DSP software bridges the application gap

The latest version of SPW is a comprehensive DSP application solution that bridges the gap from DSP algorithm exploration to implementation into hardware and software.

The latest version of SPW is a comprehensive DSP application solution that bridges the gap from DSP algorithm exploration to implementation into hardware and software.

With the release of SPW 5-XP for the Microsoft Windows operating system, CoWare offers radical new features and functionality to make DSP application design faster and easier.

These include: unmatched integration with Matlab that accelerates implementation starting from Matlab algorithms; a Windows look and feel and graphical user interface (GUI); and an open, extendable, standard XML database.

CoWare has maintained SPW's core strengths: the speed of its simulation engine and its library of more than 4000 proven DSP application models.

"SPW 5 has the potential to put our proven design methodology using 'polymodelling' onto an exciting new foundation", said Bill Lawton, Staff Engineer, InterDigital Communications Corp.

"The new user interface and the more powerful scripting have the capability to enable us to further streamline the design cycle and increase our productivity".

"SPW 5-XP installed smoothly just like any other Windows application", said Masao Watanabe, Assistant Manager, Digital TV and STB Digital Project, Digital Audio/Visual Systems Division, NEC Electronics.

"The new GUI is much more streamlined than previous SPW releases".

"It is easy to navigate, and even has - thanks to CoWare's strong presence in Japan - built-in Japanese character support".

"CoWare's SPW 5 is a 'radical evolution' from SPW 4 - we created much of the product from scratch while maintaining SPW's strong simulation technology and libraries", said Mark Milligan, Vice President of Marketing, CoWare.

"SPW 5-XP runs on Windows, providing access to SPW for many designers who previously resorted to sub-optimal, competitive solutions".

"SPW 5-XP is the logical choice for Matlab users extending into C-based design".

Many design teams explore their DSP applications in Matlab before committing to an actual product design.

Eventually, every design team produces a detailed, C-based reference model for the DSP application, which is then handed off for implementation.

Reacting to customer demand based on SPW's superior C-based simulation technology, CoWare has built the industry's best third-party integration with Matlab to create a seamless flow from Matlab into SPW 5-XP for implementation.

The fast simulation interface for Matlab blocks drastically accelerates system simulation targeting implementation.

For added convenience, users can easily bring up Matlab from within SPW 5-XP to analyse their SPW 5-XP simulation results.

The new SPW 5 XML database enables the complete SPW infrastructure to scale with future DSP design flow innovation, enabling CoWare to integrate SPW 5 with other design tools supporting implementation on DSPs, FPGAs and SoCs.

And the flexibility inherent in the database makes integration of SPW into complex corporate design infrastructures simple and fast.

To improve design of complex DSP applications, the SPW 5-XP GUI has been designed using a Windows look and feel and simplified use models.

The new GUI provides a compact, tabbed view of a design, reducing the amount of mouse clicks and movements needed to navigate it.

Designers can also use colour and foreign characters for easier design viewing, and create design documentation through standard formats supported by Microsoft Office and other applications.

SPW 5 continues the traditional strength of SPW for DSP application design in areas such as ultrawideband (UWB) - with support for proposals from both the UWBForum and MBOA - and wireless LAN (802.11n), by providing the same fast simulation technology and libraries, now on the Windows platform.

The SPW 5 simulation engine has been proven to be more than 10 times faster than competitors' products, and it can handle extremely complex designs since it is optimised for simulation speed rather than interpretive exploration.

Its automatic scheduling is proven for designs of more than 1000 blocks, making it far more robust than manual scheduling using proprietary C-models.

CoWare SPW 5-XP for Windows is scheduled to ship worldwide in November 2004.

SPW 5 for Linux/Unix will be released in 2005.

SPW 5-XP comes with built-in, self-paced training, explaining basic modelling, simulation and analysis features.

For corporate flows, CoWare offers specialised on-site consulting services.

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