Software platform to optimise CE device connectivity in cars

Mentor Graphics Corp. has unveiled the Mentor Automotive Connected OS software platform geared for next-generation automotive applications. According to the company, the Connected OS software offers scalable frameworks for IVI, driver information and ADAS applications. The automotive-grade platform claims to afford faster time-to-market by solving automotive-specific challenges at the operating system level.

Automakers are faced with the challenge of satisfying demanding consumer expectations for multimedia and network connectivity, in addition to abiding by very market-specific requirements. These challenges are further magnified by the traditionally long product lifecycles of the automobile, including the requirement to support car network infrastructures and standards for several generations. As software content in the car continues to grow, car makers are looking for a mature, yet flexible solution, to build on vertically in a specific car generation as well as horizontally from generation to generation. The Connected OS solution offers the answer with scalable frameworks in the pre-integrated software platform supporting longer lasting standards for car network communication. In addition, the Connected OS software includes solutions to support the most modern and rapidly evolving features for CE device connectivity within the cabin.

The Connected OS solution from Mentor Graphics aims to boost multimedia and network connectivity, and offers scalable frameworks for IVI, driver information and ADAS applications.

The Connected OS software features a modular, GENIVI-based Linux platform with an enhanced board support package (SuperBSP) and an optimised middleware layer (OPTstack). This software stack delivers key technologies such as Fastboot, Instant-On and optimised audio/video functionality, necessary for cutting-edge automotive applications. The level of optimisation and tight integration in Connected OS promises to deliver the industry's fastest boot times and extremely high robustness. Supporting the market leading SoCs, the Connected OS solution is developed and maintained on a platform-centric basis for deep integration with SoC specific features, and is customisable to support the unique requirements of OEMs and Tier1s.

Mentor Automotive announced the pre-integration of Ethernet audio/video bridging (eAVB) into the Connected OS. Most of the in-car data, especially related to safety applications is required to be transmitted in real-time with high quality of service (QoS). The Connected OS product enables these applications through the support for emerging connectivity protocol eAVB to address the stringent requirements of low-latency time sensitive applications and reserved data channels. The eAVB stack in the Connected OS solution is developed to IEEE AVB standards and is AVnu Alliance compliant. Supported IEEE implementations include IEEE 802.1AS, 802.1Qat, 802.1Qav, 1722.1 and 1733.