Cavium Networks announced it will launch a next-generation version of its ARM11-based Econa SoCs that will offer a Cortex-A processor. The company also touted Econa-based partnerships with DSP Group, Edimax, Entropic, and Tenda plus others involving its new ARM11-based 3D HD video-enabled PureVu processor with Alco, Delta Electronics, Iogear, LG, Monster, and TCL.

The new Cortex-A version of the Econa system-on-chip (SoC) "will provide enterprise-class performance for small and medium business (SMB), and broadband consumer applications," says Cavium.

The semiconductor company did not say which Cortex-A processor core it would use, but mentions that "Cortex-A series processors are capable of coherent symmetric multi-core operation with up-to four cores with hardware coherency." This would suggest that Cavium will skip over the Cortex-A8 and dual-core Cortex–A9, and instead opt for the new Cortex-A15, which is said to scale to up to four cores and support clock rates ranging up to 2.5GHz. 

Cavium does not list operating system (OS) support, but notes that Cortex-A processors "have broad multi-core operating system support, including Cavium's MontaVista Linux distribution." Cavium subsidiary MontaVista Software recently announced the availability of an Android reference platform for the existing ARM11-based Econa CNS3xxx SoC (pictured). The Econa CN3xxx ships with a Linux SDK, and the Cortex-A15 supports Android, Windows Embedded Compact 7, and Symbian.

Stated Ian Drew, Chief Marketing Officer at ARM, "Cavium Networks' adoption of the Cortex-A series further is a strong indication of the success of the scalable, multi-core ARM architecture in the networking space."

Cavium is primarily known for its MIPS64-based Octeon processors, but the company also introduced the ARM11-based Econa CNS3xxx line of SoCs in September 2009. The Econa CNS3xxx is offered in single- and dual ARM11-core varieties, and claimed to draw power at under a single Watt. Aimed at home media gateways and network-attached storage (NAS) devices, the Econa CNS3xxx offers 200MHz to 700MHz clock rates and over ten multimedia and networking acceleration engines.

Also at CES, Cavium announced several partnerships involving the Econa:

• DSP Group DECT platform -- Cavium has partnered with DSP Group to develop a reference design for a multi-service gateway with integrated Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) capabilities and VoIP functionality. The platform consists of a DSP Group DECT/CAT-iq (Cordless Advanced Technology: Internet and Quality) Module combined with Econa processors running D2 Technologies' vPort VoIP software. Touted features include high definition voice, address book synchronization, and PBX functionality.
  
  Announced in July 2009, the single-chip DECT/CAT-iq Module integrates an ARM9 baseband based on DSP Group's DCX/VegaOne with various DECT and Cat-iq functions for digital voice telephony. OS support is not listed, but the company's somewhat related, DECT-compatible ARM-based XpandR multimedia chipsets ship with Linux and Android support. DSP Group recently announced an XpandR III model that moves up to an 800MHz Cortex-A8 core.
  
  
• Edimax Technology -- Edimax Technology of Taiwan, which manufactures devices inclucing routers, switches, network-attached storage (NAS) boxes, says that its next line of NAS devices will be built around the Econa SoC. OS support is not listed, but Edimax offers a variety of Linux-based devices including the BR-6574n router.
  
  The new Econa-based NAS storage servers are available in single-bay (NS-2511) and dual-bay (NS-2512) versions, with the latter offering up to 2TB of networked storage, says Edimax. Features are said to include iTunes, DLNA/UPnP, FTP/HTTP, and BitTorrent (P2P) servers. Power draw is said to fall under two Watts.
  
  
• Entropic MoCa 2.0 reference platform -- Entropic Communications and Cavium announced an Ethernet to Coax Bridge (ECB) reference design that combines Entropic’s end-to-end MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance) 2.0 silicon and software with the Econa. Entropic’s MoCA 2.0 "EN2710" consists of a 40nm baseband MAC/PHY SoC along with an RF transceiver and an analog front-end IC, says Entropic.
  
  The EB2710 is said to provide 400Mbps of aggregate net MAC throughput over 16 nodes and 500Mbps of net MAC throughput for two-node Turbo mode. Backward compatible with MOCA 1.1 devices, the ECB uses a discrete component diplexer filter, includes four gigabit Ethernet ports, and comes with configuration/diagnostic software, say the companies.
  
  OS support was not listed, but the company offers Linux support for a number of its broadband networking devices. Entropic acquired embedded Linux specialist Arabella Software back in 2007.
  
