Platform brings mobile WiMAX together

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Feb 23, 2006

A development platform for mobile WiMAX integrates picoChip's PC102 picoArray multicore DSP with the Wintegra WinMax access processor.

picoChip and Wintegra have advanced their partnership by announcing a development platform for mobile WiMAX that integrates picoChip's PC102 picoArray multicore digital signal processor (DSP) running its IEEE802.16e PHY with the Wintegra WinMax access processor programmed with 16e MAC software for transport and backhaul functionality.

In addition to providing complete and efficient 16e functionality, the development platform offers support for advanced antenna systems (AAS) and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), which is enabled by means of an optional software upgrade from ArrayComm.

WinMax features a programmable datapath that offers the ability to support multiple MAC entities on the same device.

This allows simultaneous support for multiple sectors and thus dramatically simplifies Full Mobility Handover and reduces the latency as required by operators.

The multiple MAC support also provides an important advantage in its ability to scale the access capability, allowing the support of both 16d and 16e on same platform.

CPRI variants and OBSAI RP3-01 control for remote antenna operation can also be supported by the architecture.

WinMax's integrated transport and MAC capability allows for capacity growth.

This means that the technology is scalable, making it suitable for any size basestation from picocell up to multisector, multi-protocol macrocell capability.

The new development platform offers direct connectivity between MAC, PHY, RF and antenna subsystems for basestation design.

A key advantage is that both companies offer fully tested software and vendor-independent APIs that permit rapid integration of these components, as well as additional system software with optional licensing of tools and source code.

In addition to offering the same benefits of integration and interoperability testing as a standard basestation design, the picoChip and Wintegra platform offers a modular, scalable, open approach that allows OEMs freedom of choice in customising and differentiating their systems, while maintaining the benefits of reduced time to market and field upgradeability.

Colin Alexander, Director of Wireless Marketing for Wintegra, commented: "We believe this is the first reference platform to provide a rapid and optimised route to bringing 16e to market".

Added Rupert Baines, VP Marketing for picoChip: "These designs are based on standard components, thus allowing equipment manufacturers to rapidly implement a wide range of 802.16e compliant basestation products".

"This reduces both cost and time to market, while still enabling flexibility and programmability to cover pico, micro and macro basestation architectures".