Scenario

A manufacturer of programmable digital signal processing (DSP) chips distributes customised software on CD in order to help purchasers of these chips design digital filters. The software allows engineers to customise the filter's behaviour to a specific design, verify performance using graphics and other benchmark metrics and extract filter coefficients. In delivering the design software, the purchaser must code and test the software for each hardware release. This must be done in a timely fashion that corresponds to the manufacturing timetable of the hardware. Also, the design software must support all appropriate operating systems and hardware platforms used by the purchaser's engineers.

Problem

How to provide timely, customisable, robust design support to hardware purchasers without:

• Requiring them to install custom software
• Necessitating costly custom application development
• Providing extensive technical support on the design tools when a manufacturer's emphasis is on hardware

Solution

Using the Mathcad Application Server, this same manufacturer can distribute live design documents online without shipping software to their customers or requiring additional software tools to be installed, maintained in appropriate versions, etc. Instead of packaging the collection on a CD, the collection can be posted on a Web site, either one that is publicly accessible or a password protected domain, and the URL can be distributed to the purchaser, which only needs a browser to use the worksheets. This makes the information easily updatable, cross-platform and lets them do double duty as advertising for the manufacturer's hardware.

In addition, Web-ready solutions drafted using Mathcad Enterprise's visual development environment and graphical tools reduces software development time to days from weeks. Application notes are created using a wizard to create Web controls such as drop down lists and text fields. There is no limit to the number of interactions visitors may have with documents on the site. Template capabilities allow documents to be further customised to have a certain look and feel depending on how and to whom they are distributed.

Benefits

• Live design documents can be delivered asynchronously and needn't be tied to delivery of physical goods.
• Information can be updated or corrected easily, and the calculations remain up-to-date.
• Design notes are cross-platform, operating system independent and quick to develop. New design technology can be incorporated in hours instead of weeks.
• Interested parties that don't currently purchase these filters can preview one or more documents to get a sense of the power and flexibility of the whole solution - programmable hardware plus software support.

Conclusion

The Mathcad Application Server is an ideal way to provide hardware purchasers with an integrated solution that includes customisable support materials that allow them to optimise their use of the hardware. The manufacturer can do this in a timely manner that gives the company greater control over delivery of that benefit.

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