1999-03-15 , SSC-9902
Business News From Philips Semiconductors

Software positions TriMedia for new digital applications using Java

Philips Semiconductors and NSI Com today announced that NSI Com's JSCP™ (Software Co-Processor for Java) software will now run on Philips Semiconductors' TriMedia™ family of processors. The TriMedia chip is a powerful VLIW (very long instruction word) media processor with a real-time kernel capable of simultaneously supporting video, audio, graphics, control, data and communications processing tasks. Leading consumer electronics manufacturers have selected the TriMedia processor for use in digital television, advanced set-top box and videophone applications.

NSI Com's JSCP is a unique implementation of Sun Microsystems' Java™ Virtual Machine developed to support the specific needs of embedded applications. The software enables embedded systems to run Java programs, with all the benefits of Java, but without compromising the embedded system's real-time environment. JSCP utilizes a software encapsulation technique to enclose the Java Virtual Machine in its own environment. JSCP and the Java application run as a standard task under the TriMedia real-time operating system. The JSCP encapsulation approach results in greater reliability, determinism, maintainability, a smaller footprint, and improved performance. Overall, JSCP's robust set of features provides users with a way to reduce time-to-market and shorten development cycles.

"NSI Com is pleased to offer JSCP support for Philips Semiconductors' TriMedia family. The TriMedia processor is ideal for digital video appliances that utilize Java. TriMedia developers can take advantage of Java's power to support a wide range of new services," said Marius Gafen, vice president of marketing at NSI Com.

"NSI Com is a leader in Java technology. We're very pleased with the commitment they have made to the TriMedia processor. Java is very important to the markets served by TriMedia. NSI Com's JSCP is the first of many Java environments and applications that Philips Semiconductors is developing with third party vendors for the TriMedia processor. Examples include support for ATSC datacasting services and interactive services for advanced set-top cable boxes," said Cees Hartgring, vice president and general manager of Philips Semiconductors' TriMedia Business Line.

JSCP is available now from NSI Com and its partners, as well as from Sun Microsystems. JSCP for the TriMedia processor is based on JDK version 1.1.4. Evaluation versions of JSCP for PCs using Windows® NT are available free of charge.

NSI Com is a member of the NSI group of companies with headquarters near Tel Aviv, Israel. NSI Com pioneered the use of Java in embedded systems and is now a leading supplier of Java solutions for the embedded systems market. The company's flagship product, JSCP, is specifically designed for a very broad variety of industrial and consumer applications such as digital TV, advanced telephony and data communication. NSI Com is a Sun Java licensee. It has earned a reputation as the vendor-of-choice for Java in the embedded market. Additional information is available on NSI Com's web site at www.nsicom.com or by calling (212) 717-9615 from North America or +972-3-533-1976 worldwide.

Philips Semiconductors, a division of Royal Philips Electronics, headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, is the eighth largest semiconductor supplier in the world (according to Dataquest's preliminary 1998 ranking by sales). Philips Semiconductors' innovations in digital audio, video, and mobile technology position the company as a leader in the consumer, multimedia and wireless communications markets. Sales offices are located in all major markets around the world and are supported by systems labs.