CoWare Delivers Platform-Driven Algorithm Design Solution for Advanced Wireless Applications

New CoWare Signal Processing Designer Offers Optimized, Structured Modeling, Fastest Data Flow Simulation, and Integration into CoWare's Platform-Driven ESL Design Solution

MUNICH, Germany--March 6, 2006-- CoWare(R) Inc., the leading supplier of electronic system-level (ESL) design software and services, announced it is delivering the first platform-driven ESL design flows for advanced wireless applications with its new CoWare Signal Processing Designer (formerly known as SPW). Signal Processing Designer offers optimized, structured modeling and the fastest data flow simulation for platform-driven design on the market today. Platform-driven ESL design refers to the development and practical reuse of a SystemC transaction-level model of a system-on-chip (SoC) platform, which now include complex algorithm models generated automatically from the algorithm design specification. CoWare Signal Processing Designer is the next generation of the successful CoWare SPW product line and is targeted for production design teams working on very complex digital signal processing (DSP) applications.

"When we acquired the SPW business we had the vision of deploying it into our platform-driven ESL design solution," said Johannes Stahl, director marketing, CoWare. "We continue to invest in our technology to make this a reality and are looking forward to enabling our customers' platform-driven design success with the integration of CoWare Signal Processing Designer into CoWare's ESL solution."

Providing a fast, compiled, C-based simulation technology, a library of more than 4,000 models, including standards reference models for HSPDA, DVB-H and 802.11, and a compact easy-to-use graphical user interface on top of XML data models, Signal Processing Designer delivers everything for reliable exploration and verification of complex DSP applications. Also today, CoWare announced in a separate news release its new H.264 model library.

Running on the robust Linux platform and tightly integrated with MATLAB, Signal Processing Designer is the logical choice for production design teams developing detailed executable specifications for DSP applications. And, with its integration into CoWare's platform-driven ESL design solution, it is the only algorithm design tool on the market that supports platform-driven design for complex wireless devices.

"CoWare is the ideal partner for a company in the signal processing application space," said Kota Bhaskar, vice-president, technology development, iDeaWorks. "With the new Signal Processing Designer we are using a development tool that gives us the modeling and simulation strength we need for complex standards such as H.264. It also gives us the foundation to deliver our intellectual property (IP) into advanced ESL design flows, which shortens our time to revenue."

Bridging the Gap in DSP Applications

Many new DSP applications are explored in MATLAB before they are committed to an actual product design. Eventually, every design team produces a detailed, C-based reference model for the DSP application. The algorithm model is then ready for integration by the system architect into the platform model, enabling the platform-driven ESL design flow. The traditional verification flows used to create the platform building blocks in hardware (RTL), and embedded DSP software, are also supported.

CoWare Signal Processing Designer bridges the verification gap from abstract MATLAB models to transaction-level SystemC platform models, detailed RTL models for hardware, or optimized C/assembly code for embedded software. The SystemC export capability into CoWare Platform Architect using transaction-level bus interfaces resembling the new CoWare SystemC Modeling Library (SCML), enables concurrent engineering of the high-speed, algorithmic peripherals with the control- and interface-oriented peripherals of the wireless platform. The SystemC pin-level export capability enables the algorithm reference models in Signal Processing Designer to be connected into RTL verification tools such as Cadence Incisive.

Availability and Pricing

CoWare Signal Processing Designer running on Linux is a new product that is available today. For pricing information, contact the local CoWare sales representative. For more information on CoWare Signal Processing Designer and CoWare's other products, visit www.coware.com.

About CoWare

CoWare is the leading supplier of electronic system-level (ESL) design software and services. CoWare offers a comprehensive set of ESL tools that enable SoC developers to "differentiate by design" through the creation of system IP including embedded processors, on- chip buses, and DSP algorithms; the architecture of optimized SoC platforms; and hardware/software co-design. The company's solutions are based on open industry standards including SystemC. CoWare's customers are major systems, semiconductor, and IP companies in the market where consumer electronics, computing, and communications converge. CoWare's corporate investors include ARM Ltd. (LSE:ARM) (Nasdaq:ARMHY), Cadence Design Systems (Nasdaq:CDNS), STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM), and Sony Corporation (NYSE:SNE). CoWare is headquartered in San Jose, Calif., and has offices around the world. For more information about CoWare and its products and services visit http://www.coware.com.