DSP processor, 2 MB Flash, 2 MB RAM, RTL8019AS network chip
Software architecture:
The size of the flash and RAM make this device unsuitable for running Linux. That is no problem by itself. We aim to use uIP instead, and make very small core functionality, which would be impossible with a Linux kernel. The use of this small infrastructure is that it may also apply to embedded applications, thus creating a much larger array of phone-enabled gimmicks than is currently common.
Occurrence of this PCB:
The SPA901 PCB is used in the following device models:
Components found:
ESS "visba 3" ES3890F F027, Video CD processor (surprise!) -- which appears to have launched back in 1998, according to press releases on http://www.esstech.com/ The datasheet for ES3890 speaks of "Dual CPU MPP" but has no accurate information about the processor, except that it is a 32-bit RISC CPU. Not much choice in that arena, is there?
Some investigation has gone into the matter of this CPU: http://www.voip-info.org/wiki/index.php?comment_page=2&page_id=1363&comments_page=1&page=1 According to this post, the ESS hosts a MIPS-X as its CPU. A programmers manual for this CPU type is available.
Flash memory: 1M x 16, or 2M x 8: MX29LV160CB.
Dynamic RAM: 1M x 16, or 2M x 8: IS41LV16100B-50TL.
Ethernet: RTL8019AS and on the models with a second ethernet connector also (TODO). The RTL8019AS is an NE2000 clone, albeit a bad one according to the Linux kernel. It does not really matter; at least example code is available in that kernel, and actually uIP has already been ported to these chips before.
Connectors found (and detailed centrally):
Re-owning this device:
This device is interesting for its choice of a Video CD processor as a main chip. To date, we have not found the technical documentation that would support reprogramming of these devices.