3G Single Core Modem

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3G Single Core Modem

• A New Telecommunications Device

Group 4 Warren Irwin, Austin Beam, Amanda
Medlin, Rob Westerman, Brittany Deardian
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Key Terms

• 3G- or third generation wireless networks,
  capable of transferring data at speeds of up to
  384 Kbps
• Digital Signal Processor (DSP)- microprocessor
  designed for signal processing
• Global Systems for Mobile Communications (GSM)-
  standard for mobile phones enabling people to use
  phones in many parts of the world
• Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE)- mobile
  phone technology used for internet connectivity,
  video services, and multimedia applications
• General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)- mobile data
  service that speeds up data transfer
• Modem- device for transmitting digital data into
  audio signals, sending and receiving these signals

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Emergence of single core modem

• Freescale Semiconductor is the company that
  released the innovative 3G single core modem for
  mobile phones
• 3G single core modem first and only model of its
  kind thus far in the mobile phone industry
• Huge step forward for Freescale Semiconductor as
  far as gaining competitive advantage
• Single core modem is the heart of Freescales
  Mobile Extreme Convergence Platform

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Components and Tasks of Single Core Modem

• Single core modem compiled of two main parts
• Digital Signal Processor (DSP)- operates at up to
  250MHz
• Applications Processor- operates at up to 532MHz
• 3 main tasks of the single core modem
• 1. Global Systems Mobile Communication (GSMC)
• 2. General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)
• 3. Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE)

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What the single core modem does

• Modem- a device that transmits data into an audio
  signal and sends it
• Single core modem broadens this definition
• Composed of Applications Processor and DSP
• Applications Processor also known as
  microcontroller unit (MCU)
• Applications processor is put into a chip with a
  shared memory system
• This system eliminates the need for and external
  additional applications processor
• Shared memory provides efficient interprocessor
  communication, which results in higher
  performance, lower power consumption, and reduces
  the complexity of software

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Contd

• The applications processor runs open operating
  systems such as Linux OS and Symbian OS
• The DSP deals with signals and methods of
  processing signals
• The DSP ciphers digital data and transmits data
  into understandable signals when the phone
  receives it
• The MCU and DSP combine to make up the single
  core modem, empowering the modem to perform other
  tasks
• GSM is controlled entirely by the single core
  modem, this function allows the user of the
  mobile phone to operate the phone in many
  different parts of the world
• GPRS is also controlled by this type of modem,
  GPRS works with GSM to speed up data transfer
  between mobile phone users, eliminating pauses
  between audio signals sent amongst two phones
• EDGE is another aspect handled by the single core
  modem, EDGE provides the phone with increased
  data capacity, enabling it to use the internet,
  along with video services and multimedia
  applications

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Benefits of the Single Core Modem

• Lower power usage- 3 ways accomplished
• All communication functions are operating on a
  single core
• Single core is equipped with hardware
  accelerators, shortening the length of time for
  applications to process
• The single core modem has internal memory banks
  and caches that store greater amounts of data

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Benefits Contd

• Higher performance is another benefit that is due
  largely in part to the high power and speed of
  the DSP and MCU
• The greatest competitive edge obtained by
  Freescale Semiconductor deals with 2 primary
  benefits
• Cost efficiency
• Reduced development time

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Benefits Contd

• Cost efficiency
• The shared memory system discards the need for an
  additional external shared memory
  system/eliminating parts lowers the total costs
• Architecture of modem
• Integrating numerous parts into one
• Single core size of postage stamp, saves storage
  space, saves money

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Benefits Contd

• Reduction of time and effort
• Integration of parts into one helps reduce time
• Having one design simplifies software
• No need for multiple personnel working on
  multiple parts for the phone
• Gives Freescale a lot of flexibility within the
  company
• Simpler software enables Freescale to spend more
  time to engineer new designs and decreases
  development time drastically

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Conclusion

• 3G single core modem leading way in
  telecommunications industry
• Single core modem provides benefits for both the
  producer and consumer
• The more cost efficient it is for Freescale to
  produce innovations, the cheaper it is for
  consumers
• The more advances companies like Freescale make
  in new technology, the more consumers will
  benefit with products that make life a little bit
  easier, and a lot more convenient