Massana Unveils the FILU-DMT, a G.Lite DSP Coprocessor Core That Delivers Lower Silicon Cost than a Complete Chipset

IP News

ORLANDO, FL, November 1, 1999 – Massana Inc., an emerging semiconductor IP (SIP) company, will demonstrate the FILU-DMT a G.Lite derivative of its FILU-200 Series DSP coprocessor core that provides a much lower cost solution than a full chipset. The FILU-DMT enables a very low-cost, soft G.Lite modem on Pentium processors for PC applications and on RISC processors for embedded applications and Internet appliances.

Massana’s FILU-DMT compute engine, to be detailed at DSP World this week in Massana’s Booth #411/412, is a FILU-200 (200 MIPS dual MAC DSP core) with preprogrammed G.Lite DSP receive and transmit functions and a synchronous serial interface for the analog front end (AFE). The FILU-DMT implements all the intensive DSP processing while the Host only implements the control and protocol functions. Along with the FILU-DMT, Massana also introduces a G. Lite reference design consisting of the FILU-DMT on a PC PCI card with a G.Lite AFE and DAA, to enable users to easily implement designs.

In addition to G.Lite (the 1.5 Mbit/s reduced-rate ADSL), Massana’s FILU-family of DSP cores is also suitable for such applications as multi-channel VoIP (Voice over Internet protocol), DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting), multi-channel V.90 (56K) modems and full-rate ADSL communications. Interest in licensing Massana’s FILU-DMT has been very broad, ranging from soft modem suppliers and OEMs to major semiconductor manufacturers. The FILU-DMT design is available for licensing on a worldwide basis.

"Driven by the lightning fast growth of the Internet, DSL is sweeping across the telecommunications industry, and our FILU-DMT offers a cost-effective solution for companies wanting broadband communications to implement the voice and data networks of tomorrow," said Paul Costigan, CEO of Massana. Indicative of the explosive growth in DSL was a recent disclosure by SBC Communications, the largest U.S. local telephone company, that it plans to spend $6 billion for DSL and other equipment over the next three years to offer high-speed Internet access to customers in 13 states.

"Massana offering its DSP coprocessor core G.Lite solution shows an uncanny knack for timing," said Steve Szirom, President of HTE Research, Inc. in Bellingham, WA, a management consulting firm focusing on IP startups. "Most G.Lite/ADSL solutions today require a fairly expensive chipset, but Massana has rolled out the FILU-DMT that’s not only very low cost but also becomes a powerful extension to today’s PC and RISC processors."

Following its initial FILU series of low-cost DSP compute engines, Massana plans to release a Fast Ethernet PHY (physical layer) core, and is also developing a Gigabit Ethernet PHY core. A three-year-old company, Massana has successfully transformed itself from a provider of VLSI design services into a SIP company. As part of this new strategic direction, the company has relocated its corporate headquarters to Silicon Valley in Campbell, CA.

Massana’s mission is to provide lightning-fast bandwidth via its proprietary silicon solutions for standards-based communications and networking systems. These solutions are delivered through patented DSP module compiler technology coupled with proprietary DSP algorithms. Among the company’s clients/partners are Alcatel, Analog Devices, Motorola, Nortel, and Toshiba.

For more information, contact Irving Gold at Massana Inc., 51 E. Campbell Avenue, Campbell, CA 95008; Phone: 408/871-1415; Fax: 408/871-2414; irving.gold@massana.com Or Ben O’Sullivan (Europe), +353 1 604 0158; Fax: +353 1 602 3977; ben.osullivan@massana.com Or visit the company on the Internet at www.massana.com.