HCC has a unique position in the microcontroller market as a company almost exclusively focused on the development of embedded middleware with no dependence on a proprietary operating system. Specializing in middleware for USB, TCP/IP and Flash storage, the company has become a leader in high value, reusable software components. HCC software is in many cases ‘white labeled’ and resold by operating system-focused companies and the market reach of its products is extensive. A company founded and run by engineers, HCC values engineering excellence above all else. It has developed leadership in development processes and strategies for deploying software in almost any embedded environment.

Advanced Embedded Framework
All software components from HCC can be integrated easily with almost any common RTOS, development environment, peripheral or flash device. The ability to achieve this efficiently is a central part of the company’s technology strategy. It also provides an important benefit for those companies who do not want to rely on proprietary operating systems in their design. HCC developed its Advanced Embedded Framework to enable consistent abstractions and interfaces to any embedded environment. This means that engineers can easily integrate HCC middleware whether they have proprietary or commercial software platforms. The framework not only provides a consistent set of interfaces, but it also creates the environment for HCC to apply its rigorous coding standard in the development of MISRA compliant and verifiable software components.

MISRA Compliance and Software Verification
HCC’s range of ‘no compromise’ verifiable software is developed according to a full ‘V’ model process with static and dynamic analysis and fully documented high and low level design. It is compliant with MISRA-C:2004. MISRA has become a ‘best-practice’ coding standard, widely used in the medical, industrial, telecom and aerospace industries. HCC has developed its own rigorous coding standard to create a concise, strongly typed subset of the C language for use in embedded communications systems. The result is clean, clear and robust code without ambiguities. It can be used on the most critical embedded applications. Full compliance documentation, developed using the LDRA Tool Suite, is supplied to customers to help them integrate with existing development processes and to confirm that the highest standards of compliance have been met. The software and documentation are capable of meeting some of the requirements for many standards including IEC61508 SIL3, FDA510(k) and EU certification for various industries.

Embedded Software Components
USB: Embedded USB stacks from HCC are mature, widely used stacks that can support almost any desired USB configuration. The USB suite includes solutions not only for common functions like HID, HUB and Mass Storage but also for more sophisticated class drivers requiring Isochronous, Composite Devices, and interfaces to File Systems and Ethernet. This means developers can exploit USB to its full capability with ease without having to worry about developing highly specialized drivers. Software is generally provided as a source code project for most popular RTOS, MCU’s and compilers. Embedded developers no longer need feel constrained by the limited support available on their chosen target. HCC provide software for all interface speeds, all transfer types, USB 1.1/2.0, Host, Device and OTG modes. Having one of the broadest selections of class drivers available in the embedded market ensures that, irrespective of your future needs, HCC can provide long-term support.

Flash Management: There are many NAND and NOR Flash memory devices, interfaces and technologies that developers can choose. Integrating them reliably and achieving the maximum potential life and high performance presents a significant design challenge. HCC has developed robust fail-safe flash management software and file systems and it has support for hundreds of different kinds of memory types, interfaces and controllers. HCC’s truly fail-safe SafeFTL Flash Translation Layer provides a high-performance solution that allows developers to interface with any Flash-based media. SafeFTL presents a simple logical sector interface to an application, such as a file system, and manages the underlying complexity efficiently and safely. When used in conjunction with HCC’s advanced file systems there is a complete solution for almost any type of media and performance requirement.

File Systems: HCC has a highly optimized range of file systems designed to meet the performance requirements of any application. Using HCC file systems will make your application more reliable and will help to protect your customer’s data. HCC file systems can be seamlessly dropped into any environment to support any storage media, RTOS, compiler or microcontroller. Highlights include;

• Five highly optimized file systems: Each file system is finely tuned to provide the best performance for its intended environment. With full support for traditional FAT and Flash systems, developers can choose a system optimized for flexibility, performance or resource-limited environments.
• Extensive target media drivers: HCC collaborate closely with the industry’s leading storage suppliers and can provide support for almost any flash device or storage medium. We routinely supply drivers for everything from simple USB pen drives and SD cards, to the most advanced NAND and NOR flash.
• No-compromise fail-safety: HCC has developed truly fail-safe file systems that guarantee the highest possible data integrity.
• With abstractions for more than 15 real-time operating systems HCC’s one-size-doesn’t-fit-all approach to file systems is sure to provide an optimal solution for most applications.

TCP/IP: The key to a successful embedded application is to use high-quality software that is verifiably developed and ensures a stable, low-risk development platform. HCC’s TCP/IP stack was developed with a no compromise approach to quality using a strongly typed subset of the ‘C’ language. The approach incorporates a strong adherence to the MISRA C:2004 standard and was validated using advanced verification tools. With the benefit of more than a decade’s experience in developing efficient, high-quality software the stack brings new levels of performance, quality and reliability to the embedded networking market. HCC’s networking solution provides a significant range of protocols as well as support for both IPv4 and IPv6, providing flexibility and long-term network compatibility.

Bootloaders: HCC has developed a range of high quality bootloader solutions that will fit almost any scenario. The bootloaders have the ability to boot using Flash, USB or serial interfaces using minimal resources on the target controller. The benefits of using HCC Bootloaders include small footprint, high-speed operation, optimized performance and a high quality stable implementation that has been widely used in commercial applications. HCC Bootloaders are fail-safe and if the boot process is interrupted for any reason the system will still be able to fully recover. All bootloaders have the option of adding an advanced AES encryption module for secure data transfer and can be configured to support multiple complex interfaces.

Professional Development Services
HCC has a wealth of design and development experience in the embedded systems field. Our product development know-how, particularly regarding storage and communication technologies, is extensive. HCC’s experience and skills are available to customers through HCC’s Professional Development Services group, which can help to accelerate product development and thus reduce associated costs and time-to-market.

Software Platform & BSP: HCC can integrate standard embedded components and peripheral drivers with any hardware to produce a stable application development platform or BSP. Using HCC’s Advanced Embedded Framework it is possible to establish a ‘future-proof’ software development platform that can cope with changing processors, software tools and peripherals over time without disruption. This can be delivered not just as a tested software environment, but also as a managed service that takes responsibility for deployment, training and managing the software life cycle. This means increased productivity, improved quality and reduced infrastructure costs.

Custom Application Design: HCC has designed complete embedded applications including sensor equipment, communications hubs and integrated modules for many blue chip companies. HCC has a ‘full service’ capability that includes hardware/software design and development services including low volume board manufacture and prototyping.

Process Consulting: HCC has a high level of process capability and can assist in the development of mature software life-cycle processes required for industry qualification and certification.

Licensing & Purchasing
All HCC reusable software components are royalty-free and distributed in source form with support and maintenance included for one year with all purchases. We deliver sample projects tailored to an environment agreed with customers to ensure the quickest possible start. Visit HCC’s website to find a sample license and to obtain the contact details of your local sales representative. Or, simply send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we will send all the details you require.