Arcturus Networks, a Toronto-based provider of embedded communications solutions, has announced that it has created a microcontroller-based (MCU) solution for VoIP and distributed IP audio end-points, the uCMK60-VoIP board.
"An MCU-based solution achieves a simpler overall design, better system integration, a lower cost bill-of-materials and reduces boot time," said Arcturus product manager David Steele. "By enhancing the VoIP capability with our Mbarx-M2M stack we can voice-enable 'Internet of Things' applications including home control and multi-service intercoms, two-way voice security applications and healthcare devices for assisted living."
The solution includes a full SIP/RTP stack and can be used in either a peer-to-peer mode or with a PBX (News - Alert). It also supports multicast audio distribution and mass notification. The module includes both narrowband (G.711a, G.711u) and wide-band (G.722) vocoders, as well as supporting features on many VoIP phones including Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC), noise reduction, Auto-Gain-Control (AGC) with beamforming and far field microphone pickup as options.
The device starts in about six seconds, which the company says makes it ideal for “wake on demand” applications.
The system uses either a dedicated input and output system or the Mbarx-M2M protocol. It supports push-to-call and status notifications, as well as other standard VoIP features. Under the Mbarx-M2M protocol, it’s possible to access a serial device through the unit using the network-to-UART pass-through mode.
"Freescale's (News - Alert) Kinetis K60 32-bit MCU is powerful enough to run two-way real-time voice communications as well as M2M control signaling, providing small-form-factor, highly-integrated VoIP solutions," said Freecale Business Development Manager Rudan Bettelheim. "Today, voice is becoming an increasingly popular HMI option in traditional building security, public safety, home control, and residential security applications."
The device is self-contained, with all of the software pre-installed on the chip. The system is available as part of development kit which includes the board, a headset, development and management tools and a year of support.
Edited by Blaise McNamee