In the past, system-on-chip (SoC) designers faced significant limitations due to the use of rigid and non-configurable core technologies. Traditional core processes were fixed and could not be modified during design or manufacturing, making it difficult to adapt them for different applications. This rigidity forced engineers to integrate custom programs into processors, configure multiple applications, and use software development tools to simplify machine language coding. As a result, the design process became more complex and time-consuming.
The introduction of configurable core processors has brought about a major transformation in SoC design. These processors offer greater flexibility, allowing designers to tailor their solutions to specific needs without compromising performance. Key benefits include lower development costs, reduced chip redesign efforts, faster market entry, and enhanced performance and design flexibility. Additionally, designers can modify CPU architectures to optimize performance for certain applications, making replication more challenging for competitors.
Configurable core processors are now being used across a wide range of applications, including wireless computing, mobile audio/video players, flash memory devices, digital set-top boxes, networking equipment, imaging systems, industrial control, office automation, and consumer electronics. Their versatility and adaptability make them ideal for evolving markets that demand customization and scalability.
It is clear that configurable technology is gradually replacing non-configurable solutions. According to Semico Research, shipments of configurable core processors reached 1.3 billion in 2005, 1.6 billion in 2006, and are expected to hit 2.8 billion in 2007. The global adoption of configurable technology is growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 45%, while non-configurable technology has been declining with a CAGR of 8% over the past three years.
In terms of application growth, industrial, mobile phone, cable and mobile infrastructure, and automotive sectors are leading the way for configurable core processors. On the other hand, non-configurable core processor applications like printers, memory, PCs, and fixed consumer appliances are growing at slower rates. Despite this, many companies continue to rely on both technologies, though industry experts believe the future lies with configurability.
While several companies lead in configurable core technology—such as Tensilica, ARC, Stretch, PACT XPP, IpFlex, Rapport, IBM Cell, and Morphing Machines—the competition remains largely between configurable and non-configurable solutions. However, as more companies adopt configurable technologies, especially established players like Intel, ARM, and MIPS, the shift toward configurable processors is becoming inevitable.
The market is also shifting from general-purpose processors to specialized, cost-effective solutions, particularly in mobile and embedded applications. This trend is accelerating the adoption of configurable core processors, which offer better performance and flexibility for a variety of use cases.
Designing hardware and software for configurable cores presents unique challenges. While traditional media solutions like DSPs, FPGAs, and ASICs have limited application ranges, modern configurable hardware offers greater flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency. Designers are increasingly looking for power-efficient solutions that deliver high performance with minimal gate counts and advanced features.
A growing trend involves using configurable processors, reusable arrays, and loading client-specific programs as needed. These architectures leverage data parallelism and high-performance processing for large datasets. Innovations in this space often come from companies like Tensilica and Stretch, pushing the boundaries of what is possible with customizable hardware.
Consumer electronics is also evolving, driven by the convergence of home entertainment, portable, and mobile applications. These systems are becoming more interconnected and complex, requiring advanced hardware and software integration. This complexity adds new layers of challenge for both hardware and software developers.
Software designers face additional hurdles when developing applications on these platforms. They must handle portability, integration, and power management effectively. Similarly, software IP providers encounter difficulties in testing, designing, and optimizing their solutions for different configurations.
Tata Elxsi has developed a flexible and scalable "media player architecture" that supports a wide range of digital media applications, including DVD players, portable media players (PMP), and broadcast media players (BMP). This architecture is modular, cross-platform, and easy to maintain, making it ideal for diverse use cases.
Key features of the "media player architecture" include object-oriented design, explicit interfaces, standardized error handling, callback mechanisms, and loose coupling. It also offers a small footprint and is highly reusable, especially for broadcast media applications such as DVB-H, AV playback, H264/MPEG-4/HEAAC/MP3 decoding, MPEG-4 recording, JPEG slide shows, playlist management, and common file format support.
Another example of Tata Elxsi's innovation is its H264 encoder modular architecture. This solution supports baseline and main profiles and is designed with a clean interface, modular execution, and algorithmic flexibility. It includes features like motion prediction, rate control, reference picture selection, and MB-type prediction, all of which contribute to efficient encoding and decoding.
The modular nature of this architecture allows it to be used across various platforms, including configurable processors, multi-core systems, DSP arrays, and FPGAs. Its scalability and adaptability make it a versatile choice for different hardware implementations.
In conclusion, the configurable core processor industry is rapidly expanding, driven by the need for cost-effective, flexible, and high-performance solutions. As user demands evolve, the ability to quickly adapt and deliver optimized designs becomes crucial. This creates numerous opportunities for companies that specialize in configurable technologies.
Tata Elxsi’s modular approach to AV encoders and media solutions ensures that they remain competitive in an ever-changing hardware landscape. By leveraging reusable software IP, they can accelerate time-to-market and provide scalable, upgradeable solutions for a wide range of applications.
Figure 1. The application of configurable technology is growing worldwide, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 45%.
Figure 2. Industrial, wireline and mobile infrastructure and automotive applications continue to have the highest growth rate of configurable core processors.
Figure 3. The connection network of the media device.
Figure 4. TataElxsi’s “Media Player Architecture.â€
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