Microsoft Announces Industry-Wide Support for Digital Signal Processor Architecture

Strategic Insights -

Microsoft Corporation has announced broad industry support for its Digital Signal Processor (DSP) software architecture, with several key vendors pledging to support the Microsoft Resource Manager Interface specification. The move is aimed at accelerating the adoption of DSPs in the PC marketplace by providing a common interface to all DSP architectures. The industry-wide support is expected to bring more developer focus to DSPs, thus speeding DSP adoption by OEM PC manufacturers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Microsoft Resource Manager Interface specification provides a mechanism for managing signal-processing resources, such as those found in DSPs, and is targeted at Microsoft 32-bit Windows platforms.
  • Compaq Computer Corporation, Creative Technology Ltd., Spectron Microsystems, AT&T Microelectronics, IBM Microelectronics, Intel Corporation, and others have pledged support for the Microsoft RMI.
  • The lack of standard specifications has stalled broad development interest in supporting DSPs, but the Microsoft Resource Manager provides a common interface to all DSP architectures.
  • DSP technology vendors, such as Analog Devices, Motorola, Inc., Texas Instruments, AT&T Microelectronics, and IBM Microelectronics, have pledged support for the Microsoft RMI.
  • The Resource Manager is a three-layered architecture providing device-independent resource management while preserving DSP-specific capabilities.
  • The Resource Manager Developer Kit will be made available to OEMs, independent hardware vendors, and independent software vendors (ISVs) in a developer kit scheduled to ship following the release of Windows "Chicago."
  • Developers and OEMs implementing the DSP RMI on Windows "Chicago" will be able to distribute the Resource Manager, interfaces, and driver derivatives royalty-free after purchasing the kit for $495.

Statistics:

  • Over 10 companies have pledged support for the Microsoft RMI, including Compaq Computer Corporation, Creative Technology Ltd., Spectron Microsystems, AT&T Microelectronics, IBM Microelectronics, Intel Corporation, and others.
  • The Microsoft Resource Manager supports Microsoft 32-bit Windows platforms, which leverages features such as a simpler, 32-bit flat programming model, enhanced operating system services for device drivers, and the ability to write device drivers in C and C++.
  • The Resource Manager is a three-layered architecture, with the top-level interface used by Windows device drivers to interconnect tasks and resources, the middle layer providing resource management, and the bottom layer implementing the physical connection to the DSP platform.

Sources:

  • Compaq Computer Corporation
  • Creative Technology Ltd.
  • Spectron Microsystems
  • AT&T Microelectronics
  • IBM Microelectronics
  • Intel Corporation
  • Analog Devices
  • Motorola, Inc.
  • Texas Instruments
  • Microsoft Corporation
  • Microsoft (attachment for list of companies pledging support)
  • Microsoft (attachment for information on how to obtain the RMI specification)
  • Microsoft (attachment for list of companies that have created reference designs based on the Microsoft hardware functional specification)