Mentor Launches Integrated Subsystem IP for USB

Mentor Graphics Corp. has the first Subsystem IP line, a complete USB solution that has both a digital controller, a physical-layer component and middleware. In the near future there is talk of getting out to the market Subsystem IP-based products for Ethernet, PCI and Serial ATA applications. The move that determined the appearance on the market of this technology is in order to reduce costs and design cycles for consumers.

With this idea in mind, the intellectual-property strategy that Mentor had in mind has been changed, with the launch of the first family of integrated subsystems composed of silicon-proven hardware and software IP. Although this strategy is the one chosen for the future, not so long ago mentor Graphics offered separate IP components, middleware and real-time operating system.

Bill Martin, general manager of Mentor Graphics' IP Division said: "This past year, many of our large customers have experienced integration issues--primarily with digital controllers and embedded-software IP--delaying their consumer product introductions. To help remove these integration challenges, we are responding to customer requirements with our Subsystem IP solution. The company will continue to carry these individual components for OEMs. But now, it also will offer a more complete solution that bundles hardware and its embedded-software offerings."

The solution has applications for both large and small companies, and it is said to be "especially beneficial for smaller companies (...) that have little or no expertise in IP integration." Mentor's USB subsystem has a lot of practical uses in appliances such as MP3 players, digital cameras, game machines, DSL systems, industrial gear, networking products, PDAs, set-top boxes and others. The advantage that the company has over other vendors of real-time OS, IP and middleware is that it offers "a complete solution".