The applications of “firmware & embedded systems” spans widely, all the way from specialized industries (design of HW boards, computer peripherals etc.), Industrial applications (automobiles, process control, real time systems etc.) to consumer electronics (FAX machines, microwave ovens, music systems etc.). Having identified the potential growth in this particular field, PML has tied up strategically with Caravel Infosystems to offer an added range of services in the field of Hardware board and sub-systems design, Firmware and Embedded systems etc. This has enabled PML to augment its range of services and products on offer in fulfilling its vision of being a single point and complete solution for its clients.

In achieving the above, PML has equipped itself with the latest infrastructure and technology supported by experienced people in developing projects for various clients across the world. The technical heads of this department have more than sixteen years of experience and have implemented some very large systems in their years of employment. With this expertise, PML today has the necessary skill set to provide solutions along the following lines:

Design of evaluation Boards, Process Control Equipments, Automobile Automation, Smart Card, HW Board Simulation, Test Jigs, Firmware & Embedded solutions, Functionality software, Implementation of customized protocol (G3 & G4), Conversion of Assembly to C language, Code re-engineering, Real time operating system, System Software, Device drivers development, Interfacing, Computer telephony interface, Voice response systems, Call center, Voice over IP etc.
The skill sets required for all the above-related work are as outlined below.

Hardware and Embedded systems development

Development of hardware systems using Intel, Motorola, MIPS, TMS and analog Devices Processors, FPGA/Board Design Embedded software programming in Assembly, C, C++, VC++, Java, simulators, Emulators and Monitors PCI/VME Bus and Storage Solutions bus SCSI

C++ and system software Development

Device Driver Development, Understanding of API's for open systems based hardware for telephony (TAPI), MAPI and speech (SAPI) for voice response applications. Knowledge of protocols such as RS-232, Ethernet, TCP/IP, PPP, SNMP, SLIP

Operating systems

Win'95/98/2000/NT, SUN Solaris, Other flavors of UNIX and Real Time OS-QNX
Projects
The following are some of the projects developed and implemented by PML’s partners over the past few years.

High End Audio Entertainment System

It is a high-end audio entertainment system based on dallas 87C520 micro controller working at 33Mhz. It has four audio sources namely CD-Rom player, FM/AM/MW tuner. Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) receiver and an auxiliary audio input port. It has four high wattage output ports to which speakers can be connected and placed in different halls. It has LCD display of size 640X240 to display the menu and buttons. It has a number of micro controllers to control the various functions of the system.
The output from various sources can be directed to different speakers by the user and also can control the properties independently. It also has a RF controlled remote control with the same LCD panel and touch screen and allows user to control the functioning of the system remotely.

High Speed ECP Switch and Power Controller

A custom-built Operating System loading system was designed for Wipro Acer to load the Operating System such as Windows 95/98 and Windows NT on the fly (without any manual intervention) based on the customer order and the sub systems assembled in the main server to systems in production. A power switch is also designed to switch the systems on/off from the server.

UPS performance and function Monitoring system

A custom built UPS monitoring system was designed for an UPS manufacturer to monitor various parameters of the UPS and inform the server of the faults occurred. It also starts the shutdown of the server in case of power failures for a long time.

Internet Phone Set Top Box

It is a set top box which will make an ordinary phone into an internet phone. It has a built-in telephone interface and modem interface to connect a handset and telephone line respectively. The prototype was developed and demonstrated on the PC motherboard. A real time OS QNX is used to give the low functionally to the application. GSM audio compression algorithm is used to compress and decompress the audio data from the telephone. Silence detection logic is also implemented to reduce the bandwidth requirement. A proprietary IP address method is generated and the compressed data is sent over the internet between the phones.

PCI bus based proprietary Function card

It is a full-size PCI bus based proprietary function card with a micro controller on board. It uses PLX Technology's PLX 9050 PCI controller and offers slave function. A communication protocol to transfer data/commands between on-board firmware and the PC side software developed. A software driver is also developed to ease the use of on-board functionality by the user.

Net Voice

This system facilitates making long distance/overseas calls at the rate of local call thought Internet without using any Browser. It was developed using C on QNX real Time OS platform. It is a device based on Modem communication, ISP connectivity, Socket programming, GSM compression /decompression. Low level coding to the HW, CODEC to record the analog signal and play back the received signal through Speaker etc (it is similar to voice over IP).

Interactive Email reading and voice Mail System

This system helps the traveling executives to look in to their mail wherever they are, by dialing in to their Desktop PCs and at the same time protecting the security of the transactions. The system will automatically dial out to a desired telephone number and read out the important/desired mail.

Net Meet

This system was developed for one of the clients in Canada. Scope of the system is to provide web interface for the calendar and scheduling features of lotus notes edit facility. This system was developed using Java Applet, CGI scripts using CAPI of Lotus Notes, HTML and Java Script. This system can be used for along with Lotus Notes from the web for scheduling meetings; it checks for time conflicts, supports repeat meeting, file attachment from webetc. A 30 days trial period has been added as per client requirement.

Project pro

This system is Project Management Software using Lotus Notes R4.6. This system was developed using:
* Java Applets, CGI script with CAPI of Lotus Notes DB, HTML, and Java Script.
* Java Applets, CGI script written in Java which access DB2DB using JDBC, HTML, and Java script. And the scope of the system was to enable.
* Web interface to Project Pro wit Notes DB.
* Web interface to project Pro with DB2 DB.
* Notes client interface to project pro with DB2 DB.

Security Monitoring system

This project was carried out for a Singapore-based company and used for monitoring a large fleet of security personnel. This system employs a passive hand held device and an active device located at the pre determined security points. The patrolling security personnel dock the passive hand held device with active device where the ID of the security guard and the time of the docking is logged on the passive device . The passive device is connected to the PC (next day morning), the data is transferred from the passive device and the necessary actions are taken based on the upload data.

Development of USB port to one of the client from USA

This project was carried out for one of the client from Canada. Precious have developed the firmware for USB Keyboards using Assembly language of MCS-51 family.

Conversion Of Legacy Software System To Thin Client

Saudi Aramco is second largest producer of petroleum in the world. It was using the legacy software for their HR Division. This company is spread across the geographical area of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. There are certain location where people can travel only by Aramco’s chartered flight to implement any changes / modification in the legacy software. Hence they decided to use thin client application for this division. Precious carried out the operation in a record time and with out any change in the user-friendly screen appearances / functions