Octasic Debuts Multi-Core DSP for Video Processing, Wireless Base Stations

Montreal-based Octasic introduced its second-generation, multi-core DSPs designed for media gateways, HD video processing and wireless systems.


The new OCT2200 series of devices, which initially pack 24 high performance cores on a single chip, leverage several innovations in DSP architecture to significantly reduce power consumption even at high levels of processing. Octasic calculates that devices based on its second generation of the Opus DSP core (Opus2) can deliver over 36 GMACs with less than 55 mW of power consumption per GMAC, under worst case process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) conditions. Some of these gains are achieved by implementing a unique token passing mechanism instead of the clock-tree structure in conventional DSPs. This eliminates state-elements and significantly boosts the efficiency of the DSP while bringing all the advantages of asynchronous circuits.


The first two members of the OCT2200 family are the OCT2224M for media processing and the OCT2224W for wireless baseband applications. Both incorporate 24 Opus2 DSP cores with various I/O interfaces and an optional ARM core. Targeted wireless applications include base-station products with single chip femtocell and picocell solutions, and multi-chip macrocells. Targeted media applications include: wireline and wireless media gateways; IP PBXs; audio/video transcoding gateways; High-Definition (HD) video conferencing and streaming; video surveillance Digital Video Recorders (DVRs), and medical imaging.


The performance of the OCT2224M device allows a complete encoding for two 1080p video streams simultaneously with no dedicated hardware acceleration in 3.5 Watts. The same device can process hundreds of channels simultaneously, allowing for any combination of bit-rates and resolutions, from QCIF up to HD. This flexible device provides support for all popular video codecs including MPEG-2, H.263, MPEG-4, H.264, VC-1 and VP8. The DSP also provide the ability to handle up to 800 voice channels.


The OCT2224W device can implement a complete multi-standard picocell that can provide LTE, WiMAX, HSPA+, EDGE, or any other commercial wireless standard. It can support up to 64 HSPA+ or LTE users on a single device. The OCT2224W performs LTE PHY and MAC for a 20MHz 2x2 BTS at an unprecedented 3 Watts. Octasic provides PHY software libraries that offer standard compliant GSM, EDGE, WCDMA, HSPA+, and LTE functionality. For example, an OCT2224W device can implement a complete multi-standard picocell that can provide LTE, WiMAX, HSPA+, EDGE, or any other commercial wireless standard on a single hardware platform.
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