SONY ANNOUNCES API SET SUPPORTING ITS
NanoOS™ SOFTWARE-ON-CHIP TECHNOLOGY
More Than 100 APIs Available for
DVB Set-Top Box and DVD Applications
LAS VEGAS, COMDEX, Booth #L2225, Nov. 17, 1997 -- Sony Semiconductor Company of America (SSA), a division of
Sony Electronics Inc., today announced the availability of its application programmable interface (API) set supporting
its NanoOS™ technology. First implemented in Sony's CXD1930Q MPEG-2 integrated
audio/video decoder, the NanoOS kernel is a real-time embedded operating system.
This compact nano-kernel uses highly programmable hardware cores to handle a significant portion of chip functionality
and provide customization options. Sony's advanced, open API set will enable set-top box developers to provide product
differentiation through its flexible architecture. More than 100 APIs are now available for multimedia applications such
as digital video broadcast (DVB) and digital versatile disc (DVD). The NanoOS technology is also the foundation for
expanding the API set towards the next generation of products such as HDTV.
"With our advanced API set, set-top box designers can use the NanoOS kernel to enhance their products with unique,
custom capabilities," said Jodie Hughes, vice president and general manager consumer a/v/d division, SSA.
"Designed for a wide spectrum of multimedia applications, the NanoOS technology and its API set will enable advanced
features to be easily integrated and cost effective."
Designed to efficiently balance hardware/software requirements, the NanoOS software handles fixed proprietary tasks and
virtual memory, providing programming ease and flexibility in real-time control. It is optimized to balance instruction
memory and supportive functionality. The NanoOS kernel has a compact size of 256-bytes currently running on a single
16-bit ISA RISC central processing unit. This simple kernel can be embedded in other real-time industry standard
operating systems (OS) enabling nano-kernel drop-ins, such as Sony's Aperios, pSOS™ and OS/9™. It is also
designed to handle optimum trade-off between real-time and non real-time tasks. For example, in the
CXD1930Q, the NanoOS software handles high-level system functions such as
audio/video/sub-title/closed-caption synchronization, proprietary error concealment and advanced trick play commands.
The CXD1930Q forms the basis for Sony's Virtuoso™ family of digital media devices.
The NanoOS technology is also portable across the Virtuoso family of future digital media devices through its virtual
instruction set architecture. The API enables different levels of control depending on the host processor architecture.
For example, the APIs for DVD applications include advanced trick play for both audio and video, sub-picture graphics
control, on-screen-display graphics control, still image tiling and picture-in-picture, angle picture viewing, graphics
and image scrolling, and programmable filtering with optimum filter section based on arbitrary sampling ratio inputs that
enable features such as zoom-in and zoom-out.
"Designed with a hierarchical structure, the API set allows easy customization and product differentiation. Its
hierarchical design enables software portability and quick hardware upgrades," said Dr. Taner Ozcelik, software
design manager for video and graphics products, SSA. "It also reduces design support costs and increases platform
independence."
Through Sony's multi-level API set, most of the functionality traditionally provided at the host processor level is
brought on-chip for simplicity in implementation and easy upgrade.
SSA, based in San Jose, Calif., is a leading manufacturer of integrated circuits. Since 1983, Sony has designed,
engineered and manufactured products for the US semiconductor market. The company is a leading supplier and technology
leader in the development of semiconductor solutions for newly-emerging and cutting-edge high performance markets in
multimedia, communications and workstation cache memory. Currently it offers a diverse array of innovative products
ranging from memory to multimedia, communications, networking and wireless ICs.
Vertically integrated for fast product development and production, Sony is positioned to respond quickly to customer
needs the company include a state-of-the-art design center in San Jose and wafer fabrication facilities in San Antonio,
Texas.
pSOS is a trademark of Integrated Systems Inc.
OS/9 is a trademark of Microware Systems Corp.
White Paper --
"NanoOS and Application Programming Interface (API)"
Customer contact:
Please contact your local
area sales representative
for customer support.
