Introduction
Manufacturers of embedded systems are constantly striving to improve their customer's experiences with their products while increasing profit and market-share. These requirements can be satisfied through the use of Xilinx Internet
Reconfigurable Logic (IRL) design methodology. Increased profit can be achieved by updating the Xilinx PLD based hardware design using the product's network connection instead of deploying field service technicians to the customer's site. Market-share
and customer satisfaction can be increased by extending the product's field life through instant updating of its features via a network connection. Xilinx and Wind River each are developing products and services to satisfy the need for full life-cycle
solutions. The PAVE interface resulted form both companies focus on delivering field upgradable solutions.
The PAVE Interface
Xilinx's PAVE interface is an API for the programming of Xilinx PLDs in VxWorks RTOS-based embedded systems. Currently, developers of field upgradable applications must develop their own software for interfacing the PLD programming methodology
(JTAG or Xilinx SelectMAP) with Wind River's VxWorks RTOS. The PAVE interface encapsulates that design work into a set of commands covering configuration, readback, rollback, and utilities for verification. It also includes a Hardware Design Guideline
for providing reliable fault-tolerant field upgrades in a uniform manner. For instance, reliability is critical when designing field upgradable applications and the rollback feature allows the system to return to the previous version of the instruction
set, in case of network or power dropout during the upgrade process.
Facilitates easier creation of IRL applications
A system level solution for creating field upgradable hardware is more easily realized by using the PAVE interface. By combining GoAhead Software's FieldUpgrader technology with Wind River's broad processor
architecture support and the PAVE interface from Xilinx, a PLD can be configured from a remote server by using Wind River VxWorks function calls in the target system.
Device and Software support
PAVE is compatible with current versions of VxWorks and Tornado tools and
all VxWorks supported 32 bit processor architectures. The PAVE interface
works with all Xilinx devices that are supported by IEEE Std. 1532 JTAG
or SelectMAPTM programming.
Contact
David Vornholt - Xilinx, Boulder, CO |
