In public discussions about embedded multi-processing and FPGAs, most of the focus has been on DSP. But there’s another application area requiring embedded multi-processing that has remained elusive, not because of silicon deficiencies, but due to the lack of an easy methodology. That application is packet processing. Packet processing performance as high as 10 Gbps is possible in FPGAs, so the silicon is fast, but even single gigabit performance has required RTL and a hardware approach to design.

Many companies with projects involving packet processing work exclusively in software, predominantly C. They have infrastructures and methodologies … Read More → "Taming Embedded Multi-Core on FPGAs for Packet Processing"

“You don’t understand,” my father patiently explained. “People have enormous collections of vinyl records. They’re never going to switch to a new format like compact disc, even if the sound and convenience are better. There’s just too much already invested.” Generally, Dad was a progressive, technically-savvy, keep-up-with-change kinda’ guy. On some issues, however, he just couldn’t see past the status-quo. His experience had built a level of technology-rooted myopia that his vision couldn’t overcome. When the new thing came along, even though … Read More → "Status Quopia"

Just out of college and needing some extra cash during the holidays, I worked briefly for a high-end haberdashery in Virginia. During orientation, we learned the tricks of the trade, including how to tie the perfect tie (I can still perform this impressive parlor trick…) and how to fold and stack dress shirts. But tucked neatly among all the expensive men’s clothing presentation skills was an actual life lesson. We were coached that we must not judge any customer by his appearance, and that some of the most important clients to visit the store would look … Read More → "This Engineer Walks Into a Bar…"

You know what they say about technophiles: Give us a wireless inch and we’ll take a wireless mile. Actually, make that a wireless metropolitan area network. It seems like only yesterday that we were content, even ecstatic, with a wireless network in our homes. Then we said, “Hey, if only we could use our wireless technology while drinking coffee in a small cafe, our lives would be complete.” Once we got a taste of non-fat, grande, double-shot Internet espresso, we wanted to put our coffee in a to-go cup, move our laptop applications … Read More → "Beverly Hills 802.16"

For years, we’ve talked about how FPGAs have the potential to accelerate digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms, producing higher performance with lower cost and lower power consumption than traditional DSP processors*. Whoa! Did you see that – the asterisk at the end of that claim? It’s true, though. Using the parallel computing capability of a typical DSP-enabled FPGA (one with hardware multipliers, MACs, or DSP accelerators) you can get tens to hundreds of times the throughput of a DSP processor running the same algorithm in compiled C code*. Hey! There it was again!

That … Read More → "Erasing the Asterisk"