Archive-name: dsp-faq/part3ãLast-modified: Sun Mar 19 1993ãVersion: 1.0ããQ5.0 What DSP Operating Systems are available.ã[This was researched and written by Chuck Corley (chuckc@sr.hp.com)]ãã        The need to use an operating system for a DSP processor seems toãdepend on the task(s) to be performed.  For small or simple DSP tasksãwhere the DSP is doing only a single simple repetitive function, anãoperating system is probably not needed.ãã        As the number and complexity of DSP tasks increase, an operatingãsystem of some type may be needed in order to allocate system resourcesã(RAM, etc.)  and to perform multi-tasking, where several tasks takeãturns executing.ãã        An example:  A DSP processor may be required to perform non-DSPãjobs in order to eliminate a 'host' processor.  An operating system mayãbe needed in order to share processing time and resources between theãDSP and non-DSP tasks.ãã        An option for some DSP applications is to write your own DSPãtask-switching or job allocating 'operating system'.  Whether this isãthe right choice for you depends on how involved you need to make yourãoperating system, and how much time you have available to spend onãwriting it.ãã        A number of companies now offer pre-written operating systemsãthat execute on DSP processors.  In exchange for your money they offerãto save you the time and effort of writing and debugging your ownã'operating system' or 'task switcher' or 'resource allocator'.ãã        These companies describe their products as 'real-time' operatingãsystems.  What 'real-time' means is debated, but normally it means thatãthe maximum time for the operating system to respond to an externalãevent is known.  The calculation for measuring this time involvesãsumming together interrupt response time, task switching time, and otherãprocessor and operating system benchmarks.  'Real-time' usually alsoãmeans 'fast'.  Often embedded CPU or DSP tasks require a 'real-time'ã(known) response time.ãã        Prices and features vary.  All companies charge for purchasingãtheir 'development environment', which allows you to develop code whichãruns on their operating system.  Some companies also charge a fee forãeach product you create or sell that includes their operating systemãsoftware.  This is usually called a 'target fee' or 'runtime license'ãfee.  Some operating systems have no 'runtime license' fees.ãã        As a general precaution, when there are runtime license fees, itãis *very* important to negotiate in advance what the license fee willãbe.  If this price is not agreed upon (in writing, most likely) at theãtime the development system is purchased, you could be in a very badãposition.  You will have invested a lot of time and effort writing codeãto work with a particular operating system, and when your creation isãproduced you could discover that the 'runtime license fee' has increasedãfor some reason.  Considering the amount of work you would have investedãin that operating system, you would be in a very poor bargainingãposition.ãã        Features for 4 different DSP operating systems are listed below.ãKeep in mind a 'No' answer doesn't necessarily mean that the operatingãsystem is deficient.  Some companies felt certain features were notãappropriate for either a 'DSP' or a 'real-time' operating system, and soãthey did not implement them.  Other companies didn't implement featuresãbecause they were not appropriate for their targeted users.