Specifications:

One of the keys to a successful project is complete and thorough upfront specification. In developing a specification we leverage our FPGA core, network adapter card, and computer system knowledge to work with the customer to jointly specify a solution. A clear and concise specification ensures that all project expectations are met or exceeded. Pcion's Specification services include:

• Requirements analysis
• Determination of the system architecture
• Hardware/Firmware partitioning
• Determination of the core architecture
• Power/Price/Performance/Size design trade-offs
• Documentation

IP Core Customization:

Pcion’s IP cores are designed from the ground up with customization in mind. Thus, Pcion engineers are ready and able to modify one of our standard core offerings to meet specific customer needs. Pcion has spent considerable time and effort to build an extensive library of configurable network-centric functions and modules. These functions and modules are designed to be simply and cost-effectively adaptable with minimal effort. Pcion's IP Core Customization services include:

• Performance enhancements
• Additional capabilities/features
• Embedded OS ports
• Embedded processor ports
• Device ports
• Interface modifications
• VHDL and Verilog

FPGA System-on-Chip:

IP Cores are just one of the building blocks in a typical FPGA application. Pcion works with customers to provide complete FPGA System-on-Chip (SoC) solutions utilizing our IP cores, embedded soft & hard IP core processors/controllers, third party soft and hard IP cores, interconnects, and interfaces. Pcion’s focused SoC expertise is network-centric high data throughput packet-based communication solutions. Pcion's FPGA SoC development services include:

• Complete turn-key SOC designs
• SoC architecture definition
• Pcion & third party IP core integration
• SoC debug
• SoC verification and validation

Board-level Development:

Pcion’s focused expertise in network and computer I/O adapter/accelerator cards ensures cutting edge market leading designs. Pcion is an innovator in computer I/O solutions for virtualization and cloud computing applications. Picon’s UVPA (link here to UVPA) is an ideal general purpose host bus adapter design which can be leveraged as a starting point for any number of customer-specified go-to-market variations. Our wide selection of network interface daughter cards (link here to daughtercards) ensures that most custom network designs can leverage one of our existing designs, thus reducing time to market. Pcion offers a critical advantage to customers, via a PCB design and fulfillment relationship with co-located sister company Etherion, Inc.

Through its tight relationship with Etherion, Inc. Pcion is capable of delivering any quantity of turn-key board-level product from small prototype quantities to large production runs. Pcion's board-level development services include:

• Complete turn-key board-level designs
• Prototype quantities
• Production quantities
• Schematic Capture
• Signal Integrity Analysis
• EMC
• PCB layout (via sister company Etherion, Inc www.etherion-inc.com)

Software/Firmware Development:

Pcion has developed in-depth expertise in real-time embedded SoC processor firmware and host-based driver development for adapter card and networking applications. Pcion's software/firmware development services include:

• Firmware for embedded softcore processors, including NIOSII and ARM
• TCP/IP stacks
• Virtualization protocols, including iSCSI, i-PCI
• Embedded Linux internals, including SoC device drivers
• Host-based Linux internals, including device drivers for PCI, PCI Express devices and functions
• MS Windows device drivers for PCI, PCI Express devices and functions
• Demo applications

Verification & Validation:

During Verification and Validation, Pcion works closely with the customer to ensure the specification is met and the design fully meets end user expectations. Pcion is a proud member of the UNH Interoperability Lab (IOL). The UNH-IOL is the networking industry’s premier independent proving ground for new technologies. The UNH-IOL provides rigorous one-on-one quality assurance testing as well as leading-edge facilities and support for multi-vendor group tests in nearly every facet of networking. Access to this top notch facility can be leveraged through Pcion as part of a contracted development effort. Pcion is also the first company anywhere to offer i-PCI support. Pcion's verification and validation services include:

• Test bench development
• SoC Simulation
• Compliance testing
• UNH-IOL access
• i-PCI verification and validation

Project Managment:

At Pcion, we recognize the importance of effective overall project management in meeting schedule, cost, and performance goals while mitigating risk. Pcion’s project management approach includes:

• Documented and controlled development process
• Complete and thorough upfront specification development
• Detailed schedule development
• Regular status reviews
• Internal design reviews
• Customer design reviews (onsite/offsite)