PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC DEVICES (PLDs)

At the core of Global Velocity's solutions are programmable logic devices (PLDs).

A PLD is, essentially, a digital circuit with undefined behavior when it is manufactured. PLD application developers must "program" the circuit with the desired functionality. This programming is done by configuring generic blocks of logic to perform specific functions, and wiring the blocks together so electronic signals travel between them. Because PLDs are configured to perform a specific task via customized signal routing and blocks of computer logic, they can drastically outperform microprocessors when configured to process a particular task.

Most modern PLDs can be programmed, and reprogrammed, multiple times.

Currently, Global Velocity uses a popular PLD technology called the field-programmable gate array (FPGA). FPGAs contain a matrix of configurable logic blocks that can be programmed to perform simple functions. Configurable signal routing allows relatively complex tasks to be performed by connecting these logic blocks together. Modern FPGAs can duplicate the functionality of millions of logic gates, which are the basic building blocks of microprocessors and other digital circuits. Virtually all of today's FPGAs also contain on-chip memory for small, high-performance storage. Many contain other specialized blocks such as digital signal processors (DSPs) and simple microprocessors.

FPGAs provide the power of hardware and the flexibility of software to meet today's advanced networking challenges. Traditional software solutions will not be able to effecitvely manage network traffic, nor maintain the explosive growth of Internet traffic, therefore the need for next generation networking solutions such as those produced by Global Velocity.