Description

INIC (Intelligent Network Interface Controller) Evaluation Platform OS81xxx demonstrates the advantages of the driver encapsulation provided by the INIC. The platform consists of a Physical Interface Board OS81050, OS81082 or OS81110 and an INIC I/O Board.

The Physical Interface Board OS81xxx incorporates the complete physical hardware interface of a MOST network. It directly connects to the INIC I/O Board via MediaLB and I²C. The INIC I/O Board provides I/O functionality to the INIC and offers an analog audio input and two outputs, as well as a USB interface to a PC, making the INIC API transparently accessible from the PC.

Software which allows control of the INIC is provided with the INIC Evaluation Platform.

In addition, MOST NetServices Basic Example can be installed on the PC (downloadable and free), which interacts with the INIC Evaluation Platform. This MOST NetServices Basic Example shows how to use essential parts of the MOST NetServices API V2.x Layer I and Layer II. (The MOST NetServices source code is not part of this example.)

PC-based evaluation of INIC and MediaLB can be part of a seamless migration path to an embedded application. Encapsulating network interface functions on the INIC considerably reduces the burden of real-time processing tasks on the application. The INIC Evaluation Platform, together with a PC, builds an ideal entry-level environment for MOST applications.

Application

INIC Evaluation Platform test equipment can be used to:

• Run the INIC as a MOST network node
• Learn about the INIC’s behavior in a real environment
• Develop a MOST application
• Test audio Line IN/OUT
• Test I²C communication
• Test MediaLB communication
• Test External Host Controller (EHC) applications

Components Overview

Click to enlarge.

MOST INIC and MediaLB

In a single piece of silicon, the INIC combines network interface functionality with the network drivers needed to operate a MOST node.

The seamless integration and encapsulation of the chip minimizes the complexity of development and expedites engineering of communication devices. The one-chip solution provides full communication with the MOST network, and can be used with fiber-optic or electric communication links. The INIC also provides supervision of the application, and a protected mode that will be entered during malfunction or absence of an application (i.e., at start-up). This protected mode prevents application malfunctions from influencing the integrity of the network and the system. While the OS81050 and OS81110 are designed to be used for optical MOST together with node intelligence of the INIC networks, the OS81082 allows for electrical MOST
networks.

Apart from standard I²C and I²S interfaces, the INIC uses MediaLB on the application side. MediaLB enables interchip communication in real-time, and is specifically designed to standardize a common hardware interface and a software API library to communicate with other controllers or applications. MediaLB supports the transfer of all MOST network data types, including streaming, packet and control data.

The INIC chips offer unique advantages for automotive manufacturers as well. INICs are extremely reliable and flexible as they integrate all necessary drivers in a single solution.