Another vector is the move towards platform-based design, which stimulates re-use through customization of application domain-specific standard platforms. One of the obstacles enabling wide adoption of this IP-based design style is the availability of the infrastructure to evaluate platforms and the IP necessary to customize these platforms. The issues surrounding re-use at the HDL and physical level further complicate this problem. In addition to these technical challenges, IP-based design usage is a growing marketing hurdle. Large quantities of innovative IP comes out of small (start-up) companies that have great flexibility in tracking new standard developments and thus niche markets are created through their innovative IP solutions. But these small start-ups typically, lack a channel to market and commercialize their IP solutions. As such, IP evaluation is hard and isolated, and users typically rely on paper data sheets, evaluation boards and/or sales force interaction.
Virtio is the leader in web-based virtual prototyping. With Virtio's technology, the user can evaluate, experience and design embedded IP(intellectual property) platforms from a desktop browser. Virtio developed its unique Internet capabilities by leveraging its patent pending graphical simulation technologies. Virtio's graphical integrated development environment (Virtio IDE) is used for embedded IP evaluation, concurrent software and hardware development, and early system integration.