  
• Tenda Technology SMB Router -- Cavium and Tenda Technology, which is touted as being the second largest vendor by unit shipments in China for SMB and security gateways, announced that deployments have begun for a new line of security routers aimed at SOHO and SMB applications. Based on the Econa processor, the line of routers is said to support Internet qccess management, stateful firewall, IPsec VPN, SSL VPN, and URL filtering. OS support was not listed.

PureVu SoC syncs up with partners

At CES, Cavium also announced several technology partnerships involving its ARM11-based PureVu-3D video processor (pictured at right). This new spin-off from the Econa line is targeted at such devices as flat panel TVs, Blu-ray players, notebooks, netbooks, gaming consoles, as well as SMB and SOHO video communication systems.

Cavium announced PureVu-3D in October, touted for supporting HD (1080p60) playback for interactive and recording video applications. PureVu also provides what Cavium calls its "WiVu" wireless display technology, which is said to deliver advanced video quality-of-service (QoS) over Wi-Fi (see farther below for more on PureVu). 

One of the devices that appears closest to market -- it's due in the second quarter -- is Actiontec's MyWirelessTV line of adapters (pictured), which was demonstrated at CES. This line of wireless HDMI adapters supports 3D HD video over Wi-Fi with minimal latency, says Actiontec.

Based on the PureVu processor, the MyWirelessTV can stream 1080p60 Blu-ray quality HD video over a standard Wi-Fi network in real time, says the company.

Users can connect the MyWirelessTV transmitter to any HDMI-enabled set-top box, gaming console, Blu-ray player, or other device, says Actiontec. They can then connect the receiver to any HDMI-enabled display in the home to stream HD video from up to 150 feet away, claims the company. OS support was not listed for the device, but Actiontec offers open source Linux code with a number of its products.

Additional PureVu partnership announcements with Cavium include:

• Alco Electronics home theater -- At CES, Alco showed off an RCA home theater system that "allows Blu-ray quality 2D and 3D video to be distributed to multiple TVs in the home," says the company.
  
  
• Delta Electronics display products -- Delta, which manufactures networking equipment, visual displays, and digital projectors, has adopted PureVu for several "next generation designs with Wi-Fi-based wireless display capability."
  
  
• Iogear streaming devices -- Iogear will use the PureVu in its "next generation retail multimedia streaming devices."
  
  
• LG TVs -- LG Electronics will include PureVu in its "next generation wireless TV products."
  
  
• Monster devices -- HDMI cable maker Monster will offer the PureVu in "a broad range of wired and wireless home media streaming and content sharing devices."
  
  
• TCL display products -- TCL, said to be China's largest TV manufacturer, will offer PureVu in its "next generation of display products allowing HD content to be distributed to multiple TVs."

PureVu background

The PureVu SoC, also referred to as the PureVu-3D, combines a dual-core ARM11 CPU with Cavium's Super-Low-Latency (SLL) H.264 "PureVu" video processor. Other components include Cavium's Nitrox security processor, a graphics accelerator, and a hardware crypto engine, says Cavium.

The SoC is often branded under the WiVu name -- Cavium's tag for the PureVu's aforementioned Wi-Fi streaming technology.

Other PureVu features are said to include intelligent networking and packet processing capabilities, I2S audio, and dual BT.1120 bi-directional video ports. Additional I/O includes PCIe, RG/MII, USB, SPI, and SDI, says the chipmaker. The PureVu processor is said to offer support for HDMI 1.4, as well as various 3D video input formats outlined in the 3D Blu-ray specification.

PureVu processor in a typical HDMI streaming application
(Click to enlarge)

The PureVu processors were initially available in an encode/decode CNW5302 standalone processor, as well as an encode-only CNW5321 co-processor version aimed for integration into notebook PCs. PureVu is also available in CNW51xx, CNW55xx, and the CNW56xx product lines, which are differentiated based on HD and SD capabilities, number of video ports, and target applications, says Cavium.

TurboDPI: security for Octeon

Finally, over on the PowerPC platform, Cavium announced TurboDPI -- multi-function security software optimized for its Linux-ready Octeon II processors. TurboDPI uses the Octeon II's new Uniscan technology to simultaneously block malicious or inappropriate URLs.

The software can also identify hundreds of widely used protocols and applications, help block thousands of different intrusion attempts, and locate over a hundred thousand varieties of virus and malware threats, says Cavium. TurboDPI is said to be available now.

Availability

More information on Cavium Networks' Econa, PureVu, and Octeon II processors may be found at the Cavium website.

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