Len,
It really doesn't matter in our case. The PSC1000 is a general
purpose processor, capable of running systems based in C, FORTH,
Java, etc. It just so happens that our stack architecture is the
most efficient to run java based programs, and we can run them at
near native speeds. pJava (Personal Java) is one of the java
entrants from Sun that will be implemented in embedded systems, and
one that we are in the process of porting to the chip. This can
run on top of other OS's if desired, such as Wind River's RTOS
VxWorks which we are also porting to the chip. I think you might
be confusing java software programs for the PC or desktop environment
as opposed to java in embedded devices. Over the next year or two
I think you will see more and more java based software for embedded
systems such as STB's, cell phones, hand held PDA's, DVD players, all sorts of industrial controllers and just about anywhere a processor
might be used, literally thousands of applications. Not all will
be java based by any means, but that is one of the greatest strengths
of ShBoom, it can run different programs with equal proficiency. The
greatest problems Patriot will encounter are twofold:
1.) Lack of marketing ability. We really need to market the
chip more aggressively IMO, and that includes articles and
ads in technical journals where engineers will read about
the chip. Presently, the PSC1000 is a relatively unknown
microprocessor.
2.) The hesitency of companies to "design-in" our chip due to the
size and financial strength of Patriot Scientific. We are
such a small company that many other co's are afraid that
we may not be around in a year of two, and that would be a
big negative if we were to get a design win because that
"win" could represent orders for the next 5-10 years in
that company's products. We have to somehow convince
companies that the chip will be easily and readily
available on a timely basis. Luckily, ShBoom is a relatively
simple chip to produce that can be made by almost any fab,
and that is in our favor. In fact, in recent conversations
I have had with people in the industry all have said that
there are no real technical issues with the chip, it is an
excellent and efficient design that is quite versatile. The
biggest problems are marketing and the viability of the
company (PTSC) itself.
Cap |
