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Archive-name: dsp-faq/part1
Last-modified: Fri Jan 1 1993
Version: 0.8

Q5.0 What DSP Operating Systems are available.
[This was researched and written by Chuck Corley (chuckc@sr.hp.com)]

        The need to use an operating system for a DSP processor seems to
depend on the task(s) to be performed.  For small or simple DSP tasks
where the DSP is doing only a single simple repetitive function, an
operating system is probably not needed.

        As 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.

        An 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 you need to make your
operating system, and how much time you have available to spend on
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' or 'resource allocator'.

        These companies describe their products as 'real-time' operating
systems.  What 'real-time' means is debated, but normally it means that
the maximum time for the operating system to respond to an external
event is known.  The calculation for measuring this time involves
summing together interrupt response time, task switching time, and other
processor and operating system benchmarks.  'Real-time' usually also
means 'fast'.  Often embedded CPU or DSP tasks require a 'real-time'
(known) response time.

        Prices and features vary.  All companies charge for purchasing
their 'development environment', which allows you to develop code which
runs on their operating system.  Some companies also charge a fee for
each product you create or sell 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.

        As a general precaution, when there are runtime license fees, it
is *very* important to negotiate in advance what the license fee will
be.  If this price is not agreed upon (in writing, most likely) at the
time the development system is purchased, you could be in a very bad
position.  You will have invested a lot of time and effort writing code
to work with a particular operating system, and when your creation is
produced you could discover that the 'runtime license fee' has increased
for some reason.  Considering the amount of work you would have invested
in that operating system, you would be in a very poor bargaining
position.

        Features for 4 different DSP operating systems are listed below.
Keep in mind a 'No' answer doesn't necessarily mean that the operating
system is deficient.  Some companies felt certain features were not
appropriate for either a 'DSP' or a 'real-time' operating system, and so
they did not implement them.  Other companies didn't implement features
because they were not appropriate for their targeted users.

        The information below was collected from phone calls and
marketing literature, and is not necessarily accurate.  You should
contact the vendors listed below for the best and most up-to-date
information.


Operating System Features:    Byte-BOS    Nucleus     RXTC        SPOX
--------------------------    --------    -------     ----        ----
Preemptive Task Scheduling    Yes         Yes         Yes         Yes
Time-Sliced Task Scheduling   Yes         Yes         Yes         No
Round-Robin Task Scheduling   ?           Yes         Yes         No
Inter-Task Messages           Yes         Yes         Yes         Yes
Memory Management             Yes         Yes         Yes         Yes
Interrupt Management          Yes         No          Yes         Yes
Timer Management              Yes         Yes         Yes         No
Device-Independent I/O        No          No          No          Yes
Stream I/O                    Serial-$495 No          No          Yes
DSP Math Library              No          No          No          $4000
C Run-Time Library            No          No          No          $2000
Source Code Included          Yes         Yes         Yes         No
Source Code Type              ANSI-C      ANSI-C      ASM/ANSI-C  ASM/ANSI-C
OS RAM/ROM Size (Bytes)       5K-40K      4K-20K      12K-16K     44K+
Demo Disk Available           ?           Yes         Yes         ?
Development License Type      Site        Prod Line   Site        Computer
Run-Time License Fee          None        None        None        $25-$200
Development License Cost      $1995       $4995       $995-$4195  $6000-$12000


OS System-Level Debugger:     Byte-BOS    Nucleus     RXTC        SPOX
--------------------------    --------    -------     ----        ----
Basic Debugging Functions     Yes         Yes         Yes         Yes
Performance Timer             Yes         Yes         No          Yes
Debugger Cost                 $295        $750        $0          $5000


        Information on the 'Helios' distributed parallel processing
operating system was not available at this time, but their address is
listed below.


'Byte-BOS' is available from:

   Byte-BOS
   P.O. Box 3067
   Del Mar, CA	92014

   Phone : 619-788-7288
   Toll Free : 800-788-7288

   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:

   Perihelion Software Limited
   The Maltings
   Charlton Road, Shpeton Mallet
   Somerset, United Kingdom  BA4 5QE

   Phone : (44) (0) 373-344345
   Fax : (44) (0) 373-344977


'Nucleus' is available from:

   Accelerated Technology
   P.O. Box 850245
   Mobile, Alabama 36685, USA

   Phone:     (205) 661-5770
   Toll free: (800) 468-NUKE
   Fax:	     (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
   11501 Chimney Rock
   Houston, Texas  77035

   Phone : 713-728-9688
   Toll Free : 800-525-4302
   Fax : 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
   5266 Hollister Ave
   Santa Barbara, CS 93111, USA

   Phone:     (805) 967-0503
   Fax:	     (805) 683-4995

   Supported DSPs: TI 320CC3x/C4x/C5x, Motorola 56xxx, Analog Devices 21xxx

5. 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)

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Analogic
8 Centennial Dr.
Peabody, MA  01960-7987
Phone: (508) 977-3000 x. 3468
FAX: (408) 977-9220

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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

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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

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Berkeley Camera Engineering
3616 Skyline Drive
Hayward, CA 94542
Phone: (510) 889-6960
FAX: (510) 889-7606
Email: mikep@nikon.ssl.berkeley.edu

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BittWare Research Systems, Inc.
Inner Harbor Center, 8th Floor
400 East Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: (800) 848-0435
FAX: (410) 783-7375 

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Bridgenorth Signal Processing, Inc.
P.O. Box 469
Custer, WA  98240
Phone: (604) 538-0003
FAX: (604) 538-9073

