Imperas defines flow to run Mentor Nucleus RTOS, EDGE on OVP reference platforms

PARIS — Imperas Ltd. claimed it has conceived a flow that eases embedded software development with Mentor Graphics Embedded Software Division tools.

Partners said the Imperas flow with Mentor Nucleus Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) and the EDGE products facilitates the use of Open Virtual Platforms (OVP) open source models for the development of embedded systems.

Imperas (Thame, England) noted that it has released free reference virtual platforms based on ARM and MIPS processor cores, running the Mentor Nucleus RTOS. The reference virtual platforms, now available on the Open Virtual Platforms website, are said to make it easy for embedded systems developers to use these platforms as a starting point for building their own virtual platforms.

“Just as we cannot imagine developing hardware without using simulation, software simulation, or virtual platforms, are moving into the mainstream of embedded software development for SoCs (systems on chips),” stated Simon Davidmann, president and CEO, Imperas and founding director of the OVP initiative. “Making it easier to get started with virtual platforms by releasing reference platforms with the most popular operating systems such as Nucleus RTOS provides great value to the OVP and embedded systems communities.”

In 2008, Imperas donated some high-level processor models, APIs for building platform verification infrastructure and developing behavioral and processor models, and OVPSim, a reference simulator. These have been downloadable for free from an OVP website.

The company then pitched its approach around the semiconductor and EDA industries and an initial list of about 20 supporters included Carbon Design Systems Inc., CriticalBlue Ltd., Denali Software Inc., MIPS Technologies Inc. and Tensilica Inc.