Upgrading Hardware Remotely  Design Flow Product Editions

Upgrading Hardware Remotely 

The HOTMan Application enhances the development, design and control of bitstreams in an embedded system or Windows, Linux and Solaris environments. HOTMan (with the H.O.T. API ) is an easy to use and feature rich Application. Enabling BitStream Management & Remote Hardware Upgrading using C++ & JAVA programming languages on Windows/DOS or Linux/Solaris Operating Systems. Tracking and deploying hardware upgrades is an easier task with HOTMan.

HOTMan treats the programmable hardware as an object within the system, similar to software objects used in C++. As a result, applications that are written using HOTMan tend to be highly object oriented, modular, and extremely upgradable.

Some features of the HOTMan Hardware Deployment Methodology:

• Upgrade application design: HOTMan is a single design methodology that can span the spectrum of different memory systems as well as microprocessors.
• FPGA configuration: Hardware Objects use a single design methodology that can program the FPGA either via SelectMAP or JTAG.
• Performance: HOT Files have Compressed Bitstreams , more storage capacity and improved delivery times.
• Updating both hardware and software: The BitStream Manager is a single methodology for updating both bitstream and management data.
• Upgrade architecture: update on the initiative of a central command (a 'push' update) or on each unit to be updated when it chooses or needs it (a 'pull').
• Reliability: HOTMan is flexible and powerful enough that it can enable highly reliable upgrades both Remotely & Automated
• Low Cost Easy to Use cross-platform migration; Code can be reused across products and customer application can be quickly modified for new hardware in a product. Both of these combine to lower project development costs.

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HOTMan Design Flow

The HOTMan method for remote in-system hardware upgrades begins with the conversion of the BitStream file (rbt or bit) into a Hardware Object (HOT File). In turn the HOT File is activated in a local or remote environment. The activated HOT File carries with it all that is necessary for the target O/S to recieve and trigger an update routine.

The update routine can include commands such as Verify, Test, Read or Write. These commands bridge the HOT API to the user's hardware enabling direct interaction with the target hardware.

The HOT API enables applications to be written that can control which version of either an FPGA upgrade or a software upgrade is to be used. Applications can also be written monitoring the success of the upgrade and what to do thereafter.

Customer written applications can be tuned to the very specific needs of the product. The HOTMan Environment supplies the methods and techniques to do this.

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HOTMan Product Editions

HOTMan-1 -- Standard Edition -- The complete Remote Hardware Upgrade Application with LocalHost / Server Versions of HOTMan, includes HOT API for C++ & JAVA and Examples with Source Code. Single User License.

HOTMan-1 PER -- Personal Edition -- The complete Remote Hardware Upgrade Application with LocalHost only. For Hardware Upgrades hook directly to the host computer, includes HOT API for C++ & JAVA and Examples with Source Code.

HOTMan-1 OSK -- Open Source Edition -- The complete Remote Hardware Upgrade Application with LocalHost / Server Versions of HOTMan, includes HOT API for C++ & JAVA and Examples with Source Code. Open Source Code License.

HOTMan-1 UNV -- University Edition -- The same as HOTMan-1 PRO. For qualified Universities ONLY.

HOTMan-1 EVAL --Evaluation -- Same as HOTMan-1. For Evaluation purposes only.

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