FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Visual Solutions Announces VisSim/Comm: Software for the Rapid Prototyping of Communications Systems

Westford, Massachusetts, June 1, 1998 -- Visual Solutions, Inc. announces the release of VisSim/Comm. VisSim/Comm is a Windows-based software program for the modeling and simulation of end-to-end communication systems at the signal or physical level. It is based on Visual Solutions well established and highly regarded modeling and simulation software. With a full complement of communication blocks and powerful, time-domain simulation engine, VisSim/Comm provides fast and accurate solutions for analog, digital and mixed-mode communication system designs. VisSim/Comm's intuitive block diagram interface makes it easy to build, modify and maintain even the most complex system models.

Using VisSim/Comm, engineers can freely move among the stages of model construction, simulation, optimization and validation. This tightly integrated development platform allows engineers to simulate and view signal waveforms at any stage of the communication system chain. Importantly, all modeling and simulation tasks can be completed without writing a line of code.

Ericsson Inc., a leading developer and manufacturer of cellular and PCS consumer electronics, has been using VisSim/Comm under an early release program. Charles Gore, Research and Development Engineer at Ericsson, has this to say about his experience with VisSim/Comm:

"Using VisSim/Comm, we designed a new modulation synthesizer much faster than if we had followed the conventional hardware prototype cycle for proof-of-concept. We were able to validate our approach in a matter of days as opposed to the several weeks required to design, assemble and test a breadboard. VisSim/Comm makes it easier for us to develop innovative architectures for the next generation of Ericsson transceiver products. We keep finding new applications for this useful tool. Most recently, we have been using VisSim/Comm to investigate how to compensate for the effects of nonlinearities in certain receiver architectures."

VisSim/Comm helps communication and electrical engineers decrease design cycle time, minimize hardware prototyping and build better products.

Transmitter and Receiver Design
VisSim/Comm enables engineers to easily build both transmitter and receiver models by simply selecting and connecting predefined function blocks. Engineers can construct a wide range of models including analog, digital and mixed mode designs, and include such real life effects as amplifier non-linear distortion and account for system noise temperature effects. Full support is provided for the design of phase-locked loops, including loop filter models and VCO elements.

Channel Models
VisSim/Comm includes a variety of predefined channel models supporting both fixed and mobile service scenarios. Included are fading, multipath, bandlimited and gaussian noise models. In each case, the user has the ability to modify key model parameters to suit their specific needs.

Filter and Equalizer Design
VisSim/Comm supports a wide range of user customizable filters, including FIR, IIR, Gaussian, Raised Cosine and Root Raised Cosine filters. The user can also specify a look-up table based filter by providing measured gain and phase data. Additional blocks are provided to allow the user to quickly view the gain and phase response of any filter. For those users requiring adaptive filters, LMS equalizer blocks are also included.

Predicting System Performance
VisSim/Comm's highly interactive interface makes it easy to perform "what if" simulations and carry out performance trade-offs. For example, a user can dynamically change parameter values, such as Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) and VisSim/Comm will immediately display the corresponding changes in system behavior. Complete end-to-end performance of a system can be determined by linking together a transmitter, receiver and channel models. The simulation results can be immediately visualized through BER plots, phase scatter plots, eye diagrams, spectral plots and other visual outputs.

VisSim/Comm Options
The following options are planned for release in Q3 1998:

• Automatic C Code Generator: VisSim/C-Code generates customizable ANSI C code directly from VisSim/Comm diagrams.
• Rapid Prototyping of DSP & Embedded Systems : VisSim/CommDSP is a completely integrated Windows program for the rapid prototyping of communication systems targeted for DSP (Digital Signal Processor) and embedded systems.

Product and Marketing Information
The following can be downloaded free from the Visual Solutions web site: www.vissim.com:

• Full working copies of VisSim/Comm
  
• Tutorial on the Modeling and Simulation of Communication Systems
  
• Case study on How Ericsson shortens design cycle with VisSim/Comm
  
• VisSim/Comm application overview and data sheets

About Visual Solutions

Visual Solutions is a leading supplier of Windows-based modeling, simulation software and control system design software. VisSim solutions are used by major companies in the following market areas:

• General Industry
• Process Control
• Motion Control
• Aerospace
• Transportation
• Power and Gas

Major companies using VisSim include: ABB, Allen Bradley, Boeing, Carrier, Chrysler, Dow Chemical, DuPont, Foxboro, General Electric, General Motors, Hitachi, Honda, Hewlett-Packard, HR Textron, Lockheed-Martin, Motorola, NASA, Raytheon, Seagate, Texaco, Texas Instruments, Toshiba, United Technologies, Volvo, Westinghouse, Weyerhaeuser and Xerox.

For more information contact:

John Gould
VP Sales & Marketing
Phone: 508 392-0100
Fax: 508 692-0100
Email: john.gould@vissol.com