integrating new functions, adding complexity to 34 Why memory matters: the future of the mobile handset OEM solutions. Automakers that want to keep up with these embedded systems must try new approaches discussed in detail starting on page 14. By Francois Kaplan, msystems Image courtesy of Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation. E-CASTS SA Forum: The Next Steps November 29, 2 p.m. EST Tackling FPGA Design Challenges for Embedded Systems November 30, 2 p.m. EST www.opensystems-publishing.com/ecast OpenSystems Publishing™ E-LETTER November: www.embedded-computing.com/eletter Benchmarking wireless telecommunications infrastructure equipment OpenSystems By Peter Carlston, Intel Publishing™ WEB RESOURCES Published by: OpenSystems Subscribe to the magazine or E-letter: OpenSystems www.opensystems-publishing.com/subscriptions Publishing™Publishing™ Industry news: Read: www.embedded-computing.com/news © 2006 Embedded Computing Design Submit: www.opensystems-publishing.com/news/submit All registered brands and trademarks within Embedded Computing Design are property of their respective owners. Submit new products: www.opensystems-publishing.com/vendors/submissions/np 4 / November 2006 Embedded Computing Design ©2006 OpenSystems Publishing. Not for distribution. 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A N O PEN S Y S TEM S P UBLIC A TI O N Embedded and Test & Analysis Group n Embedded Computing Design n Embedded Computing Design E-letter n Embedded Computing Design Resource Guide n Industrial Embedded Systems n Industrial Embedded Systems E-letter n Industrial Embedded Systems Resource Guide n PXI, Test & Technology n PXI, Test & Technology E-letter n PXI, Test & Technology Resource Guide Editorial Director Jerry Gipper [email protected] Contributing Editor Don Dingee Technical Editor Chad Lumsden [email protected] Associate Editor Jennifer Hesse [email protected] European Representative Hermann Strass [email protected] Special Projects Editor Bob Stasonis Senior Designer Joann Toth Senior Web Developer Konrad Witte Graphic Specialist David Diomede OpenSystems Circulation/Office Publishing™ Manager Phyllis Thompson [email protected] RSC# 601 @ www.embedded-computing.com/rsc OpenSystems Publishing™OpenSystems Publishing Editorial/Production office: 16872 E. Avenue of the Fountains, Ste 203, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 Tel: 480-967-5581 n Fax: 480-837-6466 Website: www.opensystems-publishing.com Publishers John Black, Michael Hopper, Wayne Kristoff FFor o rSingle Sing Vice President EditorialPrint Rosemary le Kristoff PrintOnly O n ly Communications Group Editorial Director Joe Pavlat Assistant Managing Editor Anne Fisher Senior Editor (columns) Terri Thorson Technology Editor Curt Schwaderer Associate Editor Jennifer Hesse European Representative Hermann Strass Military & Aerospace Group Group Editorial Director Chris Ciufo Assistant Editor Sharon Schnakenburg Senior Editor (columns) Terri Thorson European Representative Hermann Strass ISSN: Print 1542-6408, Online 1542-6459 Embedded Computing Design is published 8 times a year by OpenSystems Publishing LLC., 30233 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores, MI 48082. Subscriptions are free to persons interested in the design or promotion of embed- ded computing systems. For others inside the US and Canada, subscriptions are $56/year. For 1st class delivery outside the US and Canada, subscriptions are $80/year (advance payment in US funds required). Canada: Publication agreement number 40048627 Return address: WDS, Station A, PO Box 54, Windsor, ON N9A 615 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Embedded Computing Design 16872 E. Avenue of the Fountains, Ste 203, Fountain Hills, AZ 85268 RSC# 602 @ www.embedded-computing.com/rsc 6 / November 2006 Embedded Computing Design ©2006 OpenSystems Publishing. Not for distribution. FFor o rSingle Sing Print le PrintOnly O n ly RSC# 7 @ www.embedded-computing.com/rsc ©2006 OpenSystems Publishing. Not for distribution. Embedded computing – the final definition Jerry Gipper hroughout the year I’ve presented various spins on the The same hardware can conceivably be used in all three forms. definition of embedded computing. In January, I talked A server blade could be used in a server, a Personal Computer Tabout my quest to Wikipedia for this definition and how the (PC), or an embedded computer. To the other extreme, my Treo description of embedded systems seemed to fit well. An embed- could be a server or a PC, though not a very good one. PC technol- ded system is defined as “a special-purpose computer system, ogy is often used across all three forms, either in the packaging which is completely encapsulated by the device it controls.” The or as a motherboard. What makes it fall into one form or another completely encapsulated term is important to the definition. The is software. difficulty in distinguishing the compute elements as a computer is a key factor to being classified as embedded. My attempts at defining shades of gray were really software influenced. Hardware characteristics are modified based on the In March, I modified the definition with shades of gray, making it software running on the machine. Software plays a key role in easier to put certain devices into classes of embedded computers. I determining the classification of the system, whether the system is used the term hard embedded to describe devices that are difficult hard, firm, or soft embedded. to repurpose, firm embedded for devices that a user could repur- pose with some effort, and soft embedded for systems that even a novice user could quickly repurpose. Typically, access to the I have always believed a computer is the programming interface determines the particular shade of gray. combination of hardware and software – After all that, something was still missing in my definition. I found it hard to place certain devices; for instance, general purpose pro- you can’t talk about one without cessors can be used in a wide variety of computers. So I searched Wikipedia again, seeking the “holy grail” of a definition, this time entering the word computer. A couple of statements hit me, includ- considering the other. ing the basic definition: “A computer is a machine for manipulating data according to a list of instructions known as a program.” So I’m going to stick with my interpretations of the definitions of According to this definition, without a list of instructions or computer, embedded computer, and embedded systems with my software, hardware is simply an undefined machine. This made color added for a spectrum of embedded computers in this final me feel better sinceFFor I have oalways believed rSingle a computer Singis the definition: Print le PrintOnly O n ly combination of hardware and software – you can’t talk about one without considering the other. Companies that specialize in A special-purpose computer (a machine for manipulating one are not successful if they don’t fully understand the other. data according to a list of instructions known as a program) system, which is completely encapsulated by the device it Upon closer examination of the Wikipedia definition, I discovered controls. It may be hard, firm, or soft dedicated to that spe- descriptions for three forms of computers: cial purpose depending on the capabilities given to the user of the device by the combination of hardware and software. n “Enormous computing facilities for specialized scientific computation and for the transaction processing requirements Hardware and software are equally important parts of the defini- of large organizations.” These computers, commonly called tion. To that end, Embedded Computing Design is dedicated to servers, don’t always