4 ms·

"even though the goal is to eventually have as much IP released under a BSD-like open source license" What do people mean _exactly_ by 'IP' in contexts like th

by ArchD 6y ago

"even though the goal is to eventually have as much IP released under a BSD-like open source license" What do people mean _exactly_ by 'IP' in contexts like this related to computing boards such as SBCs and FPGAs? The only 'IP' I know is a term pertaining to legal concepts like patents, where 'IP' and 'patent' are almost synonymous. In the current context, what does it mean to 'release' this 'IP'? How do you 'release' a patent?

dboreham 6y ago
You disclaim your right to bring suits against infringers?
bruckie 6y ago
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiconductor_intellectual_property_core https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiconductor_intellectual_p... It's a logic or semiconductor layout design for a component (e.g. a processor core, or a peripheral like a UART, DMA controller, etc.). "IP" for hardware is roughly analogous to "source code" for software.
- monocasa 6y ago
  It sort of colloquially gets used as "subsystem" or "library" as well. Tends to refer to a piece that can be treated more or less as a black box and imported with well defined semantics.
jlokier 6y ago
Although it does come from Intellectual Property, they use "IP" the same way game developers and web developers use "asset" for an image, 3d model or sound effect. Sometimes they even say the plural as "IPs". In semiconductors an IP is often some logic block, often supplied by a third-party to paste into your design, or part of your own company's library. For example on SoCs a cache, a USB PHY, a CPU core, an AES unit, an Ethernet controller, a PCI controller, a video decoder, an audio decoder, etc. A design unit you could imagine selling to be used inside other company's designs. That's why you can "release an IP". I find the use of "IP" for these things a bit distasteful, so I try not to use the term myself, but it's very common in the field.

by ArchD 6y ago

dboreham 6y ago

You disclaim your right to bring suits against infringers?

bruckie 6y ago

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiconductor_intellectual_property_core https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiconductor_intellectual_p... It's a logic or semiconductor layout design for a component (e.g. a processor core, or a peripheral like a UART, DMA controller, etc.). "IP" for hardware is roughly analogous to "source code" for software.

monocasa 6y ago
It sort of colloquially gets used as "subsystem" or "library" as well. Tends to refer to a piece that can be treated more or less as a black box and imported with well defined semantics.

jlokier 6y ago

Although it does come from Intellectual Property, they use "IP" the same way game developers and web developers use "asset" for an image, 3d model or sound effect. Sometimes they even say the plural as "IPs". In semiconductors an IP is often some logic block, often supplied by a third-party to paste into your design, or part of your own company's library. For example on SoCs a cache, a USB PHY, a CPU core, an AES unit, an Ethernet controller, a PCI controller, a video decoder, an audio decoder, etc. A design unit you could imagine selling to be used inside other company's designs. That's why you can "release an IP". I find the use of "IP" for these things a bit distasteful, so I try not to use the term myself, but it's very common in the field.