New ARC Player Subsystem Combines Audio and MPEG-4 Video Functionality for Low Cost Consumer Devices.ELSTREE, England -- ARC International This article is about the publicly traded processor company. For the privately held French housewares company of the same name, see ARC International (household). (LSE LSE - Language Sensitive Editor :ARK), the world leader in configurable multimedia subsystems and CPU/DSP cores, today introduced the ARC Player Subsystem -- the latest addition to its offering of programmable subsystems that are ideally suited for system-on-chips (SoCs) targeting media-intensive consumer applications. The ARC Player Subsystem is the first in the industry to offer an MPEG-4 video decoder and multi-standard audio codecs coupled with a configurable 32-bit microprocessor as a pre-verified solution. It is available for licensing by qualified customers globally. Increasingly consumer electronics manufacturers are incorporating multimedia functionality into a wide range of devices, such as portable audio players, electronically enabled toys, and low-end cellular phones. This trend is causing semiconductor companies to migrate from the 8- and 16-bit microcontrollers and fixed hardware blocks that are prevalent in these products today, to new cost effective 32-bit microprocessor-based subsystems, which offer multi-standard audio, MPEG-4 video capabilities, and much greater computing performance. The ARC Player Subsystem meets the needs of these applications by integrating audio and video onto a programmable subsystem that is based upon a 32-bit CPU/DSP core. Ideal for ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) Pronounced "a-sick." A chip that is custom designed for a specific application rather than a general-purpose chip such as a microprocessor. and SoC implementations, the ARC Player Subsystem operates at very low power in 0.18 micron technologies. Components included in the pre-verified ARC Player Subsystem are a member of the configurable 32-bit ARC 600 core family, MPEG-4 video decoder, MP3 decoder, Audio/Video synchronization, and voice recorder A digital, handheld device that is used to record short reminders. Very lightweight and typically using AAA batteries, such devices use flash memory to hold up to 100 messages and more. Messages can be retrieved sequentially or by direct access by message number. See microcassette. . Optional audio decoders include WMA (Windows Media Audio) An audio compression method from Microsoft. Known originally as MSAudio, this proprietary format competes with the MP3 and AAC methods. WMA encodes rapidly and is known to be especially effective at low bit rates. , AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) An audio compression technology that is part of the MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 standards. AAC, especially MPEG-4 AAC, provides greater compression and better sound quality than MP3, which also came out of the MPEG standard. , and Dolby Digital A digital audio encoding system from Dolby used in movie and home theaters. First used in 1995, Dolby Digital employs Dolby's AC-3 (Audio Coding-3) coding and compression technology and is the standard for DVD-Video and HDTV. 5. Consumer (AC-3). A comprehensive set of software and hardware development tools also are available, simplifying the SoC design process and speeding customers' ARC-Based(TM) silicon implementations to market. Jason Blackwell, co-founder and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of S2 Data Corporation, said, "An increasing number of lower-end consumer devices, traditionally the domain of 8- and 16-bit microcontrollers, are integrating multimedia rendering and playback functionality. This is requiring a shift to more powerful and flexible 32-bit microprocessors. However, due to extreme price sensitivity adding advanced multimedia features can be cost prohibitive making it difficult for manufacturers to exploit new market opportunities. The ARC Player Subsystem provides a compelling, low cost migration option for manufacturers by offering configurable 32-bit processing and multi-standard audio and video support." Derek Meyer, senior vice president of sales and marketing at ARC International, said, "The ARC Player Subsystem is another example of how ARC International is leading the IP industry by offering more than a single-function processor core. ARC Player is a fully programmable solution that provides MPEG-4 video with key audio codecs in a single pre-verified package. It is specifically designed to meet the requirements of the large installed base of devices that need a cost effective migration path to 32-bit platform functionality." ARC Player Subsystem Benefits to SoC Designers: 32-Bit Functionality Featured in the ARC Player Subsystem is a member of the configurable 32-bit ARC 600 core family. It is a full-capable embedded core that can serve as a control, applications, and DSP (1) (Digital Signal Processor) A special-purpose CPU used for digital signal processing applications (see definition #2 below). It provides ultra-fast instruction sequences, such as shift and add, and multiply and add, which are commonly used in math-intensive processor using a unified RISC RISC in full Reduced Instruction Set Computing Computer architecture that uses a limited number of instructions. RISC became popular in microprocessors in the 1980s. architecture. ARC Player is also a general-purpose 32-bit processor with the power to handle the communications functions required in consumer applications. Programmable Because the ARC Player Subsystem is programmable, SoC designers can include additional codecs The following is a list of codecs. Audio codecs Non-compression formats
Pre-Verified The ARC Player Subsystem can be evaluated using the ARCangel 4 (AA4) demonstration platform, which also serves as a highly integrated development system. The AA4 incorporates an FPGA-based ARC Player Subsystem running the open-source Linux operating system. The AA4 supports all the standard codecs supported by the ARC Player Subsystem. Multi-Standard Supported audio codecs include MP3, AAC, Dolby Digital Consumer (AC-3), and voice recorder. The supported video decoder is MPEG-4. Availability The ARC Player Subsystem is available now from ARC International. For more information contact ARC International at info@arc.com or visit www.arc.com. About ARC International plc ARC International is the world leader in configurable subsystems and CPU/DSP processors that are used by semiconductor companies worldwide to create system-on-chip (SoC) designs that provide a strategic competitive advantage. ARC's patented configurable products are smaller, consume less power, are less expensive to manufacture, and provide a higher degree of differentiation over what can be created using "fixed architecture" core alternatives. ARC International maintains a worldwide presence with corporate and research and development offices in California and Elstree, UK. For more information visit www.ARC.com. ARC International is listed on the London Stock Exchange London Stock Exchange London marketplace for securities. It was formed in 1773 by a group of stockbrokers who had been doing business informally in local coffeehouses. as ARC International plc (LSE:ARK). ARC and the ARC logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of ARC International. All other brands or product names contained herein are the property of their respective owners. This press release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For factors that could cause actual results to differ, visit the company's Website as well as the listing particulars filed with the United Kingdom Listing Authority and the Registrar of Companies The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. Please help [ improve the introduction] to meet Wikipedia's layout standards. You can discuss the issue on the talk page. in England and Wales England and Wales are both constituent countries of the United Kingdom, that together share a single legal system: English law. Legislatively, England and Wales are treated as a single unit (see State (law)) for the conflict of laws. . |
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