News

  • Home > News

        Windows CE 6.0 BSP supports TI DaVinci

        Doug | Date: Jun 14, 2007 | Comments: 1


        Mistral Software has released a Windows CE 6.0 board support package (BSP) for TI's DM644x digital video evaluation module (DVEVM). The package provides drivers for all the DVEVM peripherals along with an OEM Adaptation Layer (OAL) claimed to meet Microsoft's Production Quality OEM Adaptation Layer (PQOAL) standard.



        TI's DM644x system-on-chip (SoC) processors are dual-core devices that integrate a TI TMS320C64x+ DSP core along with an ARM926 RISC processor core. Additionally the chips include video accelerators, networking peripherals, and external memory/storage interfaces that are all "specifically tuned for video," TI says.


        TI DM644x block diagram

        TI's DM644x DVEM is intended to simplify the development of applications based on the company's DM644x SoCs, including "videophones, automotive infotainment, digital still cameras, streaming media, IP set-top boxes, video security systems and digital video products that have yet to be invented," according to TI. The DVEM, pictured below, includes a TMS320DM446 DaVinci processor-based development board, an NTSC video camera, NTSC LCD screen, speakers and microphone, IR remote, and 2.5-inch 40GB hard drive, according to TI.


        TI DM644x DVEVM

        In addition to hardware support for the DM644x SoCs, Mistral says its Windows CE 6.0 DaVinci BSP also supports various TI software components, such as the DSP/BIOS Link and the Codec Engine, as well as Windows CE 6.0 features such as "Windows Network Projector" and "Network Media Device." The Codec Engine is a TI-developed proprietary API, called VISA (Video, Image, Speech, Audio), for accessing any supported codec on the DSP. The codec engine in turn uses DSP/BIOS. Mistral says it has integrated VISA into DirectShow transform filters, allowing application programmers to access codecs without knowledge of the Codec Engine or underlying DSP subsystem.


        DaVinci BSP architecture
        (Click image for larger view)

        According to Mistral, the BSP is highly configurable, allowing modules to be removed and replaced as necessary. For example, a user may choose to remove the DirectShow layer and call the VISA APIs directly from the application. The Codec Engine itself could be replaced by custom codecs that talk directly to the DSP/BIOS layer.

        Mistral's Windows CE 6.0 DaVinci BSP appears to be available now. Pricing and licensing terms were not revealed.


        Related stories: