Objective Interface Systems today introduced ORBexpress DSP, a communications middleware product for multiprocessor systems based on the Texas Instruments (TI) TMS320C6000 DSPs, including the TMS320C64x DSP generation. ORBexpress DSP is an Object Request Broker (ORB), a technology that enables communications in a heterogenous system, e.g., between DSPs and general-purpose processors (GPPs). ORBexpress DSP is based on the new CORBA/e standard that targets real-time environments.

ORBexpress DSP allows systems engineers to transparently migrate processing between GPPs and TI DSPs. This flexibility allows developers to efficiently allocate the workload in a multiprocessor system. It also allows DSP to communicate with other processors without going through a GPP, thus improving the performance of intra-board and extra-board communications.

ORBexpress DSP provides a distributed communications platform for applications such as software defined radios (SDRs) and wireless infrastructure. For Software Communications Architecture (SCA)-based SDRs, ORBexpress DSP provides the communication layer for the application framework and waveform application components operating on DSPs. Designed based on years of experience, ORBexpress DSP is the world's only SCA-certified ORB available for digital signal processors.

ORBexpress DSP offers specific technical benefits to developers using TI's C6000 DSP platform. ORBexpress DSP customizes size, speed and functionality through user configuration options, providing a high degree of optimization. It also provides flexibility, enabling components executing on DSPs to be accessed directly by simple CORBA calls as easily as if they were local. ORBexpress DSP is engineered to minimize the latency and maximize the bandwidth of all inter-processor communications. In addition, intra-processor communications via ORBexpress DSP are only 10 to 20 clock cycles.

ORBexpress DSP fully supports the tool chain for TI's C6000 generation of DSPs. It supports TI's Code Composer Studio Integrated Development Environment (CCS IDE) and DSP/BIOS real-time kernel, speeding development of C6000 DSP-based systems. Optimized for an extremely small footprint and high-throughput, ORBexpress DSP gives TI C6000 DSP developers the ability to easily implement whichever specialized transport protocol they choose.

ORBexpress is used in virtually every major SDR program in the world, including each major JTRS program in the United States. It is used as the foundational communications infrastructure in a wide variety of telecommunications and data communications systems, including cellular base stations and mobile terminals.

ORBexpress DSP for TI's C6000 DSP platform is available today from Objective Interface. ORBexpress DSP, a royalty-free product, includes a free 3-day training class with each license sold, and one year of full maintenance. For more information visit www.ois.com/products or e-mail info@ois.com. Objective Interface can be reached at 1 800-800-OIS7 in the U.S., +33 (0) 6 68 35 15 45 in Europe or +81 (0)3-5623-2112 in Japan.