Java to Go

By Michael Foley
iApplianceWeb
(04/30/01, 07:57:23 AM EDT)

Java platforms for Internet appliances and embedded systems have up until now been limited by their inherent overhead and slow processing. To solve these problems Nazomi Communications, Inc. developed Java coprocessors that improve performance and speed up the processing of Java software. Their latest JSTAR product provides hardware acceleration of the J2ME Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC). This reduces the software overhead for running Java by eliminating the need for Java Virtual Machine (JVM) software.

JSTAR works in conjunction with microprocessors and translates Java byte codes into instructions sets native to the microprocessor. JSTAR is a Java bytecode interpreter implemented in silicon that retrieves Java bytecode instructions from memory and interprets them on the fly into native CPU instructions that are fed directly to the CPU for immediate execution. JSTAR is a hardware implementation of a Java Virtual Machine for the J2ME CLDC solution for mobile wireless devices, and for the PersonalJava application environment for Internet appliances. JSTAR is fully compliant with all Java technology standards and Sun authorized Virtual Machine implementations.

The Java runtime environment for mobile devices within the J2ME framework consists of a lightweight Virtual Machine and the Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC) libraries. Synthesizable Verilog RTL wrappers allow JSTAR to be integrated with any microprocessor, regardless of its CPU architecture. A typical JSTAR implementation takes 30,000 logic gates. Any semiconductor foundry can implement JSTAR's synthesizable design. JSTAR includes detailed implementation documentation, a verification suite, and a software kernel that works with any JVM or J2ME CLDC, coupled with integration services and support.