Cypress Semiconductor has introduced an upgraded module for its West Bridge peripheral controllers that offer a fast sideloading solution for transfer of multimedia files from a PC to a handheld device through the MTP (media transfer protocol). The new Turbo-MTP 2.0 module enables users to sideload a feature-length movie quickly. The new module includes drivers for the Android operating system, making the peripheral controllers compatible with an array of handhelds.
The upgraded module provides a 2X improvement over the company's earlier Turbo-MTP 1.0 module. The Turbo-MTP modules increase the effectiveness of MTP, a USB-based protocol used by Rhapsody, Napster, Verizon V CAST and other online video and music services. MTP offers automatic synchronisation and hot-unplug features. With MTP, a handheld retains access to storage while also plugged into a PC. Users can still make a phone call or watch videos while connected, instead of facing a "PC Connect" frozen screen. Additionally, MTP enables the transfer of metadata such as song titles, images, user ratings and digital rights management information. Natively supported in WMP (Windows media player), MTP enables direct, drag-and-drop synchronisation between WMP and a handheld.
The new module has turbo-charged sideloading for MTP handhelds, with internal tests reaching speeds close to 30Mbytes/s. West Bridge Antioch devices achieve better data transfer performance by providing a direct path from Hi-speed USB 2.0 to handset storage devices such as SDHC (secure digital high capacity), MMC (multimedia card), HDD (hard disk drive) and NAND flash. By fully offloading management of USB and storage from the main baseband processor, the controller saves critical processor resources and allows a mobile handset to maintain full functionality while simultaneously sideloading multimedia files, synchronising PIM data, or even using the phone as a PC modem. The West Bridge Astoria controllers adds to this performance with a configurable multimedia storage interface and a flexible processor interface, easing connections to a range of embedded processors and mass storage devices. These features allow Astoria to connect to any embedded processor or DSP, bringing MLC NAND support to new applications including PMPs (portable media players), wireless cards, dongles, PNDs (portable navigation devices), digital cameras and POS terminals.
