June 18, Las Vegas, Nevada --- To illustrate its OCAPI-xl C++ based system design environment, IMEC developed an Internet camera of which both hardware and software components can be reconfigured over the network at run-time. The Web cam uses a secure Virtual Private Network link to serve moving images. Using a Web browser, the user can select from a number of image manipulation plug-ins stored on a reconfiguration server. The server will up-load the new image manipulation services and dynamically reconfigure the Web cam’s hardware and software to implement the new functionality.

The demonstrator consists of a processor running mClinux and a custom designed board with two Xilinx Virtex800 FPGAs.  The board is connected to an IBIS4-camera developed by the IMEC spin-off, FillFactory. The embedded software is developed on top of a standard third-party embedded Linux platform and handles the network protocol layers, as well as the (re-)configuration and control of the FPGAs. 

The use of Linux simplified re-use of open-source software modules, enabling the development of a software (C/C++) reference of the full system in a very short time.  From the software reference model, the design of the hardware-accelerated modules which are executed on the FPGAs, was initiated. The complete design was done in OCAPI-xl, IMEC’s C++ based design environment.  FPGAs offer the performance and flexibility required for a demanding set of camera image acquisition functions which range from the camera interface (sampling rate of 10 MHz), color reconstruction, user-dependent image manipulation, JPEG compression and 3DES encryption, implemented in the VPN IPSEC security layer.  A number of image manipulation functions, selectable at run-time by the user from a web browser, demonstrate the concept of networked reconfiguration.

To support reconfigurable appliances, IMEC has also developed a new protocol (Boot-UP Reconfigurable Platforms Protocol – BRPP) which during boot-up, enables the reconfigurable embedded device to locate the local reconfiguration server where various hardware and software options are stored.  Once located, the appliance negotiates its characteristics with the server and selects from a list of available services provided by the server.  On request, the reconfiguration server uploads new services to the platform.  The platform dynamically reconfigures its FPGAs and adapts the HW/SW communication to interface to the new service.

 “In the coming decade, we will be surrounded by smart networked devices. The dumb appliances of today will be upgraded with processing and communication power, connecting you to the world wherever you are,” says Dr. Rudy Lauwereins, Vice President DESICS. “This new technology that enables reconfigurability at run-time is one of the key technologies to open up a whole new market for Internet reconfigurable appliances.”

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Notes to editors:

About IMEC

IMEC was founded in 1984 and today is Europe's leading independent research center for the development and licensing of microelectronics, and information and communication technologies (ICT). IMEC is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, and has a staff of more than 1000 people including more than 200 industrial residents. Its more than $100 million revenue is derived from agreements and contracts with Flemish government, the EC, MEDEA, the European Space Agency, equipment and material suppliers and semiconductor companies worldwide. IMEC's activities concentrate on design of integrated information and communication systems; silicon process technology; silicon technology and device integration; microsystems, components and packaging; advanced training in microelectronics. IMEC has a sub-0.25µm 200mm pilot line and is ISO9001 certified. News from IMEC is located at www.imec.be.

For more information:

Katrien Marent

Communication Manager

Public Relations and Marketing Communications

IMEC, Kapeldreef 75

B- 3001 Leuven, Belgium

Tel +32 16 28 18 80

Fax +32 16 28 16 37

Email: Katrien.Marent@imec.be