Benchmarks analyze embedded-Java platforms

The expanding interest and growth in Java for embedded applications has resulted in competitive and divergent processing and JVM (Java-virtual-machine) developments. To help the industry sort through the myriad choices, EEMBC (EDN Embedded Microprocessor Benchmark Consortium) has initiated a Java-benchmarking special interest group. The group's goal is to develop suites of real-world, Java-based benchmarks that target applications such as smart cards, cell phones, PDAs, and set-top boxes. To compound the real-world nature of these benchmarks, the platforms for testing must include the entire stack of the Java runtime environment, including the processor, operating system, JVM, and class libraries.

Rod Crawford, director of third-party software at ARM Ltd, will spearhead the group. AJile Systems, Nazomi Communications, Parthus Technologies, Vulcan Machines, and Zucotto Wireless have joined EEMBC to help support this program along with EEMBC representatives from ARC Cores, IBM, Infineon, MIPS, Motorola, Sun Microsystems, TriMedia Technologies, and Wind River.

Also in the news from EEMBC are new certified scores from BOPS on its ManArray processor and Halo compiler. Running the EEMBC Telecomm benchmark suite, the company had originally certified and published scores in April 2001. The company's out-of-the-box (unmodified) scores remain the same, but the C-optimized, EEMBC Telemark scores increased from 26.7 to 139.8. This figure represents a significant increase in the compiler's ability to generate high-quality code for DSP algorithms, taking advantage of the ManArray's parallel-processing ability and very-long-instruction-word architecture. All the individual scores for the Autocorrelation, Bit Allocation, Convolutional encoder, FFT, and Viterbi benchmarks are available on the EEMBC Web site. The October 2001 issue of Cahners' Microprocessor Report includes a detailed analysis of these scores.

EEMBC is also opening a membership class to address academic researchers. Under the program, which is intended to increase academic research in embedded-microprocessor and compiler technologies, EEMBC is introducing an academically oriented fee structure. EEMBC hopes to create a dialogue that will further the goals of the consortium.

EDN Embedded Microprocessor Benchmark Consortium, 1-530-672-9113, www.eembc.org.