OSE Bolsters StarCore's Technology Support with Additional Tools and Functionality; Broadens Commitment to StarCore Family Of DSP Cores.

Business/Technology Editors

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 5, 2001

OSE Systems announced today that the OSE(TM) real-time operating system (RTOS) is expanding its StarCore(R) digital signal processor (DSP) core support with additional products designed for DSP and DSP/CPU development. The OSE RTOS' enhanced development platform is built to facilitate design and development for multi-core, multi CPU/DSP heterogeneous embedded environments. The OSE RTOS is widely used in tele- and data-communication applications built on multi-core systems that use the same RTOS in several system nodes.

"StarCore shares a long, productive history with OSE Systems," said Allen Hyman, Sr. Strategic Marketing Manager, StarCore Technology Center. "Their expanded feature offering is a strong example of their commitment to bringing engineers the DSP and CPU support needed for next-generation application development."

OSE's multi-core support is made possible through shared execution image, whereby there is only need for one instantiation of the kernel or application code, regardless of the number of processor cores being used. In addition, OSE's use of shared and private data areas enables OSE signal pools (buffered messaging areas) to be specifically allocated in shared memory. Multiple processors can access these shared signal pools without sacrificing the integrity of application data. A spinlock mechanism is implemented to protect critical regions.

OSE Tools that are available for the StarCore family of DSPs now include:

-- OSE Link Handler, which can achieve a zero-copy message transaction using shared memory interface between cores;

-- OSE Power Management API to control power dissipation and extend battery life;

-- OSE Illuminator enables simultaneous debugging of heterogeneous (DSPs and CPUs) multi-core or single core systems, and offers extensive visibility into distributed systems and multiple simulations;

-- OSE Soft Kernel and Soft Link Handlers, which are now easily configured to simulate multi-core systems such as the StarPro 2000 or MSC8102;

-- OSE Source Code Debugger integrations with Green Hills Systems' MULTI 2000, Metrowerks' CodeWarrior(R) and Agere Systems' LuxWorks(R);

-- Support for Motorola's and Agere Systems' development boards.

"OSE's simple message-passing form of interprocess communication, its high performance, and its small footprint make it well suited to DSP development for complex data and telecommunications applications," said Nicklas Gustafson, Product Manager, OSE Systems. "The extraordinary growth in adaptation and usage of OSE for DSP and DSP/CPU systems, coupled with OSE Systems' over 10 years experience in DSP support, has helped us thrive in the current economic storm. We intend to continue to adapt OSE to the latest in digital technology."

Availability: Expanded features for OSE for StarCore are available immediately.

About OSE Systems

OSE Systems develops and distributes real-time operating systems (RTOS) and development tools for safety-critical, high-availability, distributed and fault-tolerant applications. OSE Systems was founded in 1996, and currently employs over 200 people worldwide. The company focuses primarily on creating the software to develop and support high-performance, mission-critical applications in the following industries: telecommunications, data communications, wireless devices, avionics and industrial control. Key customers include Ericsson, Lockheed Martin, Samsung, Agere Systems, Sony, and Boeing. OSE Systems is a subsidiary of Enea Group (SAXESS: ENEA), which markets and sells services and training. Located in Stockholm, Sweden, the Enea Group employs over 900 people. For more information on OSE Systems, please visit http://www.ose.com.

About StarCore Technology Center

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, the StarCore Technology Center is a cooperative research and development initiative between Agere Systems and Motorola's Semiconductor Products Sector, created to design next-generation digital signal processor (DSP) core technologies. The StarCore charter is to design high-performance DSP architectures, cores and development tools for the communications, consumer electronics, and transportation industries. For more information on the StarCore initiative, visit its Web site at www.starcore-dsp.com.

OSE is a registered trademark of OSE Systems. --All other company or product names are the registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.