Factum middleware available on Blackfin processors

Analog Devices has announced the newest version of DAB/DAB+/DMB middleware from Factum Electronics is now available on Analog's Blackfin BF5xx processors.

Pairing the Blackfin processor with Factum middleware enables a single-chip module that brings DLS (dynamic label segment), SLS (slideshow), and EPG (electronic programme guide) data services together with audio, image, and video decoding capabilities for the next generation of handheld mobile receivers and kitchen radios with displays or screens.

Receivers equipped to handle multimedia formats, including text and images, supported by the growing set of the Eureka 147 family of DAB/DAB+/DMB (Digital Audio Broadcasting/Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) standards require a processor able to deliver high-performance at low power, and in a small form factor.

Applications with these design demands benefit from the converged microcontroller and signal processor functionality provided by Blackfin.

This DSP + MCU convergent processing drives down bill-of-materials cost for digital radio receivers and other price-sensitive consumer electronics products.

Factum's complete range of middleware modules for data services reduces development time for receiver manufacturers and supports support receiver stability and quality of service.

Offerings include FIC (Fast Information Channel), DLS, SLS, EPG, TPEG (Transport Protocol Experts Group), and BWS (broadcast website).

This middleware is built upon Factum's experience as a head-end system manufacturer, and leverages the company's expertise in developing, testing, validating, and supporting middleware products for chipset, terminal, and receiver manufacturers.

To complement Factum's middleware, ADI is providing a system solution for DAB/DAB+/DMB receivers - including essential software modules such as MPEG2 TS demuxer, HE-AAC decoder, H.264 decoder, MP2 decoder, JPEG decoder, PNG decoder, and high-quality GUI - which all execute on a single Blackfin processor.

LCD, remote control, and keypad are supported along with control of the DAB/DAB+/DMB front-end tuner by Blackfin.

With the complete TCP/IP stack and various popular audio decoders (MP3, WMA, Real, and AAC) running on the Blackfin processor, internet radio (for example, vTuner and SHOUTcastO) along with a host of internet music services (such as RhapsodyO) are supported as well.

Audio post-processing routines from Audyssey, which include BassXT, Dynamic EQ, and EQ, also run on the same Blackfin processor.

The programmability of the Blackfin processor will speed future implementation of new functionality, such as Journaline and Intellitext, because the embedded software can be modified instead of the chip.

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