Free UMTS Technical Note

4th March , 2004

US : Until recently there were two distinct hardware engines in cellular handsets: the digital signal processor (DSP), which performs signal processing functions, and the microprocessor, which handles call processing. As handset applications such as multimedia, video functions, and gaming grew, there came a need for an additional microprocessor, called the applications processor. Typical of the industry goal of reducing size and silicon content in devices, vendors have continued to find ways of integrating more functions and processes onto a single core. Recent developments along these lines have led to the emergence of a single processor cellular modem solution that can perform all operations in a single core: Starcore LLC, the DSP solutions entity that was formed by Motorola, Agere and Infineon Technologies, announced a single processor cellular modem solution that performs the signal processing, call processing, and basic applications functions all in one core.

Advantages of the single processor include lower overall royalties and a smaller silicon footprint, which reduces the printed circuit board area, allowing smaller form factors and reduced cost. Other advantages are easier integration and an easier debug of the combined software, which accelerates time-to-market for handset development. This architecture also allows the use of a single unified memory system, which in turn provides a saving in silicon overhead and possibly memory-access performance when compared with the traditional two-processor architecture. Lastly, since the rate of change of the modem and call processing is different from that of higher-level applications, this architecture allows each area to evolve at its optimum rate in the high tier designs.

Is this the start of a trend? "It depends on whether the performance of the single core is going to be optimum for the combined modem and call processing functions," explains Alan Varghese, ABI Research's Senior Director of Wireless Research. "Besides the architecture forcing both areas to be written in the higher level language, as more advanced applications migrate down to the low tier handsets, the single core might not have enough head-room to handle the additional processing required, necessitating the addition of another microprocessor."

Further information on handset ICs is available through ABI Research's Handset Integrated Circuits Quarterly Service. The service dissects the handset IC market by component, reviewing both regional and air-interface segments. Attention is paid to the continuing integration of functionality and effects on ASPs, as well as revenue trends for the sector. The subscription service also examines Wi-Fi integration. ABI Research's Wireless Handset Quarterly Service outlines the evolution of the handset to a multimedia and data-centric platform and the progression to the 2.5G and 3G networks. ABI Research provides a thorough examination of trends in the global market for wireless handsets and offers a realistic outlook on where the industry is headed.

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