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Catalina Research Inc.
Colorado Springs
(719) 531-5767

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CMS GmbH
Postfach 100202
Einsteinstrabe 61-63
D-7505 Ettlingen
Germany
Phone: (07243) 31001

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Communication Automation and Control, Inc. (CACI)
1642 Union Blvd., Suite 200
Allentown, PA  18103-1510
(215) 776-6669
FAX: (215) 770-1232

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Computer Continuum
75 Southgate Avenue
Daly City,  CA 94015
(415) 755-1978

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Crystal Semiconductor Corp.
P.O. Box 17847
Austin, TX  78760
Phone: (512) 445-7222
FAX: (512) 445-7581

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Current Technology, Inc.
99 Madbury Road
Durham, N.H. 03824
Phone: (603) 868-2270
FAX: (603) 868-1352

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Data Translation
100 Locke Dr.
Marlboro, MA 01752-1192
(508) 481-3700
(800) 525-8528

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Dalanco Spry
89 Westland Ave.
Rochester, NY  14618
Phone: (716) 473-3610

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DigiDesign Inc
1360 Willow Road, Suite 101
Menlo Park CA 94025
Tel: 010 1 415 327 8811
FAX: 010 1 415 327 0777

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DSP Research
391 Balsam Ave. (OR Possibly: 1095 E. Duane Ave) {Someone clarify?}
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Phone: (408) 773-1042
FAX: (408) 736-3451

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EnterTec, Inc.
P.O. Box 8858
Richmond, VA 23225
Phone: (804)353-7133
FAX: (804) 353-7134

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Hollis Electronics Co.
5 Northern Blvd., Unit 13
Amherst, NH  03031
Phone: (603) 598-4640

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Image & Signal Processing
120 Linden Avenue
Long Beach CA 90802
Phone: (213) 495-9533
FAX: (213) 495-1258

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Innovative Devices, Inc.
1119 Damelart Way
Brentwood Bay, B.C.  V0S 1A0
Canada
Phone: (604) 652-5240 

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Integrated Motions, Inc. (IMI)
758 Gilman St.
Berkeley, CA  94710
(510) 527-5810
FAX: (510) 527-7843

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Integrated Technologies Solutions, Inc.
402 Chestnut Ln.
East Meadow, NY  11554
(516) 481-0857
FAX: (516) 292-3115

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Intellibit
P.O. Box 9785
McLean, VA  22102-0785
Phone: (703) 442-4781
FAX: (703) 442-4784

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Ixthos, Inc.
12210 Plum Orchard Drive
Silver Spring, MD  20904
Phone: (301) 890-1000

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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  

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Logabex
ZI de Montaudran
3 Avenue Didier Daurat
31400 Toulouse
France
Phone: (33) 61-80-94-37

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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)

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Mizar
2410 Luna Rd.
Carrolton, TX 75006
(214) 277-4600
FAX: (214) 277-4666

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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)

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Motorola Ltd.
Motorola Literature Centre
88 Tanners Drive
Blakelands Milton Keynes
MK145BP
Great Britain

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National Instruments
6504 Bridge Point Parkway
Austin, TX  78730-5039
Phone: (512) 794-0100
Phone: (800) 433-3488
FAX: (512) 794-8411

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Natural Microsystems Corp.
8 Erie Drive
Natick, MA 01760-1313
Phone: (800) 533-6120

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Pacific Cyber/Metrix, Inc
6805 Sierra Ct.
Dublin, CA  94568-2615
(510) 829-8700
FAX: (510) 829-9796

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Pentek, Inc.
55 Walnut St.
Norwood, NJ  07648
Phone: (201) 767-7100
FAX: (201) 767-3994

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Precision Design Services PTY LTD,
P.O. Box 61
Berwick, Victoria, 3806
Australia
TEL: +61 3 796 2003
FAX: +61 3 796 1500
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Prime Ideal
Joseph Virzi
2124 Parker Street #300
Berkeley, CA 94704
Phone: (415) 513-8062

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Quantawave
(508) 481-9802

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Saddle Point Systems
3960 Greenwood Ave.
Oakland, CA  94602
Phone: (510) 530-0971

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Sharp Microelectronics Technology, Inc.
5700 NW Pacific Rim Blvd
Camas, WA 98607
Phone: (206) 834-8711
FAX: (206) 834-8611

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Signal-Data
63 Vester Paradisvej
DK-2840 Holte
Denmark
Phone: (45) 30 42 6054
Phone: (301) 890-1000

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Sonitech International Inc.
14 Mica Ln.
Wellesley, MA 02181
(617) 235-6824
FAX: (617) 235-2531

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Specom Technologies Corp.
3673 Enochs Street
Santa Clara, CA 95051
Phone: (408) 736-7832
FAX: (408) 736-7861

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Spectral Innovations
Santa Clara, CA
(408) 727-1314

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Spectrum Signal Processing
Westborough Office Park
1500 West Park Drive
Westborough MA 01581 USA
Phone: (508) 366-7355
FAX: (508) 89988 2772

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Townshend Computer Tools 
Phone: (514) 289-9123,
FAX: (514) 289-1831
E-Mail: datlink%tt@cam.org

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Tucker-Davis Technologies
4639 NW 6th St., Suite A
Gainesville, FL  32609
(904) 375-1623
FAX: (904) 375-4523

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Valley Technologies, Inc.
RD #4, Rt. 309
Tamaqua, PA  18252
(717) 668-3737
FAX: (717) 668-6360

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Virga, Inc.
4901 Morena Blvd.
Bldg. 502
San Diego, CA 92117
(619) 483-1197

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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!