Embedded Asterisk and the Blackfin Processor

Embedded Asterisk and the Blackfin Processor

Topics Introduction Why Embedded? IP PBX Hardware 101 Free Telephony Project and Open Hardware Status The Future Opportunities

Introduction Paradigm shift away from x86/PCI cards Embedded IP-only and no DSP Echo cancellation and codecs not possible Analog Devices Blackfin Processor has the potential to change this situation

Why Embedded Small size (DSL router) Low power 10W (battery, solar)! No moving parts (fans or disks) Quiet Reliability (parts count, connectors) Low cost (a few hundred street) Just plain cool!

Blackfin Processor A powerful DSP (1 GMAC) AND runs uClinux Breaks the two processor (host/DSP) paradigm Low cost ( 5 - 15 each) Well supported by vendor and community Open hardware and software

IP-PBX Hardware 101 Host PC PCI Card Asterisk Device Driver PCI Bridge FXO Port x86 CPU Ethernet Card DSP hardware FXS Port

IP-PBX Hardware 101 Embedded PBX Asterisk Blackfin CPU FXO Port DSP software Device Driver FXS Port

IP-PBX Hardware 101 Many redundant parts removed Lower cost Smaller size Lower power Enhanced reliability Don’t need “hardware” DSP – Blackfin CPU is a DSP

Challenges Complex development environment – Cross compiler & tool-chain – Customized kernel and apps Learning Curve Low memory 64MB uClinux (offset by partial MMU) Care and feeding of the cache

Who is working on Blackfin Asterisk? Several individuals and companies (e.g Digium) working on Blackfin Telephony products Expect to see many Blackfin based Telephony products in the near future This presentation focuses on the activities of the Free Telephony Project

Free Telephony Project Goals Build a completely open embedded telephony platform. Hardware designs are open. Full design and manufacture information available for download. Schematics, PCB layouts, HDL code, unit tests

Motivation Various motivations across the people and companies involved in the project. Obvious business potential in a 200 IPPBX with multiple ports. Enabler for service models. My motivation is Social & Geeky rather than Business.

Motivation I like building stuff Would like to use my hardware/DSP skills to improve the world a little Open software like Linux and Asterisk has been a great thing for the World. Craig Newmark (Craigslist) : Nerd values “Get yourself comfortable, then do something fun to change the world a little”

Open Hardware The designs are free as in speech A community exists that are sharing designs and helping each other. Build better hardware faster using open development models. Opportunities for small business. It’s working!

Hardware Projects (so far) Motherboard plus stackable daughter card architecture Various 4-8 port Analog interfaces Blackfin Motherboard with dual Ethernet USB E1/T1 Quad BRI-ISDN (8 channels)

How to Hack Telephony Hardware in Linux Schematic Entry (gschem) PCB Design (PCB) Verilog HDL (Icarus)

Design Process Flow Design Schematics (gschem) Design PCBs (PCB) Write Verilog Code (Icarus) Assemble Prototype Hardware Debug and Test Hardware Port Asterisk to Blackfin (gcc) Integrate and Test system

gschem Schematic Entry

Analog Hardware Example

Status Sep 2005 Port Asterisk to Blackfin Dec 2005 Integrate and Test PoC System Develop Analog Hardware Sep 2006 Build and Test Beta Units Oct 2006 Port driver to Blackfin Type Approval Volume Manufacture Q1 2007

Status Asterisk ported to the Blackfin Stable but Beta FXO/FXS hardware designed and being beta tested Beta hardware available for sale now Undergoing compliance testing Commercial (open) hardware in Q1 2007

Performance 500 MIPs Available (1 GMACs) G729A (10 MIPs) Speex (15-30 MIPs) Simultaneous SIP Calls (approx 50) Echo Can Depends on tail Say 12 with full 128ms, 24 for FXS

Opportunities Business Individuals End Users

Opportunities for Business Massive Differentiation Cost/Margin advantages New products we haven’t even thought of: Asterisk ATA or fax Asterisk in an very smart IP-phone T1 IP-PBX in an ATA form factor for 200 ?

Opportunities for Individuals It’s open. All of it. Hardware and software. Even the CAD tools! Exciting project in early stages Chance to really contribute It’s very different from x86/PCI Helped needed: Hardware, software, Asterisk config

Opportunities for End Users Lower end user cost – a 300 (street) 4-port IP-PBX in 2008? IP-PBX functionality in the home rather than current ATA. Bring telephony to developing countries. Small, fan-less lets you reach markets like SOHO that don’t want a PC for their phone system.

Getting Started Buy a Blackfin STAMP Card ( 226) Buy a 2 FXO 2 FXS port Analog Starter Kit ( 299) Start Hacking

Questions? For more information http://www.rowetel.com/ucasterisk Geda blackfin.uclinux.org