ãã        The information below was collected from phone calls andãmarketing literature, and is not necessarily accurate.  You shouldãcontact the vendors listed below for the best and most up-to-dateãinformation.ãããOperating System Features:    Byte-BOS    Nucleus     RXTC        SPOXã--------------------------    --------    -------     ----        ----ãPreemptive Task Scheduling    Yes         Yes         Yes         YesãTime-Sliced Task Scheduling   Yes         Yes         Yes         NoãRound-Robin Task Scheduling   ?           Yes         Yes         NoãInter-Task Messages           Yes         Yes         Yes         YesãMemory Management             Yes         Yes         Yes         YesãInterrupt Management          Yes         No          Yes         YesãTimer Management              Yes         Yes         Yes         NoãDevice-Independent I/O        No          No          No          YesãStream I/O                    Serial-$495 No          No          YesãDSP Math Library              No          No          No          $4000ãC Run-Time Library            No          No          No          $2000ãSource Code Included          Yes         Yes         Yes         NoãSource Code Type              ANSI-C      ANSI-C      ASM/ANSI-C  ASM/ANSI-CãOS RAM/ROM Size (Bytes)       5K-40K      4K-20K      12K-16K     44K+ãDemo Disk Available           ?           Yes         Yes         ?ãDevelopment License Type      Site        Prod Line   Site        ComputerãRun-Time License Fee          None        None        None        $25-$200ãDevelopment License Cost      $1995       $4995       $995-$4195  $6000-$12000ãããOS System-Level Debugger:     Byte-BOS    Nucleus     RXTC        SPOXã--------------------------    --------    -------     ----        ----ãBasic Debugging Functions     Yes         Yes         Yes         YesãPerformance Timer             Yes         Yes         No          YesãDebugger Cost                 $295        $750        $0          $5000ããã        Information on the 'Helios' distributed parallel processingãoperating system was not available at this time, but their address isãlisted below.ããã'Byte-BOS' is available from:ãã   Byte-BOSã   P.O. Box 3067ã   Del Mar, CA 92014ãã   Phone : 619-788-7288ã   Toll Free : 800-788-7288ãã   Supported DSPs: TI 320C2x/C3x/C5xã   Other CPUs:     80x86, V25/V35/V40/V50, Z80, Z180, 64180, 37700,ã                   680x0, 68332, 68340, 68302, ã                   8051, 8096, 80188/86, 68HC11, 68HC16, 6301/3ããã'Helios' (for distributed parallel processing) is available from:ãã   Perihelion Software Limitedã   The Maltingsã   Charlton Road, Shpeton Malletã   Somerset, United Kingdom  BA4 5QEãã   Phone : (44) (0) 373-344345ã   Fax : (44) (0) 373-344977ããã'Nucleus' is available from:ãã   Accelerated Technologyã   P.O. Box 850245ã   Mobile, Alabama 36685, USAãã   Phone:     (205) 661-5770ã   Toll free: (800) 468-NUKEã   Fax:      (205) 661-5788ãã   Supported DSPs: TI 320C2x/C3x/C4x/C5x, Motorola 56xxx, Analog Devices 21xxxã   Other CPUs:     Am29xxx, R3000, SPARC, i960, 680xx, 683xx, 80x86ããã'RTXC' and 'RTXC/MP' (a parallel processing version) are available from:ãã   AT Barrett & Associatesã   11501 Chimney Rockã   Houston, Texas  77035ãã   Phone : 713-728-9688ã   Toll Free : 800-525-4302ã   Fax : 713-728-9688ãã   Supported DSPs: TI 320C3xã   Other CPUs:     680x0, 68332/331/340, 68302, 68HC16, 68HC11, 6803,ã                   80x86, 80x96, 80x51, T400/800, Z80/Z180ã                   ãã'SPOX' and 'SPOX-MP' (a parallel-processing version) are available from:ãã   Spectron Microsystemsã   5266 Hollister Aveã   Santa Barbara, CS 93111, USAãã   Phone:     (805) 967-0503ã   Fax:      (805) 683-4995ãã   Supported DSPs: TI 320CC3x/C4x/C5x, Motorola 56xxx, Analog Devices 21xxxãã5. Manufacturer's addresses and telephone numbers.