Spectra SDR Solution for Gumstix - Worlds Smallest Full Function Miniature Computers

Spectra SDR OE on Gumstix delivers a small form factor fully-functional SCA compliant platform for SDR developers

PrismTech's Spectra Operating Environment (OE) is now available on the Gumstix™ family of small form factor computers. This technology breakthrough delivers the first complete COTS Software Communications Architecture (SCA) software defined radio (SDR) solution on the world’s smallest full-function computer, offering significant cost, size, weight and power (SWaP) benefits for SDR developers.



The size of a stick of gum, Gumstix are highly functional open source Linux miniature computers driving new innovations in network management servers, Unattended Autonomous Vehicles (AUVs), VoIP, sensor monitors, security appliances, RFID device readers, and handheld devices. HP Labs, Nokia, Motorola, Intel, Siemens, Google, Broadcom, Cisco, and over 5,000 other customers use Gumstix technology in over 60 countries.

PrismTech’s Spectra SDR OE is a complete, platform independent, fully SCA compliant COTS operating environment that delivers superior performance and minimal footprint – less than 1 MB for the entire Spectra OE! Developed under the direction of two of the original SDR architects of the SCA, Dominick Paniscotti and Jerry Bickle, Spectra SDR OE delivers a complete SCA implementation supporting the very latest version of the standard, SCA 2.2.2.

The Spectra SDR OE includes:
• High performance, low overhead SCA 2.2.2 compliant core framework,
• Highly optimized standards compliant CORBA middleware delivering industry leading performance and meeting the full requirements of the SCA,
• CORBA Object Services (Lightweight Event Service, Lightweight Naming Service, Lightweight Log Service),
• XML parser.

Combining Spectra SDR OE with Gumstix offers the first small form factor, high performance, low cost radio platform for SDR developers. The low SWaP requirements of the Spectra SDR OE solution makes standards-based SDRs a viable and cost effective approach for a large range of small form factor device requirements within both military and commercial markets. The Spectra OE runs on multiple radio platforms and operating environments, including Green Hills Software INTEGRITY, LynuxWorks LynxOS, MontaVista Linux, Red Hat Linux, VirtualLogix VLX and Wind River VxWorks.

Spectra SDR OE on Gumstix is also fully integrated with PrismTech’s SDR Spectra Tool suite making SDR developers life significantly easier by dramatically improving productivity and shielding them from programming complexity through model-driven design interfaces and complete SCA infrastructure, build and test code generation.

“PrismTech is leading the commoditization of lightweight COTS SDR operating environments and development tools. Deployment on Gumstix’s small form factor computer demonstrates our ability to meet the most demanding resource-constrained computing environments without sacrificing SCA compliance,” said Dominick Paniscotti, VP & GM SDR Products, PrismTech. “This is another example of PrismTech’s commitment to provide innovative, high-quality, low overhead solutions for SDR developers throughout the software development and deployment process lifecycle.”