Flexible Protocol Engine™ (FPE)
ImageStream's Flexible Protocol Engine™ (FPE) is a powerful hardware and firmware design used in UniSpec WAN cards. Like an embedded CPU, the FPE can be programmed dynamically to process network data in real time. But unlike a CPU, the FPE is less expensive because it uses programmable gates to do the processing.
The FPE design can accelerate protocol processing in conjunction with Layer 2 protocol drivers such as ImageStream's SoftCell™ ATM & IMA stack. The FPE is also used to process low-level HDLC frames, which eliminates the need for expensive communications ASICs. In this way, ImageStream can closely integrate its modular Inetics driver compoments with hardware-based FPE processing to create a potent solution for WAN protocol processing and management.
The FPE design gives UniSpec WAN cards a significant price and performance advantage over other WAN cards. For example, the most expensive WAN cards on the market use purpose-built communications ASICs that cannot be programmed with new features. At the same time, ASICs cost more because they are produced in smaller volumes. This means that people who buy WAN cards that use communications ASICs are paying more money for a less flexible solution.
Other WAN cards may use programmable logic to keep down costs, but they do not have FPE technology. WAN cards like this are only programmed once when the card is initialized, so they have to have the capacity to process all of the firmware in one monolithic image. Because ImageStream's FPE is programmed on-the-fly, it can use multiple firmware images with fewer gates to implement the same protocol processing options. This approach costs less, and it provides the most flexible solution for real-time protocol processing.
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