ããAnalog Devicesã1 Technology WayãP.O. Box 9106ãNorwood, MA  02062-9106ãPhone: (617) 329-4700ãPhone: (617) 461-3672 (DSP applications assistance)ãPhone: (617) 461-3881 (DSP marketing)ãã-----ããAnalogicã8 Centennial Dr.ãPeabody, MA  01960-7987ãPhone: (508) 977-3000 x. 3468ãFAX: (408) 977-9220ãã-----ããAriel Corp.ã433 River RoadãHighland Park, NJ 08904ãPhone: (908) 249-2900ãFAX: (908) 249-2123ãBBS: (908) 249-2124ãEmail: ariel@ariel.comãã-----ããAT&T MicroelectronicsãDept. AL-520404200ã55 Union Blvd.ãAllentown, PA  18103ãPhone: (800) 372-2447ãFAX: (215) 778=4106ãã-----ããAtlanta Signal Processors, Inc. (ASPI)ã770 Spring St.ãAtlanta, GA 30308ãPhone: (404) 892-7265ãFAX: (404) 892-2512ãã----ããBerkeley Camera Engineeringã3616 Skyline DriveãHayward, CA 94542ãPhone: (510) 889-6960ãFAX: (510) 889-7606ãEmail: mikep@nikon.ssl.berkeley.eduãã-----ããBittWare Research Systems, Inc.ãInner Harbor Center, 8th Floorã400 East Pratt StreetãBaltimore, MD 21202ãPhone: (800) 848-0435ãFAX: (410) 783-7375 ãã-----ããBridgenorth Signal Processing, Inc.ãP.O. Box 469ãCuster, WA  98240ãPhone: (604) 538-0003ãFAX: (604) 538-9073ãã-----ããCatalina Research Inc.ãColorado Springsã(719) 531-5767ãã-----ããCMS GmbHãPostfach 100202ãEinsteinstrabe 61-63ãD-7505 EttlingenãGermanyãPhone: (07243) 31001ãã-----ããCommunication Automation and Control, Inc. (CACI)ã1642 Union Blvd., Suite 200ãAllentown, PA  18103-1510ã(215) 776-6669ãFAX: (215) 770-1232ãã-----ããComputer Continuumã75 Southgate AvenueãDaly City,  CA 94015ã(415) 755-1978ãã-----ããCrystal Semiconductor Corp.ãP.O. Box 17847ãAustin, TX  78760ãPhone: (512) 445-7222ãFAX: (512) 445-7581ãã-----ããCurrent Technology, Inc.ã99 Madbury RoadãDurham, N.H. 03824ãPhone: (603) 868-2270ãFAX: (603) 868-1352ãã-----ããData Translationã100 Locke Dr.ãMarlboro, MA 01752-1192ã(508) 481-3700ã(800) 525-8528ãã-----ããDalanco Spryã89 Westland Ave.ãRochester, NY  14618ãPhone: (716) 473-3610ãã-----ããDigiDesign Incã1360 Willow Road, Suite 101ãMenlo Park CA 94025ãTel: 010 1 415 327 8811ãFAX: 010 1 415 327 0777ãã-----ããDSP Researchã391 Balsam Ave. (OR Possibly: 1095 E. Duane Ave) {Someone clarify?}ãSunnyvale, CA 94086ãPhone: (408) 773-1042ãFAX: (408) 736-3451ãã-----ããEnterTec, Inc.ãP.O. Box 8858ãRichmond, VA 23225ãPhone: (804)353-7133ãFAX: (804) 353-7134ãã-----ããHollis Electronics Co.ã5 Northern Blvd., Unit 13ãAmherst, NH  03031ãPhone: (603) 598-4640ãã-----ããImage & Signal Processingã120 Linden AvenueãLong Beach CA 90802ãPhone: (213) 495-9533ãFAX: (213) 495-1258ãã----ããInnovative Devices, Inc.ã1119 Damelart WayãBrentwood Bay, B.C.  V0S 1A0ãCanadaãPhone: (604) 652-5240 ãã-----ããIntegrated Motions, Inc. (IMI)ã758 Gilman St.ãBerkeley, CA  94710ã(510) 527-5810ãFAX: (510) 527-7843ãã-----ããIntegrated Technologies Solutions, Inc.ã402 Chestnut Ln.ãEast Meadow, NY  11554ã(516) 481-0857ãFAX: (516) 292-3115ãã-----ããIntellibitãP.O. Box 9785ãMcLean, VA  22102-0785ãPhone: (703) 442-4781ãFAX: (703) 442-4784ãã-----ããIxthos, Inc.