RMI SOLUTIONS for Portable Navigation Devices

(Download RMI PND Solution Brief)

Portable Navigation Market Explodes with Multimedia

Dozens of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) are shipping a new type of portable navigation device featuring mobile TV and other multimedia functions. Based on the RMI Alchemy™ Au1250™ and Au1210™ SoC Processors, Media PNDs (mPND) allow manufacturers to differentiate products with new consumercentric innovations and to avoid the eroding margins which are typical of single-purpose GPS devices. By receiving mobile TV content, typically available worldwide without subscription cost, the mPND is well aligned with consumer usage trends. Media PNDs represent an explosive new market category that leverages the investment system manufacturers have made in navigation devices.

A leader in the emerging mPND Market

RMI’s Alchemy-Based mPND devices were first introduced by OEMs in September 2005. Since that time, RMI has shipped millions of processors into multi-function, media-capable navigation devices. Based on the Au1200™, Au1210 and Au1250 media processors, mPNDs are available today for most of the worldwide mobile TV standards.

Low Cost GPS

Alchemy Processors support lower cost alternatives to replace expensive GPS modules. RMI works closely with top GPS partners to offer a spectrum of cost optimized choices for the mPND designer. The mPND reference design from RMI implements the lowest cost GPS solution based on CSR, Inc., a leader in software GPS technology. The Au1250 media processor provides ample processing headroom to perform the complex baseband function in software, removing the need for external baseband hardware. By trading off available CPU performance for lower bill-of-material (BOM) cost, the reference design implements a remarkably low cost GPS system consisting of the Au1250 processor plus the SE4120L GPS radio from SiGe Semiconductor.

Low Cost Media PND Application Solution

This low cost mPND reference design consists of a reference design board, software board support package (BSP), hardware schematics, documentation, as well as navigation and mobile TV applications. While Alchemy-based mobile TV solutions are available for worldwide geographies, this reference design is targeted to the China market.

Key Features:
• Low Cost
• GPS - CSR (using SiGe Semiconductor SE4120L or Samsung Electro-Mechanics module)
• TV - CMMB (China Standard)
• CIF Resolution

Software:
• Supports Linux or WinCE 5.0 BSP & Media SDK from RMI
• Navigation application, Maps, Mobile TV
• Software GPS (CSR Software baseband)

Upgrade Options:
• Hosted GPS implementation
• Other Mobile TV Standards:
— DMB-TH
— DVB-T
— ISDB-T
— T-DMB

Board Support Package

The low cost mPND Reference Design Kit includes a complete board support package (BSP) based on WinCE 5.0. The BSP includes the OS, file system, and tool chain, along with driver support for all peripherals. In addition, the BSP includes a complete media stack for high quality, D1 resolution video playback of the internet’s most popular audio and video formats including MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV, DivX, H.263 and XviD.

Advanced Ecosystem Accelerates Time-to-Market

RMI has established a broad ecosystem made up of partners who are enabling OEMs to quickly bring their mPND products to market. This ecosystem includes both ODMs as well as Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) providing maps, navigation applications and mobile TV solutions well suited for consumer navigation markets.