Porting pjsip to embedded Linux on Blackfin DSP

Over the next few posts, I will do a walkthrough on porting pjsip to embedded Linux (specifically uClinux) on the Blackfin Digital Signal Processing (DSP) processors from Analog Devices. Along the way, I hope to give a few insight into programming embedded systems in general.

Blackfin (r) Logo

Why Blackfin Processors?

  • Popular. It can run uClinux as an embedded operating system.
    • uClinux ™ Logo
    • There is already the Linphone Blackfin port, so I know SIP and media works.
    • Recently Global IP Solutions (GIPS) has ported and optimized its VoiceEngine Embedded software to Blackfin processors as well.
  • Well documented. The Blackfin on uClinux site has tons of free software and documentation. Most importantly GCC toolchain (compiler, linkers, debuggers) is available and supported.
  • Somewhat exotic. Although probably not as exotic as pure DSP processors such as the TMS320 series from Texas Instruments, but still it is an embedded systems processor. In contrast processors based on x86 are more like small PCs, therefore expensive in terms of cost and power usage.
  • Affordable development board readily available. Relatively speaking, of course.
    • I was able to buy the BF537 STAMP and audio card for a total of £276 from Digi-Key, that includes shipping (to UK), customs, and taxes. I will detail what you need exactly in another post.
    • Here’s a tip if ordering from the UK: Don’t choose the Global Express Mail option. Although it saves about £20, it takes way too long (almost 2 weeks) and the ParcelForce handling here, well… can be improved.

Initial Approach

For this exercise, I have chosen Windows as my development machine. Although using Linux is more straight forward, I am using this porting effort as an excuse to try out new stuff like coLinux. Other than that , I will try to stick as much as possible to the suggested tools.

What next?

I will describe in more detail about getting the goods and preparing your development PC. After that we should be well on our way to start development.

If you have any thoughts on how this should be structured, or any other additional information you’d like to see covered, just leave a comment and I can try to fit it in.

9 Responses to “Porting pjsip to embedded Linux on Blackfin DSP”


  1. 1 jafon 13 August 2007 at 12:50

    Hi,
    During those days , I’v got in touble with running PJSIP on BF533 EZKIT.
    Pjlib-test almost meet its end , but unfortunately , when it run into ioqueue_perf_test() , something terrible happen. The errors vary from time to time , so I can not find out what’s worry with it . But what I really know is this problem must have some relationship with the thread “worker_thread” ,for without it or just using worker_thread as a function , everything is OK.

  2. 2 jafon 13 August 2007 at 12:55

    Hi,
    During those days , I’v got in touble with running PJSIP on BF533 EZKIT(uClinux).
    Pjlib-test almost meet its end , but unfortunately , when it run into ioqueue_perf_test() , something terrible happen. The errors vary from time to time , so I can not find out what’s worry with it . But what I really know is this problem must have some relationship with the thread “worker_thread” ,for without it or just using worker_thread as a function , everything is OK.
    I really need help from you , is there anything need to be ported ? what should I do ?

    best regards

    jafon

  3. 3 ismangil 18 August 2007 at 11:22

    Hi jafon,

    You’re right, we are still having problems with the uCLinux on Blackfin port.

    All I can say is at the moment we are looking into it, but there is no scheduled finish date for the port.

    Sorry!

  4. 4 Tensk8 11 November 2007 at 2:49

    Hi,

    I need to use PJSIP in an embedded board from ARM (an TS-7250). Someone try it.

  5. 5 mark 1 January 2009 at 15:33

    Hi,
    What is the current status? I would love to try it on our Blackfin based devices.
    Cheers,
    Mark

  6. 6 savitri 19 May 2009 at 11:02

    hi
    Iam trying to port PJSIP to altera nios2 running microCOs2. Anyone having prior experience to this?

  7. 7 Perry Ismangil 19 May 2009 at 11:06

    @savitri:

    There was a few mention in the mailing list, for example: https://blog.pjsip.org/2007/11/21/rtp-under-clinux-on-nios2/


  1. 1 How to start embedded SIP development on Blackfin uClinux « pjsip blog Trackback on 30 March 2007 at 23:29
  2. 2 Easy Setup of the Blackfin BF537-STAMP Development Board « pjsip blog Trackback on 16 April 2007 at 23:17
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