ã12210 Plum Orchard DriveãSilver Spring, MD  20904ãPhone: (301) 890-1000ãã-----ããKINETICSYSTEMSãin USA:ãWilliam PontonãTel: 609-921-2088 ãFAX: 609-683-9633ãin Europe:             ãTel: 41-22-798-4445    ãFAX: 41-22-798-0525  ãã-----ããLogabexãZI de Montaudranã3 Avenue Didier Dauratã31400 ToulouseãFranceãPhone: (33) 61-80-94-37ãã-----ããLoughborough Sound Images LtdãThe Technology CentreãEpinal WayãLoughborough Leics LE11 OQEãEnglandãPhone: +44 (0)509 231843ãFAX: +44 (0)509 262433ãN.B. U.S. distributor is Spectrum Signal Processing (see below)ãã-----ããMizarã2410 Luna Rd.ãCarrolton, TX 75006ã(214) 277-4600ãFAX: (214) 277-4666ãã-----ãããMotorola Corp.ãDSP OperationãMail Drop OE314ã6501 William Cannon Drive, WestãAustin, TX 78735-8598ãPhone: (512) 891-2030 (marketing)ãBBS: (512) 891-DSP1 (300/1200 bps)ãBBS: (512) 891-DSP2 (1200 bps V.22)ãBBS: (512) 891-DSP3 (2400 bps V.22bis)ãã-----ãMotorola Ltd.ãMotorola Literature Centreã88 Tanners DriveãBlakelands Milton KeynesãMK145BPãGreat Britainãã-----ããNational Instrumentsã6504 Bridge Point ParkwayãAustin, TX  78730-5039ãPhone: (512) 794-0100ãPhone: (800) 433-3488ãFAX: (512) 794-8411ãã-----ããNatural Microsystems Corp.ã8 Erie DriveãNatick, MA 01760-1313ãPhone: (800) 533-6120ãã-----ããN.E.L.ãSystems CenterãAdvanced Computing GroupãEast KilbrideãGlasgowãG75 0QUãUnited KingdomãPhone: +44 (0)3552 72838ãFAX: +44 (0)3552 72979ãã-----ããPacific Cyber/Metrix, Incã6805 Sierra Ct.ãDublin, CA  94568-2615ã(510) 829-8700ãFAX: (510) 829-9796ãã-----ããPentek, Inc.ã55 Walnut St.ãNorwood, NJ  07648ãPhone: (201) 767-7100ãFAX: (201) 767-3994ãã-----ããPrecision Design Services PTY LTD,ãP.O. Box 61ãBerwick, Victoria, 3806ãAustraliaãTEL: +61 3 796 2003ãFAX: +61 3 796 1500ã-----ããPrime IdealãJoseph Virziã2124 Parker Street #300ãBerkeley, CA 94704ãPhone: (415) 513-8062ãã-----ããQuantawaveã(508) 481-9802ãã-----ããSaddle Point Systemsã3960 Greenwood Ave.ãOakland, CA  94602ãPhone: (510) 530-0971ãã-----ããSharp Microelectronics Technology, Inc.ã5700 NW Pacific Rim BlvdãCamas, WA 98607ãPhone: (206) 834-8711ãFAX: (206) 834-8611ãã-----ããSignal-Dataã63 Vester ParadisvejãDK-2840 HolteãDenmarkãPhone: (45) 30 42 6054ãPhone: (301) 890-1000ãã-----ããSonitech International Inc.ã14 Mica Ln.ãWellesley, MA 02181ã(617) 235-6824ãFAX: (617) 235-2531ãã-----ããSpecom Technologies Corp.ã3673 Enochs StreetãSanta Clara, CA 95051ãPhone: (408) 736-7832ãFAX: (408) 736-7861ãã-----ããSpectral InnovationsãSanta Clara, CAã(408) 727-1314ãã-----ããSpectrum Signal ProcessingãWestborough Office Parkã1500 West Park DriveãWestborough MA 01581 USAãPhone: (508) 366-7355ãFAX: (508) 89988 2772ãã-----ããTexas Instruments IncorporatedãP.O. Box 1443  M/S 737ãHouston, TX  77251-1443ã(713) 274-2320   (voice)ã(713) 274-2324   (fax)ã(713) 274-2323   (BBS  300-9600 N,8,1)ã4389750@mcimail.com   (Internet email)ãã-----ããTownshend Computer Tools ãPhone: (514) 289-9123,ãFAX: (514) 289-1831ãE-Mail: datlink%tt@cam.orgãã-----ãTraquair Data SystemsãPhone: (607) 272-4417ãFAX: (607) 277-2200ãã-----ããTucker-Davis Technologiesã4639 NW 6th St., Suite AãGainesville, FL  32609ã(904) 375-1623ãFAX: (904) 375-4523ãã-----ããValley Technologies, Inc.ãRD #4, Rt. 309ãTamaqua, PA  18252ã(717) 668-3737ãFAX: (717) 668-6360ãã-----ããVirga, Inc.ã4901 Morena Blvd.ãBldg. 502ãSan Diego, CA 92117ã(619) 483-1197ãã-----ããWavetron Microsystemsã1135 Oddstad DriveãRedwood City, CA 94063ãPhone: (415) 366-5371 or (415) 366-5375ãã=============================================================================ãQuestions, comments, or submissions for this FAQ should be mailed toãcomp-dsp-faq@ohm.Berkeley.EDU, ...!ucbvax!ohm!comp-dsp-faq.  Thanks!ã