From: "Pick, Sarah" <SPick@applieddata.net>
To: "'lwn@lwn.net'" <lwn@lwn.net>
Subject: Booth # 769 Power mangnt - Linux -StrongARM
Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2001 12:19:07 -0500

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
	
CONTACT:	Sarah Pick	
		Applied Data System		
301-490-4007x128  cell at show - 410-707-2543  	spick@applieddata.net	

							 BOOTH # 769 LINUX
WORLD

Applied Data Systems Unveils Sleep Mode for Linux on StrongARM(  SA-1110:
One of First Power Management Packages for OEM Markets will be New Boost for
Battery Operated Embedded Systems and Handheld devices.

New York, NY (January 29, 2001) - - Applied Data Systems (ADS), a leading
developer of application-ready RISC-based embedded systems headquartered in
Columbia, Maryland unveiled a sleep mode /power management package for their
Linux/StrongARM SA1110 platforms at LinuxWorld Expo in New York today.  The
product, undergoing final stages of development, was a collaboration between
ADS engineers and the Open Source.

Power Comparisons
This capability is significant for power savings with  battery-operated
systems and handheld devices.  As a reference, ADS' Graphics Client Plus
4"x6" single board computer system consumes on average 2W (2,000mW) of power
in full operation, with a little less than half a Watt (495 mW) consumed by
the StrongARM SA-1110 microprocessor.  In contrast, the Graphics Client Plus
system uses less than 10 milli-watt in sleep mode. 

Idle Mode vs Sleep Mode
Previously, other power management systems for Linux on StrongARM included
on/off, and  "idle". Idle mode is an intentionally non-operational state,
initiated by the kernel due to a lack of system activity where the CPU is
running at a slower rate and peripherals are typically unaffected. The
system continues to process interrupts. 

With sleep mode, in comparison to idle mode, all peripherals are powered
off. Only the SDRAMs and the StrongARM (IOs and Real Time Clock) remain
active in a minimum power mode. This state is initiated by a call to a sleep
function by the application or by an inactivity timeout. All the device
drivers are notified of transition to this state by a call to their
respective power management functions. With sleep mode, the kernel stays
resident in RAM and can "wake up" in a timely fashion without having to
reload and uncompress the kernel from non-volatile memory.

Significance for Battery-operated Systems
This capability extends the life of battery-operated systems to several
weeks, without requiring recharging. As Linux becomes more widespread in
truly embedded systems, having power management with sleep mode has been an
increasingly significant market need.

"ADS has extended the versatility of Linux driven StrongARM-based
battery-operated systems with this new power management capability," said
Robert Olsen, CEO of ADS. "Previous power management solutions have been
interim steps toward this more complete, smooth sleep mode package," said
Robert Olsen, CEO of ADS.

ADS will be releasing the capability to the Open Source Foundation, as well
as providing a package with its StrongARM systems beginning in March 2001.
Information about ADS can be found at: www.applieddata.net. 


###

About Applied Data Systems
Applied Data Systems (ADS) delivers embedded solutions that enable mobile,
networked and Internet-enabled applications with wireless connectivity and
sophisticated graphics capabilities. ADS features a variety of systems
ranging from the PDA-sized "Bitsy", the Graphics Master with USB
connectivity, and other systems that are used in applications including
process control, factory floor automation, GPS, fleet management, and
POS/kiosk.  For information about ADS, visit www.applieddata.net or call
301/490-4007.